Post-Game Talk: Devil IV

[mandiblesofdoom]

i have been hard on kakko over the years but he is playing with an edge and attitude to him, a little bit of arrogance in the scrums instead of just being a shrinking violet every time. that being said he can be better between whistles but he is like issue 9 or 10 when it comes to the forwards ha

exactly. People lump him in with Lafreniere, which isn't really fair.

 

[bleedblue94]

exactly. People lump him in with Lafreniere, which isn't really fair.

now we also have to remember that kakko is one year older and has one more year in the league, but...

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

exactly. People lump him in with Lafreniere, which isn't really fair.

I liked Kakko's game coming onto the team... I am happy he is finding his way. Slow and steady, but we need a guy like him.

 

[bleedblue94]

If we were just better at certain things, we win game 3 and the momentum doesn't shift.

But is there a stat to track momentum?

Mf%

 

[savebyrichter94]

Panarin only has the best points per game as a Ranger of anyone in franchise history & led our team in scoring every season since he signed here, he’s been a terrible signing!

And that’s helped us in the playoffs how since he’s been here? That’s what people are criticizing dude

Mika was right there with him this year and he’s getting shit on too, rightfully so, for their performance so far

Panarin was critical of his own play last year in the playoffs so I don’t think it’s our imagination, we can see him slipping back into the same tendencies again that lead him to be critical in the first place

I don’t think it’s anything more than that at least for me

 

[bleedblue94]

I liked Kakko's game coming onto the team... I am happy he is finding his way. Slow and steady, but we need a guy like him.

the problem is laffy and kakko both can and will be competent mid 6 wingers, the rangers structured around them being top line stars. the mistake they cannot make at this point is paying them for what you hoped they would be instead of what they are.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

the problem is laffy and kakko both can and will be competent mid 6 wingers, the rangers structured around them being top line stars. the mistake they cannot make at this point is paying them for what you hoped they would be instead of what they are.

Yeah I am with you there. A couple of guys I was talking to in the beer line Saturday were saying the same thing. I am more inclined to keep Kakko if push came to shove there though, right now. I could be, and probably am wrong though lol

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

We'd probably be a bit hungover and mediocre because we win the Cup last year.

"I'm gonna blame Panarin because he's the superstar."

Ok, fair, but I view Lafreniere as a superstar that can't score 40 points. That's what every single scout told me he was.

I like Kreider because my expectations for him were, quite frankly, more realistic than most. He was a late 1st who produced in college, honestly, not far off the rate he produces at in the NHL.

I expected Lafreniere to be as good as Hughes/Stutzle/etc and please tell me where I'm wrong.

I mean thats what Laf was projected to be.

I dont think I ever screamed louder for a Ranger moment than when the Ranger ball popped up in that lottery. Not even for the biggest OT goals and moments outside of winning the Cup. To me, with the way the team was headed, that lottery win, with the way he was touted, was like being handed a trip or two to the final or even more than that, after already landing Kakko. Lucky. Stacked. Set up for years. Possibly a budding dynasty.

I clearly recall Button (and many other scouts and media) saying this kid will be an instant impact player, 50-60 points in year ONE. We were all jonesing hard. Now we all know what happened with covid and blah blah blah, the team, the player. For whatever reason he just isn't that guy. He just isn't.

If one of Kakko or Laf was that guy then yeah. This team's ceiling is tremendous. It already is as currently constructed, but here we are talking about underachieving from everyone not just the kids. Its tiring, frustrating and old. I'm coming to grips with the fact that its just not going to happen for these kids.

Depressing for sure, but I'll always retain hope I guess. The most infuriating and frustrating part is having to be reminded every other night watching Hughes stare into the Garden crowd, like "look at me, you wish you had this, lol".

Yeah, we did. We thought we had TWO of you.

 

[Callafan24]

Not excusing the team at all, that was the worst effort all season. Not a single hit, scrum, Grade A chance etc... all game.

Having said that, were Games 3 and 4 the worst Garden Ice we've ever seen? Both teams were falling all over the place and handling the bouncing puck like a live grenade.

 

[bleedblue94]

And that’s helped us in the playoffs how since he’s been here? That’s what people are criticizing dude

Mika was right there with him this year and he’s getting shit on too, rightfully so, for their performance so far

Panarin was critical of his own play last year in the playoffs so I don’t think it’s our imagination, we can see him slipping back into the same tendencies again that lead him to be critical in the first place

I don’t think it’s anything more than that at least for me

we are beyond regular season stuff as an org. we are a playoff team and should be for the foreseeable future with established 1c, 1d, and 1g. This org is at the point that the playoffs are the only thing that matters. what can a player do to help this team win in the playoffs. Not worried about reg season anymore, we arent a bubble team just hoping to get 2 playoff home dates to make a couple extra bucks.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

2007 sweep against the Thrashers is the only one I can remember.

Beat the Penguins in 5 games in 2015. That wasn't easy though, that series had 2 OT games and every game we won was a 2-1 score.

Also beat the Devils in 5 in 2008.

 

[qwertyaas]

My main issue is the lack of killer instinct. No matter who the coaches or players are, it's like a series has to always go a minimum of at least 6 games for the Rangers to want to win it.

Seriously, WHEN was the last time the Rangers won a series in under say 6 games?

Wait, the series doesn't have to go to 7 games? I think the Rangers FO need to be informed of that.

 

[Anthony5967]

It's always hilarious when Rangers fans stand there with their thumbs up their ***** and ask why Lafreniere and Kakko aren't stars. You develop with ice-time, opportunity, etc. It's ****** year four for Kakko, year 5 for Chytil. All still sheltered as third liners for stars like Panarin who lack the heart and chops in the playoffs. I have no issue with the entire Kid Line.

 

[RickChartraw]

.966 save percentage. hopefully that doesn't hold up.

 

[Machinehead]

I mean thats what Laf was projected to be.

I dont think I ever screamed louder for a Ranger moment than when the Ranger ball popped up in that lottery. Not even for the biggest OT goals and moments outside of winning the Cup. To me, with the way the team was headed, that lottery win, with the way he was touted, was like being handed a trip or two to the final or even more than that, after already landing Kakko. Lucky. Stacked. Set up for years. Possibly a budding dynasty.

I clearly recall Button (and many other scouts and media) saying this kid will be an instant impact player, 50-60 points in year ONE. We were all jonesing hard. Now we all know what happened with covid and blah blah blah, the team, the player. For whatever reason he just isn't that guy. He just isn't.

If one of Kakko or Laf was that guy then yeah. This team's ceiling is tremendous. It already is as currently constructed, but here we are talking about underachieving from everyone not just the kids. Its tiring, frustrating and old. I'm coming to grips with the fact that its just not going to happen for these kids.

Depressing for sure, but I'll always retain hope I guess. The most infuriating and frustrating part is having to be reminded every other night watching Hughes stare into the Garden crowd, like "look at me, you wish you had this, lol".

Yeah, we did. We thought we had TWO of you.

Yeah, that's what it seems to be for everyone else. Teams pick top 3, especially 1OA, and they get set up forever.

And people say "well, you're picking on the 22 year olds when Panarin is making this much etc etc etc." I hear that. It's a valid point.

But let's be honest, I think a lot of us thought Panarin wouldn't be the most important forward by 2023.

And yeah, sorry, the expectations are different. This isn't 22 year old Kreider. It's a 22 year old that was supposed to be a star at 18.

 

[Anthony5967]

.966 save percentage. hopefully that doesn't hold up.

Totally misconstrued too. That clown hasn't been tested. If he is still in the net in the ECF against Boston, they will run a damn tr41n through that guy. He isn't being tested.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

It's always hilarious when Rangers fans stand there with their thumbs up their ***** and ask why Lafreniere and Kakko aren't stars. You develop with ice-time, opportunity, etc. It's ****** year four for Kakko, year 5 for Chytil. All still sheltered as third liners for stars like Panarin who lack the heart and chops in the playoffs. I have no issue with the entire Kid Line.

I dont either really, but im sorry. These kids dont play like stars. If they did they would force their way up the lineup. One of them would be up top and they wouldnt have needed to trade for Kane and or Tarasenko

 

[will1066]

Based on the Roddy Piper rule, you take away Laf's bubble gum, he starts kicking more ass.

"Look. Someone's coming out of the tunnel. It's Zac Jones. And who's with him? It's Bobby the Brain Heenan, as well as Libor Hajek and Ben Harpur in street clothes!"

"Could this be a new stable that The Brain is forming?"

"Gerard Gallant. I want you to give Zac Jones a spot in the D corps, and I don't care who you have to take it from to give it to him. Zac Jones will make the first pass that one of your ham n eggers can only dream of."

"Zac Jones is attacking Braden Schneider! And Ben Harpur is going after Mikkola! Hajek is going after Gallant! This is pandemonium, Jesse!"

"Don't tell me they don't deserve a lesson, Mean Gene!"

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Not excusing the team at all, that was the worst effort all season. Not a single hit, scrum, Grade A chance etc... all game.

Having said that, were Games 3 and 4 the worst Garden Ice we've ever seen? Both teams were falling all over the place and handling the bouncing puck like a live grenade.

The ice was horrific.

Im not sure how much that went into it, but it sure sucked.

Pucks were bouncing like crazy. Few times it got stuck early on in periods. Tons of lost edges. Probably why Hischier slid into Igor as well.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Are you sure that wasn’t satire?

Biting tongue about Krav lol

 

[Gardner McKay]

The overpassing is abysmal. This team falls into a predictable pattern.

Get hot. Score lots of goals. Start looking for the perfect play. Over pass. Score very few goals. Start shooting the puck. Get hot. Score lots of goals. Start looking for the perfect play. Over pass. Score very few goals. Start shooting the puck. Get hot. Score lots of goals. Start looking for the perfect play. Over pass. Score very few goals. Start shooting the puck. Get hot. Score lots of goals. Start looking for the perfect play. Over pass. Score very few goals. Start shooting the puck. Get hot. Score lots of goals. Start looking for the perfect play. Over pass. Score very few goals. Start shooting the puck. Get hot. Score lots of goals.

 

[bhamill]

We'd probably be a bit hungover and mediocre because we win the Cup last year.

"I'm gonna blame Panarin because he's the superstar."

Ok, fair, but I view Lafreniere as a superstar that can't score 40 points. That's what every single scout told me he was.

I like Kreider because my expectations for him were, quite frankly, more realistic than most. He was a late 1st who produced in college, honestly, not far off the rate he produces at in the NHL.

I expected Lafreniere to be as good as Hughes/Stutzle/etc and please tell me where I'm wrong.

Laf is 21... there are not many 21 year old superstars... he may never be, or he may be, that's to be determined.
"Hughes/Stutzle/etc"? Hughes is head and shoulders above "Stutzle/etc" Hughes IS a superstar offensive talent. "Stutzle/etc"... not quite, but maybe on his way. WAY closer than Laf for sure. And who knows if Stutzle would disappear in the post season, he's got to help his team get there first. People were raving about Mercer being a star in the making too and he's goose eggs and a -2 in this series...

 

[Machinehead]

It's always hilarious when Rangers fans stand there with their thumbs up their ***** and ask why Lafreniere and Kakko aren't stars. You develop with ice-time, opportunity, etc. It's ****** year four for Kakko, year 5 for Chytil. All still sheltered as third liners for stars like Panarin who lack the heart and chops in the playoffs. I have no issue with the entire Kid Line.

I dont either really, but im sorry. These kids dont play like stars. If they did they would force their way up the lineup. One of them would be up top and they wouldnt have needed to trade for Kane and or Tarasenko

I honestly see both sides of this.

Having watched them for a few years, I just don't know if I see star players. That's more true for Lafreniere.

That being said, the Rangers have done nothing to help the situation.

The kid line is fine, I guess, as a line. A bit one-trick for my taste and not enough scoring, but they can be effective in a certain context. My main concern with it is that it creates this very awkwardly shaped block in the puzzle. They have to be together, but we're not putting all of them in the top six.

I get that Chytil kind of is where he is with our center depth, and maybe Laf is just mid, but at the very least, Kakko should be playing with finesse players to match his tank-like style, not other grinders. That's why the line doesn't score.

 

[rangersfansince08]

Laf is 21... there are not many 21 year old superstars... he may never be, or he may be, that's to be determined.
"Hughes/Stutzle/etc"? Hughes is head and shoulders above "Stutzle/etc" Hughes IS a superstar offensive talent. "Stutzle/etc"... not quite, but maybe on his way. WAY closer than Laf for sure. And who knows if Stutzle would disappear in the post season, he's got to help his team get there first. People were raving about Mercer being a star in the making too and he's goose eggs and a -2 in this series...

Stutzle is coming off a 90 pt season and has shown improvement every single year. Laf will never be a superstar. He's the same player as year 1. Forget superstar. I'd be happy with a 60 pt player

 

[RangerLifer]

Not excusing the team at all, that was the worst effort all season. Not a single hit, scrum, Grade A chance etc... all game.

Having said that, were Games 3 and 4 the worst Garden Ice we've ever seen? Both teams were falling all over the place and handling the bouncing puck like a live grenade.

That doesn't excuse the Rangers' lack of intensity.

My main issue is the lack of killer instinct. No matter who the coaches or players are, it's like a series has to always go a minimum of at least 6 games for the Rangers to want to win it.

Seriously, WHEN was the last time the Rangers won a series in under say 6 games?

I honestly cannot remember. 1994 in the first rounds? LOL! I seriously think this is just a loser organization that is cursed.