First Impressions of St. Louis

[jskramer83]

Holik, Kasparaitis, Gomez and Redden gave the Rangers exactly what they should have expected. Bure and Lindros were hampered by injuries.

And then there's Kamensky, which I think is a pretty unfavorable comparison to St. Louis.

But still their numbers were right inline with the seasons right before coming to the Rangers.

This is a huge misconception that these players come here an tank. The problem really was, with all of these players there was some excuse as to why they would come to the Rangers and put up better numbers then they actually were capable of.

Holik and Gomez for example, they played on the defensive Devils so clearly by coming to the Rangers a more offensive team there numbers would increase.

We just paid 60 pt per year guys like Drury and Gomez like PPG players and expected them to be that.

 

[aufheben]

I'm not worried about making the playoffs anymore, but it ticks me off that we paid so much for a player who has barely contributed to solidifying the team's playoff spot.

9 games before the playoffs starts. Should that be enough time to adjust? Yes. Then again, if you told me he would go 11 games without scoring, I would have laughed.

 

[Emptyvoid]

Is the team losing or winning NOW? They're winning. Why are you so incensed?

Okay so if the Rangers win the 'Cup and MSL scores no goals and a paltry number of assists in the process, will you still be in this thread complaining?

I obviously believe MSL needs to contribute for this team to go deep, but until they start losing in the playoffs while he continues to offer limited contributions, I don't care.

Precisely my take on it. Would I like him to be contributing me and being more productive? Of course....but it's not hurting the team right now.

If this continues into the playoffs, then I and every other fan, will be incensed.

 

[aufheben]

I feel like when you pay that much for a player, "he's not hurting the team" is unacceptable.

 

[Emptyvoid]

I'm not worried about making the playoffs anymore, but it ticks me off that we paid so much for a player who has barely contributed to solidifying the team's playoff spot.

9 games before the playoffs starts. Should that be enough time to adjust? Yes. Then again, if you told me he would go 11 games without scoring, I would have laughed.

Hockey is such an unpredictable sport...

How could we know how hard it might be to adjust to a new team after being in Tampa Bay for 13-14 years?

I'm not trying to excuse his play, because frankly yes we expect more from a superstar of his caliber.

But to Ail point, thankfully we are playing well right now without him producing. It's affording MSL more time to adjust and hopefully he'll be producing in the play offs.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

I'll take MSL struggling now if he picks it up hardcore in the playoffs. He won't stay in this slump forever.

 

[Ail]

I feel like when you pay that much for a player, "he's not hurting the team" is unacceptable.

Season's not over yet. If he scores one big goal in the playoffs on the way to a 'Cup it's more than worth the price. Let's wait to crucify him.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

I feel like when you pay that much for a player, "he's not hurting the team" is unacceptable.

I'll just add there's an inherent skepticism to adding older stars. And I'll further add, that I'm not exactly thrilled with the mental and emotional fragility St. Louis in forcing a trade. Maybe the issue is not adjusting. Perhaps he's already too comfortable.

 

[Thirty One]

Are we mad at St. Louis or the existence of slumps in general?

Yes, the Rangers paid a lot for St. Louis. Unfortunately, that doesn't grant them an exception from the laws of random distribution.

 

[Emptyvoid]

Are we mad at St. Louis or the existence of slumps in general?

Yes, the Rangers paid a lot for St. Louis. Unfortunately, that doesn't grant them an exception from the laws of random distribution.

I wonder if there's a correlation between players struggling to produce after being traded and how long they were with their previous team.

 

[Thirty One]

And I'll further add, that I'm not exactly thrilled with the mental and emotional fragility St. Louis in forcing a trade.

Remind me how the Rangers got the captain who lead them to their last Cup?

 

[aufheben]

Season's not over yet. If he scores one big goal in the playoffs on the way to a 'Cup it's more than worth the price. Let's wait to crucify him.

I'll gladly shut up about him as soon as he starts producing.

 

[Jersey Girl]

If this continues into the playoffs, then I and every other fan, will be incensed.

If history is any indication around here, that is incorrect.

If this does continue into the playoffs many fans (not necessarily you) will continue the excuse machine with how difficult it was for St Louis since the other team was able to focus all their energy on stopping him, and many will continue the mantra that it takes more than 20 games to get acclimated to a new team.

If that were true, it's a wonder why there are ever any trades made at the deadline.

 

[Emptyvoid]

If history is any indication around here, that is incorrect.

If this does continue into the playoffs many fans (not necessarily you) will continue the excuse machine with how difficult it was for St Louis since the other team was able to focus all their energy on stopping him, and many will continue the mantra that it takes more than 20 games to get acclimated a new team.

If that were true, it's a wonder why there are ever any trades made at the deadline.

Well I can't speak for everyone, I know that I won't find it acceptable if this slump continues into the playoffs.

 

[McRanger]

Remind me how the Rangers got the captain who lead them to their last Cup?

Are you referring to Messier forcing a trade or the Rangers trading for a player on the downswing of his career?

 

[Thirty One]

Are you referring to Messier forcing a trade or the Rangers trading for a player on the downswing of his career?

Forcing a trade, but I suppose both could work.

 

[Emptyvoid]

Are you referring to Messier forcing a trade or the Rangers trading for a player on the downswing of his career?

Not sure what you mean here.

Who is on the downswing of his career here? MSL? Based on age?

 

[aufheben]

Wasn't Messier like...30?

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Remind me how the Rangers got the captain who lead them to their last Cup?

I fail to see any correlation. I don't recall Messier spouting off about being closer to family and his kids playing hockey. Or Messier having hurt feelings because his GM didn't immediately put him on the Olympic team.

 

[Jersey Girl]

Wasn't Messier like...30?

And he was also Mark Messier

 

[Thirty One]

Wasn't Messier like...30?

Yeah. That's certainly beyond peak age for a hockey player.

"Why are they bothering, he's never going to score 129 points again!" - Ranger fans in 1992, presumably.

 

[McRanger]

Wasn't Messier like...30?

Yep. A year younger than Drury and Richards were.

 

[Emptyvoid]

I fail to see any correlation. I don't recall Messier spouting off about being closer to family and his kids playing hockey. Or Messier having hurt feelings because his GM didn't immediately put him on the Olympic team.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't a major reason the Oilers traded Messier was due to cost cutting?

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't a major reason the Oilers traded Messier was due to cost cutting?

A large part.

 

[haveandare]

Are we mad at St. Louis or the existence of slumps in general?

Yes, the Rangers paid a lot for St. Louis. Unfortunately, that doesn't grant them an exception from the laws of random distribution.

This is pretty much what I've been trying to say for a while.

It's unfortunate, but it's reality and it's really not that unusual.