Player Discussion Gerard Gallant

[McRanger92]

Gallant was put in a Cup or bust position and he seemingly decided to become more hands off. It’s a bold strategy Cotton, let’s see how it plays out for him.

 

[Dijock94]

I really wish we had a coach like Rod the Bod team r Marty St Louis. They have their teams just playing a relentless in your face game.

 

[IronBloodedLion]

I don’t dislike Gallant, but I also see why he’s usually out pretty quickly with other teams. You look at this roster and you don’t understand how he’s not getting more out of them, and I’m sure Drury is having the same thoughts. He’s made some really questionable decisions. I wouldn’t be surprised if scratching Kakko in the ECF started to turn the locker room. We all saw the reaction to Laf being scratched too.

My favorite is post-game press conferences when they’ll play a lousy game, but still win. Gallant will talk about how they played a great game, while Trouba says the polar opposite.

The only thing I’ll defend him on is you can’t force chemistry. That’s something that’s built over time. Getting really good players at the TDL to play in the Top 6 and take off is still a challenge.

 

[Anthony5967]

I don’t dislike Gallant, but I also see why he’s usually out pretty quickly with other teams. You look at this roster and you don’t understand how he’s not getting more out of them, and I’m sure Drury is having the same thoughts. He’s made some really questionable decisions. I wouldn’t be surprised if scratching Kakko in the ECF started to turn the locker room. We all saw the reaction to Laf being scratched too.

My favorite is post-game press conferences when they’ll play a lousy game, but still win. Gallant will talk about how they played a great game, while Trouba says the polar opposite.

The only thing I’ll defend him on is you can’t force chemistry. That’s something that’s built over time. Getting really good players at the TDL to play in the Top 6 and take off is still a challenge.

If Rod, Sullivan, MSL had this team, they'd be where NJ is. These last few weeks have been concerning, and there seems to be no end in sight for this. Yea, they picked up points but I still feel uneasy about this team. All of these offensive pieces and they can't create anything. Their in-zone defense compares to chickens with their heads cut off, the d-men can't exit the zone. Don't they work on these things? He doesn't believe in systems, he's outcoached in big games, doesn't believe in matchups, etc. He wants all of the offense off the cycle. One issue is they aren't built to create offense that way. They aren't Boston, the Isles, etc.

 

[Crease]

Most talented roster I can remember, and I’ve been watching since the early 90s. The vibe I’m getting from Dolan and Drury is there will be changes made if the Rangers don’t make it back to the conference finals. To the core, the coaching staff, or both.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

Most talented roster I can remember, and I’ve been watching since the early 90s. The vibe I’m getting from Dolan and Drury is there will be changes made if the Rangers don’t make it back to the conference finals. To the core, the coaching staff, or both.

Yeah, I feel like this is the win or bust year and we're getting some sizable changes if we don't. This is the most talented team that I've been alive for when considering top to bottom line plus goaltending. If we don't win or go deep, that's a major problem.

 

[cheech70]

Most talented roster I can remember, and I’ve been watching since the early 90s. The vibe I’m getting from Dolan and Drury is there will be changes made if the Rangers don’t make it back to the conference finals. To the core, the coaching staff, or both.

I think the fact that Kane and Tank were acquired moved the onus for playoff success onto Breads shoulders. Bread has been exerting his force out there but is it enough? No movement clause can be circumvented by how the team treats Bread. I liked Tanks assertiveness last night..Kane is a turnover machine who is out of shape. Lets see if Patty becomes Messier or Dionne. If we crash and burn... Kreider and Bread will be pressured to pick a new home. Then Laf moves to 1LW.

 

[Anthony5967]

Yeah, I feel like this is the win or bust year and we're getting some sizable changes if we don't. This is the most talented team that I've been alive for when considering top to bottom line plus goaltending. If we don't win or go deep, that's a major problem.

I am 26, eat, sleep and breathe the game. This is, by far, the most talented team they've had in my lifetime. They have a million talented guys, and their offense these last two weeks, aside from the LAK game, is concerning. Their attention to detail is lacking. I said this to my father last night, but when you watch the Tampa's, Carolina's, Pittsburgh's of the world nightly, you notice how superior their coaching is to ours.

 

[The Gloaming]

I am 26, eat, sleep and breathe the game. This is, by far, the most talented team they've had in my lifetime. They have a million talented guys, and their offense these last two weeks, aside from the LAK game, is concerning. Their attention to detail is lacking. I said this to my father last night, but when you watch the Tampa's, Carolina's, Pittsburgh's of the world nightly, you notice how superior their coaching is to ours.

Yeah, Pitts has their no name guys moving the puck better and with more support than our guys do.

It's 100% on the coaching that they can't figure out how to get these talented players the puck anywhere in the offensive zone besides the boards. It's like all our forwards can do is play pinball along the walls until they inevitably lose possession.

 

[PlamsUnlimited]

I am 26, eat, sleep and breathe the game. This is, by far, the most talented team they've had in my lifetime. They have a million talented guys, and their offense these last two weeks, aside from the LAK game, is concerning. Their attention to detail is lacking. I said this to my father last night, but when you watch the Tampa's, Carolina's, Pittsburgh's of the world nightly, you notice how superior their coaching is to ours.

I mostly feel the same. Having this much star power and talent on the team is great, but you have to direct guys and get them on board to put effort toward some unison on the ice. Much of the time it feels like the top 2 lines are doing whatever out there. I don't have a ton of problems with the 4th line or Kid Line, but would be nice to see some more to help them along.

I do not like the hands off approach, or, I don't like the perceived hands off approach we're getting

 

[Anthony5967]

I am also not one of those guys that likes to start looking ahead to the offseason and say this guy or that guy shouldn't be here. We will cross that bridge when we get to it. However, if this team ever gets knocked out in embarrassing fashion to Car or NJ similar to 2016 Pitt, you have to bring somebody else in as coach and do some roster surgery. You have to.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Im not a Gallant killer- but it would be kind of nice if we actually saw some coaching from him.

 

[bleedblue94]

If Rod, Sullivan, MSL had this team, they'd be where NJ is. These last few weeks have been concerning, and there seems to be no end in sight for this. Yea, they picked up points but I still feel uneasy about this team. All of these offensive pieces and they can't create anything. Their in-zone defense compares to chickens with their heads cut off, the d-men can't exit the zone. Don't they work on these things? He doesn't believe in systems, he's outcoached in big games, doesn't believe in matchups, etc. He wants all of the offense off the cycle. One issue is they aren't built to create offense that way. They aren't Boston, the Isles, etc.

Yet somehow Lindy Ruff is the one that has NJ where they are haha

 

[bleedblue94]

A lack of structure for any team or organization at any level in any environment or profession makes it harder to assimilate new people into that environment. We're seeing that with NYR. Questions for 2 years about the actual implementation of structure here and become glaring over the past while. I know most people like the point at the deployment of the kids here things like that as the justifications to complain (I personally understand it at times because it seems like a broken record that the kids earn additional ice time and opportunities but then when they get them they play like shit) but the on ice chaos that's insued here recently has been very disconcerting. I know that the team has been putting a challenging position with the personnel manipulation over the last few weeks, but this team has enough veterans on it that it should be able to manage it better than it has. Even aside from just results, the actual on ice effort and play has been atrocious overall. Not even necessarily good plays, but good effort or people just communicating. Hoping with some time we see some changes here

 

[leetch99]

all 3 of them should be marched out at dawn

They undoubtedly will be when they lose in round one as Drury has one more chance to buy himself another season in NY .....so...he'll take the easy way out . I doubt Turk will care...he will be home golfing/watching hockey and cashing 75,000.00 dollar US checks for the following 104 weeks and enjoying his life with his grandchildren . Darn good severance package .

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

A lack of structure for any team or organization at any level in any environment or profession makes it harder to assimilate new people into that environment. We're seeing that with NYR. Questions for 2 years about the actual implementation of structure here and become glaring over the past while. I know most people like the point at the deployment of the kids here things like that as the justifications to complain (I personally understand it at times because it seems like a broken record that the kids earn additional ice time and opportunities but then when they get them they play like shit) but the on ice chaos that's insued here recently has been very disconcerting. I know that the team has been putting a challenging position with the personnel manipulation over the last few weeks, but this team has enough veterans on it that it should be able to manage it better than it has. Even aside from just results, the actual on ice effort and play has been atrocious overall. Not even necessarily good plays, but good effort or people just communicating. Hoping with some time we see some changes here

I really don't think it's a lack of structure rather than a simplistic system that's out of date that the coach expects the players to fall into.

It was noticeable how out of place Tarasenko and Kane looked in their first few games. Tarasenko's style is a better fit for this type of hockey, so he's seemingly found a little more of a groove lately (although the system has - a little - stifled some of his creativity in moving without the puck). Kane meanwhile has been less of a factor has time went on...and is starting to fit right in with the rest of them in terms of fumbling pucks, playing slow, making bad passes, and generally not being strong on the puck or attacking with speed.

I really think that's the system.

If a few players come here and suck, you blame the players or player evaluation. When everyone comes here and gets worse, it's a coaching issue.

Our breakouts make me feel like I'm watching the CPU play itself in FIFA. The lack of offensive puck support is a system. We insist on the puck carrier leading through the neutral zone - usually surrounded by 4 defenders - rather than flanked by two players on his side who will slow up only at the opposing blueline so the puck goes in first, then immediately resume support. Our cycle is as dull and unimaginative as it was at the end of the Tortorella years. Players routinely whack the puck to nowhere without thinking, whether it's a dump in to a corner they can't reasonably expect to retrieve it, or whether it's turning around and slapping a clearing attempt into the defenseman's chest at the point or eating an icing because they couldn't be bothered to make a real play. I have a hard time believing that a bunch of highly skilled players would just all of a sudden decide to play like that. A more clearly defined system would have them dumping those pucks in set areas where the system strategically places players for recovery, but they don't do that.

We saw what happened when they played fast and loose...we got wild games like Minnesota in October where the team proved it could score. But the coach HATES those games. He wants them to win tight checking, low scoring games. He'd rather lose 2-1 than win 6-5. And it shows in the team's tactics, and how everything is defense first in a league that is currently as high scoring as it's been in any point in the last 30 years.

 

[hackeyman]

If a few players come here and suck, you blame the players or player evaluation. When everyone comes here and gets worse, it's a coaching issue.

Well he took over a team that didn't make the playoffs and with a roster minus Buch (who most of you say was JESUS) and add an injured Blais and Reavo (who most of you say was shit) and took them to solid playoff contention. Then at deadline they add Copp and Vatrano who played so well under Gallant they earned substantial contract increases that they haven't lived up to . Motte hard to assess because of injury. Takes that team to the ECF. BTW Copp and Vatrano SUCK compared to how they played here.

SO WHO THE f*** IS EVERYONE ?

Kane , Tarensenko, and Mikkolo haven't been here long enough to evaluate . So far Tarensenko not much different than when he was in St. Louis and Mikkolo has 2 pts. in 15 games with Rangers this year compared to the 3 he had in 50 games with St, Louis.

That brings us to Trocheck and Strome. Trocheck has almost the same production in 66 games with the Rangers as he had with Carolina in 81 games. Strome is outright SUCKING in Anaheim compared to how he played under Gallant.

So tell me again. WHO THE f*** IS EVERYONE.

I get that some fans hate on coaches but the amount of false narratives used on here to make arguments is RIDICULOUS. Can we stop with that please .

 

[Gordon Bombay]

This talent/roster situation kinda reminds of me of Torts at the end. Torts died on the hill of the 6 goalie system even when we had guys like Gaborik, Nash, Zucc, Stepan, etc. Torts' original system was great for what we had at first, and over time failed him as the team wasn't good as they should've been because the roster wasn't meant for it. AV steps in and looks great his first year because he freed up half the forwards.

Gallant and his "caveman" hockey style just doesn't work for this much talent. I think that's why Copp and Vatrano fit in so seamlessly last year. They fit that style. Others have pointed out, this wasn't his style on Vegas or Florida. Why he's chosen this for us, I have no idea.

I don't think Gallant will/can change the way we play this late into the season. Hell it took him 4/5 games to change the worst lines you could possibly assemble with this roster. It's just not in him and it's not realistic this late into the season.

I do like Gallant, as I've said before. He's better than most give him credit for. The players clearly like playing for him. He's gonna have to get what he should've already been getting out of these guys though. For far too much of the season we have under performed. It took the famous helmet throw and whispers of a firing to get the team playing as one of the best and we've reverted back to the under performing. Even if we have an early exit, I'm not sure his job is gone. It's not the NYR way to do what other teams have done

 

[bobbop]

I think that Gallant is a much better coach than many of you give him credit for. His strength is creating a positive atmosphere and environment. That’s a highly unrecognized trait in today‘s NHL. There are several head coaches in the league who are excellent tacticians but lousy environment coaches.

Gallant has always counted on others - re: Mike Kelly — to be his X’s and O’s guy. One tactical guy and one teamwork. That’s not an uncommon pairing in the NHL.

Whomever suggested Kelly could be the sacrificial lamb this year may be right. I’d also offer that Gord Murphy has been a big step back from Jacques Martin.

If this thing blows up, I could see a scenario where there is a coaching change. I don’t think the league has any appetite to welcome back Quennville in such a high profile position, but I could see Andrew Brunette coming in here.

 

[Crease]

I keep seeing reference to Gallant’s “caveman” style. Can someone elaborate. I watch every game and the only line that dumps and chases and hits and goes into the dirty areas is the fourth line. Everyone else is playing east-west, perimeter hockey. How is that “caveman” style?

 

[WojtekWolski86]

Well he took over a team that didn't make the playoffs and with a roster minus Buch (who most of you say was JESUS) and add an injured Blais and Reavo (who most of you say was shit) and took them to solid playoff contention. Then at deadline they add Copp and Vatrano who played so well under Gallant they earned substantial contract increases that they haven't lived up to . Motte hard to assess because of injury. Takes that team to the ECF. BTW Copp and Vatrano SUCK compared to how they played here.

SO WHO THE f*** IS EVERYONE ?

Kane , Tarensenko, and Mikkolo haven't been here long enough to evaluate . So far Tarensenko not much different than when he was in St. Louis and Mikkolo has 2 pts. in 15 games with Rangers this year compared to the 3 he had in 50 games with St, Louis.

That brings us to Trocheck and Strome. Trocheck has almost the same production in 66 games with the Rangers as he had with Carolina in 81 games. Strome is outright SUCKING in Anaheim compared to how he played under Gallant.

So tell me again. WHO THE f*** IS EVERYONE.

I get that some fans hate on coaches but the amount of false narratives used on here to make arguments is RIDICULOUS. Can we stop with that please .

A top 5 PP and a goalie that had a once in 60 years performance over the course of the season masks a ton of warts.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Some of the "analysis" in here is just vomit inducing.

Gallant's biggest issue isn't his system, it's his inability to stick with combos that work.

When the team has lines that work and he plays them, they perform well.

When he decides that he wants to break them up because he has a mental image of something that he wants to work that actually just sucks balls, they struggle a bunch. He will tend to stick with this for way longer than he should.

Thats it. Thats how its been this whole season. This group has underachieved under him this year and a large, large portion of that is because of how hes managed the roster, not with the way he has them play because when the combos have made sense, they've been very good, even great at times and if the system were truly the issue, that wouldn't be the case.

 

[bleedblue94]

I really don't think it's a lack of structure rather than a simplistic system that's out of date that the coach expects the players to fall into.

It was noticeable how out of place Tarasenko and Kane looked in their first few games. Tarasenko's style is a better fit for this type of hockey, so he's seemingly found a little more of a groove lately (although the system has - a little - stifled some of his creativity in moving without the puck). Kane meanwhile has been less of a factor has time went on...and is starting to fit right in with the rest of them in terms of fumbling pucks, playing slow, making bad passes, and generally not being strong on the puck or attacking with speed.

I really think that's the system.

If a few players come here and suck, you blame the players or player evaluation. When everyone comes here and gets worse, it's a coaching issue.

Our breakouts make me feel like I'm watching the CPU play itself in FIFA. The lack of offensive puck support is a system. We insist on the puck carrier leading through the neutral zone - usually surrounded by 4 defenders - rather than flanked by two players on his side who will slow up only at the opposing blueline so the puck goes in first, then immediately resume support. Our cycle is as dull and unimaginative as it was at the end of the Tortorella years. Players routinely whack the puck to nowhere without thinking, whether it's a dump in to a corner they can't reasonably expect to retrieve it, or whether it's turning around and slapping a clearing attempt into the defenseman's chest at the point or eating an icing because they couldn't be bothered to make a real play. I have a hard time believing that a bunch of highly skilled players would just all of a sudden decide to play like that. A more clearly defined system would have them dumping those pucks in set areas where the system strategically places players for recovery, but they don't do that.

We saw what happened when they played fast and loose...we got wild games like Minnesota in October where the team proved it could score. But the coach HATES those games. He wants them to win tight checking, low scoring games. He'd rather lose 2-1 than win 6-5. And it shows in the team's tactics, and how everything is defense first in a league that is currently as high scoring as it's been in any point in the last 30 years.

Kane was always going to be an adjustment bc he needs to be the one controlling the puck and putting him with panarin was beyond stupid bc panarin is probably worse than Kane at demanding puck possession. It was bound to fail before it started. This is again why Kane belongs with zib and Kreider since neither of them requires the puck on their blade to be effective

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

Kane was always going to be an adjustment bc he needs to be the one controlling the puck and putting him with panarin was beyond stupid bc panarin is probably worse than Kane at demanding puck possession. It was bound to fail before it started. This is again why Kane belongs with zib and Kreider since neither of them requires the puck on their blade to be effective

Agreed, hate putting the two of them together as well.

In response to other posts, more generally:

As far as "coaching", it's clear the GG defenders don't understand nuance at all, since not all of this is about the head coach. But it IS about the staff. I fault this coaching staff because slow breakouts simply suck and don't work. When they actually play fast, they're a good team. When they don't, they're dogshit. It shouldn't take a rocket scientist to understand they need to play that way and to structure practices and give ice time to lines that play that way. There's nothing wrong with being east-west in the offensive zone, but there are literally 0 successful NHL teams right now that play that way in the neutral zone. It's only been a problem since November, what is the coaching staff doing about it? Crickets.

Line combos. We've only had to suffer through half the season with Panarin and Trocheck not producing at even strength, and yet the experiment doesn't end? Lines that make sense and are productive are inexplicably broken up after great games because the team goes down 1-0, but dogshit lines that produce dogshit offense stay together for weeks on end and continue to produce nothing. And what happens? Nothing. That's also on the coaching staff.

How about the puck skills? The mishandles, the flubbed passes from 10 feet out, the half dozen forwards on this team that simply never one-time pucks in scoring areas?? What is being done about that? Are they working on that in practice? Is the coaching staff trying to get them to release the puck quicker? Sure doesn't look like it on the ice. How many times this season has a star made a dumbass play and actually gotten benched...twice?

How about when this team played one of their better games of the season beating I believe it was Florida 6-2, the kid line was dominant, every line scored, etc. GG had nothing to say about the offense, always all about how the defense can be better and they gave up too many chances. Does he even understand the personnel he has? Colorado won the Cup last year dispatching opponents quickly and averaging over 4 goals a game in the playoffs. Not going 7 against everyone and riding Kuemper and the D to a bunch of nailbiter wins in close series. This is not the dead puck era, and you're not going to trap and third man high your way to a Cup against superior talent. Instead, we are taking superior talent, and having them play down to other teams. We can run and gun with the Edmontons and the Colorados. There's no reason we have to play slow and safe, and frankly we're not that good at it.

Look, I'm also a Yankees fan, and I'm going to bring those same expectations for excellence whenever the talent is there. I had zero expectations for 2020-21's team. Last year's team was a nice Cinderella run, but I am getting a little tired of people acting like GG is the second coming of Scotty Bowman or Toe Blake behind the bench just because we won two 7-game series against third string goalies last year. This is a team that, based on talent THIS year, should be gearing up for a stretch run where they generally dominate most of the rest of the league except when they're tired/short rest/time zone change/etc., and establish themselves as a legitimate Stanley Cup threat going into the playoffs because they have the talent to do so. Instead, they're underperforming hard behind a coach that has shown little inclination to fix the broken things and stick with the things that work, and people are praising him because we've gotten so Stockholm Syndromed by all the crappy David Quinns and Tom Renneys of the past that we think he looks good. We have failed to distinguish ourselves from second rate teams this year like Pittsburgh, are fresh off 4-days rest where they had plenty of time to get their legs rested, practice, adjust tactics, etc. and they have not led during a game once during that entire time. They've continued to play slow, and the coach didn't see fit to do anything about it until the 3rd period of the 3rd game. Meanwhile, the PP has stagnated and rather go with combos that were showing tremendous promise right before the Kane trade, we're back to the same tired first unit that - aside from Mika finishing plays from the side of the net and NOT the circle - hasn't done a thing since the calendar flipped.

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and expecting a different result. If they screw up this team, this roster, and play like this and flop early in the playoffs, the coach deserves to be fired. The entire staff does. This is taking a team that's deeper than the McDavid Oilers though not as dominant of a top line, and trying to get them to slow it down, play safe, defend well, and win games 2-1. It's criminally stupid. If they play fast and get beat, I can live with that, and I can live with and respect a coach for giving it a shot. But I cannot as a fan tolerate the most talented roster this team has had in a very long time being saddled with dumbass line combos based on friendships and seniority rather than playstyle, and forced to play a slow style because it's safe and the coach doesn't like giving up chances, and the assistants are so caught up in set plays they're not even concerned with giving the players a broader framework where they can develop true chemistry on the ice.

 

[hackeyman]

A top 5 PP and a goalie that had a once in 60 years performance over the course of the season masks a ton of warts.

That has nothing to do with the fact that the differential players played better under Gallant than without.
It does bring up another point though.......So for those that credit Shesty alone for last years success than the only reasonable explanation for the success this year is Gallant .........those are the only major changes from the team that didn't make the playoffs in 2021.