Confirmed with Link: Head Coach Vacancy Pt III: How's your spelling? (Eakins/Vigneault/Messier/Gretzky)

[SupersonicMonkey*]

He had defenders on the forecheck all series against Boston. That's why the Rangers only had one guy back on defense so often.

Eh.

At times. But there was no creativity, no flow, it was more pinch out of desperation than attack with an objective. They were still relegated to board play, not enough going to the net, little to no net presence.

That isn't what I had in mind. What I had in mind was more a long the lines of what Krug was able to accomplish. How the Capitals defense was a constant threat, despite the fact we won the series we were badly out played most of it, and granted we didn't put any pressure on their defense at the points.

Tortorella had our defense looking for hail-mary passing to our forwards who would tip it in. More dump and chase. More giving away puck possession. That's not what I had in mind.

Control the puck. Attack with a purpose and with a plan.

People always mention how McDonagh has offensive potential. Anyone can see it. So does Moore. Unlike Del Zotto, they have the foot speed and brains to skate with the puck and lead the rush, try to gain the offensive zone. And have the speed to get back and close gaps. Now is the time to see it. New coach. New philosophy. Make it happen.

Time to get the power play working. Time for an abundance of in-game tactical philosophies to change.

 

[TheTakedown]

His way works. I'm afraid of car accidents so I don't drive like an idiot. I work hard because I'm afraid of failure, etc.

The players can make all the mistakes they wan't in college and the minors but when they're here, they're here to play well. Sloppy hockey teams that make mistakes don't make the playoffs.

and yet I have never seen such sloppy playoff hockey as the Rangers showed this post season...

They grew tired of Torts crap... It only works for 3-5 years.

 

[NHRangerfan]

I thought the McDonagh situation was supposed to be some sort of example of how Torts lost the locker room and the players were doing whatever they wanted to. That's how it was presented.

Some of us, the minority, actually liked seeing Torts hold players accountable. Some of us know that this team isn't as talented as advertised and know that mistake-free, defense first, shot blocking hockey is basically the best way to maximize the roster.

Only took what 50+ games for him to hold Richards accountable.

 

[TheTakedown]

In fairness to Torts, MDZ was ******* mess his rookie season. IMO his mistakes ultimately kept the Rangers out of the playoffs that year. Torts worked with him and he improved significantly in his own end. It's not like his methods don't work.

except MDZ is still a trainwreck, years later.

 

[The Gloaming]

and yet I have never seen such sloppy playoff hockey as the Rangers showed this post season...

They grew tired of Torts crap... It only works for 3-5 years.

This. The Rangers made constant mistakes, many of them unforced. So no, they did not play "mistake-free" hockey under Tortorella.

 

[stan the caddy]

Eh.

At times. But there was no creativity, no flow, it was more pinch out of desperation than attack with an objective. They were still relegated to board play, not enough going to the net, little to no net presence.

That isn't what I had in mind. What I had in mind was more a long the lines of what Krug was able to accomplish. How the Capitals defense was a constant threat, despite the fact we won the series we were badly out played most of it, and granted we didn't put any pressure on their defense at the points.

Tortorella had our defense looking for hail-mary passing to our forwards who would tip it in. More dump and chase. More giving away puck possession. That's not what I had in mind.

Control the puck. Attack with a purpose and with a plan.

People always mention how McDonagh has offensive potential. Anyone can see it. So does Moore. Unlike Del Zotto, they have the foot speed and brains to skate with the puck and lead the rush, try to gain the offensive zone. And have the speed to get back and close gaps. Now is the time to see it. New coach. New philosophy. Make it happen.

Time to get the power play working. Time for an abundance of in-game tactical philosophies to change.

At times? They were up all series.

The problem is that people confuse skating ability with offensive ability. Yes, they skate well and they can join the rush because of it but whether they actually do anything while there in the offensive zone is another story altogether. That's where there skill or lack of skill shows.

 

[stan the caddy]

except MDZ is still a trainwreck, years later.

MDZ is still a thousand times better than what he was his rookie season. If you can't see that then I question what you're watching.

 

[stan the caddy]

and yet I have never seen such sloppy playoff hockey as the Rangers showed this post season...

They grew tired of Torts crap... It only works for 3-5 years.

That's ridiculous. Did you watch the Rangers get thumped by the Devils in 06? Lundqvist let up 13 goals in three games.

 

[Ian]

MDZ is still a thousand times better than what he was his rookie season. If you can't see that then I question what you're watching.

Defensively? Yes. I'd argue he's almost regressed offensively.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

Safe to say behind the bench is cancelled?

 

[stan the caddy]

Defensively? Yes. I'd argue he's almost regressed offensively.

I was only talking about his defense. As far as offense goes, he had an extremely lucky rookie season. He scored 9 goals on only 81 shots. That wasn't going to last.

 

[NHRangerfan]

Defensively? Yes. I'd argue he's almost regressed offensively.

And his defense still isn't that good...so the bar was pretty low

 

[SupersonicMonkey*]

At times? They were up all series.

The problem is that people confuse skating ability with offensive ability. Yes, they skate well and they can join the rush because of it but whether they actually do anything while there in the offensive zone is another story altogether. That's where there skill or lack of skill shows.

"Up all series". They were not. I am sorry but there is a distinct difference in what I am talking about and what happened in the Boston series.

The defense absolutely were not used to attack. They weren't. And the breakaways you alluded to were not because the defense was "up". It was because they either turned the puck over because of a god awful slow, predictable break out, or because the Bruins forwards had the extra step to get behind Rangers defenders. Rangers didn't show up prepared at all to play this series and it showed.

The awful breakout is a coaching gaff. Tortorella elected for stretch passes that were so predictable they never worked. Rarely did any defenseman take ownership of the puck and skate it up ice.

At the points they pinched. Frantically to keep the puck in, because it was mostly always to the outside, no net presence, not enough pucks to the net.

The Bruins defense is in no way way more dynamic than ours, outside of Krug. And they were constantly a threat.

Its tactical.

There was more push from our defense last year. And even then, not enough.

 

[stan the caddy]

And his defense still isn't that good...so the bar was pretty low

He defense isn't that bad either. He's reliable. He was probably the worst defender in the league in 2009-10. Give credit where it's due, his defensive game improved massively since then.

 

[Doctor King Schultz]

Safe to say behind the bench is cancelled?

It's being replaced by an episode of Endings: John Tortorella.

I imagine the new coach will be the star of Behind the Bench next season. Another reason why NYC is a desirable market: extra money for having your own television show. There are probably some coaches out there who wouldn't want to worry about having their own television show though. Although the show is really the Bill Pidto show.

 

[stan the caddy]

"Up all series". They were not. I am sorry but there is a distinct difference in what I am talking about and what happened in the Boston series.

The defense absolutely were not used to attack. They weren't. And the breakaways you alluded to were not because the defense was "up". It was because they either turned the puck over because of a god awful slow, predictable break out, or because the Bruins forwards had the extra step to get behind Rangers defenders. Rangers didn't show up prepared at all to play this series and it showed.

The awful breakout is a coaching gaff. Tortorella elected for stretch passes that were so predictable they never worked. Rarely did any defenseman take ownership of the puck and skate it up ice.

At the points they pinched. Frantically to keep the puck in, because it was mostly always to the outside, no net presence, not enough pucks to the net.

The Bruins defense is in no way way more dynamic than ours, outside of Krug. And they were constantly a threat.

Its tactical.

There was more push from our defense last year. And even then, not enough.

The major reason why the Rangers were mauled by Boston was a ****** backcheck. The Rangers forwards did a piss poor job on defense. That's why Boston could string 7 passes together in the offensive zone consistently. The trailers were way too open.

On the flip side, when the Rangers tried to gain Boston's zone, Boston not only had their defenders back, they also had their forwards covering the blueline. Yet people criticize Torts for not being aggressive enough.

Zdeno Chara has 42 shots on goal in the playoffs because he actually gets pucks through traffic. McDonagh led the Rangers defense with 21. What Krug did in that series was incredible. What Green did, we've seen him do to a lot of teams in the playoffs. He's a really gifted offensive player.

 

[NHRangerfan]

He defense isn't that bad either. He's reliable. He was probably the worst defender in the league in 2009-10. Give credit where it's due, his defensive game improved massively since then.

His defense isn't that good, if Staal was healthy MDZ would have been the #5.

 

[stan the caddy]

His defense isn't that good, if Staal was healthy MDZ would have been the #5.

blah blah blah

He's still improved significantly since his rookie season. Try to actually disprove my point next time you post something.

 

[Brooklyn Ranger]

Now back to reality....


This is a win now team. How anybody can say it isn't is beyond me. With Lundqvist in the last year of a contract, with great defense, and a solid nuclease of youthful and veteran forwards. Does the team have holes? Yes, the main hole being having the talent group not suited for the system the team runs. Which is one of the main reasons why we need a new coach. Imagine if the Rangers had a power play. We can't say they didn't have the talent to have a moderately succesful power play. The Rangers have holes, obvious holes but not huge gaping holes that a full rebuild is needed. The notion that the best guy we can hire is somebody with no experience that can maybe, hopefully, grow with the the team is ludicrous. It's not realistic to think that's the way the Rangers will go or is the right thing to do. Not for this roster.

The Rangers have the chance to hire Lindy Ruff and they should do it. The notion that coaches grow with teams and everybody lives in happyland is ********. The next coach of the Rangers is going to be judged by his record, by his execution of a plan, etc. The coach that needs time to "grow" with a veteran team will be out of a job after a season and we will be looking for a new coach next year.

Ruff is somebody that had teams that worked hard. He almost never had a team that spent over the mid-cap. He survived ownership changes, roster changes, and his system works. He is the best choice for the job. Why we feel the need to play the "who's the most obscure candidate we can find" game is beyond me. This is the Head Coach of a team that could easily find itself contending again next year with virtually the same roster AND an upgraded special teams. Yet we should bring in somebody that has to learn on the job??

OMG, I agree with every single word you wrote, SOS. Think we better check and see if pigs are flying.

Anyway, I don't understand why so many people are against Ruff--of all the available experienced coaches out there, I think he's the best. His teams always played solid defense and yet could turn around and counter-attack in a NY minute.

 

[The Gloaming]

His defense isn't that good, if Staal was healthy MDZ would have been the #5.

He honestly played worse than all of Mcd, Staal, Moore, Stralman. Girardi was close in horrible-ness. He had a piss-poor playoffs.

 

[JohnC]

It's being replaced by an episode of Endings: John Tortorella.

you just won yourself a nomination for Funniest Poster

 

[Kreider Typical]

Hahahaha... it is like clockwork. New offseason, big changes, and suddenly this team is a contendah again!!


It is like magic; all they needed was a brand spankin' new coach!

confidence plays a pretty huge role in success... they made it to the 2nd round looking like trash under a coach that half the team couldn't play over. the rumors are pretty clear that they did not want torts there anymore because of his abrasive attitude. to make it to the 2nd round with him bashing them game in and game out says a lot about the raw talent on this team. i felt this team was better than last year's since the season started. still think most of the team is, but they don't fit the system the same.

reason i think it's a contender is because it is. you don't go to the 2nd round playing like absolute **** w/o a serious amount of talent on the roster.

 

[noupf]

Only took what 50+ games for him to hold Richards accountable.

I find it funny that BR was on pace for a 70 point season and people really think hes the problem. Might not have been having a great season, but my god people......he was on pace for 70 pts in an 82 game season.

 

[NHRangerfan]

blah blah blah

He's still improved significantly since his rookie season. Try to actually disprove my point next time you post something.

I didn't say he hasn't improved but going from suck to bad isn't something to be proud of...

blah, blah, blah...I said he would be the #5 if Staal was healthy and I see you didn't disagree.

 

[The Gloaming]

I find it funny that BR was on pace for a 70 point season and people really think hes the problem. Might not have been having a great season, but my god people......he was on pace for 70 pts in an 82 game season.

60 points. And he had many assists by letting guys like Nash do all the work.

But yeah, let's glance over his terrible season. Not like he was a turnover machine either.