Post-Game Talk: I don't have anything clever to put in the thread title

[NYR94]

Just read the Brooks article where he said Rangers scored one even strength goal in the final three games. Brutal.

 

[will1066]

Kakko and Lindgren are RFAs so their trade value is next to nothing, right? Not advocating keeping them, just making sure my expectations are reasonable.

Kakko is also arb eligible

 

[bl02]

Been saying now for 2 years Jones should get a steady chance on d. He only did because of the injuries and that was the best hockey we saw all year.
Also was because Trouba was out but still.
I'm still not convinced this coach gives him a long leash and plays him from day 1 next year.
Instead we have to play already over the hill 30 plus year old guys.

 

[NickyFotiu]

The core deserves credit. They had a really good run but inevitably ended up too old, too slow, and/or too soft in my opinion.

 

[qwertyaas]

Not going to touch on Mika/Kreider themselves or their chemistry.

But having 2/3 of a first line with no RW in years is a massive issue that I can't believe hasn't been solved.

That's straight on management and coaching for not figuring that out. Maybe they thought that was Kakko spot to lose, but looking less likely. The revolving door of RW on that line is a joke. Otherwise, break up Mika and Kreider.

 

[irishlaxburger2]

Not going to touch on Mika/Kreider themselves or their chemistry.

But having 2/3 of a first line with no RW in years is a massive issue that I can't believe hasn't been solved.

That's straight on management and coaching for not figuring that out. Maybe they thought that was Kakko spot to lose, but looking less likely. The revolving door of RW on that line is a joke. Otherwise, break up Mika and Kreider.

26 different players have played that RW position.

You could put a HOFer there and it wouldn’t work. In fact, we have.

The problem isn’t the RW. It’s the other two. Particularly the one in the middle.

 

[qwertyaas]

26 different players have played that RW position.

You could put a HOFer there and it wouldn’t work. In fact, we have.

The problem isn’t the RW. It’s the other two. Particularly the one in the middle.

So that needs to be solved. There was a player that line meshed with, and management traded him for cents on the dollar.

 

[irishlaxburger2]

So that needs to be solved. There was a player that line meshed with, and management traded him for cents on the dollar.

I don’t think any player in the league makes that a Cup winning first line, at this point. This isn’t the Mika Zibanejad of 3 years ago.

But it’s going to be paid like a first line so it will need to perform like one.

Adding an elite RW just creates a complete waste of that elite RW.

 

[Crease]

If Panarin, Kreider, and Zibanejad are all here next season, they each need to be on separate lines. Figure it out from there.

 

[blue425]

Not much to say that hasn't been said. Vally spitting the truth - these guys aren't tough enough or mean enough to win a cup as constructed.

Better team won.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Not going to touch on Mika/Kreider themselves or their chemistry.

But having 2/3 of a first line with no RW in years is a massive issue that I can't believe hasn't been solved.

That's straight on management and coaching for not figuring that out. Maybe they thought that was Kakko spot to lose, but looking less likely. The revolving door of RW on that line is a joke. Otherwise, break up Mika and Kreider.

The revolving door really just points to it being a duo that shouldn’t be one.

If they’re keeping Panarin, shoe horn him and Zibanejad and force them to figure it out. When the chips are down they’re going to need to be carried by the other players anyway.

 

[qwertyaas]

I don’t think any player in the league makes that a Cup winning first line, at this point. This isn’t the Mika Zibanejad of 3 years ago.

But it’s going to be paid like a first line so it will need to perform like one.

Adding an elite RW just creates a complete waste of that elite RW.

Fair. Line number is semantics. We're icing a top 6 of 5 players.

That 6th player is a plug that is a detriment to that line and the team everytime they are on the ice.

That's on management, coaching and Mika+Kreider to figure out years ago. That fact that's its still an issue is mind boggling.

Or, split them up. But we know they wouldn't do that.

 

[Crease]

The fact that they can’t seem to find anyone to play with Kreider and Zibanejad at even strength suggests that player doesn’t exist.

 

[irishlaxburger2]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1797257511826797018

 

[NickyFotiu]

Not going to touch on Mika/Kreider themselves or their chemistry.

But having 2/3 of a first line with no RW in years is a massive issue that I can't believe hasn't been solved.

That's straight on management and coaching for not figuring that out. Maybe they thought that was Kakko spot to lose, but looking less likely. The revolving door of RW on that line is a joke. Otherwise, break up Mika and Kreider.

People go nuts about Barkov but the thing that made that line so dangerously imo was the two wings who shoot shoot and shoot. Both have great hands 30 feet and in.

 

[Cygnus 2112]

93 has become the Rick Nash towards the end of his career. Great PK’er/not the offensive threat he once was. If Zibs was getting a reasonable salary I’d say dump him onto line 3. Now I just say dump him.

 

[irishlaxburger2]

93 has become the Rick Nash towards the end of his career. Great PK’er not the offensive threat he once was. If Zibs was getting a reasonable salary

See, that’s the thing. If the NHL allowed teams to restructure contracts so we could make him a $4M 3C + PP Specialist, he certainly could still play a role on this team.

Unfortunately, that $8.5M becomes a dead weight that needs to be moved immediately.

 

[mxyxptlk]

The core deserves credit. They had a really good run but inevitably ended up too old, too slow, and/or too soft in my opinion.

I have to disagree with the "ended up ..... too soft" -- most of them have always been soft.

 

[DanielBrassard]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1797142464249184466

What an absolute disgrace. First to waste two unbelievable playoff runs by him but as well needing the goaltender to be this good just to get knocked out in the conference finals.

 

[mxyxptlk]

Not going to touch on Mika/Kreider themselves or their chemistry.

But having 2/3 of a first line with no RW in years is a massive issue that I can't believe hasn't been solved.

That's straight on management and coaching for not figuring that out. Maybe they thought that was Kakko spot to lose, but looking less likely. The revolving door of RW on that line is a joke. Otherwise, break up Mika and Kreider.

Seems to me the only type of player who MIGHT mesh with them is someone who plays the same style -- and we definitely don't need more players like that.

I agree that breaking them up is the only solution left.

 

[nevesis]

Oh the pain…

 

[NickyFotiu]

I have to disagree with the "ended up ..... too soft" -- most of them have always been soft.

Ended up too soft to win.

 

[Brief Candle]

In all honesty, as much as I love my Rangers, I had Florida in 6. Just re-watch that third period. Their sticks are in every lane. They were almost always in good positions to support defensively. Rarely did Florida make a really bad play, and when they did, Bob came up stellar for them. They're a heck of a hockey club.

Positives:
Laffy has become the player we had all hoped he would.
Troch should have the C on his chest.
Shesty kept us in every game.

I'm giving Mika a pass only because he does everything else. Miller and Schneider are still young and have a lot to learn. I thought everyone else besides those mentioned below did their jobs well-enough.

Negatives:
Trouba is a liability to this team in every aspect of the game.

Fox looked like he was running around like a confused child. I love the kid, but he really made some BAD plays, Hopefully it was just that knee-on-knee thatmade him seem so off.

Panarin is a regular-season player. I'm sure he'll have a lovely offseason on whatever boat he likes partying on.

Kakko, who I have been remarkably patient with, will make for a wonderful trade.

Lindgren made SO many stupid passes in the defensive zone that I lost count. He seems to love reversing pucks to the wrong team.

I really hope we see Trouba, Lindgren and Kakko gone by next season. Hell, for the right price, Panarin too.

There needs to be a shift in mentality. There's almost a country club mentality with this team. Like they expect teams to roll over and die because they're the NEEEEEEW YOOOOORK RANGERS. I don't think the team needs to be blown up entirely, but there needs to be some change. We've marched steadily close to a cup, and now is the time to address what is clearly lacking in this team. A lot of people mentioned 5v5 play, and I couldn't agree more. Florida's forechecking was stellar. Their commitment to getting back on defense was stellar.

Heavy hockey with the ability to score is what we should be aiming for. We've got the Skelton of a team that can do that. Fill in the gaps in the off-season and let's keep progressing.

 

[NYR94]

the Rangers have 2 of the top 4 power play goal scorers over the last 5 years (Kreider and Zibanejad tied with 72). When the power play goes cold, there goes a big part of their production. Mika has scored more than 20 even strength goals once in his career and has 9 even strength goals in 58 playoff games as a Ranger.

People have been warning about this for years--the Rangers are mediocre at 5v5 and while elite goaltending and special teams can cover up the warts for a time, when/if one of them stops being elite, especially against top competition in the playoffs, they can't win. You can't rely on the power play to save you every game from October through June. the vast majority of the game is played 5v5, you might want to be good at it.

 

[rangers1314]

My first thought after the game was that I hope Igor plays out next season and hits FA.

It’s not going to happen for him here. Go somewhere else that has the players to win