Post-Game Talk: I think this team might have some flaws

[McRanger92]

This season is cooked.

You're not trading several problems and getting back 4 or 5 NHL guys to fill those holes immediately.

They got rid of Trouba, which was awesome, but so far, a bunch of garbage has replaced him. That's pretty much what I expect in the short-term.

I'm not advocating for a tear-down rebuild, but a high pick this year wouldn't hurt as they hopefully look to retool for the following couple of seasons.

If they wind up missing so be it but they aren’t tanking. And billion dollar sports franchises don’t punt seasons because of a rough couple months leaving them 3 points out of a playoff spot. Gotta be aggressive.

 

[Machinehead]

If they wind up missing so be it but they aren’t tanking. And billion dollar sports franchises don’t punt seasons because of a rough couple months leaving them 3 points out of a playoff spot. Gotta be aggressive.

Nobody said tank.

All I'm saying is continue moving on from this group, even if they win a few.

 

[Brutananadilewski]

If they wind up missing so be it but they aren’t tanking. And billion dollar sports franchises don’t punt seasons because of a rough couple months leaving them 3 points out of a playoff spot. Gotta be aggressive.

Let me tell you a story about the fabled Giants of New York....

 

[McRanger92]

Let me tell you a story about the fabled Giants of New York....

The rangers aren’t the giants

Nobody said tank.

All I'm saying is continue moving on from this group, even if they win a few.

Many people are saying tank. More losses are not good for the rangers

 

[mas0764]

They never should have gone to war with this group. Imagine the position they'd be in now if they traded Mika when he had a ton of value, kept their 2022 1st and got Mintyukov or Bicshel, and nutted up to get Eichel or Tkachuk.

I imagine that all the time, sadly.

 

[Brutananadilewski]

The rangers aren’t the giants

I know. Between the two, the Rangers were the last team to win at Met Life.

But here's the kicker: the Giants have had more recent success compared to the Rangers.

 

[mas0764]

Crazy to me that people want to tank. It’s not even Christmas lol. Fans and players of this team are the same way. Quit when adversity hits.

It’s not that adversity hits. It’s that the team isn’t good enough even if they pull out of the tailspin. Make the playoffs? For what? So we can get rolled by the Devils?

There’s only one way to get better: more talent. You can’t serve two masters, either you are in win mode or you are in talent acquisition mode. We need to be in the latter.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Caps lost to Chicago.

In the words of our eminent resident professor: "Its all random chaos. Rubber goes where rubber wants"

Heavily paraphrased of course.

Yeah and if the caps end up losing 10 of their next 13 then we can look back on that as the start of something. They won’t.


I’m aware that these one off games happen to good teams. Playoff teams don’t spiral the second things get a bit tough and lose to everyone. Their most recent win was Buffalo who has lost 10 straight and they should have lost that one.

I thought there was some light at the end of the tunnel after trading Trouba. The Pitt game was a good effort (and Pitt has been playing better.) They’ve lost 5 of 6 since then and every team they’ve played since then has sucked aside from LA.

 

[DaBadGuy7]

Big Em is our only reporter.

I hate to admit this, Drury as bad as he’s been recently, I much rather keep him than Dolan hiring someone potentially worse. Besides Leon Rose, his ability to pick execs for both Knicks and Rangers has been bad. If there is a CAA Hockey agent that can do the job maybe I’ll consider it lol.

 

[Machinehead]

Let me tell you a story about the fabled Giants of New York....

The Giants were aggressive in trying to fill holes this offseason.

I don't think they've done all that much wrong except royally f*** up the quarterback position which you absolutely cannot do.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I remain optimistic.

I usually am but I saw this coming and said so for 2 years. Our top 6 would all be past 30 and slow down with no real replacement outside of Lafi. Plus I haven't been as high on Fox as most fans. I feel this team won as much as they could and are now done until major younger faster more physical players are added.

 

[Fitzy]

I hate to admit this, Drury as bad as he’s been recently, I much rather keep him than Dolan hiring someone potentially worse. Besides Leon Rose, his ability to pick execs for both Knicks and Rangers has been bad. If there is a CAA Hockey agent that can do the job maybe I’ll consider it lol.

I don't want to set the precedent that a few of our 'leaders' who have won nothing can pout their way out of a general manager.

Kreider isn't Messier. He hasn't earned that kind of deference.

 

[Brutananadilewski]

The Giants were aggressive in trying to fill holes this offseason.

I don't think they've done all that much wrong except royally f*** up the quarterback position which you absolutely cannot do.

That's on Jones as well. He had a really good season in '22, and then practically everything just fell-off.

 

[McRanger92]

It’s not that adversity hits. It’s that the team isn’t good enough even if they pull out of the tailspin. Make the playoffs? For what? So we can get rolled by the Devils?

There’s only one way to get better: more talent. You can’t serve two masters, either you are in win mode or you are in talent acquisition mode. We need to be in the latter.

Plenty of guys on the team they can trade for younger talent or assets. They’ll be better by default at 5v5 if they add guys who compete. Make them start playing like a team. How is tanking for an 18 year old helping them any time soon?

 

[mas0764]

This season is cooked.

You're not trading several problems and getting back 4 or 5 NHL guys to fill those holes immediately.

They got rid of Trouba, which was awesome, but so far, a bunch of garbage has replaced him. That's pretty much what I expect in the short-term.

I'm not advocating for a tear-down rebuild, but a high pick this year wouldn't hurt as they hopefully look to retool for the following couple of seasons.

Define “tear down.” If you move on from Kreider, Zibanejad, Smith, Kakko, Miller, Vesey, and Quick in the time period between now and the start of next season, you’ll be hard pressed to backfill even with bringing aboard some free agents and Othmann and Perrault, enough to be any sort of competitor. And that’s assuming you keep Panarin.

They can keep Fox, Shesterkin, Chytil, Laf, Cuylle and some young pieces and still call it a nuking.

They need MULTIPLE top 6 young forwards including at least one center but probably 2, and MULTIPLE defensive pieces. They are good at wing. Yay.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

The team is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Because in reality they need to trade a bunch of guys, lose and be bad this year to reset going forward.

But I don’t think ownership is going to allow that to happen.

So now Drury is going to be significantly hampered in what deals he can make. Which isn’t great cause he sucks at trades to begin with

 

[mas0764]

Plenty of guys on the team they can trade for younger talent or assets. They’ll be better by default at 5v5 if they add guys who compete. Make them start playing like a team. How is tanking for an 18 year old helping them any time soon?

They aren’t gonna be good “any time soon” anyway. They have too many missing pieces. You can’t patchwork this team into a competitor.

You need multiple additional foundational pieces. Haven’t you learned that yet?

Rip the f***ing band aid off and just do it. It’s the quickest way to a competitor. Otherwise you are just wallpapering over problems and we will be a second round exit team behind good goaltending again.

 

[Machinehead]

That's on Jones as well. He had a really good season in '22, and then practically everything just fell-off.

That's true. He seemed to be putting it together and then came back worse than ever. I'm sure the injuries were a factor.

I think they have a decent roster if they get a QB. Their pass defense is top 10 in the league.

They literally cannot move the ball. You're barely going to win any games like that.

 

[Graves97]

I know some might not agree but coming within 2 games of the SCF twice in 3 years is close in my book.

If Rangers win in OT in game 4 and take the 3-1 lead, I dont think Florida would have been able to claw back.

They were utterly dominated and can thank Igor and luck as the only reason they weren't swept in that series. Literally looked like men playing against children.

Carolina came pretty close to clawing their way back if not for a once in a lifetime event in the third period of Game 6.

Its pretty obvious this team has always been heavily flawed and reliant on exceptional goal tending and their PP to win during the regular season. Both of these although important are not the main drivers of success in the playoffs.

 

[mas0764]

Nobody said tank.

All I'm saying is continue moving on from this group, even if they win a few.

What’s the difference? No one is saying trade Fox or Lafreniere.

Literally anyone else who brings back value should be on the table. The best value you can probably get back is draft picks. No one is giving you a young NHL ready top 6 center for Kreider. If you take some picks perhaps you can draft one.

 

[Fitzy]

Jones hasn't been good enough in the offensive zone to excuse his inability to get players off the puck in the defensive zone, and his puck movement from behind the goal line under pressure isn't a strength.

He's good once he has possession in the offensive zone but that is his chief attribute, and we aren't currently in the O zone enough with him on the ice to make it worthwhile.

I don't think he's here on this roster in 2-3 years.

 

[Machinehead]

What’s the difference? No one is saying trade Fox or Lafreniere.

Literally anyone else who brings back value should be on the table. The best value you can probably get back is draft picks. No one is giving you a young NHL ready top 6 center for Kreider. If you take some picks perhaps you can draft one.

A tank would be trading Fox.

A tank is being deliberately bad, as opposed to moving out guys you want to move out and then letting the chips fall.

 

[mas0764]

The team is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Because in reality they need to trade a bunch of guys, lose and be bad this year to reset going forward.

But I don’t think ownership is going to allow that to happen.

So now Drury is going to be significantly hampered in what deals he can make. Which isn’t great cause he sucks at trades to begin with

If they were smart they’d be bad the next 3 years and still emerge with a core of middle aged Laf Kakko Chytil Fox Shesterkin and then some elite young talent.

A tank would be trading Fox.

A tank is being deliberately bad, as opposed to moving out guys you want to move out and then letting the chips fall.

I’d keep Fox but move out enough veterans that getting a top 5-10 pick is very likely.

 

[Siddi]

Yeah and if the caps end up losing 10 of their next 13 then we can look back on that as the start of something. They won’t.


I’m aware that these one off games happen to good teams. Playoff teams don’t spiral the second things get a bit tough and lose to everyone. Their most recent win was Buffalo who has lost 10 straight and they should have lost that one.

I thought there was some light at the end of the tunnel after trading Trouba. The Pitt game was a good effort (and Pitt has been playing better.) They’ve lost 5 of 6 since then and every team they’ve played since then has sucked aside from LA.

You are not wrong but this whole situation around the team is nothing we have seen before. Mutiny on level.

Let it play out. If nothing this soap opera is entertaining.

 

[Machinehead]

The team is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Because in reality they need to trade a bunch of guys, lose and be bad this year to reset going forward.

But I don’t think ownership is going to allow that to happen.

So now Drury is going to be significantly hampered in what deals he can make. Which isn’t great cause he sucks at trades to begin with

The Knicks went 17-65 and Dolan pretty much gave Leon Rose carte blanche to clean up the previous administration's entire roster. They were rumored to be landing every piece under the sun, as they always are, and instead, Rose hoarded draft picks for years. They built their roster with zero high-profile UFA's not counting their own re-signings.

Dolan sucks for a variety of reasons but him allegedly meddling is just an excuse to paper over the Rangers' own incompetence, particuarly Gorton who nuked his own rebuild as soon as a couple of names became available.