Just How Good Are the 2013-14 Rangers?

[jerseyjinx94]

There's a difference between criticizing and a player and being completely biased in your opinion. To say "Stepan sucks" and blah blah, it is borderline anger directed at the player. He is a very poor #1C or a very good #2C. That doesn't mean he sucks.

 

[aufheben]

Actually, I may hate Nash.

Haha that's fine, you're not alone it seems. (Not me though).

 

[Thirty One]

Actually, I may hate Nash.

Proof.

 

[Callagraves]

Proof.

Aw **** they caught me!

Mod, delete! Delete!

 

[LittleKev6D9]

Put me on the "I hate the St. Louis-Callahan trade" ship.

The Rangers prospect pool (for lack of a better word) blows ass. Now this might be a little shocking to some people so hold on to your butts. The way you get a better prospect pool is by getting better prospects. The way you get better prospects is by drafting better. And the way you draft better is by having good picks to draft with. Crazy, I know.

So now the Rangers have lost potentially 2 1st round draft picks, for a guy who probably won't be on the team come 2015-16. Big shot to our chances of getting those better picks to get better prospects.

Short term gain of trade: Our 2nd line sucks a little less. We might get knocked out in ECF. Or (being a big optimist) get slaughtered by one of those Western Conference teams. YAHOO!!

Long term gain of trade: None

 

[NYRFAN218]

Put me on the "I hate the St. Louis-Callahan trade" ship.

The Rangers prospect pool (for lack of a better word) blows ass. Now this might be a little shocking to some people so hold on to your butts. The way you get a better prospect pool is by getting better prospects. The way you get better prospects is by drafting better. And the way you draft better is by having good picks to draft with. Crazy, I know.

So now the Rangers have lost potentially 2 1st round draft picks, for a guy who probably won't be on the team come 2015-16. Big shot to our chances of getting those better picks to get better prospects.

Short term gain of trade: Our 2nd line sucks a little less. We might get knocked out in ECF. Or (being a big optimist) get slaughtered by one of those Western Conference teams. YAHOO!!

Long term gain of trade: None

MSL has said he plans on playing past this contract and he even talked today about how he has a ton left in the tank since he broke into the NHL so late. He'll be around for 3-4 years at least.

 

[Inferno]

There may not be many holes, but the pegs that currently fill those holes definitely need to be upgraded if they want to even begin to pretend they are a "legit contender." They still lack a PMD or really any consistent offensive threat from the blue line. (McDonagh) has added more offense to his game but I would hardly call him a threat.

With the pieces they have (especially in net) they are the cliched, "team you don't want to face" in the playoffs.

he has the same number of goals as the reigning Norris winner, and is top 25 in points.

That's a number 1 offensive defenseman.

All while putting up elite defensive games on a nightly basis (except the Toronto game I suppose).


I'd call that a threat.


Is he elite?

No.

but, so what?

The top team in the NHL right now is the ducks. Their #1 offensive defenseman has a grand total of 1 more point than MCD.


PMD is such a cop out excuse.

I have no problem with the way our D transitions the puck up the ice. I have a problem with the way our D is playing the slot right now.

We've out chanced our opposition in pretty much every game since the break.

We haven't gotten the bounces, and we've played braindead stupid hockey in front of our own net.

I also dont like us at all in the faceoff circle., and i dont like our speed down the middle. As far as players go, Brassard, Stepan and Richards are a pretty strong tandem for your top 3. Elite? No. But definitely in the upper echelon of centers.

Our RW is certainly the best in the NHL, and our LW, while weaker, has gotta be the fastest LW in the NHL as a group.

Right now, we're losing because of stupidity rather than ability IMHO.

Having elite centers won't stop Ryan McDonagh blowing 2 coverages in a game the way he did against Toronto.

Having elite LWers won't stop the Bruins from setting up shop in the slot for chance after chance after chance.

Having PMD won't stop Henrik from giving up questionable goals.

I tend to agree with Beacon...we are a contender, certainly in such a wide open Eastern Conference.

We could just as easily make it to the cup as we can miss the playoffs altogether.

so much unknown out there, and too many 3 point games.

I like this team. I don't like the way they've been playing. 2 very different things.

MZA coming back will stabilize a lot. that 3rd line becomes so much more deadly when he's on the ice.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Is he elite?

No.

but, so what?


so much unknown out there, and too many 3 point games.

McDonagh is elite, without question. He is one of the top 10-15 defenseman in the entire league.

too many 3 point games? I would argue not enough. Take 3-5 of our losses and make them over time losses and we are looking a lot better in the standings.

 

[LittleKev6D9]

McDonagh is elite, without question. He is one of the top 10-15 defenseman in the entire league.

too many 3 point games? I would argue not enough. Take 3-5 of our losses and make them over time losses and we are looking a lot better in the standings.

The word Elite is thrown around in sports way too easily nowadays. It started with NFL QBs and now it's working it's way into every other aspect of sports.

IMO, the only elite player on the Rangers is Lundqvist. If you ask any hockey fan they will say he's Elite. If you ask any hockey if McD is, they might say he's not. IMO, to be Elite there can't be any argument whether or not you are Elite. There's an argument McD isn't.

 

[BBKers]

The word Elite is thrown around in sports way too easily nowadays. It started with NFL QBs and now it's working it's way into every other aspect of sports.

IMO, the only elite player on the Rangers is Lundqvist. If you ask any hockey fan they will say he's Elite. If you ask any hockey if McD is, they might say he's not. IMO, to be Elite there can't be any argument whether or not you are Elite. There's an argument McD isn't.

Agree
Can be made
But otoh then he is approaching Elite with Kryptonian velocity

 

[aufheben]

The questions are: can McDonagh continue putting up these points in the playoffs, and if he can, will the other defenders be able to pick up the lack? McDonagh is great in the playoffs, but that's always been a purely shutdown role. Offense from the D is important in the playoffs. It gives you another option offensively; you need options, there will be teams of all sorts and styles.

 

[aufheben]

Having elite centers won't stop Ryan McDonagh blowing 2 coverages in a game the way he did against Toronto.

No, but one, a la Anze Kopitar, would help on the defensive side of the puck tremendously, (not even to mention offense, and face-offs obviously, can be the best defense at times).

Having elite LWers won't stop the Bruins from setting up shop in the slot for chance after chance after chance.

Marian Hossa?

Having PMD won't stop Henrik from giving up questionable goals.

Again, having the puck in the other team's zone, less time in our zone.

 

[shoves]

Almost half the team are better on paper than what they show on the ice. I feel thats because of AV's system. Im not saying its a bad system, but i dont think they've fully adjusted and made them comfortable in the new, not-tortsy system AV brought in.

I choose to think its only a matter of time (half a year?) before we are a top-5 team in the League.

 

[Ail]

Their numbers in the dot are unacceptable outside the 4th line and that can be a major detriment in the playoffs. I said the same thing going in to the '11-'12 playoffs. It did definitely bite them in the ass a few times. As well as the power play which we all know is finally better. Their strength down the middle is the most glaring weakness and with a true #1C I think you could easily over look the lack of LW and offensive depth on the blueline, especially when you consider the RW depth, defense and goaltending.

For as much as I chastise toffnuss, a little more snarl and intensity in the games of a few players would really improve their prescence on the ice. Particularly the entire top line. Kreider needs to play with that edge to really complete his game. Nash needs to play bigger.

I think if a few things come together they would be a very tough opponent most games. They have enough strengths to out-weigh the weaknesses, but only if they are playing a complete game from top to bottom. Easier said than done. I guess we'll see.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

The word Elite is thrown around in sports way too easily nowadays. It started with NFL QBs and now it's working it's way into every other aspect of sports.

IMO, the only elite player on the Rangers is Lundqvist. If you ask any hockey fan they will say he's Elite. If you ask any hockey if McD is, they might say he's not. IMO, to be Elite there can't be any argument whether or not you are Elite. There's an argument McD isn't.

The ole "ask any hockey fan" method of judging. McDonagh has been easily our best player this year, yes better than Lundqvist.

 

[Jersey Girl]

MSL has said he plans on playing past this contract and he even talked today about how he has a ton left in the tank since he broke into the NHL so late. He'll be around for 3-4 years at least.

The 'he'll be around 3-4 years at least' statement is totally irrelevant to the trade. We traded for his rights for this season and next, and that's it.

After next season he's a UFA, which means in year three we can sign him and it would cost us no assets whatsoever - and since he loves this area so much, you'd have to think we'll be at the top of his list.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

The ole "ask any hockey fan" method of judging. McDonagh has been easily our best player this year, yes better than Lundqvist.

I know - I don't care what any hockey fan thinks. I do agree that the word Elite is thrown around too much, but I do think that McDonagh is in that category.

Name a defenseman with 10 goals/40 point potential that is as shut down as Ryan Mcdonagh. Name 5. Name 10. That makes him elite. There aren't many, if any.

 

[LittleKev6D9]

I know - I don't care what any hockey fan thinks. I do agree that the word Elite is thrown around too much, but I do think that McDonagh is in that category.

Name a defenseman with 10 goals/40 point potential that is as shut down as Ryan Mcdonagh. Name 5. Name 10. That makes him elite. There aren't many, if any.

Another thing that makes me consider someone Elite is consistency. Hank has been at or near the top for almost a decade now. McD has been for 2 years. I think he definitely will be considered one of the Elite defenders, but he's not there just yet.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Another thing that makes me consider someone Elite is consistency. Hank has been at or near the top for almost a decade now. McD has been for 2 years. I think he definitely will be considered one of the Elite defenders, but he's not there just yet.

He's been pretty elite defensively for 3 years. And very good every year he's been here.

 

[Thirty One]

Will the Blues' centers preclude them from being a legitimate contender this spring?

They've gotten 21.53% of their points from their top 4 centers (Rangers 30.95%), including 8.03% from their top one (Rangers 10.16%).

 

[Ail]

Will the Blues' centers preclude them from being a legitimate contender this spring?

They've gotten 21.53% of their points from their top 4 centers (Rangers 30.95%), including 8.03% from their top one (Rangers 10.16%).

Their highest scoring center (Backes) has as many points as the Rangers (Richards), and the Rangers 3rd center (Brassard) has as many as their second (Roy) with Stepan slotting right between their first and second at 40.

Another fair point is that their FO% (A concern of mine) is 14th and the Rangers are 17th. Really that's only because of Sobotka who is an ace in the dot. So it's pretty close, especially when you look at the number for both team's top 3 Cs.

Honestly I think both teams are comparable down the middle with the biggest difference being Backes plays a more complete game than any of the Rangers top-3.

However center comparisons aside, St. Louis certainly looks like the better team in the standings, FWIW. So either the Rangers wings, centers, or both need to start scoring more, because the biggest difference is that St. Louis is 3rd in GF/G while the Rangers are 19th.

 

[Thirty One]

Their highest scoring center (Backes) has as many points as the Rangers (Richards), and the Rangers 3rd center (Brassard) has as many as their second (Roy) with Stepan slotting right between their first and second at 40.

Another fair point is that their FO% (A concern of mine) is 14th and the Rangers are 17th. Really that's only because of Sobotka who is an ace in the dot. So it's pretty close, especially when you look at the number for both team's top 3 Cs.

Honestly I think both teams are comparable down the middle with the biggest difference being Backes plays a more complete game than any of the Rangers top-3.

However center comparisons aside, St. Louis certainly looks like the better team in the standings, FWIW. So either the Rangers wings, centers, or both need to start scoring more, because the biggest difference is that St. Louis is 3rd in GF/G while the Rangers are 19th.

Oh, I definitely think St. Louis has a lot better chance than the Rangers. Just wondering why they are knighted legitimate contenders with their center situation, while the Rangers center situation precludes them.

 

[Ail]

Oh, I definitely think St. Louis has a lot better chance than the Rangers. Just wondering why they are knighted legitimate contenders with their center situation, while the Rangers center situation precludes them.

Yeah, it's a totally fair question. The C situation alone cannot blamed.

 

[McRanger]

Oh, I definitely think St. Louis has a lot better chance than the Rangers. Just wondering why they are knighted legitimate contenders with their center situation, while the Rangers center situation precludes them.

Because Pietrangelo has 10 more points than McDonagh and Shattenkirk has 5 more points.

They count as a PMD. McDonagh does not.

They have more checks on the contender checklist. Can't win without checks.

Unless you're a gritty Torts team. Throwing checks > having checks, so to speak.

 

[Thirty One]

Sporting News: Even before Martin St. Louis trade, the Rangers were on the rise

Heading into the season, many (me included) predicted that the Penguins and Bruins would again meet in the Eastern Conference Finals. They were the best two teams in the conference during last year’s lockout shortened season, and they’ve once again been the cream of the crop. The Bruins, last year’s Eastern representative in the Stanley Cup Final, and the Penguins, short of another Sidney Crosby concussion, will always remain teams I wouldn’t want to bet against.

But don’t bank on that rematch just yet, because it looks like there’s at least a feasible third entrant into the discussion: the New York Rangers.