eco's bones
Registered User
And how great was the team against Tampa? How great was the team against Pittsburgh? How great was the team against Ottawa? How great was the team against anyone not named the Atlanta Trashers in the last 10 years? Always clawing and scraping themselves to just be an inch better than their opponents, always relying on their goaltender to carry the passengers on the team, that are usually a bunch.
Now when Lundqvist doesn't stand on his head 4/5 series, the team is doomed. Because NYR isn't exactly LA Kings, who won with a goalie (Quick) who posted a .912 save percentage when they won the cup. Imagine if this team had any actual team carriers besides Hank. Some actual star player who usually delivers. Zuccarello is a semi star, McD too, but then? No one. Absolutely no one. How many cup winners have you heard of with one, one legit franchise player? Almost none? That's right. Great odds the NYR try to go against here.
But sure, the problem was we didn't play Raanta according to some. Because that was the problem. Ridiculous. Henrik Lundqvist faced more high quality chances than any other goaltender after 2 rounds. Just like every year when NYR goes into the playoffs. Great team, eh?
As for letting Lundqvist go, I think Lundqvist is - and has been - stupid staying with this franchise if he really wants to win a cup. But he obviously cares more about living in New York. Maybe some NYR fans should appreciate that a little bit more. NYR drafted Lundqvist in the 7th round, so it's not like he had any reason to stay loyal. But he did. Apparently that is worth rotten tomatoes by some, because he didn't pretty much single handedly bring the team a cup during his career, because really, the teams NYR faced in the playoffs, a ton of them were better most of the time, but NYR still won, because Lundqvist stood on his head.
So now you want to deal him (yes, please?). Like that would help the NYR winning another cup. That won't happen for another 25 years anyhow. The entire NYR management culture is an entertainment business foremost, not a competitive hockey club. You are customers foremost, not fans. That's the usual backlash for big hockey franchises in big cities for long periods of time.
IMO when you start blaming certain of his teammates you're saying he can't do it on his own. He can't make up for their mistakes---but the Lundqvist of even 5 years ago could make up for a lot more mistakes than the Lundqvist today.
But did I say trade him?--no. He's not the goalie he was 10 years ago though. What I'm saying is the Rangers need another No. 1 as soon as they can get another No. 1.
FWIW Henrik carried the team on his back in the Montreal series. He was our best player. Against the Senators though it was a different story. He let in a number of goals that he would have stopped 10 years ago. He couldn't sustain the same level in the Montreal series and it makes me think that he can't take the team all the way. IMO he can take the team part of the way and if there's another goalie that can help him he might get all the way.
You might not like it but he's going to be 36 next year and even with Staal and/or Klein and/or Girardi gone and I expect at least two of them will be the Rangers aren't likely to have a better group in front of him. He's running out of time and he's not as good as he used to be. He's a sure bet hall of fame goalie but he's not a sure bet to win a Stanley Cup.