Post-Game Talk: Mouse

[Machinehead]

You know, I saw people arguing about the powerplay last night, talking about should we move Panarin to such and such position, and while we're talking about which peg goes in which hole, I see Jersey's powerplay playing with freedom and moving all over the ice.

Our powerplay has gotten way too much like this.

It's odd, because while it seems like the 5v5 offense is all freelancing and nobody ever has a plan, we play the powerplay in a suffocating 1-3-1 where everyone moves like they're in one of those covid rings at the park.

 

[The S5]

I get the logic that people say every coach sucks, but does it make more sense to say every player sucks? I think that makes less sense just based on the sample size.

Prospects should be inherently hit or miss. There's way too much miss (and way too much hit on teams like NJ) to think it's completely random and that development is entirely up to the personnel.

I could agree that spinning their wheels on another coach is going to be the same result, but I would at least like to see an effort made on improving prospect turnover.

They always had the excuse that they were limited at the draft in terms of quantity and quality of picks. As it turns out, that hasn't changed anything.

This is Hischier's 6th season and until now, he could have been considered a disappointment.
Hughes is just a special offensive talent.
Bratt has turned into a really good player, but he is 24.
I guess there is still time for some of our guys. I do think Chytil, given some decent linemate's, can be a 60 point player. Same for KK. It just seems like the kid is on an epic snake bitten run. These kids do need to play top 6 minutes and be given more opportunity.
In no way should Goodrow or Vesey be playing top 6 minutes.

 

[leetch99]

Panarin not giving Fox the passing option right before the ENG just about says it all.

Team’s still better than their record despite what this place would have you believe.

Panarin is also NEVER set for a one timer on the point and you know he is thinking pass every time and if not then he dilly dallies for a couple of seconds to get the puck perfect on his stick...takes a couple of strides forward and dumps it off......happens about 5 times a night .

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

The Devils didn’t rag doll us at all. If Shesterkin didn’t play like a beer league goalie, we would have won.

Agreed, bad goaltending was probably the biggest issue last night. You can't win getting goaltending like that. The only goal you can maybe cut him some slack on is the breakaway but even that, Hughes fans on the shot and Igor is normally great at breakaways.

That first goal, he was so insanely off his angle it looked like he had his eyes closed or something. If he's just square to Tatar, he doesn't even have to make a save, the puck would've just hit him. The second goal is a bad turnover but a mid shot that he typically stops with no issue. Fourth goal is a simple backhand that goes through him, another low danger shot he usually stops without even any kind of issue at all.

He was not even remotely close to good enough last night, which has unfortunately been a problem for most of this season.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Agreed, bad goaltending was probably the biggest issue last night. You can't win getting goaltending like that. The only goal you can maybe cut him some slack on is the breakaway but even that, Hughes fans on the shot and Igor is normally great at breakaways.

That first goal, he was so insanely off his angle it looked like he had his eyes closed or something. If he's just square to Tatar, he doesn't even have to make a save, the puck would've just hit him. The second goal is a bad turnover but a mid shot that he typically stops with no issue. Fourth goal is a simple backhand that goes through him, another low danger shot he usually stops without even any kind of issue at all.

He was not even remotely close to good enough last night, which has unfortunately been a problem for most of this season.

People wanna talk about Panarin and Trouba, and they are certainly fair game and deserve whatever shit they get, but you can't have your $6m goalie giving up these kinds of goals from all over the ice. I forget who they played a few weeks ago, but he gave up 3 of 4 goals on 8 shots in the third. Just an awful, awful run for the guy.

 

[JHS]

Anton Strahlman was just put on waivers. I'd seriously consider him as a nice upgrade for the 6th D spot.

 

[duhmetreE]

huh? The fourth line is basically cast aways he actually can't put on any other line because they are so awful. He's not keeping them together because they are "good" he's keeping them together because they would honestly destroy any line they are on.

he's not playing Kravtsov because the 4th line is doing 'well'

Instead of slotting Goodrow or Vesey to the 4th line, bumping Carpenter or Blais for Kravtsov.

It doesn't make any sense.

 

[duhmetreE]

Where has Kakko from the beginning of the season gone?

He's not a good match with Panarin - Chytil IMO

Put him back with Kreider and Zibs. Please.


Kreider Zibs Kakko
Panarin Chytii Kravtsov
Laffy Trocheck Gauthier
Vesey Carpenter Goodrow

please. and thank you.

 

[gravey9]

Panarin is also NEVER set for a one timer on the point and you know he is thinking pass every time and if not then he dilly dallies for a couple of seconds to get the puck perfect on his stick...takes a couple of strides forward and dumps it off......happens about 5 times a night .

You know, I saw people arguing about the powerplay last night, talking about should we move Panarin to such and such position, and while we're talking about which peg goes in which hole, I see Jersey's powerplay playing with freedom and moving all over the ice.

Our powerplay has gotten way too much like this.

View attachment 614465

It's odd, because while it seems like the 5v5 offense is all freelancing and nobody ever has a plan, we play the powerplay in a suffocating 1-3-1 where everyone moves like they're in one of those covid rings at the park.

That’s not fair. If you perfect that game, there’s a ton of movement away from the puck and driving the net.

 

[leetch99]

Yup. For the 100th time- 5 of those players in the “players only meetings” should not even be in the room because they are not NHL players.

There are also 5 guys with their head up their ass that should not be in the room either for the first part of the player's only meeting...but should be brought in after when the message needs to be delivered to them by the remaining few that do care . That 5 would include Panarin-Kreider-Zibs[who did a couple of fly bys in his own end along the boards to avoid possible hit ...and whiffed on clearing the puck] , Troubs/Miller and possibly Shesty but since the defense is so bad it is hard to blame him . Would they give a hoot what the rest are saying and or thinking ...probably not.....so here we are. It is a real SNAFU . The best thing that can happen to this club right now is to miss the playoffs and have a lottery shot . A first round exit in the playoffs is equal to a shovelful of cow poop .

 

[Machinehead]

Anton Strahlman was just put on waivers. I'd seriously consider him as a nice upgrade for the 6th D spot.

He's not gonna play. He's RH and the Rangers love Schneider. The left side is more problematic on that pair.

 

[duhmetreE]

You know, I saw people arguing about the powerplay last night, talking about should we move Panarin to such and such position, and while we're talking about which peg goes in which hole, I see Jersey's powerplay playing with freedom and moving all over the ice.

Our powerplay has gotten way too much like this.

View attachment 614465

It's odd, because while it seems like the 5v5 offense is all freelancing and nobody ever has a plan, we play the powerplay in a suffocating 1-3-1 where everyone moves like they're in one of those covid rings at the park.

For a 1-3-1 to work you need to come in tighter and everyone on the wall needs to be around the dots, AND a shooting threat. That's never the case here because Panarin takes himself out of shooting position and has to skate into it... once he skates into it, it defeats the purpose. The defenseman also needs to shoot, which Fox is getting better at.. We're more of a bastardized hybrid of 'do what you want'.

It's obvious and telegraphed now. Everyone knows what we're doing. Fox and Panarin are out of range to being threats.. Just think about it... IF Panarin and Fox are out on top, far from being a threat, it's essentially even-strength down low. It's easy to cover Zibs and Trocheck for one timers. It's easy to just take away passing lanes because there's typically no shooting threat from Panarin/Fox.

Just like everything else on the team, there's no structure to create lanes/space.

 

[duhmetreE]

Our season rests on the next 8 games.

We should have no problem mopping the floor the next 3 but we all know it's unlikely to happen, with this team finding ways to lose. Would 4pts be acceptable? vs OTTx2 and Chicago? I guess for this teams current standards... but it should be all 6pts.. I do not care how, just win.

The following 5 games will truly determine the seasons success IMO. This will be the barometer and measuring stick of the team
vs STL
@ VGK
@ COL
vs NJD
vs TOR

what's acceptable? 8pts+ would be promising and would have the team back on track. 6pts is ok, I guess... anything less and we're missing the playoffs.

 

[haveandare]

If they’re not able to win games this way, we need to at least play the kids a lot more.

Looking at Stutzle and Thompson for example, some young players just struggle and need to get fed big minutes until it comes together.

I can, to an extent, understand trying to bring them along slowly when the vets in front of them are winning games. But if that’s not happening its time to feed them big minutes and not care so much who’s feelings get hurt about it.

 

[Sisu4ever]

I wonder if Panarin, Igor and Kravtsov might have trouble concentrating on their play, not been able to perform fully, mentally, due to the situation in their home country, where they still have family & friends to worry about (not discussing what's going on over there, but how it affects their players over here).

 

[duhmetreE]

If they’re not able to win games this way, we need to at least play the kids a lot more.

Looking at Stutzle and Thompson for example, some young players just struggle and need to get fed big minutes until it comes together.

I can, to an extent, understand trying to bring them along slowly when the vets in front of them are winning games. But if that’s not happening its time to feed them big minutes and not care so much who’s feelings get hurt about it.

The kids needs to be sharpened. Their skills have taken a backseat to what exactly? Hustling? We joke about it but Lafreniere does look more like Jed Ortmeyer than a #1OA pick. That's a problem. Skills need to be re-emphasized.

Everything is dull and blunt. It's like grinding a razor sharp katana against boulders and asking why wont it cut anymore.. It's not just the kids, everyone on this team has regressed skill wise. Mika can't handle a pass, one-time or shoot like he used to. Panarin's hands are not the same. Kreider can't deflect anywhere close to what he was doing last year etc..

We need to refine and re-sharpen our top players skills. What purpose do our practices serve? We don't play like a team, we have no structure and our skills suck. What are we doing in practice?

 

[Whoot Whoot]

I woke up here in Cali and half expected some big news from the Rangers

 

[LORDE]

If they’re not able to win games this way, we need to at least play the kids a lot more.

Looking at Stutzle and Thompson for example, some young players just struggle and need to get fed big minutes until it comes together.

I can, to an extent, understand trying to bring them along slowly when the vets in front of them are winning games. But if that’s not happening its time to feed them big minutes and not care so much who’s feelings get hurt about it.

Have been saying this as well.

We're not winning w the method GG is employing

May as well get the kids major mins

Maybe that pays dividends later?

Also, While I certainly agree Igor was bad last night (and has been mediocre this season thus far) the constant turning over the puck from our entire team is quite worrisome and getting worse honestly

 

[racamdim]

Can we just leave Hughes and Hischier out of it going forward and start comparing the development of Lafreniere and Kakko with Holtz and Zetterlund?


Devils still might come out ahead.

 

[RangerLifer]

Anton Strahlman was just put on waivers. I'd seriously consider him as a nice upgrade for the 6th D spot.

I was pissed when we let him go years ago. He was very good here.

 

[JHS]

I was pissed when we let him go years ago. He was very good here.

yeah that was my thought. He's a one million dollar hit but realistically he's likely a big upgrade in an area we really need an upgrade. I hear @Machinehead 's point about the position not fitting but I'd be seriously interested in signing him as a depth type player.

 

[leetch99]

I woke up here in Cali and half expected some big news from the Rangers

Well our coach did post a message bright and early on Facebook this AM ....I might actually be the only person on this forum though that can see it . It was not about the bad goaltending or back to back with the Sens upcoming or the Rangers porus roster he has to work with , but it was about hockey !

 

[DialUp]

Our season rests on the next 8 games.

We should have no problem mopping the floor the next 3 but we all know it's unlikely to happen, with this team finding ways to lose. Would 4pts be acceptable? vs OTTx2 and Chicago? I guess for this teams current standards... but it should be all 6pts.. I do not care how, just win.

The following 5 games will truly determine the seasons success IMO. This will be the barometer and measuring stick of the team
vs STL
@ VGK
@ COL
vs NJD
vs TOR

what's acceptable? 8pts+ would be promising and would have the team back on track. 6pts is ok, I guess... anything less and we're missing the playoffs.

This team doesn't stumble upon wins like they did last year (or like every bad team does every now and then). We stumble into losses. Unless they decide to play professional hockey that will be 5 straight losses against those teams without any push back.

They have to start playing the damned game.

 

[Matt Rentfree]

The rest.

The Devils didn’t rag doll us at all. If Shesterkin didn’t play like a beer league goalie, we would have won.

Shesterkin has been pretty pedestrian this season. I wonder how much of it has to do with having a newborn in the house? Even if his wife is doing 100% of the primary caregiving, that baby is probably waking him up every 2 hours. Not surprising he's playing badly.

 

[LieutenantLackluster]

Gallants next job