Post-Game Talk: New York Islanders at New York Rangers - October 19, 2017

[RBNY]

AV has been poor but the kneejerk crowd calling for his firing after a couple games is way too premature. A new coach isn't going to do much different and there is plenty of time to turn it around with another 70+ games left. I laugh at the "zomg fire AV!!!" posts.

The biggest issue appears to be the players just sucking, particularly Lundqvist who is just not an NHL-level goalie at this current moment. He usually goes through a slump each year but it's happening earlier this time. I'd put in Pavelec for a couple games and try to get the team in front of him to play more defensively, then work Lundqvist back into the fold.

 

[Ori]

It`s more about unrealistic season goal concerning playoffs @RBNY . They moved Stepan an average 50 pts. player each season for us for future picks & DeAngelo. Not saying it was wrong, but logically it will be harder to compete this year since our 50 pts. guy center is moved. AV was asked about the question before the season started, and they said they won`t change their season expectation to reach playoffs.

But otherwise you`ve a good point 8 games into a new season is too early to decide anything conerning AV, and it`s certainly not all on him, but the franchise decided to aim for the future in the summer - so we fans need to just stick with it and hope for the best. But as I`ve mentioned several times probably here - that it`s not end of the world if we miss playoffs this year. It`s a really good draft year in 2018 to join the lottery.

 

[SA16]

It’s not knee jerk reactions people have wanted him gone long before this season started. The way this season has begun has done nothing to change that

 

[NYRFANMANI]

I believe that some players are determined to win a Cup. They force it. Of course there is some luck in building teams like Pitt did, but players of Crosby's talent force a Cup. Think Crosby as a Coyote ... he still would have won a Cup, I'd say.

You'll need players like that. Kane (P.), Doughty, Hedman, these kind of players increase the % of winning a Cup drastically. We need a guy like that. Dahlin is a guy like that.

I'm more amused than anything by this start. I guess, the only thing keeping me sane is HFNYR.

 

[haohmaru]

AV has been poor but the kneejerk crowd calling for his firing after a couple games is way too premature. A new coach isn't going to do much different and there is plenty of time to turn it around with another 70+ games left. I laugh at the "zomg fire AV!!!" posts.

The biggest issue appears to be the players just sucking, particularly Lundqvist who is just not an NHL-level goalie at this current moment. He usually goes through a slump each year but it's happening earlier this time. I'd put in Pavelec for a couple games and try to get the team in front of him to play more defensively, then work Lundqvist back into the fold.

Someone calling "Fire AV" chants "knee jerk" while simultaneously saying that Lundqvist isn't an NHL level goalie is almost comical. Yikes.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

It’s not knee jerk reactions people have wanted him gone long before this season started. The way this season has begun has done nothing to change that

Meh...

The majority of the posters/fans calling for his head are the same posters/ fans who do the same thing every season:

They generate up to 10,000 posts on derivatives of the following two things:

1. Player/Coach/Skate Sharpener/Hot Dog Vendor are the cause of our problems. They need to be removed

And if 1. Is accomplished, it will allow for

2. Player/Coach/Skate Sharpener/Hot Dog Vendor to join the team because


They:

A. Exactly what we need to fix issues plaguing the team for years [i.e power play]
B. Has some über stat in some esoteric new stat that gets social media salavating
C. Was a former number 1 pick who has been shitty but "just needs a change of scenery"
D. "Doesn’t come around often" [i.e. happens every year]

If said Player/Coach/Skate Sharpener/Hot Dog Vendor does not pan out [note: if working out is determined by winning the cup, every move made since WW2 aside from Mark Messier did not pan out]

Then:

i. If player forward —> Coach use wrong
ii. If Coach —> Former Coach was undescovered Scotty Bowman
iii. If player offensive defenseman —> Coach use wrong
iv. If player defensive defensemen —> NHL has changed no longer need to play defense
v. If Coach yet not in nostalgia period for former hated coach —> need coach X who brings accountability

The team is really playing like shit though.

 

[haohmaru]

Meh - I'm not one of those witch hunt posters at all and I think AV is at the end of his road here.

2nd worst start in the history of the team, one win in eight games, slow starts in every game, musical chair lineups before and during games, Staal & Shattenkirk?, etc...

Honestly, this league has so much parity that a start like this could ALREADY mean the season is lost unless they go on a ridiculous run at some point.

To me, a team that comes out flat every game to start the season that supposedly believes they still have something to prove either don't really believe that or are playing a flawed system or a system they no longer believe in.

AV is a good coach. Just not here. Not anymore.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Also I think the team lies. There was an intermission interview with Vesey couple games ago, he said they want to play "an honest game". Whilst stating that, he looked down to his feet, dodging the judgement of the camera and the eyes behind it that watch. To me that's a sign of a lie, dishonesty. Something is up. Either it's a conspiracy by the players against the coach or a conspiracy of the entire team and FO in order to tank.

----

Ps: I said it then, I'll say it now. The best time in recent years was when AV just got here. The lessons of Tort's gritty defensive system were still fresh and AV's offensive scheme added to that. There was balance and poise. Since then the D is constantly getting worse. On top of that the offensive scheme went into deep stagnation culminating in this season's impotence.

WE NEED A NEW COACH, more than that we need elite talent.

 

[Ghost of jas]

Well, anyway. One loss closer to Dahlin! #FallinForDahlin

The drafts in 2018 for all of my teams - Rangers, Giants, Mets and Knicks - are likely all going to be top 10. Could be a watershed year. Hell, the Knicks and Rangers could be at the top of the draft.

 

[Mac n Gs]

I'm more frustrated that for 30 minutes it looked like these guys have never played hockey together before, and then for the next 30 minutes they kicked the Islanders teeth into their collective skulls.

It's eerily similar to how things just started clicking in the 13-14 year, but they need to start making it count in the standings.

 

[Mike in Houston]

1-5-2 is better than 1-6-1.

I'm nothing if not positive.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Can one of you guys make an outsider understand why the heck Buch is stuck on the 4th line?

He's one of the few kids I'm intrigued by outside of my team. Wasn't he suppose to be given top mins this year? I noticed he started on the top line and seemed to have been decent.

This situation is reminding me a lot like the Stars situation back when Nichushkin was a rookie. P.S. Ruff your assistant coach was a huge reason Val left to play in the KHL for the last two seasons.

Because our coach makes bad deployment decisions.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

AV has been poor but the kneejerk crowd calling for his firing after a couple games is way too premature.

AV has been poor for a long time now. He plays the wrong players. He should have been let go after losing the Ottawa series.

 

[KOVALEV022473]

If not for Hank we would have walked away from this game with 0 points.

I didn’t realize that Hank scored our three goals.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Meh - I'm not one of those witch hunt posters at all and I think AV is at the end of his road here.

2nd worst start in the history of the team, one win in eight games, slow starts in every game, musical chair lineups before and during games, Staal & Shattenkirk?, etc...

Honestly, this league has so much parity that a start like this could ALREADY mean the season is lost unless they go on a ridiculous run at some point.

To me, a team that comes out flat every game to start the season that supposedly believes they still have something to prove either don't really believe that or are playing a flawed system or a system they no longer believe in.

AV is a good coach. Just not here. Not anymore.

I used the term majority which implies not necessarily you.

I also didn’t quote you.

Meh...

 

[Hunter Gathers]

The team is really playing like **** though.

The entire team, save for a couple of guys, is definitely playing like shit. Granted, I've been railing against AV before basically anyone on here since I have always despised his style of coaching.

 

[ponytrekker]

I'm more frustrated that for 30 minutes it looked like these guys have never played hockey together before, and then for the next 30 minutes they kicked the Islanders teeth into their collective skulls.

It's eerily similar to how things just started clicking in the 13-14 year, but they need to start making it count in the standings.

That's coaching or the lack thereof. They have tune him oot. New coach, we improve, make the playoffs, get through a round or two. Maybe with some breaks, get to the ECF. Lose out, get a generational talent, maybe, and pair that with a stellar looking goalie.

 

[Idlerlee]

Whilst stating that, he looked down to his feet, dodging the judgement of the camera and the eyes behind it that watch.

Looking down briefly after answering a question is something you'll find in pretty much every single interview.

 

[chosen]

I can wait until tomorrow.

This notion of Sutter as savior is absurd.

Has anyone checked how the Kings are doing this year?

I am not saying Sutter is bad, but fans always paint coaches as great or shit.

Sutter just happens to be the god of the moment.

 

[Irishguy42]

Bring on the Paulrus.

I want that 'stache behind the bench.

 

[Mac n Gs]

This notion of Sutter as savior is absurd.

Has anyone checked how the Kings are doing this year?

I am not saying Sutter is bad, but fans always paint coaches as great or ****.

Sutter just happens to be the god of the moment.

Sutter got canned. His assistant took over

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

top 1 pick

Thats why many are okay with tanking. If we get Dahlin, I'm all for trading McDonagh for a center or a RHD.

IMO it'd be crazy to trade McDonagh for a RHD unless that guy is better than him because we really need centers. Don't think the need for RHD is as pressing. Would love to get a 1C and then see Zib move over to the wing where he belongs.

1C - Chytil - Hayes - Andersson sounds good to me.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

We won't be picking in top-10.

If AV is still behind the bench by new years, who knows.

 

[Synergy27]

Let's be honest, even if they make the playoffs, this team isn't winning the Cup. I think most would have agreed with that a month ago as well.

That said, I am fully on board with an absolute disaster of a season. With how much this game has shifted to youth, it's not necessary to suck for multiple years before improving through the draft.

I've said it before, but if this season leads to AV moving on, Henrik retiring it getting traded to chase a Cup, and multiple first round draft picks, including a truly premium one in 2018, I'll be a happy camper.

Team is trending down right now. They'd at least be trending up if all of those things transpired. Let's get out of the mediocrity do-loop.

 

[Gardner McKay]

This notion of Sutter as savior is absurd.

Has anyone checked how the Kings are doing this year?

I am not saying Sutter is bad, but fans always paint coaches as great or ****.

Sutter just happens to be the god of the moment.

Sutter is a bad coach. Those Kings teams were absurdly overrated.

Also, AV, it is time sir. Jeff, please show Alain the door.