Post-Game Talk: Penguin III

[bl02]

Copp is playing on half the ice because he can't skate into the other half. That's a significant loss.

You said it yourself there are no guarantees. I'm sorry, this is not a lineup that's entitled to win anything. I've seen better teams fall harder.

They're not a contender yet and that's fine.

He may be injured but Like I said I am sure their are dozens of guys playing this time of the year who are battling injuries just like the rat who just put up like 7 points in two games.

I just would be disappointed if we lost this series. I was told that even putting aside the goalies we are a better team than the pens and we should be happy just to get the first round and lose to them? It would worry me if guys like Zibby and Kreids don't show a lot more the rest of this series.They are probably our go to guys for the next 3-4 years.
And also you realize this could be our lineup minus copp and strome next year as well?! more holes to fill.

 

[Machinehead]

He may be injured but Like I said I am sure their are dozens of guys playing this time of the year who are battling injuries just like the rat who just put up like 7 points in two games.

I just would be disappointed if we lost this series. I was told that even putting aside the goalies we are a better team than the pens and we should be happy just to get the first round and lose to them? It would worry me if guys like Zibby and Kreids don't show a lot more the rest of this series.They are probably our go to guys for the next 3-4 years.
And also you realize this could be our lineup minus copp and strome next year as well?! more holes to fill.

People said we were better than the Pens because we kicked them around the last couple of times in the regular season. That means absolutely nothing. It was always close. You knew that.

Zibanejad and Kreider are PPG players in this series despite being surgically attached to Crosby. The expectations for them have gotten out of hand.

Of course we'll have holes to fill. It's a hard cap league and the cap refuses to rise while salaries continue to do so. Other than like five guys, you're filling holes every summer. We signed up for that.

This is one of the youngest teams in the league that got on a bit of a run after a good deadline and you're talking about them like we dug Messier and Leetch out of the crypt for the final playoffs before the team moves to Albuquerque.

I'm just happy we're here and playing a competitive series that we can draw on for experience.

 

[Machinehead]

Strome was on his way out of the league before the Rangers and Copp put up 18 in 16 for us after a career high of 35.

It's the guy making $11.6m who starts that whole engine.

The Rangers need to grow a dick and commit to Kakko at 2RW and just a find a center that keeps Panarin away from his parlor tricks a la Copp. It's not that hard.

 

[bl02]

People said we were better than the Pens because we kicked them around the last couple of times in the regular season. That means absolutely nothing. It was always close. You knew that.

Zibanejad and Kreider are PPG players in this series despite being surgically attached to Crosby. The expectations for them have gotten out of hand.

Of course we'll have holes to fill. It's a hard cap league and the cap refuses to rise while salaries continue to do so. Other than like five guys, you're filling holes every summer. We signed up for that.

This is one of the youngest teams in the league that got on a bit of a run after a good deadline and you're talking about them like we dug Messier and Leetch out of the crypt for the final playoffs before the team moves to Albuquerque.

I'm just happy we're here and playing a competitive series that we can draw on for experience.

Zibby needs to score. He needs to do more. I'm not asking him to outperform Crosby. I don't think those expectations are out of hand.

Personally all I am saying is that it would be a disappointment to lose in the first round to a team that we were supposed to be better than. That is all.
I just don't agree with anyone that would be ok to losing this series right here and now. People were shitting on the pens for being such a mediocre old looking team for about a month during a very important stretch. Now all the sudden we should be lucky just to be able to compete with them. And that is without Rakell, Dumoulin and two of their starting goalies.

Strome was on his way out of the league before the Rangers and Copp put up 18 in 16 for us after a career high of 35.

It's the guy making $11.6m who starts that whole engine.

The Rangers need to grow a dick and commit to Kakko at 2RW and just a find a center that keeps Panarin away from his parlor tricks a la Copp. It's not that hard.

What if Copp asks for 6-6.5 million over 6-7 years what do you do? a guy with major history of concussions.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Strome was on his way out of the league before the Rangers and Copp put up 18 in 16 for us after a career high of 35.

It's the guy making $11.6m who starts that whole engine.

The Rangers need to grow a dick and commit to Kakko at 2RW and just a find a center that keeps Panarin away from his parlor tricks a la Copp. It's not that hard.

Agree, Copp is the guy to keep over Strome. Strome was a good soldier when we had no other option. We have a better option now and it's time to move on after this season.

 

[bl02]

Agree, Copp is the guy to keep over Strome. Strome was a good soldier when we had no other option. We have a better option now and it's time to move on after this season.

No doubt he is. Strome is a goner. I am worried ( I'm sure other fans are as well) that it won't be simple to get him on a fair deal. Hope I am wrong.

 

[Machinehead]

Zibby needs to score. He needs to do more. I'm not asking him to outperform Crosby. I don't think those expectations are out of hand.

Personally all I am saying is that it would be a disappointment to lose in the first round to a team that we were supposed to be better than. That is all.
I just don't agree with anyone that would be ok to losing this series right here and now. People were shitting on the pens for being such a mediocre old looking team for about a month during a very important stretch. Now all the sudden we should be lucky just to be able to compete with them. And that is without Rakell, Dumoulin and two of their starting goalies.


What if Copp asks for 6-6.5 million over 6-7 years what do you do? a guy with major history of concussions.

Zib has played 57 minutes at even strength in this series and half of them have been against Crosby. He has three assists, a positive goal differential, and a positive shot differential. You are absolutely asking him to outperform Crosby at this point.

If you believed the internet grift that we're that much better than the Penguins, that's on you.

I like Copp but he's replaceable.

 

[bl02]

Zib had played 57 minutes at even strength in this series and half of them have been against Crosby. He has three assists, a positive goal differential, and a positive shot differential. You are absolutely asking him to outperform Crosby at this point.

If you believed the internet grift that we're that much better than the Penguins, that's on you.

I like Copp but he's replaceable.

3 points vs 6 points. not gonna cut it. Again not asking him to outscore or outperform him. Just keep it close. It's not close right now. Crosby is noticeable every shift pretty much. Also one is playing vs an ahl goalie (vally's words not mine) and the other is playing against a vezina winner. Yes It matters.

So you're calling the majority on HF Boards NYR internet grift. yikes lol. We are slightly better and without their top two goalies, top pairing dman and top 6 winger we should be better no doubt.

Who are we getting to replace Copp just curious. I just took a look at the available free agent centers on the market and yikes

 

[Machinehead]

3 points vs 6 points. not gonna cut it. Again not asking him to outscore or outperform him. Just keep it close. It's not close right now. Crosby is noticeable every shift pretty much. Also one is playing vs an ahl goalie (vally's words not mine) and the other is playing against a vezina winner. Yes It matters sorry.

So you're calling the majority on HF Boards NYR internet grift. yikes lol. We are slightly better and without their top two goalies, top pairing dman and top 6 winger we should be better no doubt.

Who are we getting to replace Copp just curious. I just took a look at the available free agent centers on the market and yikes

You're right it's not close. It was never gonna be close. Crosby is the best center of a generation. Zibanejad isn't. He doesn't need to be. Crosby is way better than every 1C to win the Cup since the lockout besides himself and maybe Datsyuk. They all still managed to win the Cup.

Yes. Yes I am.

We'll find somebody. Drury is smart guy. If losing Andrew Copp shuts our window, then he isn't a smart guy.

 

[Alluckks]

Zib has played 57 minutes at even strength in this series and half of them have been against Crosby. He has three assists, a positive goal differential, and a positive shot differential. You are absolutely asking him to outperform Crosby at this point.

If you believed the internet grift that we're that much better than the Penguins, that's on you.

I like Copp but he's replaceable.

The side effect this has had is that Zib looks gassed on the powerplays

He was dead after those 3rd period powerplays yesterday

 

[McRanger92]

I'm going to defend Zibanejad a bit.

I tend to be more dismissive of competition during the season because it's a different opponent every night with different coaches and it gets random.

In the playoffs, you're locked into a lot more hard matchups. What are the realistic expectations for Zibanejad up against Sidney Crosby almost every time he sees the ice?

It's a deeper issue that just Zibanejad. We've talked about how poor Trouba has been and we've been matching him up against Crosby also. It's not working. In a small sample, Fox is taking Crosby behind the woodshed. That should be the matchup if we can help it.

I think we're matching Miller and Trouba because there's still this stigma of "hit Cindy and he'll cry." I always hate being the one who has to share bad news but he's about to be 35 and he's one of the toughest star players of all-time.

Don’t discount the effect of Goodrow being out on Mika. He’s taking in extra defensive responsibilities. I will say he has a bit of a case of Nash-itis right now though

 

[Machinehead]

The side effect this has had is that Zib looks gassed on the powerplays

He was dead after those 3rd period powerplays yesterday

I would give Zib a break from that if we can. While I think he hasn't been bad, he's not exactly shutting Crosby down either. Put him in some more offensive minutes.

To me, the important thing is matching up Fox, and you can rotate the forward lines.

 

[bl02]

You're right it's not close. It was never gonna be close. Crosby is the best center of a generation. Zibanejad isn't. He doesn't need to be. Crosby is way better than every 1C to win the Cup since the lockout besides himself and maybe Datsyuk. They all still managed to win the Cup.

Yes. Yes I am.

We'll find somebody. Drury is smart guy. If losing Andrew Copp shuts our window, then he isn't a smart guy.

Sure didn't look like it last 3 playoffs. Outscored by Brock Nelson and Barzal. I know he is still a terrific player but we need Zibby to do more especially if he's matched up against weaker matchups.

CD is smart I believe that just not easy to find a competent 2c who isn't ancient and overpaid. I wish I could say Chytil would fit well next to Panarin. Not so sure.

 

[Machinehead]

Don’t discount the effect of Goodrow being out on Mika. He’s taking in extra defensive responsibilities. I will say he has a bit of a case of Nash-itis right now though

He does but that Nash-itis comes and it goes. I try not to exert myself over what the PP is doing over small samples.

Emphasis on small. We had three and folks are talking about it like we had nine.

 

[McRanger92]

Strome was on his way out of the league before the Rangers and Copp put up 18 in 16 for us after a career high of 35.

It's the guy making $11.6m who starts that whole engine.

The Rangers need to grow a dick and commit to Kakko at 2RW and just a find a center that keeps Panarin away from his parlor tricks a la Copp. It's not that hard.

Laf & Kakko in top 6 roles next year, re-sign Copp.

 

[Machinehead]

Sure didn't look like it last 3 playoffs. Outscored by Brock Nelson and Barzal. I know he is still a terrific player but we need Zibby to do more especially if he's matched up against weaker matchups.

CD is smart I believe that just not easy to find a competent 2c who isn't ancient and overpaid. I wish I could say Chytil would fit well next to Panarin. Not so sure.

Oh that's what we're gonna do, worry about what the mid ass Islanders did?

That's up there with worrying about goaltending.

 

[Alluckks]

I would give Zib a break from that if we can. While I think he hasn't been bad, he's not exactly shutting Crosby down either. Put him in some more offensive minutes.

To me, the important thing is matching up Fox, and you can rotate the forward lines.

We are the better team in the series, but we need to make the adjustment for the Crosby line to solve the series.

Getting Zib away, despite him doing decent, is one adjustment to consider

I feel like we were trying to match Fox away from their possession lines but I'd rather Fox just go toe to toe

 

[bl02]

Oh that's what we're gonna do, worry about what the mid ass Islanders did?

That's up there with worrying about goaltending.

Well he didn't look like the world beater he is looking like against us that's for sure.

 

[Machinehead]

Well he didn't look like the world beater he is looking like against us that's for sure.

He's gonna have good and bad series. When he's having a good one, you can't really stop him.

The best thing to do is have the puck more than he does which is why we should be sending Fox after him instead of Miller and Trouba.

 

[bl02]

He's gonna have good and bad series. When he's having a good one, you can't really stop him.

The best thing to do is have the puck more than he does which is why we should be sending Fox after him instead of Miller and Trouba.

I watched his last three playoff series. He looked old and average in all of them and embarrassed by the mediocre islanders and mediocre Canadiens.

 

[Machinehead]

I watched his last three playoff series. He looked old and average in all of them and embarrassed by the mediocre islanders and mediocre Canadiens.

With all due respect, I don't really care.

That's not the Rangers.

 

[bl02]

He's gonna have good and bad series. When he's having a good one, you can't really stop him.

The best thing to do is have the puck more than he does which is why we should be sending Fox after him instead of Miller and Trouba.

I would have no problem having Fox against him in order to try to control possession a bit more but problem is without Lindgren I am not sure I trust Braun. I don't think GG is gonna move Miller up with Fox. Actually I am 100 percent sure he won't.

With all due respect, I don't really care.

That's not the Rangers.

cool let him keep embarrassing us.

 

[Machinehead]

cool let him keep embarrassing us.

I've said what I would do to help mitigate it.

"Zibanejad just needs to play better" isn't it. He's not a good enough player to even look in a hot Crosby's direction. Make peace with it.

 

[bl02]

I've said what I would do to help mitigate it.

"Zibanejad just needs to play better" isn't it. He's not a good enough player to even look in a hot Crosby's direction. Make peace with it.

yet Brock Nelson and Barzal outscored him and made him look average over two series. I guess Zibby can't aspire to produce like those two studs.

 

[Machinehead]

yet Brock Nelson and Barzal outscored him and made him look average over two series. I guess Zibby can't aspire to produce like those two studs.

Maybe Crosby just played worse in those series. He's had some terrible runs and some insanely good ones. The playoffs are inherently a small sample and most players are up and down. When he's on like this, you hope for the best.

I think the biggest problem sports fans have in general is that they completely disregard the fact that there's an opponent. Anything they do well is your team's fault.

The guy is closing in on 200 points in the playoffs in 177 games but it's just us who can't figure it out.