Playoffs/No Playoffs

[The Crypto Guy]

It really depends on how the rules change next year. Do we go back to the old format? Do the divisions go back to normal? Going to be hard to make playoffs next season too. Even if Boston goes back to the Atlantic, Carolina comes back to Metro and they are another team that are better talented and better coached than the Rangers. Can say the same about Tampa, Toronto and Florida too

I would be completely shocked if the divisions don't go back to normal in Oct.

 

[Savant]

I would be completely shocked if the divisions don't go back to normal in Oct.

For sure. But that’s still at least four teams in the division better than the Rangers until the old guard implodes.

 

[hockeyhow7]

If the islanders lose tonight I believe the rangers control their own fate for the playoffs.

 

[Maximus]

Rangers aren't making the playoffs...sorry but it just aint happening. We are to far behind with to few games to go.

That said, this has been once again and will continue to be extremely valuable experience especially for our kids because going forward, for the next 10 years or so, these playoff atmosphere games even versus shitty teams like the Jersey's, Sabres of the world,, this is what it's going to be like.

And what I'm seeing is the team starting to gel and to me this is precursor of what the Rangers are going to be about beginning next season when we begin our "reign of terror" on the rest of the NHL.

Sure there is some more tinkering to do but the rebuild for all intents and purposes is over. We are right on schedule. Last year was a bit of a mirage as it seemed like we accelerated the rebuild. Well this year there was a market correction. Next year we roll...no question! Very exciting times ahead indeed.

 

[NYR Quest for Cup]

I very rarely post, but does it really matter if we don't make it?

Sure, I'd love to make the playoffs, because it feels like a measure of progress. And we all want to feel confident we are progressing towards the longer term purpose of a Cup. But if this team finishes the year strong, with continued development of the kids, and playoff-like games (against the Isles, Bruins, etc) does it really matter if we come up short?

I think we need to remember we aren't the Devils, or Sabres, or even the Flyers playing meaningless games. There is such optimism on this team, watching the mix of veterans (Panarin, Mika, Strome, Buch, etc) together with the youth (Shesty, Fox, KAM, KK, Laf, VK) and the flashes of brilliance they've shown. They will all be better after the experience of this year.

Of course we'd all like to see Laf, and KK develop faster .... but if this team plays out the string of remaining games strong, and just comes up short. I'm holding my head up high. Especially as I envision the continued influx of youth in Jones, Schneider, Lundkvist, Barron, etc. And I'll be counting the days until the start of next season.

 

[ViD]

I hope you guys make it over the Bruins. I hate them

 

[Maximus]

After last night's horrific performance, I'd think any more talk about playoffs for this year can be officially put to rest.

As I've said a bunch of times, let's just play out the string, be a pain in the friggen ass to play against and get our kids as much ice time in playoff atmosphere type games as they can handle.

Next year is when we make our move.

 

[leetch99]

After last night's horrific performance, I'd think any more talk about playoffs for this year can be officially put to rest.

As I've said a bunch of times, let's just play out the string, be a pain in the friggen ass to play against and get our kids as much ice time in playoff atmosphere type games as they can handle.

Next year is when we make our move.

Yep....about sums it up . I think I would also have a sit down with the players and more specifically with a certain few of them and go over some things that they might start wanting to do if they wished to remain as a Ranger . I called for more abrasiveness via trades and signings ...but when you think about it...we have them right on our roster right now . We have Strome/Zibs/Chytil down the middle and flanked by Buch/KK/Kravs on one side and Panarin/Lafreniere/Kreider on the other . We have tons of guys that can score . Strome can be moved for a scrappy center that possibly could win draws .

We have probably Barron on left wing next season maybe...he is bigger and likely can add some physical play if needed. In the middle we have Howden....and there is NO REASON for him not to add 10 pounds and some attitude this off season if he wants to remain a Ranger . I would want to see some sort of preview of that in the last 12 games or so before I make a decision on him . He is young and cheap and has size and I would start drilling him on it right now !!! Gauthier....same deal. If he wants to stay...prove it by adding some nastiness.....and if I was the coach....I would be drilling that into him every 10 seconds . Finish checks and create havoc after whistles and engage in some crease bumping.....feed them videos of the Isles Havoc Line . These two guys in Howden and Gauthier can really help turn this around if they made that decision to add the chippiness into their game . We don't need them scoring....we need them checking and playing the role nobody will right now.

 

[ElLeetch]

We will have our answer in a weeks time.

If we don't take *at least* 3 out of 4 vs Buff and Phil, its over.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I think last night's game might have done us in... its hard to pick up 6 points on the Bruins especially when we play them twice at the end, they'll win one of those games, they won't lose both.

 

[leetch99]

I think last night's game might have done us in... its hard to pick up 6 points on the Bruins especially when we play them twice at the end, they'll win one of those games, they won't lose both.

Good chance those games will be almost meaningless before they arrive.....without Trouba we are quite soft back there . Our current D reserves are not quite up to NHL standards these days and or ...too green or hurt .

 

[cwede]

earlier today posted this in the other "NYR Playoffs?" thread,
the window has narrowed severely in last week, despite the 4 wins vs NJD
similar numbers quoted above

QUOTE cwede, post: 177473887, member: 108464
the playoff dream has collapsed almost entirely,
as the top 4 teams keep winning
ignoring ties and tiebreakers, see that
those teams can clinch post season, just by playing a hair above .500
even if NYR win out

team	points	games remaining	points to clinch
WASH	62	10	11
NYI	62	10	11
PITT	61	10	12
BB	58	12	15
			Max Points
NYR	52	10	72

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

QUOTE

 

[broadwayblue]

Too many points back and too few games. We knew it was going to be a challenge when they created the divisions and it played out as expected. Perhaps if the Panarin wasn't exiled for a month or Mika wasn't in a Covid fog to start the season the outcome would have been different. Please, just play the kids the rest of the way.

 

[SA16]

Too many points back and too few games. We knew it was going to be a challenge when they created the divisions and it played out as expected. Perhaps if the Panarin wasn't exiled for a month or Mika wasn't in a Covid fog to start the season the outcome would have been different. Please, just play the kids the rest of the way.

What is the point in playing the kids more? They are not ready for more minutes. None of them f them have looked particularly dynamic or anything. That's going to improve by giving them a few more minutes against better quality competition? It'll likely just make things worse. That said, Lafreniere and/or Kravtsov should obviously be on PP2 instead of K'Andre Miller. I wouldn't necessarily say instead of Blackwell because then you get an all lefty forward unit which is not ideal and funnels the whole play to one side. The way they will improve is by working in the offseason.

 

[tomobson]

What is the point in playing the kids more? They are not ready for more minutes. None of them f them have looked particularly dynamic or anything. That's going to improve by giving them a few more minutes against better quality competition? It'll likely just make things worse. That said, Lafreniere and/or Kravtsov should obviously be on PP2 instead of K'Andre Miller. I wouldn't necessarily say instead of Blackwell because then you get an all lefty forward unit which is not ideal and funnels the whole play to one side. The way they will improve is by working in the offseason.

What is the point of playing the vets more? Zib, buch, and strome. Two of those will most likely be gone next season unless management wants to stall out the rebuild another year. This is the end of the road for this veteran core. It's time for the rebuild to take priority.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Donezo.

Not disappointed. As I wrote in the other thread:

I agree it's over, but I don't agree that we should be thankful it's over.

Any playoff experience is good playoff experience, and honestly, is a team like is a team like Arizona or even Montreal "ready for the prime time" either? This has been a whacky year.

I understand what you are saying but while this team may not be mentally strong and built for a run like the Isles, there is a ton of skill and good metrics on this team to possibly make some noise. I'll never turn down a chance at that.

6th in GFGP
11th in GAGP
4th in PK%
Top 15 in PP% & ROWs

Usually that translates to a playoff team.

However, no one should be disappointed. From a building standpoint being out of it should provide more ice time to the youngens including Jones and Barron hopefully. From that perspective, I agree.

 

[RickChartraw]

 

[SA16]

What is the point of playing the vets more? Zib, buch, and strome. Two of those will most likely be gone next season unless management wants to stall out the rebuild another year. This is the end of the road for this veteran core. It's time for the rebuild to take priority.

Because they are better players and deserve to play more. They have shown that this year and in past years. Do you want a meritocracy or do you want to just force feed players minutes they have shown no ability to handle? Giving the kids more ice time per game isn't going to make them better players. It's just going to make you feel better.

 

[broadwayblue]

Because they are better players and deserve to play more. They have shown that this year and in past years. Do you want a meritocracy or do you want to just force feed players minutes they have shown no ability to handle? Giving the kids more ice time per game isn't going to make them better players. It's just going to make you feel better.

Once the season is over, there is no point in riding the vets. I'm not suggesting Kakko and Laf should get 25 minutes a night, but there's no reason they need to be getting bottom 6 minutes either.

 

[Kodiak]

What is the point in playing the kids more? They are not ready for more minutes. None of them f them have looked particularly dynamic or anything. That's going to improve by giving them a few more minutes against better quality competition? It'll likely just make things worse. That said, Lafreniere and/or Kravtsov should obviously be on PP2 instead of K'Andre Miller. I wouldn't necessarily say instead of Blackwell because then you get an all lefty forward unit which is not ideal and funnels the whole play to one side. The way they will improve is by working in the offseason.

The point is to see if they can grow into bigger roles next year and to see what they can with other players so the roster can be better evaluated. If Chytil gets a few games with Panarin and looks good, it changes the approach to Strome. If Kakko or Kravtsov look good on Zibanejad's wing, it changes the approach to Buchnevich.

 

[SA16]

The point is to see if they can grow into bigger roles next year and to see what they can with other players so the roster can be better evaluated. If Chytil gets a few games with Panarin and looks good, it changes the approach to Strome. If Kakko or Kravtsov look good on Zibanejad's wing, it changes the approach to Buchnevich.

I would not make any opinions for next year based on "a few games" for anything so I see no point. If someone gets hurt and they move up, sure. If they show some strong play and deserve to get moved up, sure. Nothing good is going to come from just playing them over their head. We've already seen that this year. Kakko has 155 minutes with Panarin. 3 points. 23 minutes with Zibanejad. 0 points. Lafreniere has 4 points in 152 minutes with Zibanejad and 1 point in 46 minutes with Panarin. They are not ready to play against that level of competition and I Think they will have butter success right now in a lesser roll against weaker competition. That could completely change next year after a full offseason. Development does not mean just throw a guy into a huge role and watch him struggle in it. It's ok for them to slowly work their way up. Chytil is a different story. He's more experience and has already had success with Panarin last year.

 

[tomobson]

Because they are better players and deserve to play more. They have shown that this year and in past years. Do you want a meritocracy or do you want to just force feed players minutes they have shown no ability to handle? Giving the kids more ice time per game isn't going to make them better players. It's just going to make you feel better.

Do you believe there has been meritocracy in this lineup for the past month and a half? KZB line has been a joke and the most we've gotten is kreider getting demoted for a period. A rebuild is going to have an ugly season or two. I don't know why some feel as if the rangers would be immune to this... it's a fantasy.

 

[TominNC]

I seriously doubt they'll make it. But even so just as they have all year they will give effort more often than not, get some wins and keep us hoping they can make it.

This season has been predictable in its ups and downs despite the totally unpredictable nature of how that happened with Covid and the Russia thing, etc. From the beginning I expected a hot at the playoffs but no real expectation that it WOULD happen. I think season by season they continue to move towards the goal. Next year, in a "normal" year, I think playoffs are an expectation, while still breaking in new players.

 

[LetsGoRangers2021]

Say the Rangers make the playoffs which I believe the Rangers will make it on he last game of the season. Is anyone concerned that the Rangers don’t have the grit muscle and physicality to handle the playoffs kinda like when the Canes embarrassed us last playoffs. Why can’t the Rangers get these types of players, every team has these types, not talking about the Tanner Glass of the world, guys with grit in the top 9 big concern.

Yes, I am concerned by this.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Yes, I am concerned by this.

fans need to realize that a majority finesse team never wins or does anything in the playoffs, even those Wings teams from the 90s had more grit than this soft team. great job Gorts