Larry Brooks: Rangers season at crossroads--already

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Brooks is an idiot. Win 2nite and spirits are high after a low last game

Not if they don't carry it over to the game in St. Louis. That was no ordinary loss.

 

[16 To Stanley*]

They got on a bus, was taken directly to their charter flight and flew about two hours. But the fact still remains, they've spent more time on the West Coast than they have the East Coast for the last month or so.



How much earlier than that do you think they get home from home games (especially if they live in Westchester)?



I don't see anyone saying blow up the team. I do see questioning how the team was created and if AV the right choice for the team based in personnel. It the very least, I don't the GM to blow up the team correctly.



But see, it's not 3 games. It's 10 games. The lack off effort we saw in the preseason has carrie over.

I'm just going to stop. I generally agree with what you have to say, but in this case, you're on a cliff, 3 games into the season. The pre-season are not real games.

I'll reserve my panic if they're record is awful and they still look like this at the 10-15 game mark.

 

[Son of Steinbrenner]

In the NHL, teams don't hit a crossroads after 3 games. The Rangers played a horrendous game in San Jose, that's it. I know we live in a world were we analyze every damn thing to death and one loss can feel like a losing streak. It's not though, lets go back to reality. These guys are professionals and know how to handle a bad loss. Even if the Rangers lose tonight it's not the end of the world.

Do the Rangers have things that need to be corrected? Of course. But this narrative that this is the dark ages again is lazy thinking. It's clearly not as bad as the 7 years we missed the playoffs.

Where was the dark ages talk when Torts missed the playoffs and needed a gift from Tampa the last day of the regular season to make the playoffs 3 years ago?

It's 3 games into AV tenure here. 3 games!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Off Sides]

Not sure why anyone would panic, all said and done at best they are an outside of elite team who is a quasi contender/pretender. At worst they are a bubble playoff team who uses picks and prospects to rent a player or two at the deadline. Either way they are not going to be that good or that bad, the cycle will continue.

 

[Synergy27]

They got on a bus, was taken directly to their charter flight and flew about two hours. But the fact still remains, they've spent more time on the West Coast than they have the East Coast for the last month or so.

How much earlier than that do you think they get home from home games (especially if they live in Westchester)?

No disrespect, but do you travel much? Being away from home, from your friends and family and all that is familiar, is difficult regardless of how luxurious your accommodations are. They are definitely acclimated to the time zone by now, but that doesn't change the fact that they're simply not at home. Road trips are difficult, and this has been an epic one for the boys.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

No disrespect, but do you travel much? Being away from home, from your friends and family and all that is familiar, is difficult regardless of how luxurious your accommodations are. They are definitely acclimated to the time zone by now, but that doesn't change the fact that they're simply not at home. Road trips are difficult, and this has been an epic one for the boys.

I travel a lot. And I never travel in the manner that the team does. The way they travel takes a ton of the hassle and stress out of it.

 

[BBKers]

It was not interesting. He literally said nothing. It was simply an excuse to boost his own e-ego.

He has proven little to nothing in my eyes. One of the loudest of the mindless "FIRE TORTS, CAVE MAN HOCKEY UGHGHGH" crowd on these boards. And now 3 games into a new coach - what he wanted - he's hopping off the bandwagon and all but poised to throw him under the bus? Give me a break. Short sightedness at its finest. The definition of these boards.

And for the record, I am not a fan of AV, don't like the approach it seems like he takes to coaching, and didn't want Torts fired. But I'm not going to throw AV under the bus after 3 regular season games. This is on Sather and the personnel, as has been repeated ad nauseum.

But, to keep it on topic: **** Brooksy. Also one of the loudest critics of Torts; now after just three games when the team struggles without him, it might have been the wrong move to fire him and Brooksy is walking it back? Give me a break. Full of hot air.

Never said that I wanted Torts back. Do not make this into a Torts debate. Guy is gone. Forever. Get over it. He was a cancer ruling by bullying on repeat & rinse, the team had tuned him out and like it or not he was definitely not liked by several key players that wanted him gone.

I never vocally voiced approval or disapproval about AV being hired here or anywhere since Torts left. I did PM another poster here about the AV thing a while back but felt it might be better to keep it off the general boards a while.

My ego could certainly use a boost but there is certainly validity about these NHL players criticism of AV and I will further elaborate on this more in the future. I guess what I am saying is that in retrospect (as self criticism) one should be careful what you ask for. I wanted Torts out due to his Neanderthalic hockey philosophy and learned to live with him if the team with successful on the ice as I am foremost a Rangers fan. But the hockey they played last season was truly terrible to watch and when the results were not as good as might have been expected it more or less became unbearable to watch the team I really root for in the end. The clown antics could have been tolerated - but the truth is that time had run out for the neighborhood bully. The Torts effect had had its due.

As I said, I am not throwing AV under the bus at all but have heard voices of displeasure from previous players under AV. He needs and deserves more time. But if the new guy is indeed not even up to Torts ability behind the bench, is an instigator of random dissatisfaction in the room, an arrogant smirky bully and really carries no hockey philosophy at all as his trademark - then what I wished for might have been the wrong choice when it comes to choosing the actual replacement. And then we as Rangers fans are most likely in for a real rough ride. This falls entirely on Sather though (if things go bad which I really hope they do not). Nobody else. He should have done his research. Might be the best thing to come out of this in the long run though, time will tell...

 

[16 To Stanley*]

I travel a lot. And I never travel in the manner that the team does. The way they travel takes a ton of the hassle and stress out of it.

Traveling non-stop, no matter in what capacity is exhausting. Specifically when you have two games basically within a 27 hour window.

Look, again, no excuses for that terribad loss, but acting like the consistent travel is a piece of cake is completely off base.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

I guess what I am saying is that in retrospect (as self criticism) one should be careful what you ask for. I wanted Torts out due to his Neanderthalic hockey philosophy and learned to live with him if the team with successful on the ice as I am foremost a Rangers fan. But the hockey they played last season was truly terrible to watch and when the results were not as good as might have been expected it more or less became unbearable to watch the team I really root for in the end

A lot of Torts' dissenters talked themselves into an alternate reality that things couldnt get any worse with a "boring" style of play.

I'd rather watch the Rangers pack 5 guys between the circles and play with some competitiveness for the rest of my life than watch one more game like the disgusting display on Tuesday.

Classic case of be careful what you wish for. I actually feel really bad for Vigneault, who is basically operating on a mandate to open up the game without the tools to do it.

As for Torts being a bully, we'll see how things play out -- but if theres more performances like in San Jose, maybe it points to this roster needing to be bullied.

 

[RangerBoy]

One of the MSG TV guys tweeted a few days ago it was his 19th day on the road and his 9th hotel since the Rangers went on the road. All this for a building many people can't afford to get into more than a handful of times per season.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

I'm just going to stop. I generally agree with what you have to say, but in this case, you're on a cliff, 3 games into the season. The pre-season are not real games.

I'll reserve my panic if they're record is awful and they still look like this at the 10-15 game mark.

You just don't get it.

He's not on a cliff, he sees the forest through the trees.

We aren't the 2002 Red Wings. A slow start, especially how pathetic we've looked, is quite telling. This is a personnel problem. When are you guys gonna understand that?

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

Traveling non-stop, no matter in what capacity is exhausting. Specifically when you have two games basically within a 27 hour window.

Look, again, no excuses for that terribad loss, but acting like the consistent travel is a piece of cake is completely off base.

Referring to the travel is a lame excuse for losing a hockey game 9-2. Most teams in the league can travel to Mars and manage a much better effort.

 

[NYR Viper]

This team just lacks skill. It was evident last season., It was evident in the off-season when we were looking at the roster. It's still evident.

They have no identity.

 

[Callagraves]

Not if they don't carry it over to the game in St. Louis. That was no ordinary loss.

You're right.

That's the most foul, cruel, bad tempered loss you'll ever set eyes on.

RUN AWAYYY!!! RUN AWAYYY!!! RUN AWAY!!!

 

[offdacrossbar]

This team just lacks skill. It was evident last season., It was evident in the off-season when we were looking at the roster. It's still evident.

They have no identity.

pretty much.

look up and down this roster and our top 9 forwards.

name one that can create on his own. name one that can break a d down alone. name one that can really back a team up. name one thats got "get up outa your seat" talent.

name one player that is truly dangerous and feared.

they do have an identity though. they are a torts team without torts

 

[Synergy27]

One of the MSG TV guys tweeted a few days ago it was his 19th day on the road and his 9th hotel since the Rangers went on the road. All this for a building many people can't afford to get into more than a handful of times per season.

It really is insane. Very happy this year is the end of it.

 

[KreiMeARiver*]

This team just lacks skill. It was evident last season., It was evident in the off-season when we were looking at the roster. It's still evident.

They have no identity.

+1 who gets it

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

This team just lacks skill. It was evident last season., It was evident in the off-season when we were looking at the roster. It's still evident.

They have no identity.

Then why did so many people miss it? Why did they latch onto the idea that this squad is a system change away? Because its lazy thinking, the same type that Glen Sather subscribes to each season.

Even playing "neanderthal hockey" the Rangers continually found themselves in critical areas of the ice unable to make a play. You're going to get the same results no matter what system is played because the ability to make said plays is an inherent skill. Opening the game up with this squad comes with the added bonus of frightening defensive breakdowns.

 

[NYR Viper]

Then why did so many people miss it? Why did they latch onto the idea that this squad is a system change away? Because its lazy thinking, the same type that Glen Sather subscribes to each season.

Even playing "neanderthal hockey" the Rangers continually found themselves in critical areas of the ice unable to make a play. You're going to get the same results no matter what system is played because the ability to make said plays is an inherent skill. Opening the game up with this squad comes with the added bonus of frightening defensive breakdowns.

I think people, myself included, were hoping some of these players would be able to step up in a more offensive system.

pretty much.

look up and down this roster and our top 9 forwards.

name one that can create on his own. name one that can break a d down alone. name one that can really back a team up. name one thats got "get up outa your seat" talent.

name one player that is truly dangerous and feared.

they do have an identity though. they are a torts team without torts

It's not just skill though. Who on this team can get a crowd up on their feet from a big hit? Fight? Goal? Nice play?

 

[Off Sides]

They lack skill but there should be a happy medium between the collapse, stretch pass, tip, dump, chase and the everyone on the team thinks they can go though the neutral zone like Gomez without worrying about the defensive aspect that is going on now.

 

[Anthony Mauro]

This team will have to, at some point, pull the trigger on a massive deal for a young, proven, offensive player. We have the pieces now more than ever (in diversity of solid veterans to promising young prospects who if we traded wouldn't sacrifice our depth).

We are kidding ourselves if we think our roster is up to par with the rest of the league and our youth will prove equal. Not when CHI is icing Toews, Kane, Hossa etc. Not when LA is icing Kopitar, Carter, Richards, Brown..

 

[haveandare]

You just don't get it.

He's not on a cliff, he sees the forest through the trees.

We aren't the 2002 Red Wings. A slow start, especially how pathetic we've looked, is quite telling. This is a personnel problem. When are you guys gonna understand that?

A slow start for 3 games isn't very telling. The 2002 Red Wings aren't the only team in history to start slow for a handful of games and then turn it around. The Rangers started like crap on their best season in years not long ago. Also, they didn't look "pathetic" against the Kings. But that was one game, it doesn't mean much. Two bad games don't mean much either.

 

[NYR Viper]

This team will have to, at some point, pull the trigger on a massive deal for a young, proven, offensive player. We have the pieces now more than ever (in diversity of solid veterans to promising young prospects who if we traded wouldn't sacrifice our depth).

I agree. They have a long list of players they need.

I was, and still am hoping they deal away some of the pending UFA's at the deadline to restock the system with picks/prospects.

When was the last time the Rangers traded a NHL and received a prospect? Dupuis?

 

[haveandare]

I think people, myself included, were hoping some of these players would be able to step up in a more offensive system.

It's been 3 games. They very well still could. They all looked like they were stepping up and playing a nice offensive game a few days ago. The first few games mean nothing in the scheme of an 81 game season, whether they're all 10 - 0 losses or 10 - 0 wins.

 

[Bleed Ranger Blue]

This team will have to, at some point, pull the trigger on a massive deal for a young, proven, offensive player. We have the pieces now more than ever (in diversity of solid veterans to promising young prospects who if we traded wouldn't sacrifice our depth).

We are kidding ourselves if we think our roster is up to par with the rest of the league and our youth will prove equal. Not when CHI is icing Toews, Kane, Hossa etc. Not when LA is icing Kopitar, Carter, Richards, Brown..

Do you think it will be easy to find a team ready and willing to give up a young, proven, offensive player? The kind that every team in the league yearns for? The kind that can be obtained for roster player you're unwilling to give up and some of our not overly impressive prospects?

The team is not just one move away.