Roster Building Thread IV (2022-23): Luck of the Irish

[Fitzy]

Thinking back for example to the famed and feared Naslund-Morrison-Bertuzzi 'West Coast Express' line- Brendan Morrison was a relatively uncomplicated 2nd line center who was able to perform well beyond his station by finding chemistry with two stars. There were a lot of canuck fans that wanted to 'load up' by playing the then-rapidly-aging Trevor Linden between the two of them. Would have been a bad plan.

 

[NikC]

Good to see you waited *checks notes* two games (with a depleted lineup no less) to take your victory lap. Honestly expected it much sooner so kudos for holding out.

He's hated the move way before it ever came to pass. He did give us an interesting "pebble in his shoe" analogy regarding Patrick Kanes poor skating...

 

[Leonardo87]

Pen to paper, here's the first top 9 I'm trying out of the break.

Panarin-Chytil-Tarasenko
Lafreniere-Zibanejad-Kane
Kreider-Trocheck-Kakko

Kreider and Trocheck have burgeoning chemistry.'

Also, especially in regular season games, if we are rolling 3 lines heavily, Gallant HAS to resist the temptation to put Zibby and Kreider out first on the penalty kill. Let Goodrow, Vesey, Motte go first in that situation. It's what they are paid to do here.

Would maybe even try..

Kreider - Mika - Kakko
Panarin - Chytil - Tarasenko
Laf - Trocheck - Kane

Mika with Kakko and Kreider was a very good line, imo.

 

[Kravtsov420]

Of course there is a lot of doom and gloom around here, but im gonna try to stay positive.

The way I see it - The Rangers need some time off, get some practices in, get out on the road as a group (good timing) and figure out some things like the PP.

I was encouraged to see some decent things in the first 40 minutes in the game against Boston. Closest thing to a playoff style I've seen from them in a while.

With that said my keys to the final 20 games

• Get the PP working again. This will be uber important, a hot PP could do wonders in the postseason. No doubt they have the personnel. They need to guard against overpassing and keep it simple. Utilize Kreider more. Doing so puts the focus where it should be - to the net.

• Build more of an identity/find a role for each line. Mikas line needs to be a strong two way line that can match up against the other teams best. Breads line needs to be creative while managing the puck. Kid line can be a strong forechecking line that hems the other team in their zone and also finish checks. 4th line forechecks and can be strong defensively. Clear roles contribute to common goal.

• Play within yourself. There is pretty diverse set of skilled players. I firmly believe that if everyone raises their level of focus and plays to their strengths this team is very difficult to beat. Be a team, but also provide the best that you can provide instead of differing to each other all the time. Its a mindset they need to do a better job of controlling.

• Igor needs to find his game, but he needs help. I see little improvements in his game, but the team has to rally around him and give him some easy nights going forward. He could use a shutout or two. A 1 goal against game or two. Go in with that mentality of lifting him up and his game will follow.

• Patience. I saw a little bit of it in the Boston game. They have to be ok with letting the game come to them and attack. When they are out of sorts they are forcing passes and coverages in the D zone. There needs to be a calmer, long approach to games with a greater patience. They have the skill to do this.

The funny thing is all 5 of these things go on between the ears. They have enough skill in all areas to go places.

I read the bolded as "play with yourself" and was saying wait where's this going

This is implying we practice

practice facility is basically a J&R cigar hangout at this point

 

[Machinehead]

There are so many good combos people are posting.

Either we already know they work or they seem really exciting to try.

Gallant really did go with the worst permutation of nine guys he could have gone with.

 

[Leonardo87]

There are so many good combos people are posting.

Either we already know they work or they seem really exciting to try.

Gallant really did go with the worst permutation of nine guys he could have gone with.

This is what happens when you have 4 days between games, more time to think things out, lol.

 

[Machinehead]

This is what happens when you have 4 days between games, more time to think things out, lol.

Can't wait to see the changes on Thursday and it turns out it's just Kakko on the 4th line.

 

[Alluckks]

The two weeks playing multiple players shorthanded has also really thrown this team out of whack

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Would maybe even try..

Kreider - Mika - Kakko
Panarin - Chytil - Tarasenko
Laf - Trocheck - Kane

Mika with Kakko and Kreider was a very good line, imo.

I'll take any combo over what they're running out there right now guaranteed this will NEVER happen bc of who is coaching the team.

Though I don't really see any reason to break up Panarin and Trocheck. All they need to do is flip the RW's on that line and the Zibanejad one, at least to start (path of less resistance and all, though I don't think that path exists with Gallant.)

Kreider-Mika-Kakko posted really good metrics but I think that line is a bit overrated. They're like the quintessential Carolina line where they control the volume of chances but don't score. I mean its better than the shit show that is K-Z-T but there needs to be a reminder that hurling a bunch of pucks on net and not scoring isn't necessarily a good thing either.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

Didn’t realize that we are dressing 9 forwards for games

 

[Fitzy]

Lost in all this is that Igor is sitting at .909, just a tick above the current league average.

Last season he gave up 106 goals on 1600 shots. This year it's been 120 in 1300.

If last year's Igor is in net this year, NYR go from the 10th best GA/game in the league to the 2nd best.

 

[Machinehead]

Didn’t realize that we are dressing 9 forwards for games

The 4th line is fine and has the guys it should have on it

 

[Kords]

I see the Bruins practiced today. Guess they didn't earn that extra day off like the Rangers, what bums!

 

[Fitzy]

The 4th line is fine and has the guys it should have on it

I do think there will be times in the playoffs where Goodrow is elevated (He has had kind of a big game reputation around here) and one of the kids is demoted, and I expect absolute chaos on this board when it happens.

 

[Machinehead]

I do think there will be times in the playoffs where Goodrow is elevated (He has had kind of a big game reputation around here) and one of the kids is demoted, and I expect absolute chaos on this board when it happens.

I kind of get half of the chaos tho because it's almost always Panarin who needs a shift or two off.

 

[LORDE]

I mean @ this point it is what it is obv

We could be heavier I suppose but if Igor can shine in the post season we may have a legit chance

 

[bobbop]

100%.

The structure, positioning and stickwork/sticks in lanes was stellar under Martin. I was expecting him to stay on with Gallant.

I like Gallant as the leader, in a way. I wish the league was more open to changing assistants with the same head coach, similar to the NFL. Brunette saved Ruff IMO. Jersey doesn't find the same success without Brunette.


the point is you can't make passes to people who aren't open/or are covered. There are outliers like Fox and/or KAM...

It is basic hockey. It's just not a form of modern day hockey.

The structure in place does not put the team in position to move the puck effectively because the gameplan is to chip it out, get it in and forecheck.

This is an interesting point. The body on evidence on Burnette is pretty damn good. Florida did much better under his leadership and New Jersey is certainly much improved. He will be coaching somewhere in the league again soon. He probably has Drury’s attention.

 

[duhmetreE]

I see the Bruins practiced today. Guess they didn't earn that extra day off like the Rangers, what bums!

difference between winners and losers.

Same exact scheduling.

One team is the best in the league, the other team has looked like shit for weeks now.

We really deserve more time off.

 

[Machinehead]

And yeah, I'm no disciplinarian nor do I ride the "commitment and determination" train with certain players. We signed Panarin to play on the perimeter and score. If you don't like it, don't sign him.

But, I will say this, Panarin does occasionally need a "dude, enough already" from the coach when it's not working, and often not his fault, but he's just making it worse by forcing it.

 

[Kodiak]

Patty Kane. Patty Kane. How can the Rangers say no if Patty Kane wants to be a Ranger? He has three Cups. Showtime. Greatest American player ever.

Whoop-de-damn-do​

We really should hold off on judging Kane (and also Tarasenko) until after the playoffs. Remember when we acquired Martin St. Louis? He put up 1 goal and 8 points in 19 regular season games, but then went on to be our top scoring forward in the playoffs.

 

[TheDirtyH]

I'll take any combo over what they're running out there right now guaranteed this will NEVER happen bc of who is coaching the team.

Though I don't really see any reason to break up Panarin and Trocheck. All they need to do is flip the RW's on that line and the Zibanejad one, at least to start (path of less resistance and all, though I don't think that path exists with Gallant.)

Kreider-Mika-Kakko posted really good metrics but I think that line is a bit overrated. They're like the quintessential Carolina line where they control the volume of chances but don't score. I mean its better than the shit show that is K-Z-T but there needs to be a reminder that hurling a bunch of pucks on net and not scoring isn't necessarily a good thing either.

I don't think they've had enough time. They've shot at a really low percentage but only in limited minutes. Plus if you're next two lines have one of Kane and Tarasenko on them (not to mention Chytil and Panarin) it makes sense to me to have a line that can matchup against top lines and win the quality battle. Zibanejad and Kreider always find a way to score in the playoffs.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Lost in all this is that Igor is sitting at .909, just a tick above the current league average.

Last season he gave up 106 goals on 1600 shots. This year it's been 120 in 1300.

If last year's Igor is in net this year, NYR go from the 10th best GA/game in the league to the 2nd best.

This is the biggest problem with the team as we head into the playoffs IMO.

 

[bobbop]

I see the Bruins practiced today. Guess they didn't earn that extra day off like the Rangers, what bums!

Don’t be so sure this is smart thinking. Boston is an older team. Pacing the season is an important part of coaching. It’s very possible to leave your most important hockey in the practice rink.

 

[Avery16]

There are so many good combos people are posting.

Either we already know they work or they seem really exciting to try.

Gallant really did go with the worst permutation of nine guys he could have gone with.

"any fool can put those lines together" - GG

 

[Hire Sather]

Patty Kane. Patty Kane. How can the Rangers say no if Patty Kane wants to be a Ranger? He has three Cups. Showtime. Greatest American player ever.

Whoop-de-damn-do​

We probably give up more trading for other pieces than we did for Kane