Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXX: Going 8-0 to close out might not be enough!

[jay from jersey]

This is the narrative so many around the team is pushing.

Last time I checked the Islanders haven’t won anything in a while. How can Tampa win and beat the Islanders when they don’t play that way? The West is full of teams like the Islanders. Dallas got out of the West last year. Many of the heavier teams in the West doesn’t even make the POs.

I just have a very hard time understanding why we are making the Islanders the state of the art team that we should mirror.

Carolina pwned us in the POs. This is their current top 9:
View attachment 427997

The biggest difference between us and Carolina is that they have a team with players that pulls in the same direction and a coach which the players listen too.

DQ is just clueless. He wants a team built like the Islanders? Be careful what you wish for. The players know that if they play like DQ wants, they will look like crap and he will rush to throw them under the bus in the post game interviews.

Dude Carolina works. They work their asses off. I watched a game of there’s last week. They contest every puck, they bust their ass all over the ice. They skate hard and fast. Your right though, that’s a team where the coach gets the most out of his players and his players have bought in. Not only are they deep with talent, but the roster from top to bottom does all the little things you need to do to win. They are a cup favorite for me. Fast was an excellent t addition for them as we all know, shit skjei even looks damn good with his big body flying all over the ice like his rookie season. He may not have the stats, but ask canes fans. They are pleased with him.
Brindamour has done a fantastic job getting everyone to buy in as a team. He is an excellent coach who gets the most out of his players. He does a very good job of putting his guys in a position to succeed. Kind of like Torts but very different styles to reach the same conclusion

 

[Fitzy]

I think the story of the season is 'un clutch'

Our boys ran up some terrific offensive numbers via dunking on the three shitty teams in our conference, as well as a handful of isolated barn-burner games.

But at the end of the day, this team has made a habit out of blowing leads, losing close games, and giving up goals at the worst times.

The thing that surprises me is that more blame seems to be falling on the veteran players than the coaching staff right now

 

[Kovalev27]

And we trot guys like Hajek and Howden out there and expect not to get burned

Hajek has been just awful. He’s had his moments but for the most part he’s bad. Real bad. This kid can’t be here next year. And it’s absurd that reunanen didn’t get an opportunity over him at this point.

Howden is a penalty killer. Literally that’s it. I don’t know how u play every night when that’s all u add. It’s astonishing. Morgan Barron can kill penalties too. Can win face offs too. Should have been up weeks ago.

kravtsov another top 10 pick 21 years old pro hockey player. No mins. No pp time. No points. Shocker there. Where have we seen that before?

this is a bad coach not a bad roster IMO. Are we more finesse? Sure but that doesn’t mean we can’t play structured disciplined hockey

the first period we got completely run out of the building. Islanders just walking down the slot on every rush was ridiculous. Panarin takes that penalty? Mika casually glides off on a line change while the islanders are going down the rink with the puck? He doesn’t know not to do that?? Buch with a lazy penalty and another 30 terrible cross ice passes that never connect?

bullshit performance by the guys Quinn trusts to do everything at the expense of everyone else. If they can’t/won’t/don’t step up for him in big games that’s all you need to know

 

[TheDirtyH]

How many times 2-3 years ago on this board as outsiders it was noted that Carolina is moving in the right direction was still too young to break through? Now it's us and fans can't see the big picture because they are too close and too invested.

What are you talking about? The story in Carolina was always great team, terrible goaltending. As soon as Mrazek and Reimer steadied themselves, the team won two playoff rounds and now leads a division they share with Tampa...

 

[Shesterkybomb]

How many times 2-3 years ago on this board as outsiders it was noted that Carolina is moving in the right direction was still too young to break through? Now it's us and fans can't see the big picture because they are too close and too invested.

Pretty near every other franchise is drueling at our prospects, I'm a little disappointed there's no playoffs this year but to be honest i felt we would be where we are right now, fighting to get in. This team is gonna be seriously good when they are ready, I'm just hopeful they can draft a couple centers this year and next.

 

[kovazub94]

What are you talking about? The story in Carolina was always great team, terrible goaltending. As soon as Mrazek and Reimer steadied themselves, the team won two playoff rounds and now leads a division they share with Tampa...

Mrazek and Reimer steadied themselves. lol

 

[May Rih]

Brooks really nailed this one. Hopefully the front office 1. sees it the same way and 2. has the ability to execute on changes via willing trade partners.

Agreed, Brooks with a good assessment on this one. It's a pattern of complete no-shows in crucial big time games from both the overall team, but the top guns specifically, dating all the way back to the bubble last year. Only minor differing opinion I have from Brooks here is that youth definitely plays a factor as well.

I don't think there should be a debate between the "Quinn sucks" and "Quinn apologists" crowds on this one; Quinn absolutely deserves blame for the team looking consistently unengaged and disappointing in the biggest games of the year. However, the top veteran guys should be held accountable as well. At the end of the day, they're the ones playing the game, and are expected to perform in the biggest moments, and their consistent poor performances is also inexcusable.

 

[Fitzy]

I increasingly believe that NYR need to bring in a better veteran LD on a one year contract next season. Just for the year, to stabilize things. Miller is only a top 4 defenseman right now when paired with Jacob Trouba. It's pretty clear management doesn't rate Tarmo or we wouldn't have suffered through 39 games of Hajek and however many of Bitteto.

Jones and Robertson are super young, so next season in the AHL wouldn't be a tragedy. Go out and get an Alec Martinez type to pair with Lundkvist next season and give us three reasonably balanced parings.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I find it odd they haven’t give Reunanen a shot considering going into the year he was a legit candidate to make the team out of camp. And he’s played well in Hartford

I really do think he’d look solid next to Trouba but we’ll probably never know

 

[Daves a mess]

@kovazub94. What are you talking about? I didn't "expect" anything. I responded that I found his phrasing interesting regarding the teams make up to compete.

And fwiw, I totally agreed with him.

And as far as the original quotes regarding the two games against the Isles, I was quoting the general opinion of the board here. That said I'm sure everyone knew the importance of this two specific match ups. Including our coach.

 

[Tawnos]

What are you talking about? The story in Carolina was always great team, terrible goaltending. As soon as Mrazek and Reimer steadied themselves, the team won two playoff rounds and now leads a division they share with Tampa...

This really isn't accurate. The Hurricanes spent the majority of Bill Peters' time there being a young, up and coming team who couldn't convert their excellent underlying statistics to wins. The coaching change certainly helped, but the most important thing was that guys like Slavin, Pesce, and Aho had a few years under their belts, plus acquiring Hamilton was a great move. Lots of positive things happened for the Canes all at once.

Goaltending is a part of the story, but calling them a great team with terrible goaltending is really not true.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

The Isles are to us what we are to the Caps for some reason, we just dont match up well against their style, I'm not sure we'll beat the caps the next couple games but for a top team in the league we sure do beat them a lot. The isles have our number at this point and i put it on our youth being not ready physically to contest their lineup. All they do is shut down our top two lines and shove the kids around. Its no surprise a guy like Howden had a better game than most because he engages in physical play even if he's taking the worst of it.

 

[Kodiak]

I find it odd they haven’t give Reunanen a shot considering going into the year he was a legit candidate to make the team out of camp. And he’s played well in Hartford

I really do think he’d look solid next to Trouba but we’ll probably never know

They aren't going to pair Jones and Reunanen and Jones has not played himself out of the lineup yet. I would think if Jones looked like he was in over his head, then Reunanen would get a call up.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

They aren't going to pair Jones and Reunanen and Jones has not played himself out of the lineup yet. I would think if Jones looked like he was in over his head, then Reunanen would get a call up.

Jones has been ok, but its not about taking him out, Hajek could come out for Reunanen and move guys around accordingly.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

@Edge @bobbop @BBKers @Ranger Ric @nyr2k2 @Anyone else who has an opinion.

Last night in the Rangers post game show on MSG Steve Valiquette stated that he was not concerned about the nastiness of next seasons roster. Can anyone elaborate on his comment?

 

[Shesterkybomb]

@Edge @bobbop @BBKers @Ranger Ric @nyr2k2 @Anyone else who has an opinion.

Last night in the Rangers post game show on MSG Steve Valiquette stated that he was not concerned about the nastiness of next seasons roster. Can anyone elaborate on his comment?

Personally I think he means as years pass the young guys, Lafreniere, Kakko, Chytil, Kravtsov will become less intimidated. I see it happening in Lafreniere already in the last month as he's chirping the other team and going to the dirty areas more now. He has always had a bit of a nasty streak as far as hitting goes, he just isn't ready physically or mentally to start throwing hits around imo.

 

[Kodiak]

Jones has been ok, but its not about taking him out, Hajek could come out for Reunanen and move guys around accordingly.

Not sure what that would look like.

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Jones
Reunanen-Smith

I don't think they want to break up the current top 4 unless Trouba comes back.

 

[Zibanejbread]

 

[May Rih]

And we trot guys like Hajek and Howden out there and expect not to get burned

Hajek has been just awful. He’s had his moments but for the most part he’s bad. Real bad. This kid can’t be here next year. And it’s absurd that reunanen didn’t get an opportunity over him at this point.

Howden is a penalty killer. Literally that’s it. I don’t know how u play every night when that’s all u add. It’s astonishing. Morgan Barron can kill penalties too. Can win face offs too. Should have been up weeks ago.

kravtsov another top 10 pick 21 years old pro hockey player. No mins. No pp time. No points. Shocker there. Where have we seen that before?

this is a bad coach not a bad roster IMO. Are we more finesse? Sure but that doesn’t mean we can’t play structured disciplined hockey

the first period we got completely run out of the building. Islanders just walking down the slot on every rush was ridiculous. Panarin takes that penalty? Mika casually glides off on a line change while the islanders are going down the rink with the puck? He doesn’t know not to do that?? Buch with a lazy penalty and another 30 terrible cross ice passes that never connect?

bullshit performance by the guys Quinn trusts to do everything at the expense of everyone else. If they can’t/won’t/don’t step up for him in big games that’s all you need to know

Just recalled Barron and Reunanen, so there we go!

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Not sure what that would look like.

Lindgren-Fox
Miller-Jones
Reunanen-Smith

I don't think they want to break up the current top 4 unless Trouba comes back.

Id guess Trouba is back next game and im also guessing we wont see Lindgren.

Reunanen Trouba
Hajek Fox
Jones Smith
is likely what we'll see and if Lindgren is there just swap Hajek out.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Personally I think he means as years pass the young guys, Lafreniere, Kakko, Chytil, Kravtsov will become less intimidated. I see it happening in Lafreniere already in the last month as he's chirping the other team and going to the dirty areas more now. He has always had a bit of a nasty streak as far as hitting goes, he just isn't ready physically or mentally to start throwing hits around imo.

Thanks. I remember watching a video last year where the interviewer had on all the potential top draft picks for the2020 draft and he asked them all who had the best skating, shot quickness etc... And when he asked who was the hardest hitter everyone of the group responded Lafreniere. Quinton Byfield even smiled when he said Alexis name.

 

[Kodiak]

Id guess Trouba is back next game and im also guessing we wont see Lindgren.

Reunanen Trouba
Hajek Fox
Jones Smith
is likely what we'll see and if Lindgren is there just swap Hajek out.

Swap Hajek for Miller and I'm sold. I'm still not sure Trouba should be playing at all the rest of the season.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

They aren't going to pair Jones and Reunanen and Jones has not played himself out of the lineup yet. I would think if Jones looked like he was in over his head, then Reunanen would get a call up.

Sure but even when Jones wasn’t signed they gave Tarmo 1 game and it was basically on an emergency basis

They clearly don’t see what fans are seeing (which is fair)

 

[WojtekWolski86]

It wouldn't shock me if the reason why Hajek and Howden keep getting plugged into the lineup is Gorts pressuring Quinn. Purely speculation, but think about it. Gorts traded McD to Tampa and 2 of the biggest pieces of that trade were Howden and Hajek. That trade is looking worse and worse with each game where Hajek and Howden are the worst players on the ice. Yah the pick ended up being Lundkvist, but still the meat of that trade was those 2 pieces.

 

[Fitzy]

Alright party time. Time to get a preview of these guys who will be fighting for a spot next camp.

So so glad they didn’t just put Bitteto in. Thank god