Speculation: Roster Building Thread LXXXII: Stepping up in a Perfect Storm?

[mike14]

That is a dagger of a comment to our current "leadership" both on the ice and behind the bench.

Wow

It's also a dagger on Fast's leadership; didn't he wear an 'A' last season?

 

[pld459666]

It's also a dagger on Fast's leadership; didn't he wear an 'A' last season?

Maybe he was saying something, no one listened and he signed with a contender??

At some point, if guys are not going to buy in, you don't fold and join them, you move on and let them wallow in their own bullshit

 

[mike14]

Maybe he was saying something, no one listened and he signed with a contender??

At some point, if guys are not going to buy in, you don't fold and join them, you move on and let them wallow in their own bullshit

Absolutely agreed. But I find it odd that apparently Fast couldn't get anyone to follow his example, however his teammates respected him enough to give him a letter...

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I don’t really read much into Fasts’ comments

Maybe he’s taking a shot at the Rangers but I don’t think it’s that deep

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Objectively speaking and I know we're in a different situation than Montreal and there are external factors, but are the Rangers performing better than the Canadiens? I mean how did Claude Julien lose his job before David Quinn?

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

And one more thing: I know Gauthier plays like a p***y, but how the hell do you not put him on PP2 and stick him in front of the net instead of Lemieux? He's bigger, stronger and has better than Lemieux. Gauthier had the least amount of TOI tonight. Even less than Brodzinski!

 

[Savant]

Jesper you were a part of that leadership group and had an "A" on your chest so why didn't you do something about it when you were here then?

Who says he didn’t try?

 

[EdJovanovski]

FYI

Good riddance to Mr. Hands of Stone

 

[TheBloodyNine]

Who says he didn’t try?

Him enough apparently because the group he was put in charge of leading was working hard enough.

 

[Avery16]

Him enough apparently because the group he was put in charge of leading was working hard enough.

Doesnt really matter what an A says when the head coach enables lazy play that Fast had to constantly cover for.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

 

[Avery16]

https://nypost.com/2021/02/25/kandre-miller-latest-ranger-placed-on-covid-protocol-list/

Kakko went back on the list Saturday, when he was sidelined for the Blueshirts’ contest in Washington and remained on it for Wednesday’s game in Philadelphia. That was not all of it, however, as the Blueshirts placed K’Andre Miller on the list as well in the hours leading up to the 4-3 loss to the Flyers.
It is unclear whether Miller, who was replaced in the lineup by Jack Johnson, had tested positive. It is also unknown whether the Rangers might be vulnerable to an outbreak in the wake of these situations, which occurred five days apart.

 

[Ola]

I don’t really read much into Fasts’ comments

Maybe he’s taking a shot at the Rangers but I don’t think it’s that deep

Yeah, and like, I mean in a sense it is true. Carolina -- is -- built and coached a little differently than all those teams Fast played for in NY and they have a boatload of speed at center ice and that really helps them playing a fast paced game = a lot of skating/work.

 

[Ola]

Some lay of the lands thoughts:

1. I think we are very unorganized offensively and I especially think that hurt our young players for the simple fact that they have not developed positions on the team. This is really my biggest concern. Not that I like the Ls either or really think we will benefit a ton from another high pick, in relation to the losing atmosphere this creates. But this concerns me more.

It takes a lot to score in the NHL -- apart -- from skill. Over the years we have clearly learned that someone that litterary is scoring as much as anyone else in the league in one environment more or less over night can stop scoring after just smaller changes. A defense makes it tough for you all over the ice. Playing defense is just as important as playing offense for your output, i.e. you won't score without the puck. With the puck, balancing the possession game with shot attempts is not easy, because again you can't score without the puck and decisions must be made that gives you the best shot at the bottom line.

What almost baffles me is the complete lack of plan we have for Laf and Kakko. Such plan should consist of.
*A clear idea of what a top pick realistically can accomplish at the NHL level.
*A clear idea of how the team wants to utilize that ability.
*A clear idea of what type of support the top pick requires from his linemates. And if you have a top pick that really would benefit from playing with a certain type of player -- you should try to get that. Its often done.

 

[pld459666]

And one more thing: I know Gauthier plays like a p***y, but how the hell do you not put him on PP2 and stick him in front of the net instead of Lemieux? He's bigger, stronger and has better than Lemieux. Gauthier had the least amount of TOI tonight. Even less than Brodzinski!

Because Lemieux plays in those areas where that p***y won't venture.

 

[Kocur Dill]

Absolutely agreed. But I find it odd that apparently Fast couldn't get anyone to follow his example, however his teammates respected him enough to give him a letter...

Maybe Nash brought the CBJ Country Club mentality with him and guys who connect the time span are too content but don't know another way to lead as they were the youngsters then.

We are a couple generations of locker room culture changes since the 04 purge that lead to the Torts/Cally/Staal/Girardi culture. I remember Verbeek made similar comments when he left the Rangers that were transitioning from Keenan at the time and what started the 7 year draught.

Something is amiss and if nothing else, maybe Quinn isn't so bad as a coach per say, but maybe he is in over his head with this squad and the mediocrity that is lingering in the halls under the Garden.

Just spittballing. I could be way off.

 

[Nickmo82]

https://nypost.com/2021/02/25/kandre-miller-latest-ranger-placed-on-covid-protocol-list/

If games get rescheduled, they should shut down the Rangers for a week or so... just so Panarin misses the minimum amount of games.

If games just get lost to the ether and we go by winning%, then meh.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

That is a dagger of a comment to our current "leadership" both on the ice and behind the bench.

Wow

It really isn't.

This is the same kind of shit we hear from every player playing on a new team.

"I've never felt more comfortable in my life"
"I've never been around such a hard working group"
"The energy in the locker room is amazing"
"I've never been a part of such a close knit group of guys"

and so on and so forth.

Quinn sucks rhino ass and should have been fired a month ago, but this is just looking for a reason to complain about a shitty situation. If he had said that and the team was playing well, the comments would be more along the lines of how sour Fast sounds (which would be equally as ridiculous) if there were any comments at all.

 

[Crease]

Such a nothing statement by Fast. Every player waxes poetic about their new club.

 

[Ola]

Some lay of the lands thoughts:

1. I think we are very unorganized offensively and I especially think that hurt our young players for the simple fact that they have not developed positions on the team. This is really my biggest concern. Not that I like the Ls either or really think we will benefit a ton from another high pick, in relation to the losing atmosphere this creates. But this concerns me more.

It takes a lot to score in the NHL -- apart -- from skill. Over the years we have clearly learned that someone that litterary is scoring as much as anyone else in the league in one environment more or less over night can stop scoring after just smaller changes. A defense makes it tough for you all over the ice. Playing defense is just as important as playing offense for your output, i.e. you won't score without the puck. With the puck, balancing the possession game with shot attempts is not easy, because again you can't score without the puck and decisions must be made that gives you the best shot at the bottom line.

What almost baffles me is the complete lack of plan we have for Laf and Kakko. Such plan should consist of.
*A clear idea of what a top pick realistically can accomplish at the NHL level.
*A clear idea of how the team wants to utilize that ability.
*A clear idea of what type of support the top pick requires from his linemates. And if you have a top pick that really would benefit from playing with a certain type of player -- you should try to get that. Its often done.

To continue this post:

2. Scoring on special teams is almost crucial if you want to secure any kind of production from a forward. Honestly -- what the heck is the purpose with our PP the way it currently is set-up with Strome given a major role on the right side on the top unit? Like not only does it take away the center from the second unit, what is the point with going out of our ways, implementing a new strategy on the PP which was the one area of our game that actually did well last season?

In fact, it make it impossible to implement Kakko or Laf in any kind of meaningful role on the PP. Forsberg and Sakic didn't always play on the same PP in Colorado, especially not the first years. Yzerman and Federov were often on different PPs.

Quinn's current Einstein PP is currently what bottom 10 in the league. Wouldn't this be an improvement?

1.a Outside shooter PP, custom made for LAF:
Strome-(net guy)
Laf-Trouba-Panarin

1.b Traditional PP, almost same as last season, custom made for Kakko:
Kreider-Buch
Ziba-Fox-Kakko

Let the kids play to their strength while they grow into the league, instead of only focusing on defense. You can see it on Laf, the kid is as mature as they get, but he is losing confidence. Losing pucks. With these PP units, he and Kakko would get a fair amount of points. They won't feel like they easily could play 10 games and only getting 1 point. Its not fun to read stuff about you being the worst scoring first overall pick ever (or whatever) etc.

3. Look, someone within the organization must instantly sit down with DQ and set him right regarding his effin attitude. Its hockey coaching 101, its super human to become very negative as a coach -- but it doesn't help. I've heard veterans talk about it numerous times. Emotions, anger, whatever, is one thing, but a coach walking around with constant PMS has never had any success.

Maybe its the face mask, but the constant death stare behind the bench. The constant crying in post games. Like -- this wasn't even DQs strategy when he came here. He has done a total 180'. Is there a thought behind that? Is it working?

4. Look, this isn't only about the coaching, we have not been able to trust upper management to not make really poor costly decisions in the past -- and ultimately they are responsible for overseeing everything.

I like Gorton, but he has his warts. I don't have faith in Drury -- simply because by proxy he is obviously not keeping things on track. JD has exactly zero experience of coaching, scouting or as a GM or having any position under the GM whatsoever. He played 50 years ago and then called games on TV before becoming a president. Nobody can dislike JD, but lets put it like this, he alone doesn't fix our problems.

I've said this numerous times the last years, we should beef up the front office. Gorton seems allergic to it. But we need more and broader perspectives.

 

[Vitto79]

It's been a disappointing season. I'm disappointed in many of our players, the coaches, management, the play of Lafreniere...But I think the person I'm most disappointed with is Jeff Gorton. It honestly feels like he's sitting on his hands and twiddling his thumbs while Rome is burning. He traded Staal, bought out Lundqvist, and then proceeded to luck into the #1 overall pick and has done nothing since (signing Jack Johnson and Kevin Rooney. Be still, my beating heart). I know he's not on vacation, but he might as well be because he's doing zip. Meanwhile, the team is struggling, the best prospect we've ever had is underperforming and we have a host of off-the-ice distractions.

its cap hell . He couldn’t even sign Fast for 2 million per ..... i honestly saw this as another rebuild year they are just super young

More cap space next year to do tinkering of the lineup

 

[Trxjw]

Such a nothing statement by Fast. Every player waxes poetic about their new club.

Yeah but if you just ignore that fact then it's a great opportunity to push a narrative. That's what's most important.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Fast was so impressed with the Canes work ethic that he would have probably re-signed here if we had offered the additional year.

 

[Avery16]

Fast was so impressed with the Canes work ethic that he would have probably re-signed here if we had offered the additional year.

Impressed with Carolinas or fed up with ours.

 

[Tob]

They have Rod the Bod Brind'Amour's leadership. No doubt they're a very hard working team despite being so talented. This team has needed some of those blue collar mentality ever since Torts left. That's without going into the deep end of a Torts philosophy but the leadership we have now is just meh.