Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XIII (Nanaki edition)

mandiblesofdoom

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May 24, 2012
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I'm not as down on Miller after this game. These were team goals against. In almost every case, Miller was left as the last man back, defending against two Jets, because of Rangers screw-ups/ bad luck. The goals against were basically a combo of bad team defense, WPG skill, Mika having the yips, Miller not being great on 2-on-1s, and Shesty not being magic.

Goal 1 - NYR in the defensive zone. Fox got possession behind the net, sent it to Panarin, who gave to Zibs, who gave it away. Fox was covering Sheifele (the only Jet near our goal) but not well enough. Miller was away from the play, I believe he was being an option on the breakout. Hard to blame this goal on Miller. The team was in a bad spot cuz they were expecting a breakout, but it got turned around.

Goal 2 - PK - MIller got stuck defending a low 2-on-1. He fell down, which made it a 2-on-0. It was his fault for falling down, but his teammates’ fault for getting too high in the zone & allowing the 2-on-1.

Goal 3 - Rangers on a rush into the Jets zone. Mika carrying the puck. He whiffed on a pass, lost it, play turned around, Rangers were trapped. Trouba was on this rush, in the RW position. Panarin I guess was taking his place on defense but not really. In any event, when the Jets turned the play around they had a 2-on-1 thru the neutral zone (4 NYR were trapped) with Miller defending. Miller could have defended the 2-on-1 better. Trouba skated hard to get back but by then it was too late. Again, we can fault Miller for his play vs the 2-on-1, but fault the team for setting it up, esp Mika for losing the puck for no reason.

Goal 4 - Is an interesting goal. WPG was in the Rangers zone. NYR recovered the puck but failed to clear (Trouba to Laf who moved it up the boards where the WPG D-man kept it in the zone). Laf was covering Connor, who was low but came high & drew Laf with him. At the same time WPG DeMelo sneaked in low & no one covered him.

This once again set up a low 2-on-1 with Miller the only one back. Again Miller did not stop the pass across to Scheifele. However again his teammates left him in a bad position.

Miller actually made a decent read on this one - he looked back to see where Scheifele was and then rushed to DeMelo when he realized he was uncovered.

Goal 5 - This was yet another 2-on-1 with Miller back. This one was set off when NYR was in WPG zone. Trouba carried the puck in deep along the wall. None of NYR forwards dropped back to compensate. Trouba shot low angle. It was saved or deflected and directed out. At that point 4 Rangers were trapped and the WPG 2-on-1 was launched. In the NYR zone Miller slid to block the pass. It still got through, but the shot missed & went behind the net. Unfortunately Miller was out of the play due to sliding & Shesty also, which allowed the WPG player to collect the puck & score easily.
 
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McRanger92

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Jun 7, 2017
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I'm not as down on Miller after this game. These were team goals against. In almost every case, Miller was left as the last man back, defending against two Jets, because of Rangers screw-ups/ bad luck. The goals against were basically a combo of bad team defense, WPG skill, Mika having the yips, and Shesty not being magic.

Goal 1 - NYR in the defensive zone. Fox got possession behind the net, sent it to Panarin, who gave to Zibs, who gave it away. Fox was covering Sheifele (the only Jet near our goal) but not well enough. Miller was away from the play, I believe he was being an option on the breakout. Hard to blame this goal on Miller. The team was in a bad spot cuz they were expecting a breakout, but it got turned around.

Goal 2 - PK - MIller got stuck defending a low 2-on-1. He fell down, which made it a 2-on-0. It was his fault for falling down, but his teammates’ fault for getting too high in the zone & allowing the 2-on-1.

Goal 3 - Rangers on a rush into the Jets zone. Mika carrying the puck. He whiffed on a pass, lost it, play turned around, Rangers were trapped. Trouba was on this rush, in the RW position. Panarin I guess was taking his place on defense but not really. In any event, when the Jets turned the play around they had a 2-on-1 thru the neutral zone (4 NYR were trapped) with Miller defending. Miller could have defended the 2-on-1 better. Trouba skated hard to get back but by then it was too late. Again, we can fault Miller for his play vs the 2-on-1, but fault the team for setting it up, esp Mika for losing the puck for no reason.

Goal 4 - Is an interesting goal. WPG was in the Rangers zone. NYR recovered the puck but failed to clear (Trouba to Laf who moved it up the boards where the WPG D-man kept it in the zone). Laf was covering Connor, who was low but came high & drew Laf with him. At the same time WPG DeMelo sneaked in low & no one covered him.

This once again set up a low 2-on-1 with Miller the only one back. Again Miller did not stop the pass across to Scheifele. However again his teammates left him in a bad position.

Miller actually made a decent read on this one - he looked back to see where Scheifele was and then rushed to DeMelo when he realized he was uncovered.

Goal 5 - This was yet another 2-on-1 with Miller back. This one was set off when NYR was in WPG zone. Trouba carried the puck in deep along the wall. None of NYR forwards dropped back to compensate. Trouba shot low angle. It was saved or deflected and directed out. At that point 4 Rangers were trapped and the WPG 2-on-1 was launched. In the NYR zone Miller slid to block the pass. It still got through, but the shot missed & went behind the net. Unfortunately Miller was out of the play due to sliding & Shesty also, which allowed the WPG player to collect the puck & score easily.

This was a lot of words to say Miller can't defend a 2 on 1 to save his life.
 
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McRanger92

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That Mika interview is heartbreaking. This guy really cares (you don't do a 7 minute interrogation without wanting to atone), is totally lost, and his everything suggests his instincts have failed him.

I remember Lindros just fell off a cliff when the concussions robbed his hand-eye coordination and he couldn't do anything fine with the puck anymore. I gotta wonder if it's the same thing, his brain is saying do one thing and his body's not following through.

He also looks... frail.

I would not be surprised if he retired in a couple years.

Its a bit rich that Mika is acting like he needs to be enlightened with ancient knowledge to get his game back on track, when anyone who watches him knows he just needs to shoot the puck and play physical.. Direct hockey. All his turnovers are east/west BS that he tries to flutter through 4 sticks in the NZ.

Laviolette needs to stick him and Kreider with Smith and continue to lower their ES ice time unless their play improves. None of the 3 guys on that line are going to lose special teams time, but its obvious the other 3 lines are much better.
 

HockeyBasedNYC

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Aug 2, 2005
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Its a bit rich that Mika is acting like he needs to be enlightened with ancient knowledge to get his game back on track, when anyone who watches him knows he just needs to shoot the puck and play physical.. Direct hockey. All his turnovers are east/west BS that he tries to flutter through 4 sticks in the NZ.

Laviolette needs to stick him and Kreider with Smith and continue to lower their ES ice time unless their play improves. None of the 3 guys on that line are going to lose special teams time, but its obvious the other 3 lines are much better.
Simple as this.

The Cuylle line has played direct hockey, using the body, getting the puck in, getting to the net. Supporting the puck, Making aggressive but safer plays. Very little risk in their decision making.

Let the Mika line watch a little more and when they get it and start getting back to basics, not only will their ice time improve but the results will as well.

As you said, all 3 will continue to receive special team time, so we are talking about 2-3 minutes over the course of the game 5 on 5. Maybe not even that much depending on how the game is officiated.
 
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McRanger92

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Simple as this.

The Cuylle line has played direct hockey, using the body, getting the puck in, getting to the net. Supporting the puck, Making aggressive but safer plays. Very little risk in their decision making.

Let the Mika line watch a little more and when they get it and start getting back to basics, not only will their ice time improve but the results will as well.

As you said, all 3 will continue to receive special team time, so we are talking about 2-3 minutes over the course of the game 5 on 5. Maybe not even that much depending on how the game is officiated.

Yup. And just for the health of the organization, you have to play Chytil, Cuylle and Lafreniere more. They are young, hungry and talented. Don't stunt the teams future trying to get guys on the back 9 of their career going in freaking November. We've gotten a lot out of Kreider and Zibanejad in their careers. It's helping no one pressuring them to be the guys who carry the team when we have better younger players who have much more capacity to take on some of that load.
 

kovazub94

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Aug 5, 2010
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Step in the right direction. Next, Schneider with Trouba and Lindgren can sit on the press box
I had no doubt Laviolette would soon turn back to these combos.

I understand criticism with previous moves but the coach was and is in a tough spot: on D it's a flawed group and much more limited room for maneuvering (compared to forwards) and Miller reaaally didn't help himself recently if he wanted to reclaim a spot next to Fox. What else is possible? Only hail mary's particularly where he'd have two players on their offsides: Schneider - Fox, Jones - Miller and Lindgren - Trouba. I know 100% this is not going to happen and if anyone else would've proposed it - I'd be the first to call it out as laughable. The point is that until Drury makes a move - Laviolette doesn't have a chance.
 
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mandiblesofdoom

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May 24, 2012
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The Cuylle line has played direct hockey, using the body, getting the puck in, getting to the net. Supporting the puck, Making aggressive but safer plays. Very little risk in their decision making.
Yes, this. Both their goals scored the other night with both Kakko & Cuylle at the net front. Good stuff.
 

Ruggs225

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Oct 15, 2007
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the forwards need to stop leaving the zone early and start supporting the defense. Its quietly a huge problem and why our d looks even worse than they are.

My boy laf is a huge culprit here along with a few others.

Its also why our d always needs to try the completely ineffective stretch passes that really end up as a turnover.

Its also why thr chytil line is so good, bc they dont leave the zone as much.
 

KirkAlbuquerque

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Mar 12, 2014
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I had no doubt Laviolette would soon turn back to these combos.

I understand criticism with previous moves but the coach was and is in a tough spot: on D it's a flawed group and much more limited room for maneuvering (compared to forwards) and Miller reaaally didn't help himself recently if he wanted to reclaim a spot next to Fox. What else is possible? Only hail mary's particularly where he'd have two players on their offsides: Schneider - Fox, Jones - Miller and Lindgren - Trouba. I know 100% this is not going to happen and if anyone else would've proposed it - I'd be the first to call it out as laughable. The point is that until Drury makes a move - Laviolette doesn't have a chance.
Idk maybe a certain Mancini who was playing pretty well until being inexplicably scratched to make room for 55 . Took this idiot like 6 or more games to get Jones back in and he’s been better than almost every dman we have all season .

He has options. 1of Lindgren, Trouba, and Miller can sit on any given night, he’s not forced to play them all
 

McRanger92

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Idk maybe a certain Mancini who was playing pretty well until being inexplicably scratched to make room for 55 . Took this idiot like 6 or more games to get Jones back in and he’s been better than almost every dman we have all season .

He has options. 1of Lindgren, Trouba, and Miller can sit on any given night, he’s not forced to play them all

Counterpoint: their feelings might get hurt if they *gasp* face consequences for a year of poor play.
 
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IDvsEGO

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Oct 11, 2016
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They need to stop playing like Panarin type fancy boyyzz and play straight line hockey like Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko
Or you know, maybe the best hockey is a combination of the two.

Panarin is east/west
Trocheck is north/south
Laf is both.

Line worked


Chytil is east/west
Cuylle is north/south
Kakko is both (admittedly not as good at the north/south)

Line works
 
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80shockeywasbuns

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Feb 12, 2022
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Maybe this is 9D intergalactic Yahtzee from Drury , to keep the team defense shit so Igor’s numbers suffer and lower his demands
You say this as a joke but people constantly say stuff like this about Drury as a serious point. “He resigned Lindgren to 4.5 and is playing him 1LD and tanking the win-now season with his putrid play to buff his trade value!”
 
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Guyute

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Feb 17, 2013
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Or you know, maybe the best hockey is a combination of the two.

Panarin is east/west
Trocheck is north/south
Laf is both.

Line worked


Chytil is east/west
Cuylle is north/south
Kakko is both (admittedly not as good at the north/south)

Line works
No, I agree with you. I just think Mika and Kreider's tendency is to default to the cute East-West play that often isn't there.

Every team in the league already knows that the Rangers are looking for East-West plays. The Rangers struggle against teams that shut that down. In my opinion, having more of a North-South mentality would keep the opposition honest by forcing them to sit back on rush chances rather than jump up to pick off a seam pass. That would open up more seams for East-West plays.
 

SnowblindNYR

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How is Laf -6 while Panarin is +1. Who has he played with that he's -7 with them in a very short amount of time? Don't they play almost exclusively together outside of some odd third periods when we're trailing and looking like shit?
 

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