Speculation: Roster Building thread - Part XVII - (TDL is March 7th)

[NickyFotiu]

Its not like he's never played against good players before. These guys are the same guys he plays against in the NHL.

Fox this year sucks.

Fox of the past 5 years would have no problem wit these "high level players"

Fox has played better in previous years but these physical warts have shown before. NJ exploited them in the playoffs. We should stop pretending that skating speed, physical strength, and shot velocity do not matter at all. They are not everything but they do matter. Fox has done a very good job overcoming these warts. I admire that about him but they are still important variables. How many of the top 30 NHL players do you see that are very slow?

 

[zlev]

gentle reminder that Fox probably wasn't able to do anything all offseason because he had to let his knee heal

 

[NickyFotiu]

gentle reminder that Fox probably wasn't able to do anything all offseason because he had to let his knee heal

That is a legit excuse. Really would like Fox to get in super human shape this summer. Ditto Laf and Bread.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

gentle reminder that Fox probably wasn't able to do anything all offseason because he had to let his knee heal

It may be a bigger problem longterm then we think

What an absolutely moronic schedule over the next few days.

16 games over the next 4 weeks, 4 back to backs. 2 consecutive days of rest only twice over that span

 

[NickyFotiu]

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Of course, Lav is coaching for his job every night

 

[NickyFotiu]

Of course, Lav is coaching for his job every night

Well to be fair his job is to win games unless Drury tells him otherwise.

 

[McRanger92]

Adam Fox and Brady Tkachuk have the same amount of points this year. Just feel like that's relevant context in Fox's worst NHL season.

 

[bernmeister]

Fox has played better in previous years but these physical warts have shown before. NJ exploited them in the playoffs. We should stop pretending that skating speed, physical strength, and shot velocity do not matter at all. They are not everything but they do matter. Fox has done a very good job overcoming these warts. I admire that about him but they are still important variables. How many of the top 30 NHL players do you see that are very slow?

the 'Fox can do no wrong' peeps on this board should take notice ^

 

[NickyFotiu]

Adam Fox and Brady Tkachuk have the same amount of points this year. Just feel like that's relevant context in Fox's worst NHL season.

I know you are a smart enough guy to know that does not really say much. Bread had 120 points last season. Barkov had 80 points. Who is the better player?

 

[McRanger92]

I know you are a smart enough guy to know that does not really say much. Bread had 120 points last season. Barkov had 80 points. Who is the better player?

They are both top 10 players in the league

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

reports that trocheck played with a broken finger lol. At some point you’d think these coaches would put their foot down and entertain one of several all star replacements over the guy who can’t close his hand or the torn groin guy

 

[NickyFotiu]

They are both top 10 players in the league

I think Bread had a great year and is a legit all star player but I do not believe he is a top 10 player.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

They are both top 10 players in the league

not this year. Panarin is maybe top 30

 

[McRanger92]

not this year. Panarin is maybe top 30

What about over the course of his career?

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

What about over the course of his career?

Panarin was definitley top 10 last year

 

[McRanger92]

I think Bread had a great year and is a legit all star player but I do not believe he is a top 10 player.

Well Panarin has been closer to top 5 as a forward over the course of his career, but thats not my point.

My point is, by what measure are we saying that Fox is declining or having anything other than a down year for his standards? A lot of the skating data shows he hasn't slowed down (h/t to the other posters who have provided the sources but I dont have it handy). He's on pace for 66 points still. he's on pace to have 60 assists for the 3rd year in a row. The only conventional stat he has done worse in this year is shooting percentage, which imo, is a combination between him being unlucky and a legitimate gripe that he doesn't shoot enough. All his underlying metrics, are in line with his excellent career norms. He's even going to hit a career high in hits lol.

I dont want to be confused with someone who says you cant criticize this guy because you can and I have and will continue to do so but why has he become the whipping boy? because he's going to end up with 8 goals this year instead of 12? it's been a down year for the whole squad. To cast long-term doubt on a guy who has literally never been bad as a Rangers is very odd to me.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Didnt they say the game tomorrow was at 330? Showing 530 now. Was it moved or ESPN was wrong?

 

[zlev]

reports that trocheck played with a broken finger lol. At some point you’d think these coaches would put their foot down and entertain one of several all star replacements over the guy who can’t close his hand or the torn groin guy

what do you expect from the 3 buffoons they had coaching that team? i thought i was having a nightmare when they showed that promo for the behind the scenes show with Sullivan, Torts and Quinn all walking into the locker room one after the other.

 

[Leonardo87]

Didnt they say the game tomorrow was at 330? Showing 530 now. Was it moved or ESPN was wrong?

Game is 5:30 tomorrow, they play at 3:30 on Sunday. That Sunday game will be on TNT.

 

[Ruggs225]

Im just happy that useless profit center, i mean tournament, is over. Didnt watch one second of it.

So god damn stupid to shut the league down one week before trade deadline and right in the middle of the playoff push.

It just absolutely killed the nhl season and momentum for me.

If you want to have a dumb tournament then do it december or early january. Not this late in the season when everything was picking up.

In fact if they did it then they could have had the final as the Winter Classic outdoors. How cool would that have been since it has gotten stale.

I dont even remember where we are in the standings or who was playing well. This league sucks.

Rant over

 

[McRanger92]

Im just happy that useless profit center, i mean tournament, is over. Didnt watch one second of it.

So god damn stupid to shut the league down one week before trade deadline and right in the middle of the playoff push.

It just absolutely killed the nhl season and momentum for me.

If you want to have a dumb tournament then do it december or early january. Not this late in the season when everything was picking up.

I dont even remember where we are in the standings or who was playing well. This league sucks.

Rant over

This reaction is why the NHL gains no traction nationally or globally. The tournament was a resounding success. Best thing the NHL has done since starting the outdoor games.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Im just happy that useless profit center, i mean tournament, is over. Didnt watch one second of it.

So god damn stupid to shut the league down one week before trade deadline and right in the middle of the playoff push.

It just absolutely killed the nhl season and momentum for me.

If you want to have a dumb tournament then do it december or early january. Not this late in the season when everything was picking up.

In fact if they did it then they could have had the final as the Winter Classic outdoors. How cool would that have been since it has gotten stale.

I dont even remember where we are in the standings or who was playing well. This league sucks.

Rant over

this NHL season has been killed for me since november.
The 4 nations was a breath of fresh air.

 

[Ruggs225]

This reaction is why the NHL gains no traction nationally or globally. The tournament was a resounding success. Best thing the NHL has done since starting the outdoor games.

Have it earlier! Not in the middle of the playoff push. It would have been just as successful.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Well Panarin has been closer to top 5 as a forward over the course of his career, but thats not my point.

My point is, by what measure are we saying that Fox is declining or having anything other than a down year for his standards? A lot of the skating data shows he hasn't slowed down (h/t to the other posters who have provided the sources but I dont have it handy). He's on pace for 66 points still. he's on pace to have 60 assists for the 3rd year in a row. The only conventional stat he has done worse in this year is shooting percentage, which imo, is a combination between him being unlucky and a legitimate gripe that he doesn't shoot enough. All his underlying metrics, are in line with his excellent career norms. He's even going to hit a career high in hits lol.

I dont want to be confused with someone who says you cant criticize this guy because you can and I have and will continue to do so but why has he become the whipping boy? because he's going to end up with 8 goals this year instead of 12? it's been a down year for the whole squad. To cast long-term doubt on a guy who has literally never been bad as a Rangers is very odd to me.

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics."
- Autobiography of Mark Twain

I see a slow guy who is giving up large cushions instead of closing space. He is not knocking guys off the puck on the side boards or end boards. He often reaches with his stick instead of moving his body. He has also been giving away the puck himself. I also do not think guys view him as a threat to shoot from the point. I do not know if he is in good shape but I give him a pass on that because he had the knee injury. Now I'm a big believer in motor. I believe he can improve fast if he gets in great shape. I think all the sky looking is a bad sign. I like Fox a lot. My dad called him "his guy". I want Fox to be great but I'm concerned by what I see.