Speculation: Roster Building Thread - Part XXVII

[NYR Viper]

At this point, Reunanen is unlikely to return a player that has top 9 potential.

And that's okay. If I'm LA, that's the guy who make sense because of that very reason. Although I'd argue that someone with 3rd line potential is probably equal in value

 

[Fitzy]

Yeah, I have a feeling we're going to see a number of different combos tomorrow, unless of course these lines come out and dominate from start to finish.

Wouldn't surprise me to see GG try Kakko with Mika and Kreider and slide Goodrow back to Strome's line. Also swapping Laf and Goodrow from 1st/3rd.

The only line I think will stay intact all game is the 4th.

And honestly I don't think NYR's offensive woes to start the season have had anything to do with the actual combinations at forward.

The issues have been

1) Execution on the PP
2) Breakouts under pressure

The problem so far is that Fox and Lindgren have been the only pairing consistently able to clear the zone with possession when under a heavy forecheck. Miller, Trouba, Nemeth, Lundkvist have been turnover city. That last four have defended OK, with some major errors at times, but the issue is they are all stuck defending a lot more than they have any right to be, because they aren't able to get the puck up and out cleanly.

The transition game has been a bugaboo ever since AV was fired.

 

[Fitzy]

At this point, Reunanen is unlikely to return a player that has top 9 potential.

Painfully frustrating given his offensive numbers last year.

 

[romba]

Goodrow has been perfectly fine, getting better the more comfortable he gets. He's physical on the forecheck, wins battles on the boards, good on the PK, always finishes his checks.

Not sure what you're watching but you couldn't be more wrong.

Ppl hear 'he's physical' and assume he throws huge hits and plays with snarl, whereas they mean physical on the forecheck and good along the boards

 

[Kravtsov420]

I’m going to like my own comment. I poured my soul into this one. I’m waiting until it gets acknowledged. IM NOT f***IN LEAVIN

Calypso, I release you from your human bonds

 

[leetch99]

You are forgiven. What I remember about that line is that in the 3rd period they would often get benched in favor of the 4th checking line when the Rangers had a lead. Roger Nielsen could coach the hell of of a mediocre team. Kelly Kisio was my daughters first favorite player (she was 6 or 7 at the time)

When Gallant was a Red Wing he would head back to camp early and attend Roger Nielsen coaching seminars as he always had planned on coaching after his playing career ended . Turk used to get his buddy to drive him there in his Corvette . That story was posted in our local paper many moons ago .

 

[leetch99]

Exactly.

One change for Panarin is he really needs to keep his feet moving, or quickly pass the puck off if he isn't. Trying to make a cross ice pass from a standstill at the NZ sideboards ain't working, go figure.

Shorter shifts would not hurt him either at least until he can get into game shape whenever that might be . Maybe he is staying up too many late nights with all his Russian family he brought over from Russia drinking Russian Vodka and dancing the night away to Rasputin by Boney M ....would also explain the missing leg kick .

 

[duhmetreE]

Turn Strome and Chytil into aggressive and relentless pressuring centers with non stop motors. That's the upgrade that's needed. Chytil has been a let down. Strome is what he is... a nice player but not what we need.

Cirelli types. Larkin types. Easier said than done.. but we have the ammo to get it done.

I feel like Chytil used to be that guy or showed the promise of that guy....

 

[bleedblue94]

Turn Strome and Chytil into aggressive and relentless pressuring centers with non stop motors. That's the upgrade that's needed. Chytil has been a let down. Strome is what he is... a nice player but not what we need.

Cirelli types. Larkin types. Easier said than done.. but we have the ammo to get it done.

I feel like Chytil used to be that guy or showed the promise of that guy....

We all wanted Chytil to be that guy, and some people saw that he wasnt while others kept trying to force/will it into existence...

 

[AirGut]

this team has so much f***ing potential it actually hurts. If they never gel it all together and make something happen throughout my 20's I'm going to start fearing I'll never experience Ranger league dominance again

 

[haohmaru]

this team has so much f***ing potential it actually hurts. If they never gel it all together and make something happen throughout my 20's I'm going to start fearing I'll never experience Ranger league dominance again

"Again"?

 

[bl02]

"Again"?

Well between 2014-2015ish I expected to win every game as a Rangers fan even on the road. Would be nice to have that feeling again

 

[haohmaru]

Well between 2014-2015ish I expected to win every game as a Rangers fan even on the road. Would be nice to have that feeling again

Well, I guess. When I think of dominance I would think a Cup has to be involved somehow.

 

[eco's bones]

It's early. If you're on the ledge already........I just don't know what to say except maybe you really do need to see a psychiatrist. Better that than jumping off. Our record isn't bad for a new coach getting use to new players. 5 of 7 games on the road so far and we're 4-2-1. A little f***ing patience before you make that big step.

 

[CommaSynapse]

this team has so much f***ing potential it actually hurts. If they never gel it all together and make something happen throughout my 20's I'm going to start fearing I'll never experience Ranger league dominance again

I turned 30 over the summer. My twenties came and went.

 

[wafflepadsave]

I don't know because I'm not sure how deep they are willing to go in moving a piece in return. There has been a lot of chatter about their center/forward depth and the Rangers defensive depth. The teams certainly match up and they have a pronounced need. Right now, they need someone who can run a powerplay. Doughty was their PP1 and Walker was their PP2. Seems to me that Lundkvist and Jones would be pieces that would fit for them. They are somewhat short on the left side in their system so that points the arrow even more to Jones.

Now, who do you want back?

I would be happy with any of their young centers really. Obviously, whoever they’re low on would be who we got.

 

[wafflepadsave]

Every coach has that player that the fans dislike but that they trust.

And for Roger it was Jody Hull.

Who later on with Florida, did a great job for them.

 

[Synergy27]

Looked pretty good tonite too.

They look pretty good again tonight too.

 

[wafflepadsave]

My dog got sprayed by a skunk

Are ya thinking about trading him?

 

[aufheben]

this team has so much f***ing potential it actually hurts. If they never gel it all together and make something happen throughout my 20's I'm going to start fearing I'll never experience Ranger league dominance again

This is what keeps you up at night in 2021?

 

[huerter]

this team has so much f***ing potential it actually hurts. If they never gel it all together and make something happen throughout my 20's I'm going to start fearing I'll never experience Ranger league dominance again

2012 Kentucky had potential and the breakfast club was able to become arguably the most dominant team of our lives. 2013 Kentucky had potential and lost to Bobby Morris in the NIT. Potential is hit or miss.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Ppl hear 'he's physical' and assume he throws huge hits and plays with snarl, whereas they mean physical on the forecheck and good along the boards

Exactly. He uses his physicality to be an effective player. A guy doesn't need to be throwing monster open ice hits (that could take him out of position) and drop the gloves all the time to be a tough physical player.

Goodrow is a guy who finishes his checks on the defensemen when forechecking and can effectively win board battles and dig the puck out and sustain a cycle and will go to the front of the net and will sacrifice his body in the defensive zone. He's a solid 3rd line grinder in the modern mold.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

I think a focus should be made on fixing our PP issues with all this practice time as that should be a simpler fix. With the same 5 guys it was a force last year and it would really go a long way to covering up much of our 5 on 5 warts, which seems like it might take more time to correct.

I know Fox is a huge asset, but let's get some puck and player rotations going where the puck ends up below the goal line. We're too predictable forcing cross ice passes from the point/half boards trying to set Mika's one timer up from 35 feet out or trying for a tip in front on a covered CK. Also they need to really start using the bumper guy (Mika or Strome) for either quick shots from the slot if they're left open, or as a give and go with the half boards guy to open some seams. Can't be forcing cross ice passes on a stationary comfortable in position PK!

Spot on with this. They need more player movement and to stop going to the same one or two looks every time, the PP is so predictable when they do and especially when they are largely stationary. It's just too easy to defend. Using the bumper player more has to start being incorporated so you're not so predictable.

 

[Avery16]

seems like were always about a season off of being a possibility for Quenneville.

 

[gravey9]

Spot on with this. They need more player movement and to stop going to the same one or two looks every time, the PP is so predictable when they do and especially when they are largely stationary. It's just too easy to defend. Using the bumper player more has to start being incorporated so you're not so predictable.

Yeah, there's a lot of things that need attention right now. Hopefully the 3 days off and practice time will help.

The PP needs a ton more movement. Agreed. Movement creates options. Options create unpredictability.

Defensively, we need the forwards to really pick up the slack. Our D pairings really need more support, both in defending the rush and having easier outlet passes. Once we're hemmed in, team does an okay to decent job of playing man on man and switching. But when we start to go south defensively it's all about our forwards not being in a position to support coverage switches, defend rushes and outlet passes.

Similarly, when our forwards are not pressuring the puck in the offensive zone, when they're not winning puck battles or forcing them, we have a hard time generating anything. Problem is, when Kakko and Reaves are both out it creates too many lines that can't generate a consistent forecheck/pressure. If only 2 out of three forwards on a given line are able to sustain pressure and create turnovers off boardwork it's very hard to establish and sustain the kind of forecheck that wears down opponents.

Laf, Gauthier, Panarin all have issues with this. And McKegg, while decent at creating turnovers with his speed and willingness to hound pucks, has a really hard time once he has possession. He tends to win possession and then give it up before something good happens. Similarly, Laf has a lot of trouble keeping his balance and being able to make plays when contact is made. He loses most walls battles as a result. He's okay at digging out pucks that other guys are scrumming for. But he's been mediocre at best at every other facet of the forecheck.

Beyond that, Panarin needs to limit his shifts. He needs to stop staying on after 45 or 50 seconds just because the play is headed to the offensive zone. The amount of times he's neglected to change and it's turned into a 90 second or beyond shift is pretty disappointing. I get that he's pressing. He's trying to help the team. But it hurts continuity when the lines that come after get so disrupted. It's hard to build chemistry if more than half your shift is usually spent with a guy who isn't even on your line.