I’m concerned. I like the long term vision but I am worried about the goaltending, depth up the middle and penalty killing. I like most of the offseason moves but I still think Gorton did not get full value (or even close) for Stepan.
The way the schedule sets up, the Rangers need to get out of the gate fast. Failing that, it could become a difficult season.
Again? It has been our strength for over a decade now!Goaltending will be our weakness again this year.
Again? It has been our strength for over a decade now!
Henrik & Price are among the best goalies in the league - while Talbot had a good last year with Oilers. ))
50+ wins
First in the east
Play the Oil in the finals
I'm dead serious.I almost believe you are being serious. ****, I'd sign up for a Cup final appearance in a NY second....lol
This year sets them up for next year. Full season Chytil & Andersson and (hopefully) a new coach gets them over the top.
As for this year it’s strange because the East is competitive but everyone has warts. It will be tough for Pens to 3peat. CBJ has a lot of sophomores and year two Torts effect. WSH is worse. The Atlantic teams are uninspiring. If this break right the Rangers can certainly make a run. I think a lot depends on what happens at the deadline and who is hungriest for Duchene; that could be the move that makes the difference. Tampa might be the most dangerous though, but can you really believe in Stamkos health and Dan Girardi, especially if Stralman isn’t 100%
I don’t think anyone in the West is all that great either.
I'm dead serious.
This team is good.
I think Pavelec will be the worst backup goaltender here in quite some time and AV will end up afraid to use him. Whether Hank holds up is the most important factor. The team is also depending on Buchnevich, Nash, Vesey, and Hayes improving, and Chytil seamlessly stepping in. That's a lot of things to hope for.
Expect them to make the playoffs, though, and all that matters is how you're playing in April.
Guessing the Finals will have Edmonton against Tampa Bay or Columbus.
I honestly don’t think pavelec is here to play a lot barring injury to hank. I think the plan this year is to play hank more than he’s played the last few years. I think it’s easier especially when older to stay loose and comfortable when u stay in a rhythm. Think hanks downturn has come with the lesser game load and age of course
I'm hoping and praying your wrong about Pavelec. From my observations of watching Pavs quite a bit over the years via the Center Ice package, mostly due to having owned him a few years in my longtime fantasy league, I see a talented guy who pretty much his whole career has played behind one of the worst defensive teams in the sport year after year after year.
I'm not sure any goalie could have had much better stats than Pavs has had playing on the Thrashers/Jets over the years. I'm going to go with the eyeball test and say that now that he'll be playing behind by far the best defensive group he's ever played with combined with the "Benny Alaire" effect, Pavs will end up being solid for us and will give Hank the breathers he needs while winning hockey games for us.
Would I much rather have had Gorton brought Anders Nilsson here to back up Hank? No question about it as Nilsson would have been perfect. But bringing in Pavs just like the bringing in of Deshanais, a guy who I think will be the Grabner of 2017 -18 for us, will both end up being moves by Gorton that we will all look back upon and say "dang...Gorton did it again getting under the radar guys who end up over achieving".
We'll see soon enough won't we?
Let’s not forget that Nilsson was over 1m more than Pavelec and wanted the chance at a starting job. Rangers couldn’t offer that.
I think the playoffs are at risk this year due to a few factors.
I think that will end up happening, and the goalies don't steal enough games to make a tangible difference.
- Pavs ****s the bed. Hank has to play 60 plus games and fatigues. Rangers can't get a backup.
- The metro switches to zone d, rangers struggle to score 5v5, lots of 3 point games cause CAR and NYI to keep things close until goaltending word catch up in March
- Rangers put their fate on a bunch of guys that don't show up every game, Nash, Zibs are in and out through the year.
- Hayes struggles as the shutdown center, AV stubborns up and refuses to play JT in the middle.
- Deharnais gives a great effort before his body fails him by July.
AV gets fired.
Rangers hire Quennville or Trotz depending on availability.
1) Then let's hope we get a high pick!