The New York Rangers are a perfectly built team this year

[DuneGoon84]

Complete difference from saying that we'll stomp the Rangers versus wanting to play them, of course you guys can beat us. You have the best goalie in the world, top 3 dman, pretty deep roster but NJ has the best player in that series going into it (Granted Trouba doesn't give him the peoples elbow from half way across the ice) + better center depth + better defense overall. It'll be a good series, there's nothing wrong with Devils fans thinking they can beat the Rangers with the year they've had. Also this NJ team has to learn how to play and beat good teams if they ever want to win a cup. If anything, you should take it as a compliment that Devils fans think of the Rangers as a good measuring stick but hey of course your fanbase takes everything as a backhanded slap when it comes to the Devils. Maybe one day you guys will get over it.

Until Hughes does this in the playoffs, ill say Fox will be the best player between the 2 teams.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Vegas was not soft at all! They had McNabb, Engelland, Neal, Bellemare, Perron, Reaves, Schmidt, Tuch... They were a tough to play against, gritty bunch.

I don't see any player on NJD roster matching that description...

Habs were small upfront, but still had Weber, Chiarot, Edmundson, Petry on the backend and Perry/Armia/Staal was a pretty big/nasty cycling 4th line.

The Leafs/Jets/Vegas/Tampa players can certainly attest it was not fun going to the front of the net when Chiarot/Weber/Edmundson were crosschecking everybody in sight.

New Jersey is just too soft right now, they'll need to address that to be taken seriously in the playoffs.

As a Devils fan I agree. I’m saying that I never expected them to be a cup contender. Just making the playoffs is a win in my opinion at least for the fans.

 

[Brooklyndevil]

Carolina is significantly better and may add Meier.

Carolina better get Meir or Miller. If not, I see the Rangers passing them in the standings.

 

[TBF1972]

Complete difference from saying that we'll stomp the Rangers versus wanting to play them, of course you guys can beat us. You have the best goalie in the world, top 3 dman, pretty deep roster but NJ has the best player in that series going into it (Granted Trouba doesn't give him the peoples elbow from half way across the ice) + better center depth + better defense overall. It'll be a good series, there's nothing wrong with Devils fans thinking they can beat the Rangers with the year they've had. Also this NJ team has to learn how to play and beat good teams if they ever want to win a cup. If anything, you should take it as a compliment that Devils fans think of the Rangers as a good measuring stick but hey of course your fanbase takes everything as a backhanded slap when it comes to the Devils. Maybe one day you guys will get over it.

devils fan confident, if the devils meet the rangers = arrogant
rangers fan thinking, the devils don't stand a chance against the rangers = true hockey expert

you need to learn a lot from the big brothers across the river

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Until Hughes does this in the playoffs, ill say Fox will be the best player between the 2 teams.

By that logic, Palat is the best player in that series.

 

[koyvoo]

I haven’t watched them nearly as much this as I did last year, but last season it almost always looked like they got outplayed and were saved by Shesterkin, almost on a nightly basis.

It just seems as though his dip in form is the difference between the two seasons, really.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

We know he will, because Trouba throws good clean hard checks that make the other fans salty. Never understood how hard checks became the enemy of a lot of fans of the NHL. Or is it just the fans of teams who don't have a hard hitter? Hitting is still legal in hockey and Trouba isn't getting disciplined for his hits. Nobody is complaining about this in the NHL, only fans of teams that are getting train-wrecked by him. But keep talking about other people's insecurities as you're whining about this.

Talking about Trouba’s elbows don’t have anything to do with insecurities, at least not in the Merriam-Webster, “this is what the word actually means” sense.

Trouba’s elbows were pretty prominent in the playoffs last year, Sidney Crosby’s skull would attest to that. Big play in that series and ultimately NY’s run.

 

[GAGLine]

I haven’t watched them nearly as much this as I did last year, but last season it almost always looked like they got outplayed and were saved by Shesterkin, almost on a nightly basis.

It just seems as though his dip in form is the difference between the two seasons, really.

After 53 games last year, the Rangers had 71 points. This year they have 70.

The Rangers weren't a good 5 on 5 team last year, though they improved with their trade deadline additions. A good powerplay and stellar goaltending carried them for the first half of the year.

This year, they are a better 5 on 5 team than they were last year, but the PP and goaltending hasn't been quite as good. With the addition of Tarasenko, Gallant changed up the PP units, and the results have been encouraging so far (2 goals on 6 PPs). We'll see if they can keep it going.

With the way the kid line has been playing, I think this team is stronger right now than they were this time last year.

 

[MAB1]

I don't think they have a good enough center to be serious cup contenders but they have pretty much everything else. Underrated team, HF has an obsession with the Canes but they don't have enough offence imo. The Rangers are the best team in their division.

 

[Wats]

This thread convinced me to put 20 on the Rangers winning their division.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

I don't think they have a good enough center to be serious cup contenders but they have pretty much everything else.

Mika

 

[Czechboy]

This one is aging very well tbh.. now they have Tarasenko and no mention (criminal IMO) of Chytil on page 1.

 

[MAB1]

Mika

My point exactly.

 

[Salsa Shark]

By that logic, Palat is the best player in that series.

Fox scored more points than Palat ever has in a playoff run last Spring.

 

[DuneGoon84]

By that logic, Palat is the best player in that series.

Good thing your take was illogical.

 

[Captain Lindy]

Yikes, guess it struck a nerve. Maybe Vanecek needs to keep his guard up for Kreider sliding into him game 1 if that series happens.

The Kreider running goaltenders is such bullshit. Give it up already.

 

[JimmyG89]

Their one piece away from being built the best they can be this season. A jack-of-all-trades 3rd/4th liner is the last piece to the puzzle. Preferably someone that can play center or wing.

If that piece can be added without removing anyone from their active roster, they'll have the depth needed up front to do some serious damage.

Mikkola was a great piece to add to the 3rd pairing, which will go underrated. Halak turned a terribly slow start into being an optimal backup. Miller took his playoff level and has surpassed that.

And of course the Kid Line stepping it up big time. Chytil 21 points in the last 25 games. Kakko 19 points in the last 25 games. Lafreniere lagged behind those guys at 13 in the last 24 (1 healthy scratch).

As currently set, Boston, Tampa, and the Rangers are the top 3 in the East. Every other team has more flaws than those three.

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Are we still doing the Mika isn't a #1C thing?

 

[LokiDog]

This one is aging very well tbh.. now they have Tarasenko and no mention (criminal IMO) of Chytil on page 1.

The band is complete.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

We know he will, because Trouba throws good clean hard checks that make the other fans salty. Never understood how hard checks became the enemy of a lot of fans of the NHL. Or is it just the fans of teams who don't have a hard hitter? Hitting is still legal in hockey and Trouba isn't getting disciplined for his hits. Nobody is complaining about this in the NHL, only fans of teams that are getting train-wrecked by him. But keep talking about other people's insecurities as you're whining about this.

I disagree with your assessment of Trouba. The flying turkey wing is not clean.

 

[Machinehead]

Mika's great. He had 24 in 20 in the playoffs last year. He's over a PPG over four seasons now.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the Rangers. It's a hard league and some teams might be a bit better. What can you do?

 

[Truenorthducky]

They look like an all-star team that play very soft rather than be perfectly built.

 

[Ace]

Clearly shouldn’t have messed with perfection at the deadline

 

[ViD]

Just give them a bit to click, they will dominate

 

[Channelcat]

They look good, but it's Boston or Carolina coming out of the east.