The New York Rangers are a perfectly built team this year

[chaz4hockey]

Very good team with some great players but given Ranger history there is always something that bites them during the season. Ratelle & Nilsson’s broken ankles, to name two. Thus, I’m thinking it will be 2048 before the next one.

 

[ViD]

So what's the excuse when they don't win the chip?

All the advantages in the world.........

That’s hockey

 

[Rehabguy]

It looks like they got some press time last year because the real playoff team from NY had an off year but good for them.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

So what's the excuse when they don't win the chip?

All the advantages in the world.........

took Colorado several years of being the best team in the league before they even got past the 2nd round

 

[Tralfamadore]

They're gonna win a lot of games. They remind me of TB with a top 5 player at G, D and W and a top 10 1C to boot. On paper I think they may be the favourites this year they just have more to prove on the ice similar to the Avs recently.

 

[Heldig]

I simply do not see any weaknesses in the Rangers roster this season, they are solid in every department. In my mind they are the best team in the East and only the Avs match them.

Vezina winning goalie in Shestyorkin

Norris winning defender in Fox

Elite 1C in Zibanejad

Elite 1W in Panarin

Great 2C in Trocheck

50 goal scorer in Kreider

Big physical presence in Blais, Reeves, Trouba

Elite young players in Lafreniere, Kakko, Kravtsov

Deadly power play and solid penalty kill

Great coaching by Gallant

They are my pick from the East to go to the finals.

I am rarely right so your assessment is probably off, too.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Goodrow isn't an AHL level player. He's fine on a third line. They are missing a good RW which is why Laf moved to the right, but their current third line is pretty solid analytically (I think it'll just lack some scoring punch as currently constructed unless Blais stays healthy and finds some offense)
Their 4th line is eh, but not really important.

who cares who the 7th d is, most teams don't have a good 7th d. most teams don't just have quality players sitting on the bench in reserve in case a current player gets injured. Injuries always test depth for every team.

The Rangers have a lot going for them but it's still going to come down to being able to execute when it matters (defensively and offensively) and some luck.

As for Zibanejad,...I dunno, dude can get as hot as anyone in this league. He has the talent to score 50 goals and can dish out assists just as well. He's just always had some inconsistencies, like the past couple of years starting extremely slowly, and I'm always worried he's going to get injured for a stretch.

That said...I dunno, he's flying out there right now, he's a constant threat. And as mentioned, Kakko has turned that line into a more dominant puck possession line. Previously Zibanejad and Kreider relied too much on plays off the rush I think, but they've been able to cycle the puck and generate chances that way much more effectively so far with Kakko on board.

e: Guess I'm saying that Zibanejad is one of those players who when he's hot is absolutely an elite C. For various reasons he hasn't quite been able to play that way a full season though, so on the whole yeah I'm not going to argue about how elite he is or isn't. His big test going forward will be how well he can sustain this kind of play he has going right now, how quickly he gets through slumps (because every player has them) and how he'll perform in the playoffs. His playoff performance last year was hopefully a sign of a big step forward for him in his confidence and ability to keep up a high level of play.

 

[SCMURRAY]

Id be careful on how you use Elite

 

[QJL]

Id be careful on how you use Elite

Zibanejad numbers since the 19-20 season.

14th league-wide in points
8th league-wide in goals
3rd league-wide in power play goals
1st league-wide in short handed points
7th league-wide in playoff points per game (min 20 games played)

Oh, and he finished 15th in Selke voting last season.

Zibanejad. Is. Elite.

 

[edog37]

Mcdavid is a defensemen on the avs?

nope, since Cale Makar is the best player on the planet right now.

 

[mm11]

Zibanejad numbers since the 19-20 season.

14th league-wide in points
8th league-wide in goals
3rd league-wide in power play goals
1st league-wide in short handed points
7th league-wide in playoff points per game (min 20 games played)

Oh, and he finished 15th in Selke voting last season.

Zibanejad. Is. Elite.

Zibby is elite at this point. Man is deadly and a problemo for the Eastern conference

took Colorado several years of being the best team in the league before they even got past the 2nd round

truth no doubt. Tough to win consistently in the spring time.

 

[RangerFanInMKE]

I’ve heard this for going on three years now.

“Watch him play, he looks elite”.

Then you see he’s playing at a 30pt pace and is at times scratched.

You don’t draft a guy 2nd overall to get a meh defensive third line guy.

Until he starts producing, he’s come nowhere close to his draft status… which would make him a bust

This thread is dumb, but this is a terrible take.

 

[nbwingsfan]

This thread is dumb, but this is a terrible take.

Do you, or do you not, think a 30pt pace, and scratched in the playoffs, is good for a 2nd overall pick who was supposed to be NHL ready?

 

[rangersfansince08]

Do you, or do you not, think a 30pt pace, and scratched in the playoffs, is good for a 2nd overall pick who was supposed to be NHL ready?

Agree. Its too early to call him a bust though imo. Lets see how he does this season on the first line. He needs to put up 50-60 ES pts in that scenario to live up to his draft status.

 

[Peltz]

One of Zib's greatest strengths is his one timer from the circle. Wonder why he produces so much on the PP? This is a bad thing. Good teams don't have good powerplays

?

 

[Salsa Shark]

?

My lame attempt at sarcasm didn’t translate - my overarching point is that some want to penalize the rangers for being a lethal pp team. They’re not getting any more chances than other teams, just capitalizing

 

[Peltz]

Their most elite forward, their captain and their Norris defender are all there not cause NYR is a well-managed, well-built team, but cause NYR is NYR.

Chicken vs. Egg - how does it work?

Tell me how is being in NYC working out for the NY Knicks? I'm sure LeBron is coming to play for us any second now lol.

My lame attempt at sarcasm didn’t translate - my overarching point is that some want to penalize the rangers for being a lethal pp team. They’re not getting any more chances than other teams, just capitalizing

Oh my bad. Gotcha

 

[Brooklyndevil]

They’re a top five team and are a cup contender. That’s as good as it gets in October.

 

[QJL]

Agree. Its too early to call him a bust though imo. Lets see how he does this season on the first line. He needs to put up 50-60 ES pts in that scenario to live up to his draft status.

Guess how many second overall picks put up 50+ EV points last season?

One. Aleksander Barkov. When he was 21, he posted 37 EV points in 61 games, about a 50 EV point pace.

Even Svechnikov, Reinhart, Laine were below that barometer last season.

I’d like to see 40+ EV points from Kakko this season, 50+ overall. That would be living up the the hype of a typical 2nd overall. If he played PP1, I’d expect production in the 65-70 point range.

 

[Ace]

*checks in on perfectly built team*

 

[PaulD]

Do you, or do you not, think a 30pt pace, and scratched in the playoffs, is good for a 2nd overall pick who was supposed to be NHL ready?

Late bloomer

 

[nbwingsfan]

Late bloomer

As yes the classic failing prospect excuse:

Late bloomer, looks good.

 

[unicornpig]

Like I said pp specialists, can't do anything even strength

 

[DearDiary]

Lafreniere 3 points in 6 games (3rd season)
Kakko 2 points in 6 games (4th season)

 

[PaulD]

As yes the classic failing prospect excuse:

Late bloomer, looks good.

Yea, and last season the title thread was "Rangers ruining Lafrenieres career". And all those guys that have shut the heck up.