This team is boring and top heavy

[Alluckks]

Stop standing on the ledge and just jump, you won't be missed here

Go be an islander fan or something

 

[Zamboner]

I'm waiting 20 games before I decide whether I'm jumping into the abyss, but early signs are not good, the smart bet is me jumping into the abyss.

 

[Elliman]

for someone who doesn’t like the bottom six players listed or “playoff hockey” with the hits and intensity you sure fooled me with a name like Kocur. From the bruise brothers in detroit to the lights on broadway, joey kocur would fit perfectly into this team.

 

[Tob]

This is definitely a power bottom team. The leafs did the topping tonight. We have some top end talent but so far it's the bottom 6 that has been good and some good individual performances on the top 6. By design, we're suppose to be an all around team. Last year we were top heavy, the year before that too. Encouraged by Mika and Bread these last 2 games though. Laffy too.

 

[Kocur26]

This is definitely a power bottom team. The leafs did the topping tonight. We have some top end talent but so far it's the bottom 6 that has been good and some good individual performances on the top 6. By design, we're suppose to be an all around team. Last year we were top heavy, the year before that too. Encouraged by Mika and Bread these last 2 games though. Laffy too.

Bottom 6 ? Who is scoring ? I’ll wait - will a bottom 6 guy have 9 goals this year ?
Blais ?

Bottom 6 - Ryan Strome is a bottom 6 on a good team - instead he’s a vital pivot on our bereft center team.

I see Jack Eichel on B’Way - stay tuned .

 

[Jim Ramsay]

Faceoffs and overall play needs to be better sure, but

Missing 2 of our top 6 players, goin on the road and grabbing the W there really shouldnt be complaining.

A goalie is also allowed to steal games here and there, we saw Hank do it for years.

If they look like this 20 games in with a full roster, I would have issues with

 

[duhmetreE]

Like I've been repeating ad nauseum... We need better middle6 centers. 2way centers that can skate. It's that simple.

Dvorak. Larkin.

OR we have to pay a premium for someone like Turcotte. He fits the mold perfectly. Give LAK the defenseman they want.

Believe me... I know Chytil wants to be a Center... and we all want him to be a Center... but he's not a Center.

I'll post it here as I did in the Roster thread; for now,

Panarin Zibs Kreider - this is guaranteed offense and chances.
Lafrenire Strome Chytil
Goodrow Barron Blais
Hunt Rooney Reaves

We know that 4th line can get behind the defense and forecheck, if that 3rd line can mimic that, we're looking good. Long term we need a middle6Center to replace Strome or Chytil. Once again, a strong 2way Center that can skate and doesn't have blinders on.

 

[TUQ]

Make no mistake - we got blown off the ice tonite - it was Tortarella rope a dope Rick nash and the Miracles era hockey again .

it’s awful on the eye - it’s awful on the goalie and team in general .

We are playing Playoff hockey in Game 4 you know why ? Because we can’t matchup.

We are slower than years past …

We are still small in key situations- we don’t have a crease clearer and our “ top offensive guys “ are finesse oriented.

HOW CAN CHRIS DRURY PUT THE FANBASE THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR OF FACEOFF EMBARRASSMENT?? How !!!!

Wait until we play the Islanders & flyers and we go 20% wins in the dots.

I get gallant likes hitting but what else ?

This team is overflowing with cockroaches

McKegg
Rooney
Reaves
Blais
Tinordi
Gauthier ( my god does he suck )

There’s no goals there ! None !

Lafrenniere let’s call it like it is - he’s extremely unimpressive - I have yet to see one trait that says ah yes I see a #1 overall - Sorry I don’t .
Hope I’m wrong but he’s closer to a Josh Bailey career path than a Superstar.

Jacob Trouba - he’s Connor Williams on skates - an absolute drive killer.
I don’t trust him @ all - never did.

You can get mad at me / fine - but I’m writing this AFTER A WIN.
Igor’s heroics are masquerading our massive problems.

Despite all the prospect collecting all the charts that say we are top 5 prospects…

Where’s our Mathew’s Marner Nylander ?

Tell me

1. Super stacked Toronto team playing at home ...
2. Our 4th game in 6 days ...
3. Missing one third of our top six ...
4. New coach, new system ...

Our Mathew's won us the game, our Marner is still young, our Nylander is on IR.

However, I agree with the faceoffs being an embarassment.

 

[ThirdEye]

While Shesterkin was undeniably great, I thought they did an excellent job keeping most of the shots to the outside and taming rebounds. The defense to me is definitely an improvement thus far this season. Miller has looked nearly as confident/solid as he did at the start of last season - I was not expecting that after the abortion of a preseason that he had. I'm not a fan of Nemeth and Lundvist has been mostly pedestrian, but the top 4 have done their job pretty well.

The faceoff thing is an absolute killer. I just don't understand how you can be THIS bad. It's almost like they're trying to lose them. I wonder if the faceoff drills they performed in camp have them overthinking things in that respect. Might've done more bad than good.

The forward group has been generally awful, that's tough to argue. And I can't disagree about Laf - he's been underwhelming to say the last. He was consensus #1 pick though and we're just going to have to hope he can put it together eventually. Not one of the kids that we're desperately relying on have really shown that they are indisputably ready for a bigger role.

I think the team won't be as fun to watch this season but they will be harder to play against. While it's fun to beat up on the Flyers and other crappy teams all season, the style they played last season is an perfect recipe for getting bounced in the first round. Meanwhile I can actually see this team winning a round or even two if the chemistry comes together and they get hot at the right time

 

[duhmetreE]

We also haven't practiced much, if at all, since there's been so many games played. With top6 players coming out and scrubs being bumped up.... not a great recipe for success

 

[nyr2k2]

Reminds me of that "Let's overreact to things" schlock on ESPN where they say something silly, and then give you a really shallow justification for why it is or isn't an overreaction.

THE RANGERS ARE BORING AND TOP-HEAVY

They have a new coach whose teams are generally not boring. They're missing two players in the middle of the lineup that would make them less top-heavy and more dynamic. It's four games into the season, and they've won two--with an OTL throw in for good measure. Winning is the ultimate counter for boredom.

Verdict: DEFINITELY A TYPICAL HF OVERREACTION

 

[ThirdEye]

Btw, I think Blais needs to be given an extended chance in the top 6. To me he's a perfect complimentary player for someone like Panarin

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Fire Quinn!

 

[Guyute]

Hey watch it! You’re boring and top heavy.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Dont understand how we could look dynamic last season but horrible now, when:

A: Its the same core and team minus Blackwell, Buchnevich, DiGuissepe, Smith and Howden. Other than Buch youre telling me these guys make that much of a difference?
B: 90% of the fans wanted Quinn out of here and loved the Gallant move, but now we are saying his style was better?
C: Its 4 games into the season and they have a winning record, with 2 of their top 6 players out of the lineup and 1 top 9 that quit on the team. Strome and Kakkos dont grow on trees So thats going to be 3 pluggers in for them- What do you expect?

I understand the snap judgement but can we at least give this team with a new coach and system and still filled with youth 20 or more games before we send them down the pike?

 

[NYblades]

Bottom 6 ? Who is scoring ? I’ll wait - will a bottom 6 guy have 9 goals this year ?
Blais ?

Bottom 6 - Ryan Strome is a bottom 6 on a good team - instead he’s a vital pivot on our bereft center team.

I see Jack Eichel on B’Way - stay tuned .

Zibanejad's contract says hi.

 

[Oscar Lindberg]

I don’t disagree with the assertion that the team is top heavy in some aspects.

Seems to me if the top 6 isn’t scoring this team is gonna have a tough time winning, so they are top heavy from that perspective

but idk it’s 4 games in. If they still look terrible at the of December we’ve got a problem

 

[NYR Viper]

So the team has 5 points in 4 games missing a top-6 center and top-6 winger for a portion of each and with a new coach, along with 4 new forwards and 2 new d-men playing. Could we maybe give them a bit more time? Say, maybe 20 games?

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Question: What teams aren't top heavy?

Unless you are the Lightning finding ways to circumvent the cap you will likely have two top lines and "pluggers" to fill out the rest.

Especially when 3 of your top 9 are out.

I'll take our team that has a Norris winner on the back end too.

 

[NYR Viper]

The thing is, the team looks top heavy only because Kaako and Strome are out. Bring them back and all of a sudden Chytil and Goodrow/Blais are in the bottom-6.

Also, there has been very little chemistry up to this point. It will come.

 

[Raspewtin]

ur mum is boring and top heavy

 

[Kocur26]

The thing is, the team looks top heavy only because Kaako and Strome are out. Bring them back and all of a sudden Chytil and Goodrow/Blais are in the bottom-6.

Also, there has been very little chemistry up to this point. It will come.

Good counterpoint - my only thing here is - Kakko doesn’t score .

 

[Kocur26]

ur mum is boring and top heavy

My mom is a Korean War veteran nurse .
A decorated American.

I won’t comment on yours .

 

[NYR Viper]

Good counterpoint - my only thing here is - Kakko doesn’t score .

He hasn't scored much in the past but he has consistently been one of the drivers of offense on this team going back to last year and has looked like a bull in most areas of the ice this season. He's a pretty big next positive overall.

 

[CLW]

Like I've been repeating ad nauseum... We need better middle6 centers. 2way centers that can skate. It's that simple.

Dvorak. Larkin.

OR we have to pay a premium for someone like Turcotte. He fits the mold perfectly. Give LAK the defenseman they want.

Believe me... I know Chytil wants to be a Center... and we all want him to be a Center... but he's not a Center.

I'll post it here as I did in the Roster thread; for now,

Panarin Zibs Kreider - this is guaranteed offense and chances.
Lafrenire Strome Chytil
Goodrow Barron Blais
Hunt Rooney Reaves

We know that 4th line can get behind the defense and forecheck, if that 3rd line can mimic that, we're looking good. Long term we need a middle6Center to replace Strome or Chytil. Once again, a strong 2way Center that can skate and doesn't have blinders on.

Chytil's been a big disappointment to be sure. I dared hope there was more to his game seeing his advanced stats last year, but my initial impression that he is another Radek Faksa at best seems correct.

There's a lot of talk on this forum, even if some people laugh at it, of turning one of the young kids into a center. Laf may be able to, Kakko with his two way game seems suitable - but they are 2-3 years away from being NHL savvy enough to pull it off. As the roster looks now top 6 balance is very much a work in progress and playing the kids at C would do no one any favors.

Turcotte is talented, but I am uncertain if his body will hold up. He has been injured and sick a lot already which has slowed his progress. Hayton I want no part of, he was very weak in his stint in Finland and has shown nothing since.

Gallant says he does not like to mix his lines up, but his top lines are not set up well. Kakko will destroy himself trying to do all the heavy lifting for Strome and Panarin, unless he learns "what works in the NHL" and starts to float too.