GDT: Training Camp 2021: Everyone Else Too Lazy to Make a Thread

[Osminator]

Should have kept it kosher... 1 colour only... adapt logo to NYR colours or something, would have also been interesting an nice... at least it's not YouPorn, Apple or Godaddy.com

 

[alkurtz]

I really must take umbrage at those accusing CK of a lack of effort. No doubt, like many, he is a streaky player. No doubt, there are nights when you don't notice him. But to say that this is deliberate on his part or that "he is taking the night off" just doesn't strike me as a true assessment of his play. Everything that he does off the ice belies that possibility. I do think that CK is perhaps the most intelligent, not hockey smart intelligent, but general intelligence, skaters not only on the Rangers but in the entire league. I think he tends to overthink things and tends to get lost in his own head instead of just letting his talent play out. What did Yogi say? Baseball is 90% mental, the rest is physical." As with all Yogi is purported to have said, there is an element of truth and common sense there. Sometimes, you tell yourself to do something so strongly that when the time comes to do it, you end up doing the opposite. We see this with teams also. How many times have we seen a team come out flat for a big game? It's not due to a lack of effort or desire. It's not because they have not psyched themselves up for the game because they have, perhaps to much so. When the time comes, they are handicapped by their own desire to do well. I know this is all pop psychology, but I will never be convinced that a player of CK's ability and physical gifts, ever gives anything but effort. Sometimes, despite the desire, it doesn't happen. I would have no problem with CK as captain.

 

[LOFIN]

the C is really a meaningless symbolic gesture that fans care about too much...having a letter stitched on your jersey doesn't make you magically a leader. and not having one doesn't make you less of a leader.

I would agree when it comes to actually playing. However, when you are representing a big market team, it absolutelly is a big dead and thus the player getting the C should be fully vetted and up for the challenge.

There's a difference for Landeskog in Denver vs a potential C in New York/Toronto/Montreal etc. when it comes to the media attention, and that's one of the captains biggest responsibilities in hockey.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I could be wrong about Landeskog, but those two other teams were absolute dumpster fires when they named a 19 year old captain.

Hank and Staal were still here, Kreider was set to become an UFA at the start of last season. This is really the first year of an entirely new persona for the team.

You actually got it backwards.

Crosby was named Captain at the conclusion of his 19 year old season. Pens were a playoff team that year. His first year with the C (20 year old season) they made it to and lost in the finals.

Chicago was an 88 point team the season before naming Toews captain and made it to the conference finals in his first season with the C. Dumpster fire they were not.

Landeskog's first season with the C led to the Avalanche picking MacKinnon 1 OA.

 

[LokiDog]

I could be wrong about Landeskog, but those two other teams were absolute dumpster fires when they named a 19 year old captain.

Toews was named captain in 2008 (20 years 2 months). Hawks made a deep playoff run in 08-09, won the Cup 09-10. Crosby was named captain in 2007 (19 years 9 months). Penguins had a deep playoff run 07-08 and won the Cup in 08-09.

In both cases the player became captain as a sophomore, made a deep playoff run that year and won the Cup the following year.

Landeskog was named captain in 2012 (19 years 9 months). Colorado hasn’t had as much success as the Pens or Hawks but has been a decent team and is on the rise. I don’t think anyone feels Landeskog has been a bad captain; he’s one of those guys who has been praised as a leader since day 1. McDavid is now the youngest to have ever been named captain (20 days earlier than Landeskog). Oilers are a mismanaged mess, but again, I don’t think anyone would point to McDavid as the problem.

I’m not saying you hand Lafreniere the C right now or even saying he should ever have it. All I’m saying is that, after this season, if he has shown the type of clear leadership traits that you look for in a captain, it isn’t unprecedented or detrimental to a team’s success to name a captain after only one or two seasons in the NHL.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

You actually got it backwards.

Crosby was named Captain at the conclusion of his 19 year old season. Pens were a playoff team that year. His first year with the C (20 year old season) they made it to and lost in the finals.

Chicago was an 88 point team the season before naming Toews captain and made it to the conference finals in his first season with the C. Dumpster fire they were not.

Landeskog's first season with the C led to the Avalanche picking MacKinnon 1 OA.

You are correct about Toews, my bad. Pittsburgh got bounced in five games against the Sens, not great but not a dumpster fire either I guess. They also offered him the C earlier in the year and he declined it.

 

[Leetch3]

I would agree when it comes to actually playing. However, when you are representing a big market team, it absolutelly is a big dead and thus the player getting the C should be fully vetted and up for the challenge.

There's a difference for Landeskog in Denver vs a potential C in New York/Toronto/Montreal etc. when it comes to the media attention, and that's one of the captains biggest responsibilities in hockey.

first that is completely overblown. there are like 3 beat reporters that don't know whats going on 90% of the time. hockey in ny should not be grouped with toronto and montreal. secondly you are talking about the off the ice stuff. on the ice it doesn't matter if we have a captain or not.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

You don’t name a guy who shows up 65% of the time captain, no matter how good he is when he shows up. That’s literally the opposite of leading by example.

I think this really flawed. I can't remember when Kreider "didn't show up". Is his production inconsistent and worse, streaky at best? Of course. But that's why CK isn't a superstar. And if you think that's unique to him, you'd be wrong. But beyond that, if he's not scoring, he's far from invisible or not adding value. Look beyond the scoring sheet.

But on-ice is only half the story. By all accounts, he's very good in the lockerroom and good with young players. That has value.

What kind of message does it send to the guys when it’s Round 1 of the playoffs and your captain is inexplicably a ghost?

If that's the standard, this team doesn't have a captain in its roster.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

You are correct about Toews, my bad. Pittsburgh got bounced in five games against the Sens, not great but not a dumpster fire either I guess. They also offered him the C earlier in the year and he declined it.

Even if he had taken the C earlier that season, would they have been worse?


I don't think anyone is suggesting Lafreniere get handed the C out of the gate this year, that would be dumb. But I do think that with everything we know about the player and the way he carries himself, it's clear that we're looking at our next Captain.

 

[nyr2k2]

The captain thing is overblown. There are leaders in the locker room and on the ice whether or not they're wearing a letter. Maybe the way the leadership on this team is structured, it's better to not have a captain. Maybe there are several guys who are looked at as the team leaders. I don't think the formal designation of a letter matters very much.

 

[Leetch3]

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

Even if he had taken the C earlier that season, would they have been worse?


I don't think anyone is suggesting Lafreniere get handed the C out of the gate this year, that would be dumb. But I do think that with everything we know about the player and the way he carries himself, it's clear that we're looking at our next Captain.

I think for sure he's the future captain but personally, I don't burden him with that, in this city, in this market until he's 24-25. In the meantime, there should be another captain. Someone older, someone with some lockeroom cred who's been around for a while and who knows the process and the baggage that comes with playing in NY.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

I wonder who won

 

[JohnC]

I think this really flawed. I can't remember when Kreider "didn't show up". Is his production inconsistent and worse, streaky at best? Of course. But that's why CK isn't a superstar. And if you think that's unique to him, you'd be wrong. But beyond that, if he's not scoring, he's far from invisible or not adding value. Look beyond the scoring sheet.

But on-ice is only half the story. By all accounts, he's very good in the lockerroom and good with young players. That has value.



If that's the standard, this team doesn't have a captain in its roster.

At the very least we know one popular pick for captain is on the ice this week while the other isn’t even at camp yet

 

[NYR Viper]

I wonder who won

The correct answer is The New York Rangers

 

[Filthy Dangles]

I really must take umbrage at those accusing CK of a lack of effort. No doubt, like many, he is a streaky player. No doubt, there are nights when you don't notice him. But to say that this is deliberate on his part or that "he is taking the night off" just doesn't strike me as a true assessment of his play. Everything that he does off the ice belies that possibility. I do think that CK is perhaps the most intelligent, not hockey smart intelligent, but general intelligence, skaters not only on the Rangers but in the entire league. I think he tends to overthink things and tends to get lost in his own head instead of just letting his talent play out. What did Yogi say? Baseball is 90% mental, the rest is physical." As with all Yogi is purported to have said, there is an element of truth and common sense there. Sometimes, you tell yourself to do something so strongly that when the time comes to do it, you end up doing the opposite. We see this with teams also. How many times have we seen a team come out flat for a big game? It's not due to a lack of effort or desire. It's not because they have not psyched themselves up for the game because they have, perhaps to much so. When the time comes, they are handicapped by their own desire to do well. I know this is all pop psychology, but I will never be convinced that a player of CK's ability and physical gifts, ever gives anything but effort. Sometimes, despite the desire, it doesn't happen. I would have no problem with CK as captain.

Agreed. Chris a is a North-South, get it deep and go-to-work kind of guy who doesn't kill penalties or play a big role on the PP. When the team isn't rolling and getting on the forecheck and getting zone time, or is taking penalties, CK can certainly disappear for stretches but it's not for lack of effort like you alluded to.

Not every good player can be a Mika or Artemi, sometimes people are expecting for a player who he (and most others) are not.

 

[JimmyG89]

 

[Fitzy]

Most 2nd line players are streaky offensively. That's why they are 2nd line players and not 1st line players.

 

[Crease]

Sounds like the only fixture on the fourth line this year is Lemieux. Howden, Rooney, PDG, and Barron are going to be playing musical chairs unless two of them force the issue.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

If that's the standard, this team doesn't have a captain in its roster.

It doesn’t. That’s precisely why they haven’t named a captain yet. Duh!

The “Hank was the leader” nonsense is mental gymnastics. Didn’t stop them from naming like 5 other captains during Hank’s tenure.

This team doesn’t bring it every night and has had an identity crisis for several years now. We’re turning a corner, and I’m confident a true leader will emerge, but right now there isn’t one.

Otherwise we’d have a captain.

 

[haveandare]

Wish we could stream these scrimmages, even if sketchy quality it’d be fun to watch

 

[LiveLongandProspal]

Inject this into my veins

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Looks like Kakko is back to Sherwood full time. They started paying the Stick and Equipment fees full time again. Trouba was a Sherwood guy too, I'm sure hell be back as well.

 

[Profet]

Agreed. Chris a is a North-South, get it deep and go-to-work kind of guy who doesn't kill penalties or play a big role on the PP.

Uh what? His net front presence is the reason for many many of the power play goals scored last year. Does it show up on the stat sheet all the time? No... but he plays an absolutely massive role on the PP.

 

[LiveLongandProspal]