Training Camp and Preseason thread 2023

[GAGLine]

Hartford has enough depth like Blidh, Brodzinski. Depth isn't an issue like it used to be

You can't have too much depth. Do you want Blidh and Brodzinski playing important minutes if we have injuries? We've been a pretty healthy team in recent years, but it only takes a few key injuries to test a team's depth.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Random thoughts on last night:

-Breakouts were better and pace up the ice was noticeably quicker. Transition play was a little better.
-The D, granted not many regulars last night, left a lot to be desired. Harpur and Schneider in particular were atrocious.
-Same story - team lacks a finisher. Laf in particular was very disappointing. More on players below.
-This team is terrible at scoring on big goalies and has been for a long time. I don't know what it is. Shot targeting in particular was pretty bad.

Now, players:
The good:
-Chytil looks to have made improvements from last year. He was all over the ice last night, and looks a little bit stronger/better edgework than last year. Didn't get to see him really rip it, but was nice to try and see him one-time one, and his wrist shot looks slightly quicker on the release than last year. Expecting big things if he can stay healthy.
-Blidh looks like a good insurance option in the AHL who can step up and provide energy if needed. He was relentless on the puck and showed everything you look for in an energy player on the 4th line.
-Sykora looks much improved from last year. He was also aggressive on the puck, took a couple "big" hits well and shrugged them off like nothing, and was fairly creative. He's still not ready yet, but his game is markedly improved from last year IMO.
-Cuylle's skating looked a lot better than last year. I still might like to see him dominate the AHL for a couple months before being brought up (rather than buried in a 4th line checking role), but it was good to see him buzzing around the net and getting touches more than last preseason.
-Domingue was solid. Good third string option to have in the AHL.

The bad:
-Quick wasn't great. His angles/positioning looked off. Hopefully working with Allaire helps him recover his form.
-Didn't care much for Riley Nash's performance. Let's just say if he doesn't make the team, I won't be losing any sleep. He looks done and didn't add much of anything at either end of the ice. If the team wants a 4th line that can contribute offensively, he's not the guy. Same goes if they want energy/forecheck.
-Matthew Robertson handles the puck like a live grenade. Woof. While I hope he can be better in the future, I'm not expecting him to make the team or seriously contend. He has a lot of work to do on this area of his game in particular.
-Didn't love Zac Jones's reads on the PP. He had a chance to QB it and wasn't really in the right spot much. Can chalk some of this up to the team not really working on special teams thus far in camp, but I'd really like to see a greater willingness to take slapshots from the point or pinch if he figures to see any PP time at all. Jones had a decent game otherwise, however, and that's coming from someone who's generally one of his biggest detractors.

The ugly:
-Ben Harpur and Braden Schneider were brutal last night. Harpur's best moment was the fight. Schneider, I expected to see improvements in his mobility/agility, but he looks much the same as last year. He got burned several times on giveaways and bad pinches, and looks very much like he did at points last year.
-Lafreniere looks like the same player as last season. Maybe slightly better acceleration, but that's it. Very disappointing. Was hoping to see him come into camp wanting to be the guy, instead, looks like he's just happy to be here. He's still entirely too quick to get rid of the puck when receiving it, and last night was a chance for him to try and do some more things as with the Rangers' lineup he was basically the guy. Would really like to see him shoot more/look to get in scoring position, especially on the powerplay if the team is serious about using him at RW. He's still too "pass first." He had a couple good passes, but again, this is something that was in his bag last year too and we're talking about a #1 and wanting to have seen him make a jump during the offseason.
-Jake Leschyshyn was awful. Every time the puck was cycled near him, the Bruins came away with the puck. This guy is just not an NHL player. Against the lineup the Bruins fielded, one would have expected him to have done a little bit of something, but no. Completely invisible.

It's 1 preseason game, lets not overreact. Team lacks a finisher? Did Panarin, Mika, Kreider, Fox play last night and I missed it? We had like 4-5 guys in the lineup that make the team.

 

[egelband]

Cuylle and Edstrom can be safely stowed in Hartford for organizational depth. If you start them in New York and lose the vets on waivers, you end up with no Plan B if Cuylle and Edstrom are not ready. That would be my worry.

For sure. But I doubt any team is going to be plucking those depth guys off waivers. And if they do, I’m sure there will be other similar, even better guys available at some point. Anyhow, my point is I want them to take some chances, be a little creative early in the season.

 

[haohmaru]

The takes in here are dumb.

However, I'll say this, like I've been saying since his rookie season. You treat a player and develop him as a fringe 3rd line NHL player, with no special teams time, cut his nuts off every time he or his line makes a mistake, or flat out bench him for long stretches of the game, for 3 years... then wonder why he's not dominating the first game of his professional career being put in the spots he should have been in his entire career... that's just stupidity.

He should have been stapled to the top 6 and top PP unit from game one of his NHL career. Like every other franchise does with their #1 overall picks. And if they weren't (Stamkos) that coach was fired because of it (Melrose). I saw Hughes live his rookie season, kid barely ever left the ice. Devils had him out there for like 20+ minutes. He looked like a child against adults and they still ran him out on the ice, top PP unit, top 6 at 5v5, he was out there learning, failing, and unafraid to make plays that would turn the puck over, unafraid because they didn't castrate him and bench him after a mistake, he was out there for the next regular shift.

Rangers completely f***ed Lafreniere from the start because they wanted to placate the vet core that's done nothing but prove they can't win over and over again.

Stop wondering why. Stop blaming Lafreniere for not being Jagr in his prime on the PP in game one of the preseason. He's never been "the guy" not once since being drafted. The Rangers have done nothing but hold him back and punish him at every turn.

It's the Rangers fault. They haven't a f***ing clue how to develop forwards. They're allergic to homegrown high end talent up front. And until they figure that shit out they will never win a Cup.

Also, until the fan base stops enabling the Ranger for this stupid behavior, nothing will change. You all bitch and whine about Lafreniere one game into the preseason demanding he be traded and deciding he's done at age 22. And you wonder why they won't commit to youth up front. They think all you want is 30+ year old has been's and they're right, look at how many are begging for Kane to come back. It's insane.

If they're giving Laf the opportunities then EVERYONE including the Rangers AND the fan base needs to be patient while he adapts and learns to be in that role... again, if they'd done it right and had him there since the beginning this wouldn't be a problem right now.

This is such horseshit. The circumstances (ie... covid 19, the bubble) in which the Rangers ended up with a 1OA vs. the typical team (ie... Chicago this year) that ends up with a 1OA aren't remotely similar and neither is the need for that player to take a thousand minutes a night to "develop" on a competitive 100+ point team.

Rangers > Lafreniere. It's really that f***ing simple.

The bottom line is that the two left wings ahead of Lafreniere are both simply better players to this point and Lafreniere, to his detriment, isn't in the best of situations and has to figure out how to displace a guy that's either 4th in the NHL in points over the last four years or the guy that's seventh in goals over the last two. That's a big ask of a young forward.

You're right about one thing - he's young and the Rangers would make this a PROFOUND error if this year is the "prove it" year or we get some late round 1st for him. That would be sheer idiocy. He's still got time to develop into an impact forward.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

I really hope the team uses the first half of the season to see what they have with some of these kids. Maybe not the most recent draft picks, like Othmann and Sykora…But I would love guys like Laf and Kakko get prime ice and Jones, Cuylle, even Edstrom to get some run with some leash. See what we have. Develop guys a bit. There’s a middle path where the team can stay afloat and still develop guys for at least a portion of the season, if they want to. I do sense Laviolette can handle that better than his predecessors.

I think the team can win a lot of games while letting Laf, Kakko, Miller, Schneider, and Jones play important roles.

Laf should be in the top 6 and on PP1. Kakko should be in the top 6 and be on PK1 with Trocheck. Trocheck doesn't need to be anywhere near PP1.

Chytil should be in the top 6 and be on PK2. Zibanejad doesn't need to be wearing down during the regular season doing everything. He can be on PP1 and top line EV. Chytil and Kreider can kill penalties.

Jones should be the PP QB of PP2 not Trouba. Trouba is atrocious on the PP. Trouba should never be on the PP ever. He should be on the PK. Trouba should only ever focus on defending his own end keep it simple stupid with some of these guys. Defined roles.

Miller and Schneider can PK. Fox should never be on the ice short handed, there's better guys for that role. Fox will be PP1 QB and top pair at EV. Lindgren can't stay healthy, he doesn't need to be playing all the damn time. He can get his reps at EV. Conserve him for the playoffs.

These kids should be in big spots playing special teams. The big 3 forwards Panarin, Zibanejad, and Kreider will still get the bulk of minutes but the kids will be right there with them in big spots if they do things right.

You get these kids engaged now. Building their foundation in big spots and then when the playoffs come they'll be ready and the vets won't be hitting a wall.

 

[nsvoyageurs]

The takes in here are dumb.

However, I'll say this, like I've been saying since his rookie season. You treat a player and develop him as a fringe 3rd line NHL player, with no special teams time, cut his nuts off every time he or his line makes a mistake, or flat out bench him for long stretches of the game, for 3 years... then wonder why he's not dominating the first game of his professional career being put in the spots he should have been in his entire career... that's just stupidity.

He should have been stapled to the top 6 and top PP unit from game one of his NHL career. Like every other franchise does with their #1 overall picks. And if they weren't (Stamkos) that coach was fired because of it (Melrose). I saw Hughes live his rookie season, kid barely ever left the ice. Devils had him out there for like 20+ minutes. He looked like a child against adults and they still ran him out on the ice, top PP unit, top 6 at 5v5, he was out there learning, failing, and unafraid to make plays that would turn the puck over, unafraid because they didn't castrate him and bench him after a mistake, he was out there for the next regular shift.

Rangers completely f***ed Lafreniere from the start because they wanted to placate the vet core that's done nothing but prove they can't win over and over again.

Stop wondering why. Stop blaming Lafreniere for not being Jagr in his prime on the PP in game one of the preseason. He's never been "the guy" not once since being drafted. The Rangers have done nothing but hold him back and punish him at every turn.

It's the Rangers fault. They haven't a f***ing clue how to develop forwards. They're allergic to homegrown high end talent up front. And until they figure that shit out they will never win a Cup.

Also, until the fan base stops enabling the Ranger for this stupid behavior, nothing will change. You all bitch and whine about Lafreniere one game into the preseason demanding he be traded and deciding he's done at age 22. And you wonder why they won't commit to youth up front. They think all you want is 30+ year old has been's and they're right, look at how many are begging for Kane to come back. It's insane.

If they're giving Laf the opportunities then EVERYONE including the Rangers AND the fan base needs to be patient while he adapts and learns to be in that role... again, if they'd done it right and had him there since the beginning this wouldn't be a problem right now.

I cannot agree with this enough. Some in the fan base have the attention span of a gnat. We need patience with him, along with a real opportunity with compatible linemates; not just a shift or a game or two in the top 6 with a coach who changed lines as much as most people change their socks.

I'm not absolving Lafreniere of blame in his slower than wished for progression, he's not completely blameless, but this organization hasn't exactly done him any favours. You can't develop Lafreniere (or any of the other skill forwards, i.e. Kakko) by sticking them with 3rd-4th line grinders as linemates. Skill players need to play with skill players and develop chemistry. Benching him after every little mistake isn't doing him any good. Hopefully, Laviolette will be a little more patient with him than Quinn/Gallant were.

 

[Levitate]

I also think fans and coaches need to be more patient with Lafreniere at RW
it may seem like "oh he should be able to do it no problem!" but he's only been given a very short time to excel there before being jerked around by previous coaches.
If he looks OK there give him time to get better

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Opening roster as i see it

Kreider Zibanejad Lafreniere
Panarin Chytil Wheeler
Cullye Trochek Kakko
Vesey Bonino goodrow

Miller trouba
Lindgren Fox
Gustafson schneider

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Cuylle and Edstrom can be safely stowed in Hartford for organizational depth. If you start them in New York and lose the vets on waivers, you end up with no Plan B if Cuylle and Edstrom are not ready. That would be my worry.

I'd like to see a little more from both in games before sending them to Hartford, preferably Edstrom with players who can hold onto the puck which Belzille had issues with. I liked Peca working with Edstrom and coaching after his Grade A chance with an "atta boy".

Cully should be glued to Goodrow or Trochek for a bit.

Sykora and Berard both looked great, it was Nash who was holding them back not being able to keep pucks. Both those guys need more man strength, but they have the tools and instincts to be frustrating the opposition puck hounds.

 

[HFsNumber1Heel]

Opening roster as i see it

Kreider Zibanejad Lafreniere
Panarin Chytil Wheeler
Cullye Trochek Kakko
Vesey Bonino goodrow

Miller trouba
Lindgren Fox
Gustafson schneider

I still see Pitlick starting over Cullye.

Of the above, that's the only change and Jones is the 7th.

I'm curious how Garand plays. He might steal the backup gig a la Talbot in a few months. He's been stellar so far in the rookie game and apparently in camp as well. Having a cost controlled young backup/1B the next 5-7 years, not a bad thing.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I still see Pitlick starting over Cullye.

Of the above, that's the only change and Jones is the 7th.

I'm curious how Garand plays. He might steal the backup gig a la Talbot in a few months. He's been stellar so far in the rookie game and apparently in camp as well. Having a cost controlled young backup/1B the next 5-7 years, not a bad thing.

I think they'll give quick plenty of time to get going, imo Garand will spend the year in the A unless injuries force him to the nhl

 

[egelband]

I still see Pitlick starting over Cullye.

Of the above, that's the only change and Jones is the 7th.

I'm curious how Garand plays. He might steal the backup gig a la Talbot in a few months. He's been stellar so far in the rookie game and apparently in camp as well. Having a cost controlled young backup/1B the next 5-7 years, not a bad thing.

I’d say Pitlick actually is ahead of Bonino. I imagine Bonino is 13F or starting in Hartford. Think Pitlick is the best of the depth signings bunch.

 

[eco's bones]

I thought Jones played pretty well last night. There is the caveat that that wasn't a particularly strong Bruin lineup he faced.

When the Rangers signed Erik Gustafsson the player that impacted on making the team most was Jones even if sending him to Hartford this year means he has to go through waivers. I don't think Jones is cut out to be the 7D and I don't think platooning him with Gustafsson this year is a good idea either. That Gustafsson played for Laviolette last year makes me think also that Laviolette wanted Erik on his team.

Jones is not Fox. The question is is he is ready to be even Gustafsson? Like him or not Gustafsson has a lot of NHL experience. He can break pucks out of the zone and he can handle the 2pwp job. He's bigger and stronger than Jones. Neither are known for stellar defensive play. My guess is that Laviolette's thumb is on Gustaffson's being here and that he's going pick him to round out the top 6 after which he's going to play Erik at least most games. As long as the D are healthy whoever the 7D is is going to be watching from the stands. Laviolette is a veteran coach and he will play what he thinks his best lineup is night in and night out. That's particularly why I think one of Harpur or Mackey are most likely to be our 7D because it doesn't matter very much if they don't play very much. it does matter with Jones.

 

[RangerBoy]

I like Cuylle with Trocheck and Wheeler

Kreider-Zibanejad

Panarin-Chytil

Kakko is the better defensive forward than Lafreniere.

Kreider-Zibanejad are a better defensive duo than Panarin-Chytil

Put the better defensive winger with Panarin-Chytil in Kakko

Lafreniere with Kreider-Zibanejad. Lafreniere is making the switch to RW from LW. Take some pressure off him in his own zone.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko were a good line in the limited time they were together last season but you can see the rationale to flipping Kakko and Lafreniere

Goodrow plays on the wing with Bonino and Vesey

Pitlick is the 13th forward

That's a good forward group.

 

[mrmovies779]

Laf could have had 3 or 4 points if we could have finished,but some just want to continue with the hate.They would rather see him fail so they could feel good about being right.Pretty pathetic

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Laf could have had 3 or 4 points if we could have finished,but some just want to continue with the hate.They would rather see him fail so they could feel good about being right.Pretty pathetic

And if he succeeds they'll contest that he "finally put the work in" and they were still right about him, it feels like a high school girls click.

 

[Rongomania]

Laf could have had 3 or 4 points if we could have finished,but some just want to continue with the hate.They would rather see him fail so they could feel good about being right.Pretty pathetic

Again, and the same goes for Kakko - they need to play with studs. They deserve it. Kak for his extremely hard work and Laf was drafted 1st overall, that gives him the right to get big opportunities. We deserve that as fans. Sink or swim.

Laf had Chytil the other night. That's it. I wasn't expecting the world.

 

[Kords]

I think some people might be setting themselves up for disappointment regarding Cuyyle this year. Not even sure he’s the best 13th forward yet at this point in his development.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'm not sure Jones and Gustafsson are identical in every right as many are claiming here.

Jones is very adept at moving the puck effectively out of his own zone. He doesn't have a crazy hard shot and while he will provide offense, I don't think he's going to be a 40+ point guy.

Gustaffson can move the puck, yes, but he is more adept at play once the puck is within the offensive half of the ice rather than great stretch passes, etc. His shot is also a big plus.

Yes they are offensive d-men but I'm not they are identical

 

[MrPodz]

So I saw a lot of emotions from people reading too much into preseason. Reminds me of when the devils won all preseason games, fell apart because Hall got injured and ended up missing them, ironically getting Hughes. Preseason should be a ramp up for these players.

On laf, he is a passer and a fairly good one. I see the qualities and traits that made him a first overall. I think he is going to have to continue working on his speed and strength. He does look stronger than last year, but next year is when I will judge him. Why?

Kakko broke out year five. Chytil broke out year six I believe. Laf is in year four. Ask a coach and he will tell you a lot of players get better slowly with little things that you don't necessarily notice right away. Laf is getting better and if he gets 45 pts, be happy.

In addition, if a team of assistant coaches brought together for the purpose of developing their young guns fails in doing so, then maybe it is the players. But I do hate when people say "oh laffy has to be the guy".

Yeah no... panarin, trocheck Mika, and kreider have all been relied on far more. He's 21-22 right now and you are telling me on a good team, this dude is supposed to say " I'm better than the two guys who hit 90 pts, the guy who scored 50, and a guy who hit 70ish pts before"? He's not. Not at the moment and until that becomes true, which it will as the vets become less effective, we won't be able to judge his play.

I love chytil. He plays shifty and one of the few who can dangle and juke like a man skating on wind. The kid has "it" and if he actually could finish consistently, he'd probably flirt with 30-40 goals. Stay healthy, please.

Cuylle is impressive. Bulky guy with decent footspeed. Don't see much finesse in his style. He plays a solid "hit ya shit" style. Probably becomes a 3rd liner that puts up 25-35 pts a year.

 

[NYR Viper]

What's ironic is Lafreniere's ability to slow things down is actual one of his strengths. Slowing the game down when the puck is on your stick is something guys like Panarin and others do.

 

[NYR Viper]

Zibanejad out of a non contact jersey today per Vince

 

[Leonardo87]

Lovely...

 

[duhmetreE]

Lovely...

His first big step will be to have an injury free season

 

[MrAlmost]

This only just proves to me that despite all the praise and hard work he did for the team, Ramsey was having guys play through things constantly. And that our practices were a joke. Glad things are different now.