Training camp

[bleedblue94]

"Even when he was in Hartford last year, he wasn't bitching about not being up here."

I think this is also pointing at Jones based on some of the info that has come out about last year.

 

[egelband]

That's the issue, point 1, he isn't doing that and hasn't for basically a year. That is literally what I am saying and people keep trying to dismiss. He has to show a willingness to occasionally attack the house. He can't just stay outside the dots all the time.


This i would like to see bc if he can establish an NHL quality shot then his game may well open up a bit more. If teams and goalies don't have to respect your shot it's hard to excel offensively.

I think the reason he didn’t take it to the rack was simply because for the most part there was no one providing any flak for him. Trocheck - I’m hoping - is the critical mass.

 

[bleedblue94]

I think the reason he didn’t take it to the rack was simply because for the most part there was no one providing any flak for him. Trocheck - I’m hoping - is the critical mass.

I just don't buy that. Did colin Blackwell open up space for him in front, no. It was Blackwell strome panarin without an issue. Swap out Blackwell for hunt, copp, motte, kakko, whoever else they tried and it didn't matter. Strome was still there. Blackwell wasn't the secret sauce that made panarin great. This isn't about other players, since his head injury he has avoided areas like we have seen for decades with other players that have those injuries. Here's hoping we see the old panarin again this year...

 

[bleedblue94]

He looks and sounds like a kid that has matured tremendously and is partially embarrassed about how he handled things in the past. Seems he is ready to be an NHL professional. He also made a comment about his mental health being better. I don't think that comment should be glossed over bc it may add context to other comments he made about people not knowing the whole story of last year. I have high hopes for Kravtsov this year

 

[ohbaby]

Imagine telling someone last year that Kravtsov was not only still a Ranger but that he's starting the season on Panarin's line
I've been proven right after being ridiculed this whole time, just wait. Next stop the Calder, after that 150pts. Imagine if he does actually become the greatest player of all time.. I'm going to look like Nostradamus around here pretty soon.

The Redemption Arc begins.

Do you have any magic beans that you might be willing to trade for my cow?

But in all honesty,.. I was right with you in defending VK when everyone soured on him. And I am tickled pink he is getting this opportunity. He better make the best of it. He'll have no excuses playing with Panarin.

 

[bleedblue94]

Agreed. Panarin can be effective if one of Tro or Krav play in the danger areas. Strome wouldn't, and Hunt didn't have the skill to go with the willingness.

But Colin Blackwell did?

 

[JohnC]

This i would like to see bc if he can establish an NHL quality shot then his game may well open up a bit more. If teams and goalies don't have to respect your shot it's hard to excel offensively.

Just training camp, but the release is pretty wicked looking:

 

[egelband]

But Colin Blackwell did?

I think Blackwell did a better job than hunt and co. Blackwell isn’t big but he’s also not shy. I also think Strome wasn’t quite as passive in years past and the Strome-Panarin pair just got into some bad habits. Anyhow regardless of who’s to blame I think it’s safe to say Panarin-Trocheck will be better than Panarin-Strome.

 

[n8]

someone needs to go the Garden and wear a tie for every goal VK scores this season. Show up by the end of the season with like 50 ties on

 

[2014nyr]

The issue is they tried to have laffy run pp2 last year but to put him on the right halfwall. He looked so uncomfortable there. Kept fuming picks and often times would panic with pressure and just turn facing the boards to protect the puck like it was 5v5 play. Part of that is the other guys on the unit with him had no idea what they were doing. Chytil currently has no business being on any pp unit (sorry that will make people mad but it's the same people that said for 2-3 years chytil was about to bust out and was a 2c, he isn't). If Vinny is going to pp1 then pp2 needs to be built and thought out more by the coaching staff than just tossing the leftovers together. That's more or less what they did since pp1 usually rane 90 seconds of each pp. There needs to be a viable second unit going forward and ideally one that has a different look/structure than pp1. To this end let laffy switch to the side he has been more comfortable with to run the pp. I don't understand Vinny on pp1 at all. As crazy as it may sound the guy that makes the most sense is kravtsov in the bumper spot if panarin is going to continue to run things on the right wall. Kravtsov has played that bumper area for awhile in the khl with success and it would allow Vinny to drop to pp2 and help that unit by being a net area guy that can win a draw.

i completely agree on pp2 needing to be built - theres no need to run from the same structure as pp1...give the kids an in zone setup that maximizes their strengths. it forces the pk to adjust, and its not like its rocket science to shuffle any roles between the two or from the bench in the event of stagnant production or injury. so very much with you on laf, i want him on the left side with the puck running primarily through him on pp2.

and if krav on pp1 in the bumper is crazy then im fit for a straight jacket...i like the idea of taking a look at him in that spot for trocheck. part of me still thinks troch is better there - hes played it before and i love his ability to locate pucks in front. having said that, have seen some nice work from krav there in russia and think its very much worth giving a look. like you said, bumping trocheck down means we might win a faceoff and his grittiness might be needed - depending on who fills out the spots outside laf/kakko.

and i am absolutely speaking the same language as you on chytil. ive been highly critical of him - he just isnt aggressively physical on pucks ie not talking hits but being deliberate defending and controlling pucks...being physical leaning on guys defensively to separate pucks and protecting it with his body when he has control. he had that one fantastic reverse hit but he hasnt show than consistently. see a ton more examples of flyby's on d swinging his stick trying to poke pucks free instead. also hes very poor closing guys off and winning puck battles. and of course...faceoffs. offensively hes generally pretty good with the puck going downhill and moving it in the zone / finding space, but his vision isnt great and he has a habit of turning pucks over trying to carry across the line with dmen gap up. all that said, i do retain some small hope theres more there ie ala kreider he can sort of find a way to maximize his physical gifts...size/speed/shot/finding space in the o zone which may mean hes a wing long term. and that skillset is why im still open to pp time - not the hill i would die on, but i thought the playoffs finally saw some production from him in the one area hes shown some hockey iq...finding soft spots and getting shots off. im not married to him getting pp time, but thats my rationale for why he might be decent in a bumper type.

personally i expect we see at least a couple elements of what were talking about wanting to assemble early. i believe gallant does legit want to allow these kids to help drive the bust this year. as long as they reward him with their play i think its very possible we see far more equal allocation of pp time.

 

[RangerBoy]

Some of this is going to go back to Drury signing Jones right after his college season ended. I believe Jones believed his chances of making the big club was higher than what has transpired. If you go back in time and told Jones he'd be playing 1.5 seasons in the AHL after signing, I think he stays in college for another year. So if Drury has learned any lesson from Lundkvist, Kravtsov, or Andersson and whatever else, Jones has to be one of the 7. That said they sent Vitali down last year when they were well aware of the risks. Who knows. Gallant wants to and will reward Hajek with a spot which is fine. You don't want both Jones and Robertson as the 6/7 with one sitting if the D is healthy. I hope you're right with Robertson starting in the AHL because it makes sense and it'll avoid a potential Jones problem.

Gorton signed Jones right after UMASS won the NCAA championship in 2021. I was listening to Vince's podcast from last week. He was discussing Jones adding bulk but Vince said Jones is closer to 5-9 than his listed height of 5-10. Jones said the right things before rookie camp. He came to NY to skate with the team in August.

Robertson will go down to the AHL and he won't complain. He will be the first call up from the AHL. It would nice to see Robertson gets some NHL experience this season. The Rangers are facing a cap crunch and they could use his $797,500 cap hit in 23-24. Let him play some games this season. Robertson could be ready for the NHL this season. Lindgren was ready in his 2nd year pro after playing a few more games in the AHL.

What happens if Jones is OK and Robertson is playing well in the AHL and management decides to flip them by sending Jones to the AHL and bringing Robertson up from the AHL? Robertson and Schneider played together in the AHL last season. The Rangers flipped Lundkvist for Schneider during the season.

These things can change. In 2010, everyone thought McDonagh was making the team. His camp was OK. Sauer put together a great camp and he made the team. The draft pick from 2005. The Rangers sent McDonagh to the AHL. Everyone flipped out. McDonagh was a bust. That is why Montreal traded him for Gomez. McDonagh was called up in January 2011 and that was it for him and the AHL.

The Rangers were relatively healthy on D last season. Maybe Hajek sees more playing time this season.

“He looks more confident this year,” Gallant said of Hajek, who has three goals and eight assists in 94 NHL games. “Honestly, if you look at stuff that you didn’t like, you’d probably say he looked like he lacked a little bit of confidence at times. I don’t see that this camp. He’s come in here from Day 1, he looks strong, he looks good. He tested really well. So everything is good. Everything is leading toward this guy being a good player on our hockey team.”

Libor Hajek ready for his shot at bigger Rangers role

If Hajek isn’t in the top six defensemen, the Rangers’ only other options would be to trade him or try to pass him through waivers to Hartford.

nypost.com

The talent and ability is there.

The prudent path is starting with Jones in NY and Robertson in Hartford.

We haven’t heard anything on Gauthier. Drury still holding out for a high draft pick?

 

[GENESISPuck94]

I was listening to Vince's podcast. He hinted Gallant would prefer Robertson over Jones if Robertson shows he can contribute in pre-season. Bigger. Better defensively. The Rangers are high on Robertson. However, Robertson has no NHL experience while Jones has NHL experience. Vince believes the Rangers are downplaying Roberson's chances on making the team. Robertson is safer than Jones. Schneider over Lundkvist. Robertson over Jones.

Bigger. Stronger. More reliable defensively.

When does Jones ask for a trade?

The Rangers will probably go with Jones and send Robertson to the AHL to start the season.

Vince said Drury wanted a young center who could contribute this season or next season for Lundkvist. Drury placed a first round pick value on Lundkvist.

Dallas has Johnson and Bourque. The Rangers accepted a first round pick. Drury and Lilley can select a center with that pick.

If you look at the Rangers cap situation, Drury could be adding more future picks because the Rangers can't keep everyone. That is a discussion for after this season.

If they let Jones go it'll be a mistake. A big mistake.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Gallant’s handle is @GENESISPuck94
He’s just really humble and likes being self deprecating.

Damn, you caught me. For that, I'll bench Kravtsov.

 

[LORDE]

Imagine needing a translator in order to make that joke?

I'd wanna go back home too because my humor is clearly lost on the crappy reporters lol

 

[Fitzy]

I listed to Vince's podcast, and didn't read his comments on Jones and Robertson as seriously as RB did.

 

[will1066]

But Colin Blackwell did?

No. Both Hunt and Blackwell were able to serve their role as the grit element to an otherwise all-finesse, all-perimeter line, but neither was going to be a sustainable long-term solution.

 

[MrAlmost]

Im rooting for Hajek. He isn't as bad as he is made out to be. Hopefully having the whole year last year to skate and practice with the team and get some games helps him take the next step this year.

Jones should be on the roster. If this f***ing team hasn't caught on yet it will be trouble again this year with trade requests. Robertson can be in the AHL. Hajek and Jones. That's 6 and 7. Doesn't really matter who is 6 or 7, but it's those 2 on the roster.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Why are the top 3 lines broken up? Shouldn't they be trying to build chemistry?
They better not take Kravy off of Breads line
Or maybe it's to get extended looks at certain players? I don't really remember how this usually goes

In any case, tomorrow we see The Chosen One suit up in Rangers blue at the Garden

 

[Leonardo87]

In any case, tomorrow we see The Chosen One suit up in Rangers blue at the Garden

Harry Potter?

 

[Mac n Gs]

Wow, Gallant changed up the exhibition lines just like he said he was going to do after 3 days. I’m totally shocked that 5+ pages have been wasted complaining about absolute nonsense like preseason scrimmage lines.

 

[RangerBoy]

 

[EdJovanovski]

Going from playing with Panarin to playing with Jimmy Vesey

 

[TominNC]

And Laf is with Goodrow? Send out the pitchfork people!

 

[GAGLine]

I'm guessing the top 2 lines for tomorrow night are:

Kreider-Zib-Kakko
Othmann-Chytil-Kravtsov

Edit: Looks like it's Vesey on the 2nd line, but the lines will probably get changed as the game progresses.

 

[EdJovanovski]