Post-Game Talk: We choked on the fishsticks

[eco's bones]

Losing Trouba early created a gaping hole in our defense tonight—no ifs, ands or buts. We had literally no presence in the area in front of Igor’s net for the rest of the night. Frankly I believe Trouba is concussed and will be out for a while and we don’t have a guy who can replace his physical or defensive presence and IMO i think this signals the end of our long shot playoff hopes. A Trouba injury now is as bad as losing a Fox, a Shesterkin or a Panarin. Some players just are irreplaceable within your team’s structure and Jacob for us is one of them.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Losing Trouba early created a gaping hole in our defense tonight—no ifs, ands or buts. We had literally no presence in the area in front of Igor’s net for the rest of the night. Frankly I believe Trouba is concussed and will be out for a while and we don’t have a guy who can replace his physical or defensive presence and IMO i think this signals the end of our long shot playoff hopes. A Trouba injury now is as bad as losing a Fox, a Shesterkin or a Panarin. Some players just are irreplaceable within your team’s structure and Jacob for us is one of them.

Agreed and he was playing well also. It's a big loss. This is why I don't want the Rangers trading Robertson or Schneider.

 

[jay from jersey]

Fox has been quiet lately.

Playing too many minutes

 

[jay from jersey]

I literally posted at the beginning of the game that Trouba was key, and that if he played well, we would win.

I was technically both wrong and right. He played well. We lost.

But a lot of people think he’s a overpaid bum? This is exactly how our D would look against physical opponents if Pionk was here

 

[Synergy27]

Playing too many minutes

Yep. A side effect of not having a third pair. Losing Trouba exacerbates that problem.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Should he be fired? Even as not his biggest fan I can’t say 100% yes but if I’m being fair probably 60-40 yes he deserves to be fired.

Will he? I’d say 99.999% no and he is back behind the bench opening night next season. The only way I see him being fired is if some of the kids have really poor exit interviews that worry JD. I think whenever Quinn is fired, whether it’s next year or not, it’s going to have to be a JD move. IMO Gorton won’t fire him. It’s his guy that he identified and went after and lured away from BU.

I can't think of one reason for him to stay. What has he accomplished for his team or in this league?

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

Tonight was definitely one of those games that makes me question a big extension for Zibanejad. In a contested-space, physical game against a team who also shows up with their best, I’m not sure he’s a guy I want playing big minutes.

 

[tomobson]

Okay, yet the Rangers are going to sell him for futures?

These players are basically rentals, Buch, Zbad, Strome.

Rangers are going to lessen their chances at making the playoffs next year in order to make some spots for the youth?

They have to at this point. I think management hoped KK and Laf would come out the gates sprinting and they could try to make some noise in the playoffs but this has/is not happening at the moment. At the same time they gave Quinn and a non-NHL third pairing so there was little hope for that plan to work out anyways. Now, it's time to focus on the development part of the rebuild.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Tonight was definitely one of those games that makes me question a big extension for Zibanejad. In a contested-space, physical game against a team who also shows up with their best, I’m not sure he’s a guy I want playing big minutes.

why does it have to be a big extension, why not 3 years @ 8 mil?

 

[tomobson]

why does it have to be a big extension, why not 3 years @ 8 mil?

Why would he accept that? Because he likes us so damn much?

 

[PuckLuck3043]

why does it have to be a big extension, why not 3 years @ 8 mil?

He just turned 28 and the next contract is going to be expensive and long term. His last chance at big money. He's not going to accept anything less than 6 years.

 

[jay from jersey]

Why would that be exactly? You don't think teams would give up anything of value for a 26yo 60 point potential player who also PK's and plays some defense.

If they are trading buch straight up, I don’t think he brings back too much more then what Pitt dealt for Kapanen. There are always wingers available.

 

[Rongomania]

I'm drunk in an Uber in Ridgewood, Queens. Reading yawls in game commentary was f*ckin hilarious and really upsetting. Seriously, the f*ck happened here?

 

[jay from jersey]

Agreed and he was playing well also. It's a big loss. This is why I don't want the Rangers trading Robertson or Schneider.

The bigger physical guys are always needed when the games tighten up. It’s the old saying, can’t teach size. Bigger guys can just take and give out more wear and tear

 

[bernmeister]

1. Kravtsov
2. Smith
3. Chytil... I guess

Kravtsov continues to be our most dangerous player sans Panarin, even along the boards he seems to come out with the puck at a higher % than anyone else. Smith was on for some bad goals but I put that more on his awful partner, he was one of the only guys who stepped up in Tubas absence. You could tell he was taking it upon himself to try to step up as a leader after Tuba went down, he was weaving around guys with the puck and firing a bunch of shots. He showed more fight than anyone else.

Put Kravtsov with Panarin already. This coach is brain dead.

Yours truly called it from last season:
Kakko-Krav-Panarin

that kills multiple birds w/1 stone.
While it takes away breadman from other lines, it gives a shepherd we are fully confident in to work with KK + VK.

Solves immediate pivot prob w/Chytil at 2c
LaF-Chytil-Gauthier
poising JG to successfully emerge

and lesser but still signif mins
Kreider - Zib - Blackwell [possibly Barron next season]

when is the rest of the board gonna have the stones to admit I was right?

Tell it like it is, let your conscience be your guide.

 

[jay from jersey]

why does it have to be a big extension, why not 3 years @ 8 mil?

Because his agent would wang slap him. This is his security blanket/ retirement deal. Last chance for big money

 

[bernmeister]

Because his agent would wang slap him. This is his security blanket/ retirement deal. Last chance for big money

fine
then thanks for the memories and trade his ass for signif rental.

 

[CLW]

Tonight was definitely one of those games that makes me question a big extension for Zibanejad. In a contested-space, physical game against a team who also shows up with their best, I’m not sure he’s a guy I want playing big minutes.

You can have Zib, but you can't have all of Zib, Strome and Chytil on a contender. That's three guys who do their best work in the offensive zone. Just not enough spine through the middle. Even then I'd say Zib is the best two way player of them by far.

 

[bernmeister]

Tonight was definitely one of those games that makes me question a big extension for Zibanejad. In a contested-space, physical game against a team who also shows up with their best, I’m not sure he’s a guy I want playing big minutes.

At a min this is food for thought.
Have a feeling something is off w/Kreider, something we don't know about, something we will learn about in a bit.

But Zib was going thru motions.
I understand he started the season slow w/immediate post covid, but...

3 yr extension only, 9 per
3rd line mins w/Kreider

Top 6 mins to
Kakko-Krav-Panarin
LaF-Chytil-Gauthier

 

[jay from jersey]

At a min this is food for thought.
Have a feeling something is off w/Kreider, something we don't know about, something we will learn about in a bit.

But Zib was going thru motions.
I understand he started the season slow w/immediate post covid, but...

3 yr extension only, 9 per
3rd line mins w/Kreider

Top 6 mins to
Kakko-Krav-Panarin
LaF-Chytil-Gauthier

If that’s the case with Kreids and Quinn didn’t move him down in the line up he’s a fool. How many games does it take to see that he’s a hinderance more then an asset playing injured?

 

[bernmeister]

If that’s the case with Kreids and Quinn didn’t move him down in the line up he’s a fool. How many games does it take to see that he’s a hinderance more then an asset playing injured?

Just a feeling. Not stating a fact.
CK is not a quitter.
Hot and cold, yes, but always gives effort.
Something is off.

Of course, unfortunately, the win now crowd still infects MSG to some extent even still.
Should have tried harder to sell Buch and Strome, but no, we had to push short term for playoffs instead of long term better picks, etc.

Even still, zero reason we did not give away Smith for a 4th or a 5th, for example.

 

[Rempe73]

But a lot of people think he’s a overpaid bum? This is exactly how our D would look against physical opponents if Pionk was here

I still think he’s an overpaid bum. However, if he continues to play like he has the past few games, he’s not a bum, but he’s still overpaid.

 

[17futurecap]

Just mix in the kids with the guys on the top six to end the year, and shoot Tony Bitetto to the sun.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

He just turned 28 and the next contract is going to be expensive and long term. His last chance at big money. He's not going to accept anything less than 6 years.

maybe by that time no GM will give anybody a 6 year deal, trends change.

I think 4 years @ 9 mil is more than fair.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Devils were down 6-0 against Pitt and scored 6 goals in the 3rd but still lost 7-6. I guess almost blowing a 3 goal lead doesn't look that bad, lol.