Who do you believe is responsible for the NY Rangers downfall?

[0ldTimeHockey]

It's really the players.... who are managed by the General Manager AKA Chris Drury, so ipso facto I blame Chris Drury.

Terrible tenure as a player in this organization, and even worse tenure as GM of this club. This is coming from someone who was a huge fan of his when he was in Colorado and Buffalo. I suppose that ended the moment he scored that goal with 7.7 seconds left.

When he signed with us, it was obvious that was the biggest goal he would ever score... and it was against us.

 

[Mike in Houston]

The whole operation is in a word...

 

[yrrebbor]

Everyone. However, despite what the GM did/does, these are professionals that are paid to compete at a certain level. Boo hoo, they traded your buddy; shut up and get the puck in the net like it’s your only job.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Shit flows downhill, start at the top, fire the highest guys you can

 

[Savant]

Having #4 up there kind of ruins the poll

 

[ncmike]

Didn't we start this season 9-0 or something?
Then we lost a couple games and suddenly Drury announces the vets are for sale
That was it
Done
Who's gonna risk their careers, their lives for a team that doesn't want you?
Then it snowballs from there
Tro sees mika and kreids mailing it in and he's pissed
Pan and Laf start hanging out in the neutral zone looking for offensive opportunities, the only good line gets zero respect and KK who was one of the few players actually playing better than last year is traded
Miller and Lindy r never held accountable yet Jones gets benched regularly
These players are PISSED OFF
If the butthurt were to speak honestly after a loss they'd simply say "we didn't play hard and yes it's on purpose. F Drury, F this team. I'll be back in all-star form for my next team"
I dont believe these guys just got old over night
They simply quit on this team, on this management, on the coaches and sadly, on the fans

Amen to that.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

1. Drury
2. Laviolette
3. Mika and Kreieder
4. Sather

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

It's the players.

I understand their mindset that they just came off an ECF appearance and were 12-6-1 or whatever when that letter went out. That group had legitimately accomplished a lot together over the last 3 years.

Unfortunately for them, nobody cares. You didn't win. Last year was your best chance at it with the cake playoff matchups you had and you still couldn't get to the Finals. You got bounced in the first round by a shit Devils team 2 years ago. You had 3 kicks at the can, that's all you get.

You were all not good enough. Kreider has a lot of miles on him and everybody knew he was going to regress at 5v5. Zibanejad is the one that I simply will never understand how he went from pre-COVID Zibanejad to the ass clown we have to watch nightly. He was an absolute beast in the 2022 playoffs.

 

[Peltz]

You win as an organization and you lose as an organization. I always believe you evaluate the team in aggregate. This year, the organization lost its way after a consistent few years of progress, dating back to the 2019-2020 season.

5 fairly decent seasons in a row in my book is an accomplishment. But this level of falling apart tarnishes it to some degree.

The team has no heart anymore. And you can’t blame the organization without the players or vice versa.

At the end of the day, it’s the players’ jobs to play well, and it’s the org’s job to make them play well. You can’t separate one from the other.

 

[markymarc1215]

Honorable mention to Tom Wilson here, who started Dolan's impulsiveness, leading to this current state.

 

[noncents]

regarding jones - and his benching over the 2 defensemen acquired in the kakko and trouba trades - i think those two players are playing as a way for drury to manage Dolan. look we didn't lose the trades, we got back these Dmen we are rolling out there every night!

Zac just collateral damage here

 

[Shesterkybomb]

regarding jones - and his benching over the 2 defensemen acquired in the kakko and trouba trades - i think those two players are playing as a way for drury to manage Dolan. look we didn't lose the trades, we got back these Dmen we are rolling out there every night!

Zac just collateral damage here

It's always about Drury and him saving face but most people know this anyway. This organization force fed Sammy Blais on the Zib Kreider line after the Buch trade. They're force feeding us Zib because of the contract Drury gave him, Lindgren the same. The only thing that guarantees your ice time around this team is your paycheck and who signed it. Nothing will change on this team until drury is gone, he won't be able to trade the culture out of the room because the culture starts with him. No prospect since he started here has even come close to their potential other than Cuylle, and we've had some big name prospects, Lafreniere, Kakko, Miller, Kravtsov, Andersson, Jones etc all have either not come close to their ceiling or have missed the mark all together. 2 or 3 failing is a concern, when none of them get to where you hope they would its more than a concern.

 

[Clark Kellogg]

Voted the entire organization. If the team never made a trade and never signed an NHL UFA, here is all that the non cap money built. This is beyond dismal:

All the current NHL players that the NY Rangers have drafted or been gifted through European free agency*, NCAA/CHA free agency** that have played a minimum of 40 NHL regular games:

Kreider ____ _JT Miller____ Zuccarello*
Lafreniere ___ Hayes** ____ Buchnevich
Cuylle _____Chytil ____ Duclair
Edstrom ____ Barron ____Kakko
_________________________Vesey**

____Skjei _______ Pionk**
____Miller _______Schneider
___Graves ______Lundqvist
___ Jones _______McIlarth


____________Shesterkin
____________Georgiev*
____________Talbot**

 

[NickyFotiu]

Almost 200 votes at this point and not one vote for the coach Laviolette.

I think that demonstrates how knowledgeable Ranger fans are. It's second nature to blame the coach. Assuming this continues, he will obviously be fired, but it was the players who let him down.

I wish it was the coaches fault. Much easier to replace 1 coach then 10 players. I even wish it was Drurys fault but what exactly did he do to make the players be horrible? Trade 2 of their friends? That is the NHL. If players quit because two of their friends were traded then they are quiting on themselves and the fans. Those kind of players would never win the cup. I do not think there is any 1 easy answer. I think they have been flawed for years but overcame those flaws via great special teams and goaltending. Being outplayed 5 on 5 is nothing new. They have been for years. I think we have had a perfect storm of,

1. Lack of good depth because of contracts.
2. Age.
3. Injuries.
4. Crisis of confidence snowballing.
5. PP came down to earth.
6. No great prospects in the AHL.

I think the coach stuff is ridiculous. He benched Kreider, Zac and KK? That is his job if guys are not playing well.

Drury traded 2 guys playing below their contracts? Almost every fan and person in the media said those 2 guys needed to be moved.

 

[Larrybiv]

Good post. Igor is locked in for the next 9 years. Build a team that will keep his sight lines clear and bodies off him in the D-zone, and isn't afraid to pound the opposition on the forecheck in the O-Zone. Between Fox, Lafreniere and Perrault the Rangers should have no issue constructing a top 10 PP. The blueprint is there.

Yes, the blueprint IS there, but I beg to differ with going out of your way to BUILD a solid defense around IGOR. He is being paid BIG BUCKS to be a difference maker. Now mind you, I'm not saying they shouldnt have a solid defense around him, but it should NOT have to be stellar. Good defenses have forwards backchecking and covering potential threats.
it's called "Team defense", around their goaltender.

They're playing Rangers hockey lately, and they literally have 3 players that aren't playing to expectations. (the weak links) I don't think it's time for Drury to panick, yet if the right move comes along then of course, pull the plug.
I don't wanna say we are "stuck" with Kreider and Zibby, but yes they've played like crap and it does seem like an 18+2 thing. BUT, and it's a big but, IF they regroup and play like they probably will (as the NHL heat gets hotter) then we will be fine w/o adding or subtracting major pieces. If we can nab J.T. or the likes, for a quarter and a handshake then, by all means do it. That McD trade incensed me, when J.T. was a part of it. That just added insult to injury and now lo and behold......attempting to get him back will cost another arm and a leg? They wuz robbed once, let's NOT get robbed again, even though I do want him to have his 2nd chance here.

 

[Larrybiv]

Drury "Hey if you guys don't start playing better I'm gonna trade you"

What if we continue to play like shit and you can't dipshit?

And this is the end all, be all. Want Culture? NO NMC's and NTC's. Why should ANY player dictate that to an organization? You play like you're being paid, then you deserve to be a NY Ranger, if the effort isn't there (at the very least) then your job is on the line. (Like any working man)
I know, that's an unreasonable assertion of what I believe is the issue. And yes, I'm sure that has been said before.

 

[3rd Guy High]

Sure, the players. But you take over one of the most promising young teams in the NHL with what was at the time a top 5 prospect pool and this is the result?

How is the GM not fired already?

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Gorton gets blame for signing Panarin and ruining the timeline

Drury gets blame for making several questionable moves

Dolan gets blame for being a huge gaping asshole and moron in general

the entire org is rotten

we pamper the players far too much

 

[mas0764]

Dolan and Drury.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

If Shesterkin was even average we'd be a lot more firmly in a playoff spot. Lindgren, Mika and Kreider fell off the face of the earth but otherwise the roster is not too different. In some ways it's better with no Trouba. Also Laviolette is absolute trash. The team completely tuned him out.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Drury, he modified the roster, he hired the staff...it has to fall on him

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Really bad player development. And Drury demoralizing the team with predatory trades/threats.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Really bad player development. And Drury demoralizing the team with predatory trades/threats.

the player development thing is what gets me. the consistency of players doing better outside the organization is shocking. f***, miller already looks like he’s regressed and it’s been like 6 games lol

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Really bad player development. And Drury demoralizing the team with predatory trades/threats.

I still cannot believe so called adults blame Drury for "demoralizing the team" and not the f***ing grown ass men playing a game for millions of dollars for mailing it in. What the f*** was predatory? Doing your job and getting rid of bad contracts? I'm not some boomer, but a large portion of this fanbase are a bunch of f***ing snowflakes.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

I still cannot believe so called adults blame Drury for "demoralizing the team" and not the f***ing grown ass men playing a game for millions of dollars for mailing it in. What the f*** was predatory? Doing your job and getting rid of bad contracts? I'm not some boomer, but a large portion of this fanbase are a bunch of f***ing snowflakes.

Obviously you don't play hockey. Hockey players have a pack mentality and bond. When one of their own are done dirty, they push back.