A Brooks article and it is time. Kreiders numbers and, do nothing but have pucks go in off him when they do, is killing the PP. Lafreniere has more overall game in his left one than Kreider has in his entire body. Kreider has some terrible numbers and is probably the singular thing dragging down the PP. Here is the article..
If there is one thing we have seen from Peter Laviolette in his first season behind the Rangers bench, it is that the head coach does not panic easily. He does not overreact.
That has been true both in the good times of an 18-4-1 start and in the bad times of a 13-12-2 mark over the past two months.
Laviolette talks about the long view and the inevitable peaks and valleys of a season. The message has been absorbed by the players, who often repeat it in their sessions with the press.
Forward lines have been allowed to gestate. Changes in personnel and alignment generally have been dictated by physical issues.
I think for me the primary issue is that the Rangers are not really creating space with their current approach. A lot of perimeter passing, typically followed by a forced-pass or forced-shot that ends in a turnover.
Not enough movement, and thus lanes (both shooting and passing) aren't opening up.
Other teams also have learned that the power play has operated on having that extra half-second of time to make a decision, and have defenders immediately pressure the puck carrier, which makes them less effective.
While I'm not averse to changing up the mix with Laf in for Kreider, I don't think it's as simple as Kreider is the cause by any stretch...or even that he's the main cause.
Bottom line is that every season, the PP devolves into setting up a one-timer from Zibanejad or a deflection from Kreider. Neither is working right now and I'm not sure how much is on the players for not executing or opposing teams have figured out how to neutralize them.
Bottom line is that every season, the PP devolves into setting up a one-timer from Zibanejad or a deflection from Kreider. Neither is working right now and I'm not sure how much is on the players for not executing or opposing teams have figured out how to neutralize them.
Much more concise than my post, but yes...I agree
My apologies to Fish and C who commented but I missed copying and pasting this part near the end of the article. I have put it in now so it’s the full article. And those numbers are staggeringly atrocious. And he does very little legwork and battling. He does so little. Definitely not any solution unless his return in a trade helps.
“”By the way, someone is going to have to explain to me how Kreider has scored only one power-play goal in his past 22 games after getting eight in the first 28. Moreover, someone is going to have to explain why No. 20 doesn’t get more touches.
It is curious enough that Kreider has only one shot on the power play over the past eight games. It is stunning that the shot came on his only attempt over the past eight games. No deflections wide. No deflections blocked. One shot. One attempt.””
My Concerns are:
5v5 scoring
5 v 5 Defensive coverage
Goaltending
team toughness
Laf needs to prove he can finish more consistently
If they need me to bleed, then I'll bleed for my team
For my mind, I don't think Lafreniere has to finish more consistently to get a shot, and playing on the PP may actually help his even strength offense...it's one of the big differences in how he's been treated versus other 1OA picks, and he seems to understand a bit more now what it takes, and so I think it might be interesting to see what effect it might have.
As for the underlying problem, I think that additional paragraph about Kreider not getting shots really just underscores my earlier point. It's either he's not getting open, or the lanes aren't opening. My initial thought is that the Rangers are too predictable, and haven't been fast or accurate, which has allowed the defenders to cheat...and so pucks aren't getting to Kreider. You can also further argue that for the most part the Rangers don't score off the rush on the PP, and prefer to setup...and some of the few rush chances have seen Kreider as the passer (like Trocheck's most recent PP goal from out west if I recall correctly).
It's not my job to fix the PP, but when it's humming, they're moving and the puck is moving...making it hard for the defenders. Now it's 5 guys standing around for the most part...or maybe 3 guys standing relatively still, with little misdirection, and then the passes aren't going cleanly to the stick, which then slows it down more. Partly in their heads, partly execution. I think these guys have it within them to fix this, but it might take more psychology than coaching at this point, so why not change things up a bit to maybe get them thinking a bit differently
Never would have guessed back on opening night that the 3 best Rangers at this point of the season would be Trocheck, Panarin and Quick.
@fish But he continues to stand at the side of the net away from enemy dmen and do nothing.
@fish But he continues to stand at the side of the net away from enemy dmen and do nothing.
This. Kreider has devolved from a net front presence to a net side presence. It just seems he doesn’t want to get “dirty.” Instead of taking the goalie’s eyes away he parks off to the side which makes the play way easier for the goalie to read. He’s the reason I just bought one of those sponge “TV Bricks.” He’s a really big dude but he plays like a midget.