Curious on thoughts here, what's the most likely thing to happen next...
What happens next?
I chose the Rangers make the playoffs. Starting the season with a better d group and better d metrics last season plus Igor makes the playoffs realistic for the Rangers. If Pearrault and Laf can continue their play from last season post panarin and Dorofeyev can fit in, the offense should be much better.
Miller getting hurt is a given, I just hope its not a constant, season long mess like last year.
In light of last years season, think Schnieder's contract too expensive to trade unless the rangers eat $$ or give him up for the proverbial bag o' pucks.
Dury is not getting fired unless the Rangers come out and shit the bed for 2 months. I do not see that happening.
1 Cup in 86 years
2048
Schneider gets traded.
And Smit makes the team out of camp.
If they need me to bleed, then I'll bleed for my team
I vote they make the playoffs. They were 12-10-3 for their last 25 games. Mediocre, but a big improvement over the 25 games prior, most without Fox and Shesterkin. On paper, they have improved the top six and D. Do I think they have a shot at the cup? No, but I will be cautiously optimistic and say they should make the playoffs.
I want to be optimistic. I want the Rangers in the playoffs and a lot better than the last two seasons. But changes made up front don’t make me see a better group than the pre trade of Panarin group of forwards. Gone are Trochek, Panarin, Brodzynski, Sheary, Carrick, and Edstrom. And in are Bjorkstrand, Dorofeyev, and Veleno. Panarin for Dorofeyev is a wash with Panarin the overall advantage. Trocheck even at the float level he played at the last two years would eat Bjorkstrand in his sleep and Carrick and Veleno let’s just say Veleno has some boots to fill. So I don’t see an improvement up front at all. And to have any chance of playoffs Miller has the challenge in front of him. Any less than major improvement in his game and health is a must. He goes south the Rangers are dead. Unless Laba has figured out over the summer how to be a productive second line Center. I like him he’s got a game on the come, but don’t think he is second line Center material yet.
Defense I don’t like the Petersen trade who effectively blocks Smits from real opportunity to be challenged as a number two pair d man. Petterssen is a journeyman, obviously attached to Sullivan. Vancouver is still laughing at getting a first. Durzi, I like a lot, but Drury should have stopped with him. Petterssen and his NMC for the next two seasons was a stupid deal for Drury to take on. Far better to have gambled on one of Robertson, Smits, or even Fortescue could have gelled with Durzi. Instead a journeyman is blocking them for the next two seasons with his NMC. He was terrible in Vancouver they couldn’t wait to dump him. This trade is on Sullivan all the way and we are about to find out about his player personnel skills. And I don’t forget his last years boy Sheary on the team because of Sullivan. So go Rangers go, but I won’t be holding my breath.
But I can see (hope to see) improvements in Laf, Laba and Perrault and some better 3 and 4 line play from Chmelar, Kartye. I want to see a better skating grittier team. And if not, we can say goodbye to DrearyI want to be optimistic. I want the Rangers in the playoffs and a lot better than the last two seasons. But changes made up front don’t make me see a better group than the pre trade of Panarin group of forwards. Gone are Trochek, Panarin, Brodzynski, Sheary, Carrick, and Edstrom. And in are Bjorkstrand, Dorofeyev, and Veleno. Panarin for Dorofeyev is a wash with Panarin the overall advantage. Trocheck even at the float level he played at the last two years would eat Bjorkstrand in his sleep and Carrick and Veleno let’s just say Veleno has some boots to fill. So I don’t see an improvement up front at all. And to have any chance of playoffs Miller has the challenge in front of him. Any less than major improvement in his game and health is a must. He goes south the Rangers are dead. Unless Laba has figured out over the summer how to be a productive second line Center. I like him he’s got a game on the come, but don’t think he is second line Center material yet.
Defense I don’t like the Petersen trade who effectively blocks Smits from real opportunity to be challenged as a number two pair d man. Petterssen is a journeyman, obviously attached to Sullivan. Vancouver is still laughing at getting a first. Durzi, I like a lot, but Drury should have stopped with him. Petterssen and his NMC for the next two seasons was a stupid deal for Drury to take on. Far better to have gambled on one of Robertson, Smits, or even Fortescue could have gelled with Durzi. Instead a journeyman is blocking them for the next two seasons with his NMC. He was terrible in Vancouver they couldn’t wait to dump him. This trade is on Sullivan all the way and we are about to find out about his player personnel skills. And I don’t forget his last years boy Sheary on the team because of Sullivan. So go Rangers go, but I won’t be holding my breath.
If they need me to bleed, then I'll bleed for my team
But I can see (hope to see) improvements in Laf, Laba and Perrault and some better 3 and 4 line play from Chmelar, Kartye. I want to see a better skating grittier team. And if not, we can say goodbye to DrearyI want to be optimistic. I want the Rangers in the playoffs and a lot better than the last two seasons. But changes made up front don’t make me see a better group than the pre trade of Panarin group of forwards. Gone are Trochek, Panarin, Brodzynski, Sheary, Carrick, and Edstrom. And in are Bjorkstrand, Dorofeyev, and Veleno. Panarin for Dorofeyev is a wash with Panarin the overall advantage. Trocheck even at the float level he played at the last two years would eat Bjorkstrand in his sleep and Carrick and Veleno let’s just say Veleno has some boots to fill. So I don’t see an improvement up front at all. And to have any chance of playoffs Miller has the challenge in front of him. Any less than major improvement in his game and health is a must. He goes south the Rangers are dead. Unless Laba has figured out over the summer how to be a productive second line Center. I like him he’s got a game on the come, but don’t think he is second line Center material yet.
Defense I don’t like the Petersen trade who effectively blocks Smits from real opportunity to be challenged as a number two pair d man. Petterssen is a journeyman, obviously attached to Sullivan. Vancouver is still laughing at getting a first. Durzi, I like a lot, but Drury should have stopped with him. Petterssen and his NMC for the next two seasons was a stupid deal for Drury to take on. Far better to have gambled on one of Robertson, Smits, or even Fortescue could have gelled with Durzi. Instead a journeyman is blocking them for the next two seasons with his NMC. He was terrible in Vancouver they couldn’t wait to dump him. This trade is on Sullivan all the way and we are about to find out about his player personnel skills. And I don’t forget his last years boy Sheary on the team because of Sullivan. So go Rangers go, but I won’t be holding my breath.
Kartye playing at a level consistent and a touch better than Kartye was last year would go a long ways. Based on Kartye's Ranger stats over 80 games 15-20 goals and 25-35 assists, very optimistiic but that was his pace last year over 24 games. Cuylle can you please do 30 goals and 30 assists. Laba in the middle pushing 40 points and killing penalties and that line taking on some of the line matches against other teams best would go a long ways. As it is I'm not overly optimistic about either of the top two lines built out of Zibanejad, Miller, Perreault, Lafreniere, Doroyev, and Byjorkstrand matching up against any teams top lines. That will be very evident very early in the season, so good luck Laba line. I am also optimistic about the bottom six, just wish I could say the same for the top six ability to go head to head with other top lines.
But I can see (hope to see) improvements in Laf, Laba and Perrault and some better 3 and 4 line play from Chmelar, Kartye. I want to see a better skating grittier team. And if not, we can say goodbye to DrearyI want to be optimistic. I want the Rangers in the playoffs and a lot better than the last two seasons. But changes made up front don’t make me see a better group than the pre trade of Panarin group of forwards. Gone are Trochek, Panarin, Brodzynski, Sheary, Carrick, and Edstrom. And in are Bjorkstrand, Dorofeyev, and Veleno. Panarin for Dorofeyev is a wash with Panarin the overall advantage. Trocheck even at the float level he played at the last two years would eat Bjorkstrand in his sleep and Carrick and Veleno let’s just say Veleno has some boots to fill. So I don’t see an improvement up front at all. And to have any chance of playoffs Miller has the challenge in front of him. Any less than major improvement in his game and health is a must. He goes south the Rangers are dead. Unless Laba has figured out over the summer how to be a productive second line Center. I like him he’s got a game on the come, but don’t think he is second line Center material yet.
Defense I don’t like the Petersen trade who effectively blocks Smits from real opportunity to be challenged as a number two pair d man. Petterssen is a journeyman, obviously attached to Sullivan. Vancouver is still laughing at getting a first. Durzi, I like a lot, but Drury should have stopped with him. Petterssen and his NMC for the next two seasons was a stupid deal for Drury to take on. Far better to have gambled on one of Robertson, Smits, or even Fortescue could have gelled with Durzi. Instead a journeyman is blocking them for the next two seasons with his NMC. He was terrible in Vancouver they couldn’t wait to dump him. This trade is on Sullivan all the way and we are about to find out about his player personnel skills. And I don’t forget his last years boy Sheary on the team because of Sullivan. So go Rangers go, but I won’t be holding my breath.
Kartye playing at a level consistent and a touch better than Kartye was last year would go a long ways. Based on Kartye's Ranger stats over 80 games 15-20 goals and 25-35 assists, very optimistiic but that was his pace last year over 24 games. Cuylle can you please do 30 goals and 30 assists. Laba in the middle pushing 40 points and killing penalties and that line taking on some of the line matches against other teams best would go a long ways. As it is I'm not overly optimistic about either of the top two lines built out of Zibanejad, Miller, Perreault, Lafreniere, Doroyev, and Byjorkstrand matching up against any teams top lines. That will be very evident very early in the season, so good luck Laba line. I am also optimistic about the bottom six, just wish I could say the same for the top six ability to go head to head with other top lines.
The Rangers enter this season without the elite, star-level offensive talent we've become accustomed to seeing on the top line. They have several good players capable of playing in the top six, but nobody I would currently put in the true NHL superstar category. That doesn't necessarily mean they'll be a worse hockey team.
Artemi Panarin was an outstanding regular-season player, but his production repeatedly became easier to neutralize in the playoffs. Some of that was undoubtedly because opponents specifically game-planned to take away the Rangers' most dangerous offensive player. But the result was still the same: when the games became tighter, heavier and more physical, Panarin became less effective. His size and relatively non-physical style didn't help.
The bigger opportunity for this Rangers team may actually be defense creating offense.
Last season was painful to watch at times. The Rangers routinely struggled simply to get the puck cleanly out of their own zone. They spent far too much time defending, and even when they finally gained the offensive zone, shifts were often one shot and done. There were nights when they had barely generated nine or ten shots through two periods. You can't consistently win that way.
That's why improved defensive-zone structure and cleaner exits could have an enormous effect at both ends of the ice. Better exits mean less time defending, more controlled entries, more offensive-zone possession and ultimately more scoring opportunities. Igor Shesterkin was still excellent behind a poor defensive team — a .912 save percentage and 2.50 GAA last season — so reducing the quality and quantity of chances he faces could substantially lower the Rangers' goals against.
The faceoff situation is one area worth watching. Losing Vincent Trocheck removes an excellent faceoff player, but the Rangers aren't necessarily doomed there. J.T. Miller was actually outstanding last season at 61.5%, while Mika Zibanejad finished at a respectable 52.5%. Noah Laba gives them another young center with size and potential.
Ultimately, I don't think the Rangers need to replace Panarin's individual production with another Panarin. They need to replace it collectively — through better puck possession, better defensive-zone exits, more sustained offensive-zone pressure and scoring distributed throughout the lineup.
They may have less star power, but they could still become a better hockey team.
And the pressure is squarely on Chris Drury. After missing the playoffs two consecutive seasons, another season that's merely equal to — or worse than — last year would be extremely difficult to defend. If the Rangers aren't demonstrably moving forward, I think Drury's tenure should be on the line.
If they need me to bleed, then I'll bleed for my team