It's true. I think once Hossa was taken off that line its defensive capabilities hit the s***ter.
Here's there stats from the past 5 games, I only counted even strength goals and goals against.
12/07 ATL: 3 goals against - 0 goals for
12/06 TOR: 1 goal against - 0 goals for
12/03 CAR: 4 goals against - 0 goals for
12/01 OTT: 0 goals against - 0 goals for
11/29 NYI: 1 goal against - 2 goals for
They've let up 9 goals against in ES and only scored 2 goals for. Something has to be done. As much as Hossa usually sucks offensively, I think taking him off that line really hurt their defensive capabilities. 8 goals against in the past three games. Ugh.
Jagr is still the same selfish player he always was. He routinely overstays his shifts, he is slower than molasses, and he is back to mailing it in on a nightly basis. His selfishness was easily overlooked as long as he was piling up the points. That is no longer the case. If everything has to go through this guy, then he needs to step it up, or he is going to get booed right out of town.
Absolutely unacceptable performance from the top line, especially the last three games. They can't let up 8 goals, score none, and expect that this team has any chance of winning.
Putting Hossa back on the line might help out the ridiculous amount of goals being scored on them but how is that going to cure their offensive ineptitude? Wish I could say Jagr might have overstayed his welcome but I doubt there would be many takers for an aging star who routinely mails it in.
Absolutely unacceptable performance from the top line, especially the last three games. They can't let up 8 goals, score none, and expect that this team has any chance of winning.
Putting Hossa back on the line might help out the ridiculous amount of goals being scored on them but how is that going to cure their offensive ineptitude? Wish I could say Jagr might have overstayed his welcome but I doubt there would be many takers for an aging star who routinely mails it in.
Whaaaaaat? Your statement makes it seem as if this is something intentional. You're like, "how dare they!" It doesn't work that way. Players struggle. Teams have bad games. These things happen. Get over it. I'm sure they really decided in the locker room sometime last week, "hey, this team has no chance of winning if we play terribly...why don't we see if we're right."
Quote:
Originally Posted by ThisYearsModel
Jagr is still the same selfish player he always was. He routinely overstays his shifts, he is slower than molasses, and he is back to mailing it in on a nightly basis. His selfishness was easily overlooked as long as he was piling up the points. That is no longer the case. If everything has to go through this guy, then he needs to step it up, or he is going to get booed right out of town.
???
While I agree with you about him overstaying shifts, I beg to differ about that being selfish. Jagr wants to produce and he wants this team to win. If he sees the puck go deep and thinks someone on the forecheck might be able to set him up for a scoring chance he's going to go into the zone and not to the bench. Should his shifts be shorter sometimes? Absolutley. But using that as an example of his selfishness is crazy. I think it's quite the contrary. He is slower than molasses? I don't see it. He's not 25 anymore, but he's far from slow. He's mailing it in on a nightly basis? Facts please? If you can prove this then you've got great ability. Read some of his quotes and see how much this guy cares. Just because he's no producing the way you, him, and everyone else would like him to doesn't mean he's mailing it in. HIS SELFISHNESS WAS OVERLOOKED AS LONG AS HE WAS PILING UP THE POINTS!?!?!?!?! Is that comment real? When someone is dominating like he was in years past, isn't that good for the ENTIRE TEAM? None of what you said makes any sense. If you dislike a player, fine. But quit spewing your banter that has no credence to it.
I beginning to wonder what people are watching. I think people need glasses or their head examined cause the defensemen were to blame for 2 of those goals in ATL. The last goal was all Valley. You make that save point blank. As a goalie you want to hang yourself for those type of goals. I was there on the glass so I saw all the action up close. Jarg wasn't dominating, but he played well. HE has been backchecking more than ever. This team needs to play TEAM DEFENSE and that's what they are NOT doing. This team doesn't have a Pronger, Lidstrom, or Zubov that can make those great D-man plays. It's a five man thing and that's all. As to the Offense I'm puzzled. All I can say is they need to work on their transtion play and lokk for seams to shoot and open shots all the time.
Here are the quotes from the end of the article...
"Jaromir is very analytical, and I believe he's thinking too much," Renney said. "I'd like to see him be more spontaneous an intuitive on the ice.
"Jags wants to be the person to lead the Rangers to the Stanley Cup. He takes it personally when we're not winning, more so if he's not contributing, and it shows. I wish he'd cut himself some slack and just go out there and play.
"He's among the best in the world at what he does. We need him to stick with it and be determined to battle through this. We need him to have a clear mind in order to free himself up to perform at the high level we all know he's capable of."
"I still believe I can do it," Jagr said. "If I don't, what am I supposed to do, quit? I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to
quit."
I hope he goes on a tear and shuts all you doubters up. But if he does that, some of you might say he's too selfish then. This guy just can't win.
Common People...calm down. Every team goes thru a little streatch where they dont play their best hockey...look at the Sens. In a couple of weeks we will forget about this whole bad streatch....i hope
I hope he goes on a tear and shuts all you doubters up. But if he does that, some of you might say he's too selfish then. This guy just can't win.
All he needs to do is to play better than mediocre hockey and that is being generous considering his role and status.
In every team sport you win when your best players perform up to and hopefully exceed expectations. No one on the team is doing a worse job of this than Jagr.
And his linematers are no excuse. Ovechkin and Crosby and the other top players don't need help. They make their linemates better.
If he turns it around he will be loved again. If he doesn't, it's time to look elsewhere for top flight talent.
I hope he goes on a tear and shuts all you doubters up. But if he does that, some of you might say he's too selfish then. This guy just can't win.
I hope he goes on tear to. When Jagr is rolling, the team rolls. But so far this season he is not doing anything near what he is capable of, 21 points in 29 games. Those numbers simply don't cut it when you are supposed to be the offensive leader, the go to guy, the difference maker on this team.
Yes, some of the other guys needs to step up as well. Straka and Dubinsky both look like they are focusing to much attention to getting Jagr the puck. Prucha has been very disappointing this year. Drury got off to a terrible start, but he playing better the last week or so. Callahan looks to be getting back into form after missing a good chunk of the young season, but it would be nice if he would put some in the net. Shanny and Gomez have been our best offensive players all season IMO.
Bottom line is that NY fans are very critical on our top stars in any sport. Look at the the abuse Manning or A-Rod get. We expect our top guys to play like they are the top guys and not some middle of the road talent. If Jagr simply plays up to the level we all know he can play at, we would get off his back. But when you see him out there gliding back to the bench to get a new stick or for a line change instead of hustling, it gets under your skin. His effort, or lack of at times, is what gets peoples blood pressure up.
I agree... All the three of them are playing badly right now. Dubinsky and Straka are solid players but they aren't producing any offense right now. I'd move Straka to center and Dubinsky down to a different line. And let Hossa or Prucha play a few games with Jagr. Those guys need to start scoring as well so hopefully if you put them on a new line together they'll all get going.
