Like the other poster said...this is really starting to resemble what happened in the 90-91 season. I'm guessing most posters here aren't old enough to remember that season but they lost 8 in a row in March (not saying that's gonna happen this season) and after holding 1st for most of the season got passed by Pittsburgh late and then lost in the first round to the Caps. Pitt of course went on to win their first cup. Anybody remember the captain at that time? He wore #11 and his name wasn't Messier. He was one of the worst captains in team history...
I was just barely ten years old that season, one of about 6 times the Rangers made me cry.
Kissio got a Charlie Horse which he never recovered from and they traded Kevin Miller for an enforcer (Kocur) leaving them with no depth and the Caps in those years were built for the playoffs (thanks in much part to the "lovely" Carpenter for Ridley and Kelly Miller trade Espo).
Kissio wasn't a bad captain, pretty decent actually. He was fine for the transition years before the Rangers were a big market team and spent money. Hard worker, just not championship caliber.
Like the other poster said...this is really starting to resemble what happened in the 90-91 season. I'm guessing most posters here aren't old enough to remember that season but they lost 8 in a row in March (not saying that's gonna happen this season) and after holding 1st for most of the season got passed by Pittsburgh late and then lost in the first round to the Caps. Pitt of course went on to win their first cup. Anybody remember the captain at that time? He wore #11 and his name wasn't Messier. He was one of the worst captains in team history...
That must have been the series when John Druce went nuts. Who? Exactly.
That must have been the series when John Druce went nuts. Who? Exactly.
Naw, that was the year before, 1989-90. Leetch missed the entire playoffs after he shattered his ankle in Toronto a few weeks prior.
I hope someone on the Rangers gets the magic powers of John Druce this year. Every year someone like that comes up big. Last year it was Sean Bergenheim, the year before Dominic Moore, etc. One of Dubinsky/Boyle/Prust perhaps?
Naw, that was the year before, 1989-90. Leetch missed the entire playoffs after he shattered his ankle in Toronto a few weeks prior.
I hope someone on the Rangers gets the magic powers of John Druce this year. Every year someone like that comes up big. Last year it was Sean Bergenheim, the year before Dominic Moore, etc. One of Dubinsky/Boyle/Prust perhaps?
Frustrating game because the first 5-6 minutes it looked like we were primed for a good performance. Controlled the play, scored the early goal, got the forecheck going and the puck was in Ottawa's zone alot.
Then Biron lets in the softie to make it 1-1....and thats was pretty much it. Ottawa controlled the rest of the game. Biron was awful.
And our PP is defined by a word that hasnt been created yet. Thats how bad it is. I dont know who to blame for it. It cant be just personnel because I've seen better PP's out there that have less talent then ours does. There has to be an issue with strategy.
Frustrating game because the first 5-6 minutes it looked like we were primed for a good performance. Controlled the play, scored the early goal, got the forecheck going and the puck was in Ottawa's zone alot.
Then Biron lets in the softie to make it 1-1....and thats was pretty much it. Ottawa controlled the rest of the game. Biron was awful.
And our PP is defined by a word that hasnt been created yet. Thats how bad it is. I dont know who to blame for it. It cant be just personnel because I've seen better PP's out there that have less talent then ours does. There has to be an issue with strategy.
Apparently Sullivan runs the PP so this is on him. If the Rangers continue their slide, he's going to take the fall for all of this and lose his job. Book it.
Also, for an organization that has as much money as the Rangers and has had HOFers play here, you think they could spend a little to bring in a PP coach? Brian Leetch? Messier? Heck, fly in Zubov and Bure from Russia as consultants to get some fresh ideas.
The team will win it's share of games through the stretch. The team is built to play a defensive game which keeps the games close.
Turnovers will lose games since the offense has limited capabilities.
Highlights of The season to date:
1)forwards back checking,and not turning the puck over.
2)Defense doesn't get caught much leaving the goalie exposed.
3)The best season Henrik has ever played.
Thoughts...going forward.
A)PP is still a problem.
B)the defense is overrated. The front line and backstop have been making each one look like hall of famers.
c)Nash should have been a Ranger.
In all seriousness are Rupp, Scott, and Mitchell better than Avery?
Appearantly. Malkin is debatable, but I would take Avery over either Rupp and Scott in a heartbeat. Scott can hardly play and turns the puck over way too easy... It's ridiculous.
After being a chicken little, the sky is falling, fan last night I've picked the debris off of me and come to my senses a little more. Now I'm still not a fan of Torts or this system but things are what they are. We have to try and make a 3rd line with some skill on it. Trade deadline is over so there's only one way to do this. Go from within.
Call up Zucc. Enough of this grind and jam, time to infuse a guy who can actually set up goals. Have Dubinsky on the third line with him. That should be enough talent for a flukie like Boyle or Mitchell.
Put Richards with Gaborik already. Every game they get one shift together and it's the most creative shift of the game.
Or we can just keep hammering the nail into the wall until the wall falls over. Something tells me Torts is gonna do the latter.
Call up Zucc. Enough of this grind and jam, time to infuse a guy who can actually set up goals. Have Dubinsky on the third line with him. That should be enough talent for a flukie like Boyle or Mitchell.
Nothing like that round peg in a square hole. So Zuccarell is supposed to create offense all by himself with Boyle or Mitchell as his center? And now Mitchell gets a promotion to the 3rdline?
Zuccarella is not coming. His defensive play is poorus. He does not block shots. As such, he is not getting in a game.
Is it time to bring back "This is a bad team" thread? Yes, they have not looked too good lately. But the bar is rather high when you are a team that has lost two games in a row in regulation for the first time in 3 months, no?
Not to mention "enough grind and jam". Not all that long ago it was "there is NOT enough grind and jam".
You know, we have an average unspectacular roster in first place in the Eastern Conference due a a coach implemented system,and yet some people in our fanbase find a way to attack the coach after a loss. Well done.
I'm sure St. Louis Blues fans are all over Hitchcock after a loss.
Must be like an idiot savant, right? How dare that imbecile have the best record in the East? Bring back Colin Campbell. Bring back Ron Low. Let Sather come down behind the bench. Heck, bring back Renney. ALL of them are better choices to lead this team.
I've read a lot of comments in this thread (and practically every game thread) about a lack of confidence in Torts's system. I wonder how many of the guys actually feel the same way? They probably can't say anything. I mean, at what point do you think Gabby is like, I just want Richie on my line already.
I wonder how many of the guys actually feel the same way? They probably can't say anything. I mean, at what point do you think Gabby is like, I just want Richie on my line already.
At the point that the are not a first overall team in the East. At the point that they ahve not all singularly bought into his system. and it well documented that they are ALL in step and line with the way Torts wants the game played. So the answer to your question, they are not questioning him.
You know, we have an average unspectacular roster in first place in the Eastern Conference due a a coach implemented system,and yet some people in our fanbase find a way to attack the coach after a loss. Well done.
I'm sure St. Louis Blues fans are all over Hitchcock after a loss.
The idea is to contend for a cup; not pile up regular season points. Many of believe that we are not well situated to contend with this "defense only" approach. Torts has ostracized anyone who had skill but was not 100% on board with his defensive posture. It's a fundamental problem with his stubborn, inflexible way of doing things; a two game losing streak only serves to get the blood boiling and motivate people to say what they are thinking even when we are winning.
We are allowed to look ahead and project what this team and approach will bring? No?
Torts has ostracized anyone who had skill but was not 100% on board with his defensive posture. It's a fundamental problem with his stubborn, inflexible way of doing things;
Do you think that the Blues are also feelign this way? Hitch is not an offensive coach. Yet, no problem with "defense first" over there.
