Fortunately, from reports hes been strengthening his legs/lower body and cardio.
So there shouldn't be an excuse for being out of shape. He just needs to heal the shoulder and strengthen it.
I meant more in terms of getting back into the game menatally. Without a training camp or early season games to get into the groove, he's just jumping in after quite a bit of time off and it's stuff like his timing that I'm thinking could be off for awhile.
Yep. I had the Kings as my SC favorites going into the season after the Mike Richards deal and they underachieved alllll season.
Ditto. I was shocked at how much they struggled throughout the season. It was inexplicable. They very clearly had one of the best rosters in the league.
I'm good with Gabby getting 15-20 goals in half a season. He'll be warmed up for the playoffs and adding a healthy Gabby for the stretch with a team that already has Richards & Nash on the first line is ...."Oh Baby"!!!
Besides, Gabby has never had a situation where he was coming off the 2nd line where the top line had serious offense that other teams focused on. Nash and Richards on line one, with Gabby Stepan on line two can do wonders for opening the ice up for Gabby.
Oh and not many teams will have a 1-2 40 goal scorer punch centered by solid playmakers.
Oh and I'm booking Krieder for 30 goals! Throw him on Steps' other wing and you've got serious firepower on your 2nd line. The likes of which the Rangers haven't had in a very, very long time. Potential for two 1st lines in NY once Gabby is back and playing healthy!
The NHL hates the Rangers!!!!
no thats not fair to say, because we all know the NHL absolutely hates the devils
there are a fair amount of snipers in this league who dont hit 30 goals. kreider is considered more of a power forward type guy. yes he did well in the playoffs, but im still saying if he hits 20, im happy.
Reality is he's a rookie and new to the Rangers big club. I say between 15 and 20
As long as we don't run into the Penguins we'll probably be fine. Head to head we are not good against them. In all likelihood however, based on my own power rankings and this forum's power rankings, Pittsburgh and Philly will meet in the first round. That would be Pittsburgh's toughest opponent because the Flyers are a better model of what the Penguins are. Crap defense and goaltending covered up by explosive offense. The Pens have the two best players in the world but the Flyers core also has a world talent in Giroux and better depth IMO, especially with Pittsburgh trading Staal. Flyers also lost Jagr, but Pittsburgh losing Staal was a bigger deal.
I think the Rangers' depth will beat the Pens. I think the toughest opponent for the Rangers will be Boston. Other than that, I don't see a team in the East challenging them, at least on paper.
