Just a complete and total no-show with everything on the line.
With the season a wrap now, let’s get into some questions about what happens next…
Which glue factory do you think would fit Patrick Kane best?
I honestly don’t understand the vitriol for Patrick Kane’s postseason.
He was arguably their best forward - and that’s not to say he played like vintage Kane.
It’s more of an indictment of the rest of the roster.
Still, where did he fail?
He produced 6 points in 7 games.
Again I’m not saying Kane was awesome.
Save it for this guy…
Totally open to trading Panarin.
Guy is a regular season player
If its possible to move Panarin, would you?
I think I would.
Artemi Panarin ain’t going anywhere.
And he shouldn’t go anywhere, he’s still an elite player.
Only McDavid, Draisaitl & MacKinnon have more points since he became a Ranger in 2019.
But man, it’s fair to say he’s singly the most responsible for their season ending prematurely.
Just too reckless, too predictable and too passive.
That was a theme for plenty of Blueshirts against the Devils but Panarin was the pinnacle.
Last year’s version of the Breadman could’ve gotten this group to Round 2.
Instead, he was a ghost.
Scratch that - a ghost would’ve had no effect.
Will he take this failure personally and bounce back with a vengeance a year from now?
All we can do is hope so, because he’s gonna be here.
Friday at 4pm… does Gallant still have a job?
Is it time to give Messier as Head Coach a shot?
Seems like it’s been brewing since Torts.
why the rangers should consider Valiquette as the next coaching option.
And why the rangers will choose a yeller like Torts as they think that is the answer?
(spoiler, its not)
If we fire Gallant, give me Brunette or Knoblauch for coach.
Young blood, enough of these 65 year old recycled coaches.
This game is so shortsighted.
Do we not remember last year?
Did Gallant have nothing to do with any of that?
No one knows until they actually get there.
Still, the Rangers are right on course with their general expectations once Gallant took the reins.
Last year was a bit of smoke and mirrors thanks to the powerplay & Shesterkin.
Is that all players, no coaching?
If anything, Gallant got them far enough to learn more about their core earlier than they should have.
Is a third coach in six seasons the be-all, end-all?
Is this group capable of changing quick enough not to burn next season as an “adjustment period”?
I’d run it back one more year instead of making a move for the sake of it.
It will be exactly who’d you expect it to be.
Someone of that ilk.
Prospect Brennan Othmann seems to be just want the Rangers need going into next season.
Do you think he makes the roster opening night?
Where does Othmann possibly fit in starting next year or 24/25?
Would Othmann be pushed to the off wing?
When can we say Laf stinks?
He caught fire shortly after being scratched (smart coaching move, no?)
Kakko is showing improved hands and is a menace on the walls on top of his defensive acumen.
Chytil has speed, creativity & drives play.
He’s capable of producing regardless of who he skates with.
Lafreniere…I dunno.
Nothing stands out and that’s what’s scary.
I don’t see “timid”.
He’s got a lot to prove in Year 4.
If there were to be a major playe movement on the roster what do you think it would like?
IMO its no longer about filling RW it has to be with a certain player.
Similar to a verhage, Hagel key in.
Guys whose game doesnt change when things are bad and who forecheck and grind.
Any thoughts on who to target.
Target someone like Hartman?
How do you expect Drury to navigate this?
What are REALISTIC moves we can make to get FASTER??
It seemed to me that team speed was a big factor in the Devils series.
Who is available as a FA??
Who can we trade for and who is on a favorable deal to send in return??
What are we talking about here?
It’s HARD though to go from “one of the best” to the last team standing.
They’ve been a top-five regular season team over the past two years combined.
They’ll be one of only 4 teams to play in the ECF since last year.
The majority of their defense is 25 or younger (Trouba is the elder statesman at 29).
Their all-world netminder is 27.
Three fixtures in their top-nine are 23 or younger while their oldest forward (Kreider) JUST turned 32.
This is far from an old team at the end of their careers.
This isn’t the end of the road.
These next couple seasons were the “winning” targets all along.
They’re right on schedule.
No one’s waiving their NMC so we can forget about moving any big-money contracts.
A buyout though could make some sense.
Clearing $3.6M would leave the Blueshirts around $16M for next season.
The immediate name that jumps out to me on the 2023 free agent list is Tyler Bertuzzi.
The ultimate pipe dream.
JT Compher is an all-situations staple who can play pivot or wing.
He’s got some skill but does the dirty work for guys like Mackinnon & Rantanen.
Ivan Barbashev is a more likely option.
The 27 year-old winger brings a physical 200-foot toolbox and had a 26-goal/60-point season just a year ago.
Outside of them you’re probably looking at short-term veteran options.
Alex Killorn is an interesting name in the likelihood he becomes a cap casualty in TB.
As a lifelong Bolt though, he may very well sign for peanuts to stay put.
How about a bargain-bin flyer on the health of Max Pacioretty?
Same goes for Patty Kane if he wants to play for Corey Perry money.
I’m confident in saying there won’t be any significant shakeups to the roster though.
There’s no savior coming and quite frankly they don’t need one.
The time is up for the kids to rely on youth as an excuse.
Their veteran forwards simply have to be better when it matters most.
If everything comes together they can absolutely bring a Cup to Broadway in the next couple years.
VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!
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