Rangers Analysis: 22nd?
by Jim Schmiedeberg on Sep 9, 2009 3:07 PM EDT
in New York Rangers Analysis
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PrintYou guys know by now that I very rarely take another writer to task, but I think this time it's warranted.
TSN has been doing a segment they call "30 teams in 30 days" from the worst team in the league to the best.
Today they've announced our New York Rangers as the 22nd best team in the league.
What Scott Cullen of TSN is saying is that at the very least, the Florida Panthers, Buffalo Sabres, Minnesota Wild, Nashville Predators, Edmonton Oilers, and Dallas Stars are all better than the Rangers. All seven of those teams I just mentioned have one thing in common: they all missed the playoffs last year.
You want to tell me half of those teams are better than the Rangers, fine. But all seven?
Some nuggets from the preview:
If Gaborik is able to stay healthy, the Rangers will need a great deal of scoring support wherever they can get it. Unfortunately for the team, their most likely source of offense remains unsigned at the time of publication.
Brandon Dubinsky is the Rangers "most likely source of offense"? If that's true, in the words of the immortal C3PO, "we're doomed!"
I guess Ryan Callahan, Ales Kotalik, Chris Higgins, Chris Drury, and Vinny Prospal are just going to sit this one out and let Dubinsky carry them.
On Sean Avery:
While 'The Mouth' can be an extremely effective player on the ice, he can also wear out his welcome with teammates, coaches, management and fans very quickly.
First of all, I've never heard anyone call Avery "The Mouth", we all know there is only one "The Mouth". Second of all, when has he worn out his welcome with Ranger fans? Ranger fans love Avery.
Avery was on his best behaviour in his return engagement on Broadway, but can only remain silent for so long. A leopard can't change its spots and Avery's history is well documented.
Absolutely right, no professional athlete has ever acted poorly early in his career and learned from his mistakes. It's never happened, ever.
Ryan Callahan is not mentioned in this story, nor is Henrik Lundqvist, who just happens to be one of the best goalies in hockey.
Am I just an optimist, or are we really this bad? I don't think they are a Cup contender, but I certainly think they are better than a bottom third team.
We will be discussing this on Blueshirt Banter Radio tonight at 7 PM, and don't forget Jess from The Prospect Park will be joining us as well.
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you kow my thoughts on this
I think we are a cup contender, aside from that you’re spot on
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canadiens
They made the playoffs last year, other than that I think you’re absolutely right.
by KingHenrik on Sep 9, 2009 3:15 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Not credible
We all know TSN is a bunch of Canadiens homers. They’re just pissed that we shipped over Scott Gomez and basically stole Higgins and their number 1 pick from them and dumped all that empty weight and salary on them. TSN as well as Hockey News and many other places have ranked us low so far but like you’ve said, they ignore our pluses and focus on the minuses…I think they’re in for a surprise similar to that of 05.
This article is is awful
first off…
TSN is retarded by publishing this article.
i agree with this statement in the article
"The Rangers are throwing a lot of their eggs in the Gaborik basket, believing that the silky Slovak will flourish now that he’s freed of the shackles of the Minnesota Wild. "
Remember when the “shackles” were released off gomez? and he did nothing really while playing with Jagr?
Now, Gabby is a much better (and different) than gomez. Im confident that Gaborik will be nasty when he plays. The health question is always going to be there as I believe it should be. The guy never seems to be healthy of late so why not question it?
The team has a complete face lift over the summer. Ever watch a game this summer when MSG reruns them? i did one night and it was hilarious. I dont think that there was more than 2 players on the ice at one time(not including the goalie) that are on the current roster. ZHERDEV TO ANTROPOV TO GOMEZ TO THE POINT, MARA SHOOTS yadda yadda yadda.
Im cautiously optimistic right now. Although ive been overly pessimistic over this summer, this roster gives me a reminder that coming out of the lock out a bunch of clowns and has-beens surrounded Jagr and they got major contributions from a young goalie. This could be the case surrounding Gaborik this year. Not the same talent as Jaromir but it could be a fun ride.
yeah I goofed on the Habs, my bad
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Sep 9, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions
THN is a joke
How the hell the Rangers are worse than 7 teams that didnt make the playoffs is beyond me. Seriously? SEVEN teams? THN is a fucking joke.
Anyone remember this?
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/hockey/nhl/specials/preview/2005/scouting.reports/rangers.html
I do remember that. We pretty much had the division title…
"Malik now." "6 foot 6, 238, not a noted goal scorer but he's gonna give it a shot here." "Malik has not scored this year. In on Kolzig, faked it....SCORES"
Damn
TSN, my bad.
I wrote THN because they have a a ridiculous bias against the Rangers and its force of habit.
One Extreme to Another
We’ve been over-rated for the past couple of seasons, and now its coming back to everyone under-rating us. I don’t agree with some of the comments about TSN above, but to each his own, right?
Jagr kept an article proclaiming the Rangers finishing 14 out of 15 teams in the East. He posted it up in his locker. The Rangers not only made the playoffs, but challenged for the division, and, finished above and beyond the teams projected to be much better than them.
Articles will be articles, and predictions will be predictions. We all know the Rangers aren’t this bad. If others believe it, let them. Who really believes what these people say? The people writing the articles are supposed to be make them interesting to read. Of course there is some BS in them. We wouldn’t read otherwise. (although that is an overstatement, and extremely sarcastic, writers are supposed to write like that, and they usually agree with others who do the same.)
"Jaromir Jagr.... it's a POWER PLAY GOAL!"
- Sam Rosen
wow
im sorry, and no its not you being optimistic or even a ranger fan..
haha dubi as our second best scorer.. um..
cally, prospal, higgins, kotalik, and drury are all 20 goal scorers..
and dubi avery and anisimov will put some in too..
their a joke.. dont listen to them..
when u have a top 3 goalie in the league.. with 6 20 goal scorers, u dont finish 22nd..
it seems to be the accepted thing to bet against the rangers.. well show them
Agree/Disagree
While I’ll agree that the Rangers are not in the bottom of the barrel as far as being ranked 22nd in the NHL, you can’t really make the comparison that 7 of those teams didn’t make the playoffs. This team has had a complete make over. Point being, it’s not the same team that made the playoffs last year.
Having said that, I am optimistic that they will do even better than last year. I’d rather TSN and whoever else rank them low and underestimate them & then surprise everyone.
I’d rather be the underdog than they team everyone expects to win & try to knock off.
LGR!!!
The team remains neutral
Even if it isnt the same team that made the playoffs due to an offensive makeover, they should remain neutral and in that slot.
You cant say they are any more better than they are worse because of that.
All 30 teams arent the same team as last year, and rankings are usually done based on the moves they made. Should Detroit drop to 20th because they lost 4 key players? or should the Islanders move up to 5th because they drafted John Tavares? no.
Just because the Rangers basically had an offensive makeover doesnt mean they move up or down, it stays neutral, and for the time being, they’re ahead in 7 playoff teams regardless. One 09-10 game hasnt been played yet to even say those 7 teams are better at this point.
You're not taking the Canadian exchange rate into account, Jim.
A 22 from a Canadian outfit like TSN is worth like a 17 here in the States.
best joke of the day
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by Joe Fortunato on Sep 9, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I almost fainted as well, considering 16 teams go to the playoffs – how can we be that low. I like how they make special note of us getting Tyler Arnason but there’s no note of the possibility of Grachev, Anisimov, or Gilroy.
Although, Florida was impressive at the end of last year, btw.
"Malik now." "6 foot 6, 238, not a noted goal scorer but he's gonna give it a shot here." "Malik has not scored this year. In on Kolzig, faked it....SCORES"
so were the Rangers
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 9, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions
Someone tell me
How this team isnt better. Fine our defense is a little weaker than last year. However, we added a top 10 forward (When Healthy). And solid scorers in Prospal, Higgins, Kotalik. We added young players in Lisin, Boyle and I expect Dubinsky to put up 60 playing on a line with Gaborik and Prospal. Druuuu to have a solid year playing with Kotalik. Oh by the way, we have Hank.
Gary Thorne=Simply the Best!
by The American Mr.Hockey on Sep 9, 2009 6:21 PM EDT reply actions
honestly I think Gaborik is a top 5
player when healthy
Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.
by Joe Fortunato on Sep 9, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions
we should be no worse than middle of the pack. personally i think we are around 10, if i had to ballpark it. they question our scoring without realizing that we made it to the playoffs with virtually no scoring. as someone else has said, id actually rather it be this way than being overhyped. and when we are competitive and in the playoff positioning race we will make all of these ‘writers/analysts’ eat their words by seasons end
If that happened...
Lundqvist would have to miss a good portion of the season.
Otherwise, no, way off base. The fact they have that guy in net makes them better than half the league.
I don’t know how anyone could even glance at the Rangers and say that; when you have a Goalie like Henrik, you are in the better half of the league, not matter who’s on your team.
The fact they to me upgraded all over the place and got rid of some dead weight…they are a much better team than last year.
With plenty of room to grow too. They are very young, tho many of those youngins have a few years experience already.
Not saying CUP or best in the league…but I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team take a deeper run in the playoffs this year…….and these dorks say 22nd?
What the f$%k is the internet?
I like how Florida is a "good team"
Even though they lost their biggest impact player and replaced him with Jordan Leopold ….
Whatever, TSN. Hack job.
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Atlantic Standings
| GP | W | L | OTL | PT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
New York Rangers
|
52 | 34 | 13 | 5 | 73 |
|
Philadelphia
|
54 | 31 | 16 | 7 | 69 |
|
New Jersey
|
54 | 31 | 19 | 4 | 66 |
|
Pittsburgh
|
54 | 30 | 19 | 5 | 65 |
|
New York Islanders
|
53 | 22 | 23 | 8 | 52 |
(updated 2.11.2012 at 8:02 AM EST)
Rangers Schedule
Next 5 Games
|
Washington
|
Sun 02/12 | 3:00 PM EST |
|
@
Boston
|
Tue 02/14 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Chicago
|
Thu 02/16 | 7:00 PM EST |
|
Columbus
|
Sun 02/19 | 8:00 PM EST |
|
@
Pittsburgh
|
Tue 02/21 | 7:00 PM EST |
Last 5 Games
|
@
Philadelphia
|
Sat 02/11 | W 5 - 2 |
|
Tampa Bay
|
Thu 02/09 | OT - W 4 - 3 |
|
New Jersey
|
Tue 02/07 | L 0 - 1 |
|
Philadelphia
|
Sun 02/05 | W 5 - 2 |
|
@
Buffalo
|
Wed 02/01 | SO - W 1 - 0 |
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