Questions Surround New York Rangers After Slow Start
by Joe Fortunato on Oct 28, 2011 9:28 AM EDT
in New York Rangers Analysis
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The New York Rangers have gotten off to a slow start this year, causing both concern and panic from the Rangers faithful. And while it's not yet time to be demanding John Tortorella's head or a team-wide overhaul, there are more questions than answers right now for the New York Rangers.
It's alarming that the team hasn't been able to put together a complete effort yet this year. There have been games where the Rangers have played well in spurts, like dominating the first period of the loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it needs to be a consistent effort.
Fatigue can still be pinpointed as a cause, even though the Rangers have been at home the past three days, but that excuse is beginning to wear thin. By the time the Rangers suit up to play the Ottawa Senators Saturday afternoon they should have fully recovered from the grueling road trip to start the season.
Join me after the jump for more.
One of the biggest issues the Rangers have ran into thus far is a lack of consistent offense. There have been flashes in games where the Rangers look lethal in the offensive zone, no matter who has the puck. But those flashes have been fleeting, and for the most part the Rangers have lacked possession in the offensive zone.
Some of that has to do with Brad Richards still learning his teammates styles of play. This offense runs through Richards when he is on the ice, and it was expected to take some time to develop. While Richards and Marian Gaborik have shown a budding chemistry, players like Ryan Callahan, Brandon Dubinsky, Derek Stepan and Artem Anisimov have gotten off to slow starts.
It's unfortunate that the Rangers entire means of secondary scoring has gotten off to a slow start at the same time. While it's bad, for obvious reasons, it also can't last forever. All four players have shown some improvement the past two games, but the offense has stalled without them.
Despite the slow start, I don't understand people saying that John Tortorella has lost this team. He hasn't. Yes, this team has gotten off to a slow start and they aren't playing Tortorella hockey right now, that much is obvious. But there have been some positives.
The Rangers power play is starting to look a little better, and has actually started to score some goals. We're starting to see some real development from Michael Del Zotto, Tim Erixon and especially Ryan McDonagh. In spurts, the Rangers have looked like the team we expected them to be this year, it just hasn't happened for a full game yet.
Thing will turn around, I'm not anywhere near jumping ship. It just needs to happen sooner rather than later.
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posted this in the other thread, but it might get deleted soon so...
AA did not help his cause last night on the 4th line—you can make the "great defense" argument all you want, but this team isn’t going to win unless we improve our puck possession and offensive output—especially with staal out indefinitely—when girardi got hit with the puck last night, i saw the season flash before our eyes.
Puck possession has been the team's biggest issue offensively
in my eyes so far. They need to hold onto the puck into the offensive zone in order to create some chances. Thus far that hasn’t happened.
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by Joe Fortunato on Oct 28, 2011 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions
They need to hold the puck in ALL zones
WAY too many “just get rid of the puck” moments all year for the NY Rangers. I counted five times last night where a player moved the puck up off the boards to a waiting teammate but jammed it so hard – in such a panic to get rid of it – that it skittered right past to the waiting Leaf D man.
You can’t win without the puck. In the first period I saw a huge change in game plan where we’d exit the offensive zone with the puck to keep possession, circle back in the D zone rather then rush a pass, etc. It showed in SOG at the end of the first. TO turned up the pressure and the Rangers started to rush, panic and abandon their plan.
When you have the puck and a team sends two forecheckers deep, someone is open or there is open ice to skate it out – if you don’t freak out.
Seeing that puck bouncing and DelZotto swipe at it carelessly like a pinata was an OHL/ ECHL play. You’ve got to be kidding me.
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
by SimpleManiac on Oct 28, 2011 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions
Who were they???
I’d like to know who the players were in the Ranger’s uniforms that played in the first period? Thay actually played hockey!!! Thay were actually competitive! What a surprise!
I question why the ranger management didn’t hire them to play the entire game! It’s a damn shame they all went home during the first intermission!
The second and third periods were obviously played by the same characters that have been hired for the entire season!
Perhaps contracts with tiny guaranteed salaries and huge productivity incentives would be in order! Maybe then they’d decide to play the whole game !
Where's the Black and Blue ?
This team’s identity last year was all about outworking their opponent. What happened? Torts has got to stop juggling these lines or else he will be juggling with Barnum and Bailey. This team needs to be more consistent, have heart, and hustle, all of which the team is desperately seeking. The line combinations last night were disappointing and shows the team Torts does not have confidence in his guys but more over how could these guys have any confidence when they know in the back of their mind that they could put on a different line because of chemistry didn’t click after the first shift.
Hey Torts you better learn some new coaching tactics or else you better think about joining Occupy Wall Street.
Dump and chase
Is not working. Our top 2 lines are horrible on the forecheck. Every time we attempt to dump and gain the zone, it results in a turnover. Torts should be letting these guys carry it across the blue line. Also – if we don’t have numbers and need to dump, we should be tossing it at the goalie and crashing the net for a rebound. Most of the time, this will force a cover and will result in a faceoff in the opposing zone.
It is horribly frustrating to watch.
In hockey a good offense is a good defense. We are not spending nearly enough time in the offensive zone. I liked the first period of just getting the shot to net and follow it to the net. That strategy worked. The shit they did in the second and third did not.
We are going to go to Philadelphia... and we are going to win.- Glen Sather
by RichieToGabbySCORE on Oct 28, 2011 9:54 AM EDT reply actions
the pack line needs to be our main puck possession line
our first line will develop chances, but it’s basically just gabby and richards making runs at the net
this got messed up
i also said that our first line makes quick strikes at the net, but they are never in the offensive zone for long
That’s some crazy Frankie shit right there.
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
by SimpleManiac on Oct 28, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
changing of the gaurd
why is to early for a coaching change this team dose not respond to torts .the pp has not changed in years .they cant carry the puck torts dosent giive any lines a chance to form chemistry.he continues to play E.C newbury and i know we have better and not avery either.team plays with no heart. i dont think were a cup team but i also do not think were that offensivly challanged. when is it time for the coaches to take reponsibilty .or do we keep waiting for an other season of the same old crap
Torts
I think we give torts to much leeway because he won a cup already, but i think most of the onus needs to go on him. Pick a top winder for richie and gabs and keep him there for a 10 games see what happens. Keep the pack line together, and then if he has to juggle the two checking lines. I dont understand how people can say Sean Avery wont help, when hes game is getting in on the forecheck and trying to create a turn over and keep puck possession. Two of the thing there lacking right now possession and consistent fore checking. No way any one can say Rupp-Chrsitensen – or Newbury is going to be more effective to this team
by BlueshirtPride1994 on Oct 28, 2011 10:15 AM EDT reply actions
Torts cup
was won with a loaded team. Outside of that cup season he has only won ONE playoff series EVER
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
speaking of torts' former team
anybody hear a rumor about vancouver talking to tampa about a luongo for lecavalier swap?
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mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
No, but Luongo is the perfect guy to get Tampa to the next step
as long as they have no interest in ever getting to the step after that.
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 10:39 AM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
that rumor has been around for a while
anyone who would take luongo for their cup run needs to be fired immediately—if the nucks got lecavlier they wouldn’t even need a goalie
well they have schneider
@joereiter
"You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a
mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
Who they should make the number 1, he’s better than Lu and younger. Lu is so overrated its unbelievable.
by CrazyRangerFan on Oct 28, 2011 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions
Yea tons of goalies get SCF shutouts
by teknics on Oct 28, 2011 1:02 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
This team right now is scared to death to make a mistake, and it’s showing. Tortorella is benching people like its a bodily function, and they are all gripping the sticks too tight.
Under normal circumstances, I would say it might be a good thing for this team to get away from home and play some games on the road to get straightened out, but, uh, yeah.
Tortorella needs to lock himself in a room for 12 hours with Stone Face Sullivan, watch the film, and come up with four lines to put on the ice. Then Saturday, play those lines. If they don’t work immediately, keep sending them out there. Someone hold down the coach as he begins to shake like a contestant on “Intervention” at “line combo jiggle withdrawal”, and just keep sending those lines out there. Give them at least a game or two. If they are paying Brad Richards $9M to skate with the Brian Boyles and Mike Rupps on this team, then they wasted his time courting him.
As far as the “We want Avery” crap last night, I’m hoping that was more of an “F U” to the coach than a serious request, because Sean Avery is not the answer, and contrary to popular belief, the Rangers did not start winning games the day he showed up.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 28, 2011 10:19 AM EDT reply actions 10 recs
everything he just said
@joereiter
"You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a
mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
agree RE torts
but i don’t see why everyone so was so offended by the avery chant—he’s a fan favorite and a good 4th liner, why not bring him in? If it’s one thing we need it’s energy/jam/someone who isn’t afraid of Torts
I’m not offended, just sick of the Avery love honestly.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 28, 2011 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions
It is ridiculous.
What could he possibly bring to the team? He’s lost a step and we certainly don’t need anymore PIM
"Lopez wants it away, and it's hit deep to left center, Andruw Jones on the run, this one has a chance... home run!, Mike Piazza!, and the Mets lead 3 to 2!"
I don’t love him either. First time I saw him as a Ranger I said “he loafs in his own zone way too much to be successful”, that has not changed.
I said before the season, the other winger on the Gabby-Richards line doesn’t play for the Rangers yet. Or is it the Richards-Fedotenko line? I get confused.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 28, 2011 11:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Rec'd Jim
Nicely put.
Could it be that maybe this team played over their heads last season? Are Prust/Boyle not really that good? Same with AA/Dubi/Cally? Contract hangover? They need to just start playing & stop thinking, unfortunately, with the way the fanbase over-reacts, perhaps they’re pressing too much.
I agree with you, Jim
I think there is a fine line between making the right moves as a coach and over coaching.
I do think, however, that this team will click. We have very good players and it’s only a matter of time before these guys hit their strides.
I hate the cliff jumping at 10% of the season, it’s a long haul.
"Lopez wants it away, and it's hit deep to left center, Andruw Jones on the run, this one has a chance... home run!, Mike Piazza!, and the Mets lead 3 to 2!"
I’m not cliff jumping. I expected a slow start while this team gels, but there have been some disturbing trends through the first eight games, and I don’t like what I am seeing and hearing from the coach at this point.
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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Oct 28, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Agree
Regarding Avery, as much as people have been saying “he’s not the answer” today, I think the bigger point is, Avery NEVER was the problem.
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 10:41 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah people who think avery should be brought up
aren’t saying he will save our team—they’re saying he will improve our team albeit slightly—he’s certainly not the answer or the messiah or whatever, he will just be an upgrade on the fourth line and not be afraid of torts like some of the other guys
This deserves to be green. Rec it, because it’s very well said (although it’s nothing new; the line juggling bullshit has gotten old and DOESN’T WORK). But Jim said it better than most have.
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Well said, Jim +1
How about bench an entire line for a few shifts – then let them back out, well rested, like a bunch of wild dogs ready to earn their place in the pack?
Instead of giving three guys a reason to pump each other up, line juggling makes things worse. YOU are not getting the job done instead of YOU GUYS need to get it together.
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
by SimpleManiac on Oct 28, 2011 11:26 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rec'd
Logged on just to agree…couldn’t have said it better myself.
by Travis Juszkiewicz on Oct 28, 2011 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I agree with Jim… very well put.
Avery is not the answer to winning games. He may not even help (may even hurt). I’d rather watch him and MDZ fail then the pathetic play we saw in the 2nd and 3rd period last night. At least those Avery and MDZ are fun to watch.
Torts can’t get lines straight, can’t get a PP to score, can’t keep a team motivated for 3 periods, can’t get a team to fight hard on opening night of a newly remodeled arena sold out in Manhattan, can’t handle a tough question from a reporter who knows nothing about hockey, but we should be patient with him. We don’t see what happens in the locker room. I’m sure all the players respect him and are willing to go the extra mile for him.
The lines in the 3rd period last night were ridiculous and see what happened. He might as well have a giant yazzee shaker and roll players like dice onto the ice.
I do know it is not all Torts fault, but something has to improve. These are talented players getting the puck in deep and playing with jam is not working. A team identity is great, but all players are not the same and you need to work to get the most out of them not try to make every player fit your mold.
Pick some lines and work to make each of them better.
I’m going to go back to something Torts said his first year. He said he wasn’t the kind of coach who matched lines. He likes to play his game. He hass changed that now. At the time he said it it was a complete faill. In todays NHL if you are not completley stacked on defense you need to do some line matching. The elite players are signicantly better and the teams are forced to play that way.
i don't really get the continued need to switch up the lines
it’s one thing if you’re looking to create a spark in the middle of the season and the team is putting out a lethargic effort on a thursday night
ok, fine
BUT you need to have developed some line chemistry before that and right now it’s all over the place
my buddies and i were debating a drinking game every time a new line combo hit the ice, but our livers would’ve been toast by the midpoint of the second period
i saw richards with callahan and dubinsky, i saw anisimov centering a fourth line with christensen and newbury, which helps nobody if anisimov is a playmaking center
i really just don’t get how torts doesn’t understand the need for set lines before switching things up, you can’t just throw out random line combos in practice and especially during games on a regular basis
@joereiter
"You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a
mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
I’d rather see the coach trying to switch up systems for his lines that will get EVERYONE going. This team is PAINFUL to watch right now.
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Rangers games have become liking watching bad Horror Movies
And Torts only suggestion is to keep checking out the basement.
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
agree
but what is/does anyone know his rationale behind the constant switching?
JAM
We need more of it.
Switch the lines!
Drink! (joereiter)
by Mike_from_NNJ on Oct 28, 2011 11:03 AM EDT up reply actions
has anyone even asked him?
"It's far from done, but we did get something accomplished."-#19 B.Richards
by -19-AgainstAll on Oct 28, 2011 11:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
One of the worst things I saw was (I think in Edmonton?) where Torts broke up Richards/Gaborik, who have been the only 2 forwards to show any chemistry all season in order to ‘get other lines going.’
And those forward lines should be relevant to the special teams units as well, because I’m noticing after every PK or PP, there’s 5 random players on the ice for 3-4 minutes instead of actual 3-man forward and 2-man defensive units.
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Bring the puck in and dont let it go
that dump and chase crap is terrible idea. we are too slow to retrieve it fast enough and there defense picks it up immediately and they pass better then us and it gets passed down ice for another rush.
"It's far from done, but we did get something accomplished."-#19 B.Richards
by -19-AgainstAll on Oct 28, 2011 11:08 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
there is no team in the entire NHL doing it. and everyone else is doing better. I think that says something..
"It's far from done, but we did get something accomplished."-#19 B.Richards
by -19-AgainstAll on Oct 28, 2011 11:10 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Dump and chase is a set play
Opposite winger goes screaming down the boards to get there first. Not line up like a f’n kickoff in football.
Let me know how that works out for you . . .
by SimpleManiac on Oct 28, 2011 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Anybody notice that when the rangers play bad there is a string of new members commenting on the stories? or string of members who are not generally commenting? I love it the nay-sayers come out of the woodwork when they lose and when they are winning they are nowhere to be found…
@clalicata17
what about
- the regulars who only see doom and gloom
- the regulars who wouldn’t trade dubinsky for ovechkin
- the regulars who think torts should be fired
- the regulars who think del zotto should be traded yesterday for anything
- the regulars who do too many shots of jamesons before the game and stop caring by the third period?
ok, i might’ve been talking about myself on the last one
@joereiter
"You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a
mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
we usually stop caring by the middle of the second
Absolute Worst Ranger Fan!!!!!!....yet incredibly realistic and usually correct.
Which is a whole period and a half more than the Rangers care.
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Ya know, I just had a chance to go through and read all the comments on the past 3 articles after last night’s loss. That was the first thing I realized. Don’t get me wrong, I love that people wan’t to contribute, it’s just amusing to see like 30 names I’ve never noticed all coming out to rant.
by Eastern Impact on Oct 28, 2011 11:29 AM EDT up reply actions
It’s not a new trend. Bad times always increases traffic.
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by George E. Ays on Oct 28, 2011 11:35 AM EDT up reply actions
i love the new guys that come in with an outrage post because we lost lol
by CrazyRangerFan on Oct 28, 2011 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah
My outrage posts have been here since Strudwick’s mustache was on the 3rd pair!
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions
"Anybody notice"
It’s an interesting observation…
Do you think more people have good things to say when the team wins big?
I bet traffic rises around a big trade? Or around the playoffs?
I don’t post often though I read just about everyday (most days often) even in the off season. I also love that the staff writers and frequent contributors write informatively (if not enthusiastically) regularly even on slow news days.
I know in todays e-world it is normal for people to post every thought of everything they do.
It’s a long season, but the play needs to improve at some point. I think it is alarming to some that they could not rise to the occasion of the home opener. It’s not they they didn’t win it’s that they didn’t play well for 2 periods. They haven’t had all that many great periods in general this season.
So while it may not be necessary for people to come out here and express distaste for the product on the ice the 2nd and 3rd periods last night, or disagreeing with the amount of line shuffling. It is just as unnecessary to come post about every game we win that we don’t deserve, or what your drink of preference is.
People contribute how they want and as often as they want as long as they are welcome. If your not being and idiot I’m glad we have regular and not so regular contributors who have inteligent opinions.
torts is scrambling and it shows in his personnel decisions, and its gotten to be a sickness at this point. If we realize the absurdity of it you can sure as hell bet the team does. F this stuff about being tired from the road trip, if you cant get up for your home opener in MSG then you need to find another career. I love Hank and he does immeasurable things for this team but its not such a bad thing when he has an off night, it allows us all to see the glaring shortcomings of these guys. Hanks abilities masks a lot of that stuff.
When they are winning there is less to critique
More bad coaching
Torts knew the deal for MONTHS before the season. They were playing in Europe for the preseason and opener, and coming back and going on a long road trip. As a coach, it’s his responsibility to have the players ready to deal with that. Adjust the style, rest players, do whatever you have to do, but don’t blame losses on it. I’m not saying Renney was great coach, or even that I didn’t think firing him was the right thing, but atleast you saw things he was doing to get the team ready to play. I remember him breaking the season into 5 game “series” with the goal being to win each “series”. If they had a rough stretch, shake it off, and start again after 5 games. We’re not seeing ANYTHING from Torts, and it is frustrating.
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, I think it’s already been stated here, but just to bash home the point, if Torts doesn’t start showing some consistency with his line combinations this team will NEVER develop consistent secondary (or primary at this rate) scoring. Also, this team is generating 0 forecheck. The ridiculous amount of shots against every game is because we are spending no time possessing the puck in the offensive zone (and when we do, we take a fucking penalty).
Nice to have Sauer back. Very smart plays with and without the puck.
Can we finally end the MDZ experiment? The kid has NHL talent and the brain of a burger-flipper. I think he’s directly responsible for what, 1 breakaway per game at this point? And his offensive output….I mean he ain’t Phil Housley out there.
And I’m tired of the ‘tired’ excuse. They’ve played like shit for most of every game (with the exception of Vancouver…who I believe actually managed to come out flatter than we did). All we hear about during the pre-season is Tort’s grueling training camp bag-skates and how great of shape all these guys are in, and the work they put in during the off-season. You know, work so that they’re not…you know….tired every game….
Callahan…I guess I was wrong, because I thought out of anybody the C would change him the least…but he seems like he’s trying way too hard to involve himself in everything on the ice, especially scrums and crashing the crease etc. He needs to realize his old style of play is what made him captain, not what he does now that he’s got the C on his chest.
Brandon Dubinsky might as well be on a milk carton at this point of the season.
And can somebody remind me who that tall, lanky, promising Russian center we had last year was?
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i’m still not ready to give up on mdz
as far as the tall lanky promising russian center, i think i know the guy you’re talking about, he’s available in my fantasy league as of last night around 11PM
@joereiter
"You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a
mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
It’s tough, because I think he’s a good kid, but 3 years in with a coach like Torts, and he’s still doing stupid shit. He’s also being forced into more minutes/higher competition because of the injuries and lack of vet depth, but at some point the blatantly dumb things have to stop.
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maybe a coach like torts is part of mdz's problem
getting past the whole “he should have gone back to juniors” thing, torts has to shoulder some blame in keeping him up here
i know he had a rep as being good with kids but maybe he’s less of a teacher than what’s needed for some guys
i’m not a big fan of changing the coach unless a) the situation is so toxic it has to happen or b) you’ve got the wrong guy abusing young kids and retarding their development
from my POV torts needs to change his methodology, from the line changes to the way he handles players and i don’t think that’s going to happen
@joereiter
"You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a
mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
I don't think Torts is great with grooming skill players
I think his strength, if anything, is turning borderline guys into the NHL players. I agree 100% that we needed someone with more experience to deal with MDZ. This is a kid with all the tools, who just needed someone to tell him when to use them. I think alot of issues are only going to fixed through experience. Early in certain games, or when they are in hand, one way or another, turn MDZ lose, and give him top 4 mins. When things are tight, and you need more defense, tell him to play it safe, and use him in your 3rd pair.
I think, from a practical standpoint, we’re not going to see a coaching change anytime soon. Torts JUST got his 3 year extension. No matter how bad the team does, MSG has the luxury of people wanting to see “the new garden” to keep them coming through the gate, and keep the bean counters happy. If Slats fires Torts now, he’s got ALOT of explaining to do about why he wants a new coach 10 games into a 3 year extension.
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
Yup...
That was my thoughts even last year when we played well at times. JT needs to run shotgun to a Keenan-TYPE. Not Keenan himself – who was maniacal for sure, but was also, oh by the way, one of the best BENCH coaches this league has ever seen – but someone who doesn’t panic and lets the line combos play through their struggles and actually motivated them behind the bench in ways other than calling a damn timeout or extended benchings!
And of course, neither JT nor Sullivan have a clue how to orchestrate an effective PP even now with TWO elite players on the ice.
Which makes me wonder. How the f*** does an organization who can sign a big-time FA to a a $60M contract, somehow settle for only a journeyman, 3rd line, never played a PP in his playing career type of guy to run the power play as an assistant coach?
Don’t you think we could afford to hire an actual PROVEN PP specialist – even besides Mess and Leetch who are ALREADY in the org?
Absolutely ridiculous! :(
Do starts really matter that much?
Didn’t the Rangers start something like 10-2-1 in 08-09 just to finish scratching their way to the 7th seed? Give it 20 games or so and hopefully we’ll see where this team can go by then. At this point, as George might say, its too small a sample size.
Manning lobs it, Burress alone, touchdown New York!
For the empty net, Mark Messier... do you believe it?! Do you believe it?! He said we will win game 6 - he has just picked up the hat trick!
It’s funny how many people will ask that question. And then what happens near the end of the season? You miss the playoffs by 1 point because you lost in a shootout. Yes, points matter as much today as they do 5 months down the road.
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R.I.P. Derek 'Boogeyman' Boogaard
I posted it in the game day thread last night.
Required reading for current cliff jumpers:
http://blogs.edmontonjournal.com/2011/10/27/the-nhl-standings-one-year-ago-today/
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Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
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by George E. Ays on Oct 28, 2011 11:39 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
It’s obviously not the end of the world that we’ve had a slow start, but it’d be nice at some point to have a decent playoff seed instead of scratching and clawing their way to a playoff berth every year.
Blueshirt Banter *It's just pain.*
R.I.P. Derek 'Boogeyman' Boogaard
it's really not the losses
but how we’re losing—if we were losing like how the Bruins are, I wouldn’t be that upset
Oh, I get that. It’s more a reminder that a slow start, regardless of situations, isn’t necessarily a death sentence. Playing at a point per game in the standings is a fine way to tread water, much better than say 0.5.
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by George E. Ays on Oct 28, 2011 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly
Tread water as you start the season and hopefully pick up the pace as you get into a rhythm & gel as a team. Not saying the points don’t matter, just that you can’t win or lose the division in the first month of the season. Remember how bad and how long the Devils sucked last year and then came within a couple of points of a playoff spot. The Rangers aren’t that bad off at this point.
I do agree with Jim though that Torts really needs to let the lines play together for a few games without juggling. Hell a few periods together would be nice.
Manning lobs it, Burress alone, touchdown New York!
For the empty net, Mark Messier... do you believe it?! Do you believe it?! He said we will win game 6 - he has just picked up the hat trick!
Only 2 teams
In the East are off to roaring starts, the Pens and Caps. But we expected those teams to be the class of the conference. Sabres look strong as well, again not unexpected and the Leafs have fared well against weaker teams but have a goal differential that suggestes they’ll start to regress at some point.
Otherwise half the East is at or below NHL .500 and 11 teams are at most 1 point better than NHL .500.
Like everyone else, I’m not happy with how they’ve played. Still, they haven’t played themselves out of the season by any means and it’s tough to see them, playing like this forever. Teams go through bad stretches all the time, the Rangers happened to hit theirs at the start.
by MyFavBaseballSquadron on Oct 28, 2011 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions
I like the theory about playing scared under the Torts regime. It seems to make the most sense because that would explain why reckless, youthful, energetic play has not been existent. Its easy to make mistakes and take penalties that way but it is fun to watch. I go to quite a few Islanders games each year and I can only hope that our kids are coached to play the way those guys do. Sure, obviously they do not win that often (many factors in that), but it is real hockey played by guys who are allowed to play their game. They play hard on most nights. I have seen maybe a collective of a game and a half of hard play.
right on, id rather watch us lose playing good hard fought hockey than watch us play timid and uninspired and just rely on our D/goalie. And you can tell the isles really mesh as a team, even when theyre outskilled theyll still go out there and scrap and goon it up. watching the blueshirts is just boring, win or lose.
a few reasons why its torts fault
ok heres the problem with this team. its the couch they just cant play way he wants its been three years and no matter how comes in or up its the same old crap. Nobody carrys the puck its always dump and chase the pp sucks cant get any shots on net. Are we the only team that cant do those simple things once in a while we miss the net always come on. Players are not responding to torts how you bench or sit your best player for defensive players bull shitthats poor coaching. Why is E,C newbury or warjector what ever his name is still in the line up.I know we have better players then that and i dont mean avery.give the kids a shot cant do any worse then the those rejects. and delzotto he sucks every beats him give valentranko a shot. So we keep waiting for what the pp sucks we cant get any shots on net we juggle lines every game shift and period doing for three years so how are we to form chemistrey when the lines are never intact.i dont think were a cup teame but i also do not think we are that offensivly challenged that we just dont score .its time the coaches take responsibilty for team.if its not torts then this teamtruly sucks and we over rated our player
More fun with lines!
Dubinsky-Richards-Callahan
Wolski-Christensen-Gaborik
Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust
Stepan-Anisimov-Newbury
I don’t hate it.
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Twitter: RangerSmurf
ok, but what about the lines for the second period?
@joereiter
"You can be a lion maybe once in your life. If you don't make this deal, you're a
mouse forever….Wouldn't you rather be a lion for one day than a mouse for life?" - Lord General Sather
"Nobody knows anything" - William Goldman
Lines from today's practice
Wolski-Christensen-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Richards-Callahan
Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust
Newbury-Anisimov-Stepan
I’m not sure if I should laugh or cry.
GET RID OF EC!!!
Well,
I can’t stand the constant line-switching, but i DO like Richards in between 17 and 24. At least, it’s worth trying…
We have little to no choice
We can’t stand the line-switching, but the offense is clearly not producing. As much as I detest Torts, I’m with him on this
by Guess Who's Back? on Oct 28, 2011 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I really just feel like Torts cant win in some people’s eyes. Lines stick together but don’t produce he gets yelled at for them not producing. Switches lines and gets yelled at for not letting them stay together. Fail/Fail.
by Eastern Impact on Oct 28, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Might as well make it Wolski-Lundqvist-Gaborik
I listen to Enter Sandman before taking exams. I wear the exact same jersey every Giants game. The Rangers goal song goes off in my head when I achieve small successes in life.
HEN-RIK
by BombersGmenBlueshirts25 on Oct 28, 2011 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions
i guessssssss it can make sense
richie can get the pack wings going—gaby has been creating his own offense thus far a la 2009
I don’t hate it because it almost ensures he’ll roll 4 lines, and there’s productive elements to all of them. For all the wonders that is EC and Wolski, playing with Gaborik can’t hurt em.
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Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
Twitter: RangerSmurf
by George E. Ays on Oct 28, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions
That line just screams 3 in the +/ column.
Blueshirt Banter *It's just pain.*
R.I.P. Derek 'Boogeyman' Boogaard
Stupid strikethrough.
Should be ‘screams MINUS 3 in the +/- column.’
Blueshirt Banter *It's just pain.*
R.I.P. Derek 'Boogeyman' Boogaard
Start ‘em 60-70% of the time in the offensive zone, they’ll be alright. It can’t be worse than Step-Richards-Gaborik were at suppressing shots.
Blueshirt Banter - Where Rangers' Fans Matter
Tracking the Rangers - Numbers don't lie. They just don't agree with you.
Twitter: RangerSmurf
by George E. Ays on Oct 28, 2011 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions
Change
You can’t change your roster much early in the season with paying a huge price. Therefore if you need to change on the team there is only one position left: coach.
It appears for the third or fourth straight season
The offense is struggling. When will our offensive woes come to an end?
by Guess Who's Back? on Oct 28, 2011 1:33 PM EDT reply actions
Torts Has . . .
. . . a serious case of indecision. Maybe Larry Brooks is inside his head?
The inability to make a decision and stick with it reminds me of our Jack Russell, who, presented with nine tennis balls, will go one to the next to the next because that ball there has to be better than this one here, no wait, that one over there, no wait, that one . . .
Reminds me too of my boss, whose mercurial thought processes leave everybody at work in a state of bewilderment.
How are the players to follow direction or play within a system or do anything with conviction if the coach is always changing his mind? It’s not such good leadership or management or supervision or, or, or — oh, I can’t decide what to call it.
I know, I know
that I saw the Toronto-match on a bad stream with TSN commentators at 1 am last night, but one thing caught my eye: The whole team (with exception of Marion Gaborik) looked uneasy for two thirds of the battle. First period – tremendous effort and some decent passing. Once they got the goal against – shoulders went high.
They look terrified of making mistakes.
I still believe. I hope someone presses the “believe button” in the dressing room as well…
"He went up with his arms and really played it out, and I told him to stand up," - Henrik Lundqvist on Crosby's diving.
by NYR North pole fan base on Oct 28, 2011 3:00 PM EDT reply actions
The answer to all our problems
Mark Morris, head coach of the Manchester Monarchs
He’s been doing great work with the young players in the Kings organization since taking over the Monarchs and should be ready to try his hand at the NHL level. If we’re committed to youth, I think it’s time to find a coach who can relate to today’s players.
Not at all
Just a Rangers fan who’d like to see this team start moving forward. Morris and Kevin Dinneen were the two AHL names swirling the past couple years. Dinneen wound up in Florida, I think Morris was the better fit for us anyway though. I’d rather see us look to find a good, up and coming coach, then simply look to the pile of NHL re-treads and hope for the best. Check him out for yourself.
by BuckarooClub on Oct 28, 2011 3:42 PM EDT up reply actions
I'm interested
John Tortorella simply has not worked out. Since he’s joined our team, the Rangers have struggled offensively like no other team. I’d like him to be fired as soon as humanly possible and have Mark Morris named as his successor
by Guess Who's Back? on Oct 28, 2011 4:00 PM EDT up reply actions
i have a theory on the rangerdl
Flyers take it up the ass, doo dah, doo dah, Flyers take it up the ass, all lah doo lah day.
by FIRESATHER327 on Oct 28, 2011 7:27 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I hate smartphones…
Flyers take it up the ass, doo dah, doo dah, Flyers take it up the ass, all lah doo lah day.
by FIRESATHER327 on Oct 28, 2011 7:30 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
i have a theory on the rangers...
Someone in the organization reads this blog and told torts about “fail for nail”. In reality he has been doing everything he needs to to achieving that goal.
Flyers take it up the ass, doo dah, doo dah, Flyers take it up the ass, all lah doo lah day.
by FIRESATHER327 on Oct 28, 2011 7:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Okay I'm a little late but here's my two cents.
………….I am quite disgusted with the effort last night, and I will express my displeasure with scathing diatribes against the following individuals:
Wojtek Wolski -
is a bitch. He is afraid to get hit, and he throws the puck blindly away like the guys in my amateur league who lack the ability to skate with the puck and NOT look down at their feet. He’s afraid to carry the puck into any area of the ice where even the shadow of an opponent may lie. We need to get rid of this guy now. He’s terrible.
EC – see above paragraph. Enough already.
Avery – While he is far from a difference maker, I still think we could have used his spunk last night.
OFFICIATING: Holy dog shit. If the refs stood at center ice and, into John Amirante’s microphone, told the entire Garden they were rooting for the Leafs, their ‘job’ last night would not have been any more blatantly prejudiced. The call on Dubinsky was a f**king joke. A f**king joke.
Torts: Man I don’t know what to think. Has anyone ever asked WHY he juggles lines so much? I would love to know what he would say. Is it that he wants all his players to be able to play with one another; some type of team-first mentality? Because I can’t understand it. How does putting AA on the 4th line do anything for his game? And all his bullshit about earning your spot and playing with hunger…..until WW and EC are demoted or traded I cannot believe Mr. Tortorella is anything other than a windbag.
Del Zotto: Actually made some decent plays last night, on both sides of the puck. Keep playing the kid, I say. Let him fall and pick himself back up and keep going. I think he can handle the NHL, but I do not think he will be the offensive juggernaut everyone is hoping for. He’s not a good enough skater right now to be a Letang or a Doughty.
Gaborik: I have given him a lot of shit on here but I gotta say, there isn’t a forward on that roster that couldn’t take a page from his book right now. How many times has #10 driven to the net hard and sacrificed his body to make a play?
Overall, I’m a little worried. And I don’t have the answers.
Im not surprised
same NHL worst power play, no shots on goals, never testing goalies, awful passing, outside of Gaborik no scoring threat
same problems we have had for years
Bruce Carter+Sean Lee=BRUCE LEE!!!!
Follow me at my blog
http://chiacrackscowboysblog.wordpress.com/
by Archie Barberio on Oct 28, 2011 10:50 PM EDT reply actions
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