If this season is going to wind up being about Shesty and Zibanejad, Panarin, Kreider and Fox on the powerplay the Rangers are going to lose at some point before they get to the finals. 5 or 6 great players will not get you through the gauntlet without a lot of support from their teammates. The Rangers really need to unlock the young guys. That or we're headed into next season to see if they can unlock the young guys then.
Not sure how they do that to be honest. Lafrieniere has been developing a bit faster since he's been playing with Kreider and Zibanejad but not fast enough for a run this season. Kakko belongs on that 2nd line with Panarin and Strome but who knows when he'll come back.
Strome should be centering the 3rd line. The Rangers should either put Chytil between Panarin and Kakko or maybe use the off-season to move Kakko to center, where he has played in the past, and have Panarin play make for him and a RW to be determined. The reason I say Strome should be centering that 3rd line is that you can put just about anybody who grinds and will shoot the puck with him and you have a solid line. That's how the Rangers get to the depth they need to compete for a cup on a consistent basis.
Just wanted to add that I think Strome, Panarin and Kakko are a bad fit. They're all playmakers looking to make a pass and you need a hard scorer with any 2 of them if you're going to do that.
Only gave up 1 goal to those two teams on a back to back. Drury needs to not be a bitch and go for it.
Florida, Tampa and Carolina. Rangers are like 6-1 against those 3 teams so far and other than the Pens they are a who's-who of who the Rangers have to get through to get to the finals. Georgiev is a good backup. He's been shaky lately but he is probably the best #2 in the NHL right now. Certainly one of the best backup goalies.
that was my opinion as well before this year... but the save percentage thing... sheesh... he has turned it around recently... is this another Talbot situation?
I think the Rangers keep Georgiev as the backup. Shesty has been injured in the past and you want a guy you think might win a big game for you as the backup. The trick is getting Georgiev enough work while also getting the maximum possible out of Shesty. Georgiev has showed that he is prone to getting rusty when he spends long periods on the bench.
Rangers get a defenseman and a C/W for the 2nd or 3rd line... https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id...rs-get-d-man-justin-braun-philadelphia-flyers https://www.espn.com/nhl/insider/in...w-york-rangers-land-andrew-copp-winnipeg-jets
Kinda meh on these moves. Not the blockbuster acquisitions to get you over the hump. No real assets lost though. Just wonder if it’s worth shaking up the chemistry on this team.
Don't know enough about Copp to know if the Rangers made a decent deal. Is he going to score a bunch between Panarin and Kakko?
Big fan of the moves the Rangers made. They drastically improved their bottom 6 and didn't give away any real pieces besides a potential 1st rounder and Barron. The 1st rounder is worth it if they make the ECF. I suspect the Rangers move Nils + Kravtsov for a new 2C instead of paying Strome 6M AAV. Vatrano, Motte, Copp, and Braun push the likes of McKegg, Hajek, and Brodzinski out of the lineup, which is great. Kreider -- Mika -- Laf Panarin -- Strome -- Kakko Copp -- Chytil -- Hunt/Vatrano Motte -- Goodrow -- Reaves/Hunt/Vatrano Copp already making some really nice plays tonight. Guy can play the PP and the PK. He made some nice clears on the PK in the 1st period and won the faceoff to setup the Fox goal.
