Are you really going to try and sell me on Matt Moulson???
- Graves#9

I would take him on the rangers in heart beat. He is a natural goal scorer, right place right time a lot. 30 goals is 30 goals and he has had that every year he has played except last year. Gotta give credit where it is due.

I think we all can agree Moulson has been aided by playing with Tavares, but 30 goals is still 30 goals, regardless of who he skates with. I mean Moulson is clearly more talented than Rob Brown...
- airjan23

I'm honestly not a fan of moulson which any Isle fans will tell you from this site but it's hard to argue with his numbers.

Tavares' role model
- rangerdanger94

The more I think about it, the more I believe many people will be astonished at how much natural talent Tortorella's system was suppressing. The Rangers have had to overload on offense just to break the "bonds" they had in the Torts system. Just an example, a player of Hagelin's speed should be getting breakaways left and right like Grabovski. Instead, Hags was forced to play in a system that made him stay at his own hashmarks or even lower. We've seen Hags speed burst around Dmen before, or seen him chip the puck off the boards to himself to get a step. Now, in a system that promotes more Offense, he should be able to play 5-10 feet higher in his own end which will give him more breaks. Also, the wingers will check the pointmen tighter which could even cause more relief in their own end breaking cycles and reducing point shots. Its tough to transition to offense or even get any flow when your fowards are all picking themselves off the ice and out of position to break out.
- xcheckmajor

whoa, paragraphs would make that easier to read.

You should probably let the Canucks fans know, most of them seem to think Torts will somehow increase their offense while having the team play responsible defensively. They've been pointing to his cup with Tampa as an example of how he'll coach. Having watched enough Rangers games over the past several years, I /facepalm.

whoa, paragraphs would make that easier to read.

You should probably let the Canucks fans know, most of them seem to think Torts will somehow increase their offense while having the team play responsible defensively. They've been pointing to his cup with Tampa as an example of how he'll coach. Having watched enough Rangers games over the past several years, I /facepalm.
- Isles_since_6

Torts' whole hockey philosophy has changed since that cup. He's not the same coach he was then and never will be again.

It's funny how Isles fans are posting in here with a lot more regularity now & slim to none comments on Dee's thread, man she is that hated, hah?

Most of you guys are more than welcome here, I think as a whole, 90-95% of both Ranger & Isles fans on hockeybuzz are very knowedgable, good dudes. Wish we could all get along outside of this site....well, not on game days, of course.

Torts' whole hockey philosophy has changed since that cup. He's not the same coach he was then and never will be again.
- rangerdanger94

I agree with that. He has evolved in really believing in the style that he coaches now. He'll will always have very defensively responsible teams that are willing to lay their bodies on the line to win, but I don't think you can ever really expect him to open things up and play a more offensively risky style. Excellent coach, but I really believe he is the type of guy that comes with an expiration date, because the style just becomes to mentally and physically taxing to play. I think he'll be a great coach for the Canucks for three/four years.

It's funny how Isles fans are posting in here with a lot more regularity now & slim to none comments on Dee's thread, man she is that hated, hah?

Most of you guys are more than welcome here, I think as a whole, 90-95% of both Ranger & Isles fans on hockeybuzz are very knowedgable, good dudes. Wish we could all get along outside of this site....well, not on game days, of course.
- B2B76

we actually have been enjoying a forum poster's blogs and commenting in there for a while. I can't comment on the rest or I'll be banned...again.

It's funny how Isles fans are posting in here with a lot more regularity now & slim to none comments on Dee's thread, man she is that hated, hah?

Most of you guys are more than welcome here, I think as a whole, 90-95% of both Ranger & Isles fans on hockeybuzz are very knowedgable, good dudes. Wish we could all get along outside of this site....well, not on game days, of course.
- B2B76

It's actually quite impressive what they've done. They've boycotted the main Islanders blog, and went all grassroots in a forum section, where nobody can find them. That right there is activism at is best.

Torts' whole hockey philosophy has changed since that cup. He's not the same coach he was then and never will be again.
- rangerdanger94

fully agree. Torts is all defense all the time. Don't get creative offensively if it takes you out of position to backcheck and for the love of god, block every shot.

Boring as stink. I'm going to enjoy the ranger's isles games this year with AV's style, at least it's a little bit more freedom for their skill player. (lol, I had to.)

It's actually quite impressive what they've done. They've boycotted the main Islanders blog, and went all grassroots in a forum section, where nobody can find them. That right there is activism at is best.
- Pete V

if anyone knows how to cope with ridiculous bullpoop, it's Isles fans.

After all our crappy owners (including the two in jail) and Milbury, we've learned to adapt and survive.

Screw Kyle Wellwood on defense.

I agree with that. He has evolved in really believing in the style that he coaches now. He'll will always have very defensively responsible teams that are willing to lay their bodies on the line to win, but I don't think you can ever really expect him to open things up and play a more offensively risky style. Excellent coach, but I really believe he is the type of guy that comes with an expiration date, because the style just becomes to mentally and physically taxing to play. I think he'll be a great coach for the Canucks for three/four years.
- Pete V

I dont necessarily disagree with his philosophy of defense first and creating offense through tough defense, but his actual system needs perfecting. Blocking shots is an important part of the game. No team should believe they don't have to do it. If you are in a position to block it, you do it and don't shy away from it. But it becomes a problem when everyone on your team goes out of their way and out of position to intentionally block as many as possible. Thats when it begins to hurt the offense and transition game.

I dont necessarily disagree with his philosophy of defense first and creating offense through tough defense, but his actual system needs perfecting. Blocking shots is an important part of the game. No team should believe they don't have to do it. If you are in a position to block it, you do it and don't shy away from it. But it becomes a problem when everyone on your team goes out of their way and out of position to intentionally block as many as possible. Thats when it begins to hurt the offense and transition game.
- xcheckmajor

Torts transition game was having his forwards get up after blocking a shot

Torts transition game was having his forwards get up after blocking a shot
- Isles_since_6

- xcheckmajor

Somewhere, Rangersaver is reading this forum and smiling holding back his urge of saying "I told u so"

Predictions on anything sports related, from amateur or professional publications, are comedy of the highest order.

I have nothing to say on how the division, the conference and playoffs will look like. All I know is that I am excited for this season to start.

WHat happened to SLimtj?
- mighty13duck

I think he's been male stripping

I miss the Gallof brothers. Their Islander Ranger back and forths and their photo shops were hilarious. They are two funny bastards. That being said I don't think any of the other bloggers on this site have the hockey acumen that Jan has.
- tbreinold

I was actually referring to the great Scotty Hockey, who quite recently actually predicted Alain Vigneault will be fired this year and has proven to be an "unmitigated failure" as a head coach.

Predictions on anything sports related, from amateur or professional publications, are comedy of the highest order.

I have nothing to say on how the division, the conference and playoffs will look like. All I know is that I am excited for this season to start.
- MidnightMarauder

yeah I pretty much agree, I will say to my Islander fan friends, be wary of high expectations, sometimes they bite you in the ass

I was actually referring to the great Scotty Hockey, who quite recently actually predicted Alain Vigneault will be fired this year and has proven to be an "unmitigated failure" as a head coach.
- jimbro83

Ha that dude know less about hockey than Woo. Well I guess Woo does know how to put on goalie pads so that might give him the one up on Scotty.

I dont necessarily disagree with his philosophy of defense first and creating offense through tough defense, but his actual system needs perfecting. Blocking shots is an important part of the game. No team should believe they don't have to do it. If you are in a position to block it, you do it and don't shy away from it. But it becomes a problem when everyone on your team goes out of their way and out of position to intentionally block as many as possible. Thats when it begins to hurt the offense and transition game.
- xcheckmajor

Yeah, it's fairly difficuly to get an odd-man rush when half your team is sliding across the ice to block a shot from below their d-zone hashmarks.

I look forward to a more offensive system with the players we have. Rangers have a real solid D and the best goalie in the league. I think the team can open it up some on O.

Take a look at a few knuckehead's predictions for the upcoming season. Some people can Tweet all they want and their team will still suck:

http://espn.go.com/blog/n...e-call-stanley-cup-winner

Flyers

Habs

Leafs

Nucks cause they have Torts

It's funny how Isles fans are posting in here with a lot more regularity now & slim to none comments on Dee's thread, man she is that hated, hah?

Most of you guys are more than welcome here, I think as a whole, 90-95% of both Ranger & Isles fans on hockeybuzz are very knowedgable, good dudes. Wish we could all get along outside of this site....well, not on game days, of course.
- B2B76

Most of my friends are Ranger fans but I think they're all d!cks

fully agree. Torts is all defense all the time. Don't get creative offensively if it takes you out of position to backcheck and for the love of god, block every shot.

Boring as stink. I'm going to enjoy the ranger's isles games this year with AV's style, at least it's a little bit more freedom for their skill player. (lol, I had to.)
- Isles_since_6

Ratner wins the proposal