In regards to last nights game, I think we actually came out really strong for 10 min. Our D took away all of their offense with quick plays, Brass line was great. Then the next 50 min was a disaster. Lundqvist looked completely out of sorts. I hope he pulls it together by next week. The first goal was BS because of the interference, but by then, the Nucks already established their forecheck and cycling game. Mike Babcock said the difference between the East and West is, Western teams were all about systems. Every team plays their system to a tee. The East is more free flowing, open, grinding, reactionary hockey. That seemed to make sense watching last nights game. You can see the Nucks players always positioned properly in the Ozone to pass to each other, sometimes without even looking. Quick decisions, etc... The Rangers still resembled last year's headless chicken approach. You get the puck first, then you look around and assess your options and figure out what to do. Thats too slow. When you get the puck, you need to know where all 4 players in the system is suppose to be already. I'm sure it will all take time, and of course missing 3 of your top 6 doesn't help. I will give it until November.

All good Murder. Did u & Erwin scream at the screen when they showed Torts last night?
- B2B76

I don't even know who this "Torts" guy is that you are referring to.

Rick Nash is an elite power forward, nothing more nothing less. He is one of the best power forwards in the league, but he's not an elite overall player. I mean, no one in the league has more goals that Rick Nash over the past 7 years. Tavares still has a little more to add to his resume before grouping him with players that already have proven themselves. TB isn't exactly the greatest team out there but Stamkos puts up 50+ goals consistently every year. That makes him probably the Most Elite Sniper in the league. Tavares is a world class talent, but has yet to really do anything that puts him in the top of ANY category. Crosby scored 100pts. as a rookie. Crosby comes back to the team after his long injury and scores at over 2ppg pace! Ovechkin has fallen a little from the limelight, I admit. Anyway, I have watched Tavares and I think he's amazing. But again, until that translates into consistent ELITE performances, again, he's just not there. Logan Couture is amazing. Ever consistently watch him play? Same goes for Evander Kane, Patrick Kane, but again, I wouldn't use any of their names in the same conversation as Sidney Crosby or Stamkos. If Crosby doesn't miss more significant time, he will go down in History as one of the top 5 point producers in the NHL. Stamkos at this pace could be in the top 5 goal scorers of all time. You absolutely CANNOT say the same about Tavares at all. Thats all I'm saying.
- xcheckmajor

Wait... i thought this was over like 100 some comments ago. You can't compare JT with RN.....

For what is worth everyone knows that John Tavares is better than Nash, also given that he plays center, which is a role much harder to play than wing.

Wait... i thought this was over like 100 some comments ago. You can't compare JT with RN.....

For what is worth everyone knows that John Tavares is better than Nash, also given that he plays center, which is a role much harder to play than wing.
- PtotheY

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Wait... i thought this was over like 100 some comments ago. You can't compare JT with RN.....

For what is worth everyone knows that John Tavares is better than Nash, also given that he plays center, which is a role much harder to play than wing.
- PtotheY

I wasn't comparing the 2. The last poster I responded to was saying we use the excuse that Nash was playing on a bad team so we call him Elite, why not use the same excuse for Tavares. I was simply responding to that. Yes, both players can easily say that they would have more points if they were on better team, but the difference I was pointing out was, that Nash STILL has proven he is an Elite power forward. Tavares has the same excuse, sure he's on a sub par team, but he still hasn't done anything spectacular. He's had 2 good seasons. My gripe is more with JT's youth and lack of resume than his actual ability. Nash is the leading goal scorer in the NHL for the past 7 years combined. He is consistent and will finish his career with over 500 goals. That makes him Elite, and also I like to call it right, he's an Elite Power Forward, nothing else. He is not elite in other areas of the game except what a Power Forward is suppose to be.

I don't even know who this "Torts" guy is that you are referring to.
- DONMURDOCH14

Some guy, Idk. Loves dogs I heard.

No one said your golden boy isn't one of the best in the game. Relax. Its only when certain fans come on here and post that Tavares is in the same category as Crosby, Ovechkin, Stamkos, thats when I say, hold it there. He may get there one day, but he certainly is not there yet.
- xcheckmajor

Nobody is in Crosby's class...not a single player in the league today.

Tavares is definitely in that next wave though. Center-wise--since it is foolish to compare centers to wingers--Only Crosby, Malkin, Stamkos(is he a center or wing...think he is classifed under center) and Toews can all say they are better than Tavares. That is really it though, in my opinion.

I wasn't comparing the 2. The last poster I responded to was saying we use the excuse that Nash was playing on a bad team so we call him Elite, why not use the same excuse for Tavares. I was simply responding to that. Yes, both players can easily say that they would have more points if they were on better team, but the difference I was pointing out was, that Nash STILL has proven he is an Elite power forward. Tavares has the same excuse, sure he's on a sub par team, but he still hasn't done anything spectacular. He's had 2 good seasons. My gripe is more with JT's youth and lack of resume than his actual ability. Nash is the leading goal scorer in the NHL for the past 7 years combined. He is consistent and will finish his career with over 500 goals. That makes him Elite, and also I like to call it right, he's an Elite Power Forward, nothing else. He is not elite in other areas of the game except what a Power Forward is suppose to be.
- xcheckmajor

I agree with the start of your comment....but then you say:"
Nothing spectacular"... look at his age, look at him lead the team as a young captain...something Nash does not have to worry about, look at him own the center of the ice, which is much harder to own than a wing. Look at him win his latest trophies. If you look at track record... look at his team Canada juniors performance. You are heads over heals lying when you say he hasn't proven himself.

Jesus Christ im so sick of the nash/tavares argument.

Theyre both great players, leave it alone.

Jesus Christ im so sick of the nash/tavares argument.

Theyre both great players, leave it alone.
- TrueBlue9182

So how about that Stepan kid? Good to have him back.

I wasn't comparing the 2. The last poster I responded to was saying we use the excuse that Nash was playing on a bad team so we call him Elite, why not use the same excuse for Tavares. I was simply responding to that. Yes, both players can easily say that they would have more points if they were on better team, but the difference I was pointing out was, that Nash STILL has proven he is an Elite power forward. Tavares has the same excuse, sure he's on a sub par team, but he still hasn't done anything spectacular. He's had 2 good seasons. My gripe is more with JT's youth and lack of resume than his actual ability. Nash is the leading goal scorer in the NHL for the past 7 years combined. He is consistent and will finish his career with over 500 goals. That makes him Elite, and also I like to call it right, he's an Elite Power Forward, nothing else. He is not elite in other areas of the game except what a Power Forward is suppose to be.
- xcheckmajor

he's had 2 good seasons? your acting like he's been in the league for 10 years and only had 2 good seasons.

he put up 54 points in 82 games as a rookie. respectable.

then he put up 67 points in 79 games as a sophmore. very, very good.

then he put up 81 points in 82 games, and 47 points in 48 games. great numbers.

there's a constant trend and upswing here. all you have to do is LOOK at the kid play and see he's the real deal. seriously man, i know your a rangers fan, but to say JT isn't elite is just ridiculous. i say nash > JT and whatnot but i'm only kidding when i say that. you're making the rest of us ranger fans look bad

So how about that Stepan kid? Good to have him back.
- B2B76

sucks that we won't see him in any preseason games

he's had 2 good seasons? your acting like he's been in the league for 10 years and only had 2 good seasons.

he put up 54 points in 82 games as a rookie. respectable.

then he put up 67 points in 79 games as a sophmore. very, very good.

then he put up 81 points in 82 games, and 47 points in 48 games. great numbers.

there's a constant trend and upswing here. all you have to do is LOOK at the kid play and see he's the real deal. seriously man, i know your a rangers fan, but to say JT isn't elite is just ridiculous. i say nash > JT and whatnot but i'm only kidding when i say that. you're making the rest of us ranger fans look bad
- rangerdanger94

I completely agree. Best post of this whole argument

he's had 2 good seasons? your acting like he's been in the league for 10 years and only had 2 good seasons.

he put up 54 points in 82 games as a rookie. respectable.

then he put up 67 points in 79 games as a sophmore. very, very good.

then he put up 81 points in 82 games, and 47 points in 48 games. great numbers.

there's a constant trend and upswing here. all you have to do is LOOK at the kid play and see he's the real deal. seriously man, i know your a rangers fan, but to say JT isn't elite is just ridiculous. i say nash > JT and whatnot but i'm only kidding when i say that. you're making the rest of us ranger fans look bad
- rangerdanger94

Wow, the only thing I've been saying over and over is, Tavares is NOT in the same class as Crosby, Stammer, Ovie. He hasn't done what they've done, nor what they continue to do. He has done wonderful things for the Isles, but people are way too quick to put him into a category he has not yet earned. Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Taylor Hall, would you call anyone one of them Elite top tier players in the game? I wouldn't. They certainly have the goods, but just not the resume yet. Again, I consider Tavares one of the top 10 Centers in the league. Not one of the top 5 Overall Elite players in the game.

Do you consider Claude Giroux in the top tier NHL Elite? I don't yet. I hold Giroux and Tavares on the same level almost exactly. Both players have done pretty much the same in the league so far in their early careers. Giroux has done even a little more. Both still have to prove that they can do what they've done over 4-5 seasons. I think thats a fair judgement sample size. Come to think of it, I will say that IMO, an NHL player shouldn't be considered among the top Elite until they have produced in the Elite category for at least 5 years. I think Consistency is a very difficult thing to master at the NHL level and until a player shows that, I don't consider them Elite. You guys can all disagree with me, but it falls into the same thinking pattern as not giving out huge contracts to kids coming of ELCs. We complain all the time that GMs are giving too much out to young 22-23 year old players that have had 1 or 2 good seasons. Then with the same breath we say a young player like Tavares who has had 2 good seasons is one of the best players in the world. Tavares is in that "bridge" status where all eyes are on him. If he can do what he has done for 1-2 more years, then thats when I label him as one of the top players in the world.

So how about that Stepan kid? Good to have him back.
- B2B76

Cant wait to see him back with nash.

(frank)ing richards

I realize we're beating a dead horse, but its still preseason lol. Nothing else to debate over yet.

Wow, the only thing I've been saying over and over is, Tavares is NOT in the same class as Crosby, Stammer, Ovie. He hasn't done what they've done, nor what they continue to do. He has done wonderful things for the Isles, but people are way too quick to put him into a category he has not yet earned. Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Taylor Hall, would you call anyone one of them Elite top tier players in the game? I wouldn't. They certainly have the goods, but just not the resume yet. Again, I consider Tavares one of the top 10 Centers in the league. Not one of the top 5 Overall Elite players in the game.

Do you consider Claude Giroux in the top tier NHL Elite? I don't yet. I hold Giroux and Tavares on the same level almost exactly. Both players have done pretty much the same in the league so far in their early careers. Giroux has done even a little more. Both still have to prove that they can do what they've done over 4-5 seasons. I think thats a fair judgement sample size. Come to think of it, I will say that IMO, an NHL player shouldn't be considered among the top Elite until they have produced in the Elite category for at least 5 years. I think Consistency is a very difficult thing to master at the NHL level and until a player shows that, I don't consider them Elite. You guys can all disagree with me, but it falls into the same thinking pattern as not giving out huge contracts to kids coming of ELCs. We complain all the time that GMs are giving too much out to young 22-23 year old players that have had 1 or 2 good seasons. Then with the same breath we say a young player like Tavares who has had 2 good seasons is one of the best players in the world. Tavares is in that "bridge" status where all eyes are on him. If he can do what he has done for 1-2 more years, then thats when I label him as one of the top players in the world.
- xcheckmajor

So, you didn't think Stamkos was elite when he scored 60 in his FOURTH year? That also means that Stepan has at least 3 more years to become elite even if he scores 50 this year.

Cant wait to see him back with nash.

(frank)ing richards
- TrueBlue9182

Hell soon be centering the 3rd line again again with Pyatt and Boyle. 2/3's of that line will be almost 8 million of wasted cap space.

Wow, the only thing I've been saying over and over is, Tavares is NOT in the same class as Crosby, Stammer, Ovie. He hasn't done what they've done, nor what they continue to do. He has done wonderful things for the Isles, but people are way too quick to put him into a category he has not yet earned. Ryan Nugent Hopkins, Taylor Hall, would you call anyone one of them Elite top tier players in the game? I wouldn't. They certainly have the goods, but just not the resume yet. Again, I consider Tavares one of the top 10 Centers in the league. Not one of the top 5 Overall Elite players in the game.

Do you consider Claude Giroux in the top tier NHL Elite? I don't yet. I hold Giroux and Tavares on the same level almost exactly. Both players have done pretty much the same in the league so far in their early careers. Giroux has done even a little more. Both still have to prove that they can do what they've done over 4-5 seasons. I think thats a fair judgement sample size. Come to think of it, I will say that IMO, an NHL player shouldn't be considered among the top Elite until they have produced in the Elite category for at least 5 years. I think Consistency is a very difficult thing to master at the NHL level and until a player shows that, I don't consider them Elite. You guys can all disagree with me, but it falls into the same thinking pattern as not giving out huge contracts to kids coming of ELCs. We complain all the time that GMs are giving too much out to young 22-23 year old players that have had 1 or 2 good seasons. Then with the same breath we say a young player like Tavares who has had 2 good seasons is one of the best players in the world. Tavares is in that "bridge" status where all eyes are on him. If he can do what he has done for 1-2 more years, then thats when I label him as one of the top players in the world.
- xcheckmajor

Tavares has 249 points in 291 games since he was drafted. That's .85 ppg and I rounded down. He makes less than guys like Jeff Skinner, Blake Wheeler, Travis Zajac, Tyler Seguin, Tylers Myers etc. Tavares contract has great value.

What an absolutely idiotic blog...Oldest team, no youth, no leadership ? Henrik's gga will fall to 885% Sounds like your typical Ranger hater b.s Please the next time you blog ask someone with an I.Q to help you...

So, you didn't think Stamkos was elite when he scored 60 in his FOURTH year? That also means that Stepan has at least 3 more years to become elite even if he scores 50 this year.
- NYI44

In Steps case, yes I never once said he was an Elite player. He has the best potential on the Rangers to become Elite, but yes I think he has a few more years to prove he can produce at 1ppg level. Stamkos is a little different. When I look at Giroux, Tavares, Stepan, players like them have achieved what they have through a growing process. All of these guys came into the league playing well, with respectable 1st year numbers. Tavares definitely had good 1st and 2nd year numbers. Stamkos came into the league at DESTROYED IT. He LED the league in goal scoring. He has LED the league in overall goals the past 3 years. Thats a different story. Stamkos didn't start scoring 20, then 30, then 50. With Stammer, there is no room for guessing his goal scoring ability, he's done it every single year he's played. With Stepan, and Tavares (and I admit, Tavares is 1 year closer but he's also had 1 more year to play) they been on the rise every year and only hit this level (1ppg) in their recent seasons. I have every belief that JT is on the right path and will be considered one of the top 5 players in the league. I just reserve pinning the award on him, until he gives us absolutely no reason to doubt. Based on his past numbers, I still think it is very possible that JT only scores 75pts. this next year. Its not something thats out of the question. But again to address Stammer, there is 0 doubt that he will continue to score goals in the top 5 players of the league 45+ every year. If he doesn't, it will be the anomally in his statbook. If JT scores only 75pt. this next year, it wouldn't be as much as a shock. A little disappointing, but not outrageous.

What an absolutely idiotic blog...Oldest team, no youth, no leadership ? Henrik's gga will fall to 885% Sounds like your typical Ranger hater b.s Please the next time you blog ask someone with an I.Q to help you...
- tvalt

What an absolutely idiotic blog...Oldest team, no youth, no leadership ? Henrik's gga will fall to 885% Sounds like your typical Ranger hater b.s Please the next time you blog ask someone with an I.Q to help you...
- tvalt

Are you that dense?

It was a joke... My god, if you really couldn't figure it out, go back and read some of the comments.

Are you that dense?

It was a joke... My god, if you really couldn't figure it out, go back and read some of the comments.
- TrueBlue9182

Some people truly are special...

In Steps case, yes I never once said he was an Elite player. He has the best potential on the Rangers to become Elite, but yes I think he has a few more years to prove he can produce at 1ppg level. Stamkos is a little different. When I look at Giroux, Tavares, Stepan, players like them have achieved what they have through a growing process. All of these guys came into the league playing well, with respectable 1st year numbers. Tavares definitely had good 1st and 2nd year numbers. Stamkos came into the league at DESTROYED IT. He LED the league in goal scoring. He has LED the league in overall goals the past 3 years. Thats a different story. Stamkos didn't start scoring 20, then 30, then 50. With Stammer, there is no room for guessing his goal scoring ability, he's done it every single year he's played. With Stepan, and Tavares (and I admit, Tavares is 1 year closer but he's also had 1 more year to play) they been on the rise every year and only hit this level (1ppg) in their recent seasons. I have every belief that JT is on the right path and will be considered one of the top 5 players in the league. I just reserve pinning the award on him, until he gives us absolutely no reason to doubt. Based on his past numbers, I still think it is very possible that JT only scores 75pts. this next year. Its not something thats out of the question. But again to address Stammer, there is 0 doubt that he will continue to score goals in the top 5 players of the league 45+ every year. If he doesn't, it will be the anomally in his statbook. If JT scores only 75pt. this next year, it wouldn't be as much as a shock. A little disappointing, but not outrageous.
- xcheckmajor

STamkos had 46 points his rookie season and was a -13. How did he destroy the league? He also potted 23 goals (less than Tavares)