1 Volvo, 1 Saab, 1 Peugeot, 1 VW, 2 Ford's, 10 Mercedes' and 3 Audi's.

I guess I love cars
- 21peter

...or really hate them, unless you are 80 to 100 years of age, or are just a bad driver if much younger.

While I think we can still contend, I don't think we're in the absolute peak of our window right now. But the window isn't closing anymore, it's about to start opening again.
- rangerdanger94

The window everyone speaks of is based, solely it seems, on Hank. Right now currently, the offense took a huge step forward last year. The previous couple seasons it was like pulling teeth to get a goal. This year they scored at will sometimes. Stepan or not, I don't see it taking to much of a hit. The defense is where they really struggled more often then not, and on paper that's improved mightily since the Ottawa ouster. I still say this group lacks leadership and a sort of killer instinct teams need to win, but I think it being addressed now. Stepan and Girardi, with all due respect, aren't great leaders per se. Nor is Mac either really. But it's time these young guys like Kreider, Miller, Hayes, Skjei, etc take on the leadership roles imo. Make it their team. Smith is a leader type and why it was so important they kept him.

All in all, Gortan seems to have a pulse on what the rangers need to do and he's done a great job this off season imo

How Vesey and Buchnevich play, is going to determine a lot about how the team does in 17-18. I'm betting they expect 20-30 goals from each of them. You've been hearing how they want the young guys to be more involved game to game, and those two got the shaft when the bench shrunk in games. Which is way I don't get why people want to add wingers, unless Miller moves to center it just means Buch is left out again

This makes a lot of sense to me, Saver. You was a goalie
All skaters knows for a fact that 90%+ of all goalies are nut cases...
- 21peter

You are correct in that "90% of all goalies are nut cases". However, that's only as far as playing on a recreational level only like I still do, since 95% of others either feared to, &/or did not have the money to do so. But, 40+ years worth & still playing at a high competitive level, along with my instructional coaching, has kept myself in good shape. Many of those being instructed by anyone, at least have a goal in mind to reach the NHL level someday. So at least that 10% of them are not nut cases (possibly).

How Vesey and Buchnevich play, is going to determine a lot about how the team does in 17-18. I'm betting they expect 20-30 goals from each of them. You've been hearing how they want the young guys to be more involved game to game, and those two got the shaft when the bench shrunk in games. Which is way I don't get why people want to add wingers, unless Miller moves to center it just means Buch is left out again
- Slimtj100

But they can use a gritty type winger in this East Conference, like it seemed you had always wished for here, TJ. As for your prior post, I totally agree that unless the boys of the past in Kreider, Hayes, etc. become leaders, they need to address that prior to the start of next season, despite Girardi & Stepan not being the best at that while here, except for their play on the ice in their best seasons. Maybe Gorton has some surprise move or two in mind that can land them that gritty winger, and a team leader at center.

But they can use a gritty type winger in this East Conference, like it seemed you had always wished for here. As for your prior post, I totally agree that unless the boys of the past in Kreider, Hayes, etc. become leaders, they need to address that prior to the start of next season, despite Girardi & Stepan not being the best at that while here, except for their play on the ice in their best seasons. Maybe Gorton has some surprise move or two in mind that can land them that gritty winger, and a team leader at center.
- RangerSaver

Gritty is fine. My point is they cannot let Buch sit games, assuming he's healthy. They may as well trade him if they'd do that. Just saying, adding a winger to stunt or block him is asinine. He cannot be a 4th line player because your wasting him there. You have to play him 82 games in a top 9 role and live with whatever mistakes he may make. Same with Vesey to a lesser degree.

Gritty is fine. My point is they cannot let Buch sit games, assuming he's healthy. They may as well trade him if they'd do that. Just saying, adding a winger to stunt or block him is asinine. He cannot be a 4th line player because your wasting him there. You have to play him 82 games in a top 9 role and live with whatever mistakes he may make. Same with Vesey to a lesser degree.
- Slimtj100

I agree with you TJ 100% on Buch and Vesey. Both will not be happy with only 4th line duty at best, and not sit out any games unless necessary injury wise. That's why I feel another trade or two will be upcoming prior to next season. They are in a "win now" mode under Hank, as proven by their signing of Shatty. There is depth in trade bait, due to some top prospects that will also be battling for roster spots during training camp & the preseason games, if a move or two has not been made by then.
I still also feel that they may be trying to upgrade the backup goalie position, due to Pavlec's recent game troubles after battling leg injuries, which left him third in ranking status with the Jets last season. His game may improve with us under Allaire, but how much so, including if he remains injury free? Their regular season ending result could very well be determined by how well or not that Pavelec plays here in his needed 20 games minimum to aid Hank, if he is still the best they can fit in cap wise to replace Raanta.

...or really hate them, unless you are 80 to 100 years of age, or are just a bad driver if much younger.
- RangerSaver

I agree with you TJ 100% on Buch and Vesey. Both will not be happy with only 4th line duty at best, and not sit out any games unless necessary injury wise. That's why I feel another trade or two will be upcoming prior to next season. They are in a "win now" mode under Hank, as proven by their signing of Shatty. There is depth in trade bait, due to some top prospects that will also be battling for roster spots during training camp & the preseason games, if a move or two has not been made by then.
I still also feel that they may be trying to upgrade the backup goalie position, due to Pavlec's recent game troubles after battling leg injuries, which left him third in ranking status with the Jets last season. His game may improve with us under Allaire, but how much so, including if he remains injury free? Their regular season ending result could very well be determined by how well or not that Pavelec plays here in his needed 20 games minimum to aid Hank, if he is still the best they can fit in cap wise to replace Raanta.
- RangerSaver

Hartford will have Brandon Halverson and Chris Nell this year, it's gonna be interesting to see which of the two them grabs the #1 spot or if they'll split it down the middle.

This coming season for Hartford is going to be one of most interesting in awhile, going to be a lot of guys we are keeping an eye on

While I think we can still contend, I don't think we're in the absolute peak of our window right now. But the window isn't closing anymore, it's about to start opening again.
- rangerdanger94

Until Andersson turns into a bust...

Until Andersson turns into a bust...













- tomburton99

Die

Hartford will have Brandon Halverson and Chris Nell this year, it's gonna be interesting to see which of the two them grabs the #1 spot or if they'll split it down the middle.

This coming season for Hartford is going to be one of most interesting in awhile, going to be a lot of guys we are keeping an eye on
- jimbro83

I think Day is going to be a beast.

I think Day is going to be a beast.
- nyrangers9479

Big year for him. Also interesting blurb from recent Day article:
Day is a 6-foot-2, 231-pound lefty who played the right side last season. He said that’s become his preferred position.

Big year for him. Also interesting blurb from recent Day article:
Day is a 6-foot-2, 231-pound lefty who played the right side last season. He said that’s become his preferred position.
- rangerdanger94

He just wants to fit into the Rangers future plans. I can't help but think he would be an upgrade over Staal in his current state in most ways.

At this point I would not mind losing a high pick or picks to rid this team of Staal. Just get him out of here. My tune on that will change if for some reason he has a renaissance and returns to his two eye form during this season. I respect Staal and hate that the salary cap era does not allow us to appreciate aging veterans. That being said he is still a little too young to be in the form he is in.

He just wants to fit into the Rangers future plans. I can't help but think he would be an upgrade over Staal in his current state in most ways.

At this point I would not mind losing a high pick or picks to rid this team of Staal. Just get him out of here. My tune on that will change if for some reason he has a renaissance and returns to his two eye form during this season. I respect Staal and hate that the salary cap era does not allow us to appreciate aging veterans. That being said he is still a little too young to be in the form he is in.
- JRR1285

Camp is going to be interesting for that right side. You have Holden, DeAngelo, Pionk, Day all fighting for that last spot.

Think the left side is set with McDonagh, Skjei and Staal. As much as Staal's play has fallen off, I don't see AV scratching him.

Camp is going to be interesting for that right side. You have Holden, DeAngelo, Pionk, Day all fighting for that last spot.

Think the left side is set with McDonagh, Skjei and Staal. As much as Staal's play has fallen off, I don't see AV scratching him.
- mdw7413

For sure. All we can hope for is the Staal of old.

For sure. All we can hope for is the Staal of old.
- JRR1285

Some reason I don't think its going to happen. Staal's issues aren't injury related.

I think Day is going to be a beast.
- nyrangers9479

When he started to slip last year, I wanted him with that third round pick. I think he is going to be a stud. He's an elite skater. Elite shot. He has Top 10 pick type talent. I've heard from a couple of people that know him, being that he's a local kid, that he is dumb as a box of rocks, which IMO, is the only thing that has the potential of holding him back.

Funny that he was granted OHL exception status to play at a younger age. The other three that were granted that status at the time he was drafted were Crosby, McDavid and Ekblad -- all number 1 picks.

Some reason I don't think its going to happen. Staal's issues aren't injury related.
- mdw7413

Maybe Ruff can identify something in his game that the other idiots didn't notice and help him reinvent himself.

Maybe Ruff can identify something in his game that the other idiots didn't notice and help him reinvent himself.
- JRR1285

Some reason I don't think its going to happen. Staal's issues aren't injury related.
- mdw7413

Can't say as I agree with that statement, but I think I know what you mean. His issues are totally injury related, but not in a way that we can expect him to rebound.
As was said, hopefully Ruff can pick up on an approach that the others before him missed.

Can't say as I agree with that statement, but I think I know what you mean. His issues are totally injury related, but not in a way that we can expect him to rebound.
As was said, hopefully Ruff can pick up on an approach that the others before him missed.
- Tonybere

The slow foot speed which has been getting progressively worse, and having the strength of wet toilet paper aren't injury related.

Maybe Ruff can identify something in his game that the other idiots didn't notice and help him reinvent himself.
- JRR1285

An old story that always stuck with me -

I grew up with some guys whose father was a trainer for the Blackhawks farm team in St. Catharines way back when. He was told by someone that what they used to say about Ruff was that he played Ruff at home and Lindy on the road!

Here's to hoping we see the sandpaper more often than not.

I agree that after taking some time to get back into shape, Zib appeared to have fully recovered from his serious leg injury. But, my point was that due to his type of injury, (or be it any severe ligament, tendon, muscle, etc. internal type one), a player having suffered one becomes more easily prone for another exact re-occurrence or related to type one, in the world's fastest speed contact team sport.
As an example, even a mild foot strain injury, (& not even a sprain), if despite thinking so, is not healed properly, can more easily cause any human being upon a sudden wrong movement, to even tear a calf muscle, since there are nerves in the foot that connect to the lower leg. Imagine what the same would be like for one at an NHL speed and contact force.
In addition, as Jan wrote in his blog, NHL arbitration cases are allowed to take into account "injuries & illnesses" as one deciding factor. That's why I feel the two parties are at odds. I do not think the Rangers have a problem with the $4.5M to $5.5M likely salary range to make a deal prior to Zib's hearing date. It is the number of years' term that's the issue, due to his 2016 severe leg injury.
- RangerSaver

Are you a PT? Don't remember if you mentioned that in the past.

An old story that always stuck with me -

I grew up with some guys whose father was a trainer for the Blackhawks farm team in St. Catharines way back when. He was told by someone that what they used to say about Ruff was that he played Ruff at home and Lindy on the road!

Here's to hoping we see the sandpaper more often than not.
- Tonybere

Great