I think Smith and ADA have had a terrible start to the season. Buch is starting to pick it up a little but still looking lazy out there. In my honest opinion and I never thought I'd say this but the best defenseman has been Staal. He might even be the best Player on the ice right now.
- Nfabz8

Staal is still bad, the entire team is playing poorly masking the issue of Staal.

Staal is still bad, the entire team is playing poorly masking the issue of Staal.
- tomburton99

Regardless, if the whole team is playing so bad that it's making Staal look good, there's a serious problem.

http://www.sportsclubstats.com/NHL.html
- tomburton99

I know it's probably due to the Rangers being in the Metro, but I actually watched the Arizona/Dallas game last night after the Rangers (why, I do not know) and the Rangers, despite all their struggles right now, are exponentially better than the Coyotes. That team is an absolute train wreck. The Rangers may not be a playoff team as it stands now but they are also much better than their record shows. I agree AV needs to stop switching up lines and let the players get some familiarity but anyone that thinks the Rangers are the worst team in the league hasn't been paying enough attention IMO. A couple bounces go our way over the past 7 games and we are a .500 team...nothing to jump for joy over but the pitchforks wouldn't be out quite yet.

I know it's probably due to the Rangers being in the Metro, but I actually watched the Arizona/Dallas game last night after the Rangers (why, I do not know) and the Rangers, despite all their struggles right now, are exponentially better than the Coyotes. That team is an absolute train wreck. The Rangers may not be a playoff team as it stands now but they are also much better than their record shows. I agree AV needs to stop switching up lines and let the players get some familiarity but anyone that thinks the Rangers are the worst team in the league hasn't been paying enough attention IMO. A couple bounces go our way over the past 7 games and we are a .500 team...nothing to jump for joy over but the pitchforks wouldn't be out quite yet.
- SkjeiStadium

I viemetly disagree.

Edit: and .500 team still isn't a playoff team. So just embrace being bad. Because if the Rangers play themselves out of top 5 or 10 pick, which they probably will. That will just send them further into the hole of being not good enough to draft exceptional talent and also not being legitimately good team.

Yeah. I wouldn't care if AV was let go, I just don't know if that stops the players from making peewee level mistakes. Think the players have to look in the mirror. AV is a convenient excuse right now.

My biggest issue with AV is the constant line changes. No familiarity.
- mdw7413

I think AV is a very good to great coach. I also think the with very, very few exceptions, coaches come with an expiration date at any particular stop, and I think that AV may be reaching his expiration date here.

With that said, I think the team leadership kind of sucks. The Rangers had a lot of very good locker room guys in the past few years, and a lot of them are now gone. I am not sure anyone is capable of stepping up to that role, but I'll say one thing for having a guy like Girardi on the team, when a guy constantly puts himself in harm's way for the team, it's much harder for other guys not to the same. The players need to hold each other accountable, and who really is going to do that on this team?

I viemetly disagree.
- tomburton99

So you think the Rangers are going to end the season with 35 points (which they are on pace for)?

So you think the Rangers are going to end the season with 35 points (which they are on pace for)?
- SkjeiStadium

If they keep playing like this yes, is that likely to happen, probably not. But the Rangers will settle with 75-85 points, which is just shooting themselves in the foot.

I think AV is a very good to great coach. I also think the with very, very few exceptions, coaches come with an expiration date at any particular stop, and I think that AV may be reaching his expiration date here.

With that said, I think the team leadership kind of sucks. The Rangers had a lot of very good locker room guys in the past few years, and a lot of them are now gone. I am not sure anyone is capable of stepping up to that role, but I'll say one thing for having a guy like Girardi on the team, when a guy constantly puts himself in harm's way for the team, it's much harder for other guys not to the same. The players need to hold each other accountable, and who really is going to do that on this team?
- Pete V

Sadly, no one.

I think Nash tries to do it with his play, but he seems like a very quiet guy.

Sadly, no one.

I think Nash tries to do it with his play, but he seems like a very quiet guy.
- mdw7413

The entire roster doesn't need an overhaul, but most of it does. Sadly, Henrik Lundqvist makes that impossible. No bad mouthing Lundqvist, just stating a fact.

If they keep playing like this yes, is that likely to happen, probably not. But the Rangers will settle with 75-85 points, which is just shooting themselves in the foot.
- tomburton99

So then you don't vehemently disagree. You agree. All I said was the Rangers could very easily be .500 right now. 75-85 points is .500 on the season. And if we were 3-3-1 right now, there wouldn't be this level of panic. That's my only point.

The entire roster doesn't need an overhaul, but most of it does. Sadly, Henrik Lundqvist makes that impossible. No bad mouthing Lundqvist, just stating a fact.
- tomburton99

Disagree. Think its too early to say. I do agree they could use a sniper and a skilled rugged power forward.

If they keep playing like this yes, is that likely to happen, probably not. But the Rangers will settle with 75-85 points, which is just shooting themselves in the foot.
- tomburton99

I just saw your edit. I agree .500 isn't a playoff team and also agree that if we miss the playoffs I'd rather us be a bottom dweller and get a better pick, although on a game-by-game basis I certainly won't be rooting for them to lose. I just don't think it is at all likely, with the exception of some major injuries, that we end in the bottom 5 of the league.

@HockeyStatMiner 3h3 hours ago
More
so Lundqvist, Raanta & Talbot walk into a bar...

- tomburton99

was just gonna post this. Nice one!

I just saw your edit. I agree .500 isn't a playoff team and also agree that if we miss the playoffs I'd rather us be a bottom dweller and get a better pick, although on a game-by-game basis I certainly won't be rooting for them to lose. I just don't think it is at all likely, with the exception of some major injuries, that we end in the bottom 5 of the league.
- SkjeiStadium

Yup, it kind of sucks, because being mediocre would be the worst possible outcome.

Yup, it kind of sucks, because being mediocre would be the worst possible outcome.
- mdw7413

Well I think that if we are on the outside looking in by the trade deadline Gorton has to seriously consider making a move to get Taylor Hall so that we are guaranteed to win the lottery.

So then you don't vehemently disagree. You agree. All I said was the Rangers could very easily be .500 right now. 75-85 points is .500 on the season. And if we were 3-3-1 right now, there wouldn't be this level of panic. That's my only point.
- SkjeiStadium

All I know is that I continue to be optimistic and support my team. I continue to believe that Hank will regain his form and play like the HOF'er he is. I continue to believe in the level of talent we have on our roster.
And more and more, I am starting to hear how delusional I sound while I'm doing it.

Well I think that if we are on the outside looking in by the trade deadline Gorton has to seriously consider making a move to get Taylor Hall so that we are guaranteed to win the lottery.
- SkjeiStadium

I already asked our resident Devils fan Smelly if we could sign Hall for a one day contract on lottery day. He said no go.

I already asked our resident Devils fan Smelly if we could sign Hall for a one day contract on lottery day. He said no go.
- mdw7413

Then I guess we need to do it the old fashion way and have Dolan threaten to sell/relocate the franchise

All I know is that I continue to be optimistic and support my team. I continue to believe that Hank will regain his form and play like the HOF'er he is. I continue to believe in the level of talent we have on our roster.
And more and more, I am starting to hear how delusional I sound while I'm doing it.
- Tonybere

I don't know if I'm delusional but if they just get set lines and stop making the stupidest of mistakes, they will be fine.

Then I guess we need to do it the old fashion way and have Dolan threaten to sell/relocate the franchise
- SkjeiStadium

From Elliote Friedman’s 31 thoughts:
Watching the Rangers’ last two games, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Alain Vigneault look so stressed. Until their young prospects — Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil — are ready, they’ll be thin at centre. And in the Metropolitan division, it’s very hard to win like that as Pittsburgh proved on Tuesday night.

Rangers are first in the league with 105 giveaways.

Then I guess we need to do it the old fashion way and have Dolan threaten to sell/relocate the franchise
- SkjeiStadium

Rangers are first in the league with 105 giveaways.
- airjan23

Actually, I rescind my fire AV takes in the wake of this information. Keep him until the season is over. Him overseeing the poor defensive play ensure the Rangers a better draft pick, then fire the whole lot once the season ends.

All I know is that I continue to be optimistic and support my team. I continue to believe that Hank will regain his form and play like the HOF'er he is. I continue to believe in the level of talent we have on our roster.
And more and more, I am starting to hear how delusional I sound while I'm doing it.
- Tonybere

Before last night Lundqvist had a .959 save percentage in the 3 prior games. The Rangers lost two of them. This team stinks as whole. When the Rangers need a save, they don't get it, when they need a goal, shots right to the crest.