The Rangers returned to practice today following their choke against the Oilers on Saturday. Coach Gerard Gallant shifted the lines, but his post-practice comments reveal that the third and fourth lines will leave a lot to be desired. With New York clearly hitting on all cylinders - sarcasm dripping - having to face New Jersey on Monday is clearly an optimal match up.
#NYR practice lines:
Kreider - Zib - Vesey Panarin - Chytil - Kakko Laf - Goodrow - Kravtsov Blais - Carpenter - Gauthier
Vincent Trocheck was out for a maintenance day. Artemi Panarin skated with Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko with Barclay Goodrow just a placeholder for Trocheck on the third line. Alexis Lafreniere is getting the short end of the stick when factoring in Gallant's comments.
Also not practicing were Adam Fox, under the weather, and Ryan Lindgren, upper body, day to day. If Lindgren doesn't play tomorrow, Libor Hajek would dress, which would be a massive downgrade given the importance of Lindgren to the lineup as we saw Saturday after he left the game. I would expect Jacob Trouba and K'Andre Miller to remain a pair while either Zac Jones will moves up a pairing or Hajek next to Fox
Gallant's comment on Kravtsov are just headshaking. Clearly the team and/or Gallant does not trust Kravtsov. Gallant has a preference for veterans, as seen by the lineup configuration and who is in the press box. I appreciate him finally moving Chytil and Kakko up, but why don't you play Laf and Kravtsov as flanks for Trocheck on what might be a solid third line or one that at least could be a viable option. Instead, Ryan Carpenter or Sammy Blais remains in the lineup, Goodrow is on the third line and Kravtsov stays in the press box.
It's very possible Kravtsov will never pan out. But how the hell will you know if he never plays. Kravtsov has not been impressive when in the lineup, though neither has others at times. Why not give him a chance to see if he can become the scoring winger you hoped you selected when he was taken in the draft? Instead, stubbornness, which was a buzz word after Saturday's game due to the style of play New York displayed, remains in effect. It's great to have courage in your convictions, but repeating a similar action and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. Trade Kravtsov if you won't use him and try and recoup something.
Kravtsov seems destined for 6th straight healthy scratch. Gallant: "I like my lineup right now. I like the kid. Right now he's our extra forward."
— Larry Brooks (@NYP_Brooksie) November 27, 2022
Why no Kravtsov?
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) November 27, 2022
GG: "I like the kid, (but) right now, he’s our extra forward... I'm happy w/ the lineup. The 4th line has been playing really well for us. So, who am I going to take out to put him in when he's played 6 games this year & he's been hurt & he's had surgery?"#NYR
"He's trying to be a pro and he's still a young player," he added. "He's a completely different kid than he was last year earlier in the year. So, he's growing. ... He’s done nothing wrong. It’s just in the chances he’s had, he seemed to get hurt every time he had an opportunity – and that's too bad. It’s not that I don't like kid and I'm sitting him out because of that. I like other players."
I know you all don't love advanced metrics, but this shows rather clearly how the play has fallen off the last 11 games. But, hey, let's stick with the same lineup. I agree 100% you have to earn your spot, but passengers exist right now and not everyone warrants staying in the lineup each game.
Remember when the analytics mostly pointed to the #NYR playing well without always getting the results? That hasn't exactly been the case lately.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) November 27, 2022
First 11 games (prior to 11/3) - 56.63% xGF; 54.82% shot share; 6-3-2 record
Next 11 (since 11/3) – 49.72% xGF; 51.88% SF; 4-5-2
Gallant and captain Jacob Trouba held meetings Sunday. Trouba's main focus was on the team needing to cut down the turnovers, which has been evident for several games and much of the season. In addition, he didn't shy away from putting the mirror on himself, noting he has to be better, limiting the defensive breakdowns and costly giveaways. The Miller- Trouba pairing, as noted by Vince Mercogliano, are still tied for worst among all NHL D pairs with 19 goals against . I will let you read the Gallant quotes in the Mercogliano column. Personally, I don't love the comments and lack of ownership taken by Gallant. He did somewhat but not enough in my opinion as the coach of the team. This team is at a crossroads and needs to find their game soon before it really starts to spiral downward.
Fair or not, accountability for any team in any sport starts at the top. For the slumping #NYR, that's the message that should be coming from HC Gerard Gallant.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) November 27, 2022
More on that + Jacob Trouba leading a players-only meeting & the ongoing Vitali Kravtsov saga https://t.co/tdkHkhczwX