Jan Levine: Game 1: NYR 6 WPG 4, Panarin/Trouba/Zibanejad shine in win Garden was alive throughout the game

Jan Levine: Game 1: NYR 6 WPG 4, Panarin/Trouba/Zibanejad shine in win
Garden was alive throughout the game
- airjan23

Whatever your opinion is on whether Zibanejad is a #1 C or not... I'd argue he's the best Centre that Panarin has played with so far

Should be a big year for both of them if they stay on the same line

Whatever your opinion is on whether Zibanejad is a #1 C or not... I'd argue he's the best Centre that Panarin has played with so far

Should be a big year for both of them if they stay on the same line
- Coburns_Nose

He could prove to be a 1C with Panarin. Best Rangers center in a long time

Whatever your opinion is on whether Zibanejad is a #1 C or not... I'd argue he's the best Centre that Panarin has played with so far

Should be a big year for both of them if they stay on the same line

Panarin played with Toews at times, so I can't really agree with you there. That being said, Zib has really progressed his game a ton the past couple seasons. I made the bold prediction last night that he would avg a ppg this season, and I'm holding to it.

Whatever your opinion is on whether Zibanejad is a #1 C or not... I'd argue he's the best Centre that Panarin has played with so far

Should be a big year for both of them if they stay on the same line
- Coburns_Nose

Rangers didn't get Jagr until he was 32 years old.

We have never had a guy as good as Panarin at 27/28 years old

plus, considering Panarin has only played in NHL for 4 years, very young 27, he's still only getting started

As much as I loved Brassard as a Ranger, that trade was highway robbery. We all talk about the Gomez-McDonagh trade, but this one was almost just as good for the Rangers.

I think Zib became a #1 last year. Before that he was a good #2

I think Zib became a #1 last year. Before that he was a good #2
- mdw7413

I think it pretty much comes down to this in asking whether he is a #1 center, are there 30 centers better than him in the league? I really don't think so. Sure, he's not an elite center, but IMO, he's clearly a #1.

Here is my take on the Defense. They held onto the puck a split second too long and that lead to extended time playing in the Dzone. Even Panarin was guilty of this a time or two.

I would suspect that as this team plays together more the puck will be moved more efficiently and the team can eliminate being hemmed deep into their zones.

To that end, the Jets forwards (especially their top 6) were hard on the forecheck the entire night. Hajek and Fox just need to play faster.

Rangers didn't get Jagr until he was 32 years old.

We have never had a guy as good as Panarin at 27/28 years old

plus, considering Panarin has only played in NHL for 4 years, very young 27, he's still only getting started
- jimbo83

You could make an argument he was better overall than him, but we got Graves mid 20s and he scored his 50 goal season at 25. We got Gabby at about the same age and I would 100% say Gabby was the better player. People forget how good that guy was for us

Your point remains though, Panarin is a special player and we should be lucky we got him in his prime.

I think it pretty much comes down to this in asking whether he is a #1 center, are there 30 centers better than him in the league? I really don't think so. Sure, he's not an elite center, but IMO, he's clearly a #1.
- Pete V

Yeah, I think that happened last year. He always had the talent to be a #1 but the drive didn't seem to be there. He really stepped up last year.

Here is my take on the Defense. They held onto the puck a split second too long and that lead to extended time playing in the Dzone. Even Panarin was guilty of this a time or two.

I would suspect that as this team plays together more the puck will be moved more efficiently and the team can eliminate being hemmed deep into their zones.

To that end, the Jets forwards (especially their top 6) were hard on the forecheck the entire night. Hajek and Fox just need to play faster.
- climbdenali12

Being his first game in the NHL I thought Fox looked great. Very poised with the puck.

So did that Finnish kid on the Jets who they took when we traded for Trouba.

Here is my take on the Defense. They held onto the puck a split second too long and that lead to extended time playing in the Dzone. Even Panarin was guilty of this a time or two.

I would suspect that as this team plays together more the puck will be moved more efficiently and the team can eliminate being hemmed deep into their zones.

To that end, the Jets forwards (especially their top 6) were hard on the forecheck the entire night. Hajek and Fox just need to play faster.
- climbdenali12

Not too worried, it was the first game of the season. I expect some of these issues to be worked out during the extended practice time between games.

Hajek had a brutal give away in the 2nd, I think thats when they benched him.

Hajek had a brutal give away in the 2nd, I think thats when they benched him.
- mdw7413

Yeah, that seemed to be the last straw for the evening.
But, he never looked comfortable, or good. Fox was a little sketchy in the 1st, but really seemed to make an adjustment and I thought he was alright after. Hajek never got his bearings. He even had trouble trying to make a pass while trying to avoid contact. If you can't manage that, you can't play at the NHL level. He seemed to be able last year, so hopefully it will come quickly.

Here is my take on the Defense. They held onto the puck a split second too long and that lead to extended time playing in the Dzone. Even Panarin was guilty of this a time or two.

I would suspect that as this team plays together more the puck will be moved more efficiently and the team can eliminate being hemmed deep into their zones.

To that end, the Jets forwards (especially their top 6) were hard on the forecheck the entire night. Hajek and Fox just need to play faster.
- climbdenali12

I agree.
I didn't think Staal's game was that bad. He made a number of good plays. And even on that fast break goal, I'm not sure he's in such a bad spot if ADA doesn't get torched to the outside by Ehlers. If he forced him wide, then Wheeler is still behind Staal on the pass angle. Neither of them respected the speed of the forwards on that play. I had no idea Ehlers was that fast, either!!

Being his first game in the NHL I thought Fox looked great. Very poised with the puck.

So did that Finnish kid on the Jets who they took when we traded for Trouba.
- blueshirts_fan

Love the Heinola pick by the Jets

Yeah, that seemed to be the last straw for the evening.
But, he never looked comfortable, or good. Fox was a little sketchy in the 1st, but really seemed to make an adjustment and I thought he was alright after. Hajek never got his bearings. He even had trouble trying to make a pass while trying to avoid contact. If you can't manage that, you can't play at the NHL level. He seemed to be able last year, so hopefully it will come quickly.
- Tonybere

Yeah, it was one game, but he definitely looked uncomfortable.

Yeah, it was one game, but he definitely looked uncomfortable.
- mdw7413

he looked like he was trying NOT to make a mistake and was over thinking things. Overthinking costs you time at this level.

I think these guys will knock some of the rust off and be better as the season progresses.

he looked like he was trying NOT to make a mistake and was over thinking things. Overthinking costs you time at this level.

I think these guys will knock some of the rust off and be better as the season progresses.
- climbdenali12

Makes sense. Last year he was thrown right into the fire, this year he had the camp pre-season and then makes the team. Lot of time to get the brain thinking

I say they throw Hajek right back out there tomorrow, dont let him wallow in it

You could make an argument he was better overall than him, but we got Graves mid 20s and he scored his 50 goal season at 25. We got Gabby at about the same age and I would 100% say Gabby was the better player. People forget how good that guy was for us

Your point remains though, Panarin is a special player and we should be lucky we got him in his prime.
- 2sticks1puck

you could make the argument that Gaborik was better than Panarin, it's real close though

but, Gaborik was also in the league 8 years by then, as opposed to Panarin's 4 and suffered a couple of major injuries, he had major hip surgery in 2009 six months before we signed him

no wear and tear on Panarin

I say they throw Hajek right back out there tomorrow, dont let him wallow in it
- jimbo83

Yup. No way you want him thinking about being benched for almost 10 days

Hajek had a brutal give away in the 2nd, I think thats when they benched him.
- mdw7413

Hajek also got absolutely blasted on at least 3 huge hits. He has to learn to position himself better so he is not so vulnerable. I still think Lindgren would be the better choice at this point, but Hajek HAS to play if he is on roster...