HockeyBuzz Hotstove: Early season takeaways from the East Division

1st!

Hard to disagree with you, Sean.
Except on one point. Kakko looks fantastic! Just can't get any points because they just can't f'ing score as an entire group right now.

there were a few players on the rangers that had career years last year. all you experts were wrong again.

How are the 2021 Rangers and the Titanic alike?



They both looked great on paper.........until they hit the ice!

How are the 2021 Rangers and the Titanic alike?



They both looked great on paper.........until they hit the ice!
- Crushers68

It's funny because it's true....


Seriously WTF is going on? The Rangers were on fire until Covid and then never got it going in the bubble playoffs. And then this season has been rough; although they definitely had some great sequences against us. The PP was crazy hot the first Devils -Rangers game and they had some very good sequences 5v5 in the last game. It is very weird.

It's funny because it's true....


Seriously WTF is going on? The Rangers were on fire until Covid and then never got it going in the bubble playoffs. And then this season has been rough; although they definitely had some great sequences against us. The PP was crazy hot the first Devils -Rangers game and they had some very good sequences 5v5 in the last game. It is very weird.
- Queenie_5_hole

Really bizarre. Last season, they were a two line team w/no bottom 6 and poor team defense. This season they're a two line team w/ no top 6 and great team defense.

The issue really has been their center depth. If Zib isn't going and Strome isn't cashing in on playing with Panarin, they're not going to win games.

I'm a believer in Laf. I think he's doing the little things extremely well, but doesn't have a ton of points because he's been robbed or his teammates aren't burying the puck. Kind of backwards for rookies. Typically they can't do the little things. He'll be just fine.

If anyone thinks Kakko is in trouble, you simply aren't watching him play. He's one of the most noticable players on the ice every game. Same issue as Laf though. Nobody on this team can score.

It's funny because it's true....


Seriously WTF is going on? The Rangers were on fire until Covid and then never got it going in the bubble playoffs. And then this season has been rough; although they definitely had some great sequences against us. The PP was crazy hot the first Devils -Rangers game and they had some very good sequences 5v5 in the last game. It is very weird.
- Queenie_5_hole

My theory is - they miss the fans and the energy of the MSG crowd. The NY crowd can be very boisterous and IMO is what drives their success at home. Without the crowds’ energy they look lifeless and ordinary. Not that I’m complaining

Really bizarre. Last season, they were a two line team w/no bottom 6 and poor team defense. This season they're a two line team w/ no top 6 and great team defense.

The issue really has been their center depth. If Zib isn't going and Strome isn't cashing in on playing with Panarin, they're not going to win games.

I'm a believer in Laf. I think he's doing the little things extremely well, but doesn't have a ton of points because he's been robbed or his teammates aren't burying the puck. Kind of backwards for rookies. Typically they can't do the little things. He'll be just fine.

If anyone thinks Kakko is in trouble, you simply aren't watching him play. He's one of the most noticable players on the ice every game. Same issue as Laf though. Nobody on this team can score.
- Bean_Dip

Well I realize this is a bizarre statement but I was hoping for better because I miss when both teams were really good and hated each other.

I expected this season to be horrific for the Devils but a development year. I thought the Rangers were going to be very competitive.

I’m not surprised I’m wrong. That happens. Just the way this has played out so far.

Kakko and Laf will both be fine. They are legit talents. It’s about TOI in this league and a little growing for the kids.

My theory is - they miss the fans and the energy of the MSG crowd. The NY crowd can be very boisterous and IMO is what drives their success at home. Without the crowds’ energy they look lifeless and ordinary. Not that I’m complaining
- Crushers68

Over the past 5-10 years the Rangers have been one of the better road teams in the league. Even the years they struggled they generally played pretty well on the road. I've always chalked that up to other teams getting a little extra fired up to play at MSG, while it becomes a bit more routine for the rangers players. Who knows, but I don't think they are any more disadvantaged by having no fans than any other team, with the exception of the panthers of the world.

With the exception of last game and the first game they've actually played pretty well this year. They weren't getting the goaltending when they were scoring early on and once the goaltending picked up the whole team got snakebitten. I'm not too concerned despite the ugly record.

Over the past 5-10 years the Rangers have been one of the better road teams in the league. Even the years they struggled they generally played pretty well on the road. I've always chalked that up to other teams getting a little extra fired up to play at MSG, while it becomes a bit more routine for the rangers players. Who knows, but I don't think they are any more disadvantaged by having no fans than any other team, with the exception of the panthers of the world.

With the exception of last game and the first game they've actually played pretty well this year. They weren't getting the goaltending when they were scoring early on and once the goaltending picked up the whole team got snakebitten. I'm not too concerned despite the ugly record.
- SkjeiStadium

Perhaps, but the teams in years 4-10 were much different than the last 1-3 years. Difficult to compare their psyche-ies (sp?), but I could be wrong

It's funny because it's true....


Seriously WTF is going on? The Rangers were on fire until Covid and then never got it going in the bubble playoffs. And then this season has been rough; although they definitely had some great sequences against us. The PP was crazy hot the first Devils -Rangers game and they had some very good sequences 5v5 in the last game. It is very weird.
- Queenie_5_hole

They lost 11 games by one goal. It simple their defense and pk are good but nobody can score. This is the perfect year to suck. Short season and they get $18m in space next year