Jan Levine: Rangers begin back-to-back with game versus Kings tonight Plus a look at where the team stands at the quarter pole

Need to start stringing some wins together before the devils get to far out of reach…never thought I would type that

Need to start stringing some wins together before the devils get to far out of reach…never thought I would type that
- TPC

Never thought I’d read that either!

Never thought I’d read that either!
- Crushers68

if you can win 13 straight, you can lose 13 straight. at least that's how i help myself sleep at night

i know it's been floated before and you mentioned it in the blog Jan, but i see no issue with having kreider/troch on the 3rd line considering they get all the PP time.

Would be interesting to see thebelow at some point though unlikely:
laf-mika-kakko/krav
panarin-chytil-kakko/krav
kreider-troch-vesey/gauthier
blais-goodrow-vesey/gauthier

just please no more carpenter/reaves

complaining about Kakko's and Lafreniere's lack of scoring doesn't always have to turn into a referendum about where they were picked in the draft and then the usual list of Rangers first rounders that never panned out, that we have talked about countless times

in the here and now, for this team to succeed, this season, those two need to start scoring goals

I don't care what the Devils guys are doing, I don't care that Lias Andersson sucked, I don't care about Hugh jessiman

none of those things have anything to do with the fact that it would be nice when kakko and Lafreniere shoot the puck, it starts going in

that's it, bottom line

complaining about Kakko's and Lafreniere's lack of scoring doesn't always have to turn into a referendum about where they were picked in the draft and then the usual list of Rangers first rounders that never panned out, that we have talked about countless times

in the here and now, for this team to succeed, this season, those two need to start scoring goals

I don't care what the Devils guys are doing, I don't care that Lias Andersson sucked, I don't care about Hugh jessiman

none of those things have anything to do with the fact that it would be nice when kakko and Lafreniere shoot the puck, it starts going in

that's it, bottom line
- jimbro83

just going to point out that from a 5on5 perspective, they're not even much worse than our "big guns"

EV points:
Panarin - 10
Zib - 9
Chytil - 8
Kreider/Laf/Kakko - 7
Troch - 6

Laf/Kakko shooting % is pretty horrendous though compared to the others

just going to point out that from a 5on5 perspective, they're not even much worse than our "big guns"

EV points:
Panarin - 10
Zib - 9
Chytil - 8
Kreider/Laf/Kakko - 7
Troch - 6

Laf/Kakko shooting % is pretty horrendous though compared to the others
- Mtlca66

and overall, I dont really have a problem with how Laf and Kakko look on the ice, the puck just doesnt go in for them

just going to point out that from a 5on5 perspective, they're not even much worse than our "big guns"

EV points:
Panarin - 10
Zib - 9
Chytil - 8
Kreider/Laf/Kakko - 7
Troch - 6

Laf/Kakko shooting % is pretty horrendous though compared to the others
- Mtlca66

Doesn’t paint a pretty picture. The answer to increase their scoring is moving both to PP1, but how many years before that happens? They aren’t stupid, maybe they ask to go somewhere they actually get put in a position to succeed. And to be fair, there’s no reason to change the current PP unit to accommodate them. Tough spot for the coaches and management to be in.

and overall, I dont really have a problem with how Laf and Kakko look on the ice, the puck just doesnt go in for them
- jimbro83

The results just are not there. Kakko outplaying Laf right now IMO. Both need to create more off the rush and shoot more. Too many moves in close and less shots is not a good thing right now for them

The results just are not there. Kakko outplaying Laf right now IMO. Both need to create more off the rush and shoot more. Too many moves in close and less shots is not a good thing right now for them
- nyrangers2

Laf not the guy he was last April and into the playoffs

I truly expected him to blow up this year

Laf not the guy he was last April and into the playoffs

I truly expected him to blow up this year
- jimbro83

Im beginning to wonder if LAF's heart isnt in it being in NY. Im wondering, if like Fox, he wants to be home in Montreal. Im wondering if the lack of minutes, the lack of PP, the ridiculous inconsistency in the lineup is wearing on him. And although hes being a professional about it, he may just be getting tired of it all.

Im beginning to wonder if LAF's heart isnt in it being in NY. Im wondering, if like Fox, he wants to be home in Montreal. Im wondering if the lack of minutes, the lack of PP, the ridiculous inconsistency in the lineup is wearing on him. And although hes being a professional about it, he may just be getting tired of it all.
- aecliptic

I still think he should be with either zib or panarin. Last year his best hockey before the playoffs was with zib and Kreider, think he had a 7 game point streak and fit in well. Try him there and leave him longer than 8-10 games.

I still think he should be with either zib or panarin. Last year his best hockey before the playoffs was with zib and Kreider, think he had a 7 game point streak and fit in well. Try him there and leave him longer than 8-10 games.
- Rangers99

Unfortunately, GG is way too reactionary and is quick to pull the plug on anything and everything.

Im beginning to wonder if LAF's heart isnt in it being in NY. Im wondering, if like Fox, he wants to be home in Montreal. Im wondering if the lack of minutes, the lack of PP, the ridiculous inconsistency in the lineup is wearing on him. And although hes being a professional about it, he may just be getting tired of it all.
- aecliptic

I dont think that's the case at all, there is nothing wrong with his attitude, work ethic, he's a great kid, and he never seems unhappy

Lafreniere is averaging 16:11 icetime this season after averaging 13:59 last season

Im not blaming Gallant for Laf's 5.4 shooting %

I dont think that's the case at all, there is nothing wrong with his attitude, work ethic, he's a great kid, and he never seems unhappy
- jimbro83

Thats why I say hes a professional and takes it all in stride, but potentially theres something going on with what youre not seeing on the surface.

Lafreniere is averaging 16:11 icetime this season after averaging 13:59 last season

Im not blaming Gallant for Laf's 5.4 shooting %
- jimbro83

Yea the minutes are there this year. The kids just are not executing. Not sure if it is a confidence, skill or timing issue

Thats why I say hes a professional and takes it all in stride, but potentially theres something going on with what youre not seeing on the surface.
- aecliptic

Operative word there is stride. He has a poor one, does not separate with the puck, cannot get to the scoring areas without it on a consistent basis. He needs to score his goals from the dirty areas on the ice. It has nothing to do with attitude, effort, or desire. It’s a huge change for a kid who had his way with the puck until he arrived in the NHL.

Operative word there is stride. He has a poor one, does not separate with the puck, cannot get to the scoring areas without it on a consistent basis. He needs to score his goals from the dirty areas on the ice. It has nothing to do with attitude, effort, or desire. It’s a huge change for a kid who had his way with the puck until he arrived in the NHL.
- OLDSCHOOL#6

How do you feel about Othmann, granted the sample size is again the juniors and not on a pro level.

Perhaps after the game against the Ducks tomorrow we can sneak Franky V on the flight back to NY

How do you feel about Othmann, granted the sample size is again the juniors and not on a pro level.
- aecliptic

He will need some time in the AHL next season. Cannot jump from Juniors to NHL and not get killed at some point early in the season. Gotta learn to play against the big boys/men first.

Im beginning to wonder if LAF's heart isnt in it being in NY. Im wondering, if like Fox, he wants to be home in Montreal. Im wondering if the lack of minutes, the lack of PP, the ridiculous inconsistency in the lineup is wearing on him. And although hes being a professional about it, he may just be getting tired of it all.
- aecliptic

Tired of it all? After one-and-a-half seasons and less than 20 in his third? Tired of it? What?!? I miss something?

Tired of it all? After one-and-a-half seasons and less than 20 in his third? Tired of it? What?!? I miss something?
- mames11

Essentially, tired of being a whipping boy as soon as he put on a Rangers jersey. Expectations were set pretty high when he got drafted. Maybe he feels he could never meet those expectations the way hes being used by the team. Maybe he feels he could do more but feels handcuffed. Maybe he hates playing RW but keeps his mouth shut. Who knows, all Im saying is there could be some underlying issues that could be affecting him that he keeps buried.

Essentially, tired of being a whipping boy as soon as he put on a Rangers jersey. Expectations were set pretty high when he got drafted. Maybe he feels he could never meet those expectations the way hes being used by the team. Maybe he feels he could do more but feels handcuffed. Maybe he hates playing RW but keeps his mouth shut. Who knows, all Im saying is there could be some underlying issues that could be affecting him that he keeps buried.
- aecliptic

This is complete speculation on your part with no evidence like an interview or even a (frank)ed up translation in French. We have no idea what expectations the organization has put forward to him.