LeetchFan

Obviousley, I want Kappo to hit it big because I remember Brad Park and Brian Leetch and we haven't had a name draftee that high with his expectations. I also hope Hank can hold on because I really don't want to have him to be the weak link and possibly benched and then read the Larry Brooks columns about places he could be a quality backup (starter ?) and the salary relief that would come along with it. Panarin needs to be good because I don't want the City to overwhelm him (doesn't appear to be the case). Hopefully, he doesn't make Mika THAT much better like the first 2 games because we have to re-sign Mika in a year or two and I don't want him being in a position to demand $12 MM a year !!! :D

No arguments. I think many here forget -- or weren't around -- with how solid the Rangers were on defense for most of the 1990's and even the 1980's. You didn't see the breakdowns on defense that we have seen the last few years. And that's the problem: in the past, Hank could cover up those flaws 75% of the time. In other words, if you had 10-12 games like that, you still had a shot to win the majority of them. Now, I'm not sure. Be interesting to see what Steve Vallicheck (sp.) shows us with Hank this year vs. previous years with the advanced goaltending metrics. Even a slight drop in reaction time and reflexes can turn an outstanding goalie into an ordinary one. Happpened quickly with Brodeur. Hopefully another 1-2 years before it hits Hank.

Guys....what is up with this schedule for October for the Rangers ? Is this league-wide or just the NYR for some reason ? Instead of spreading the days off throughout the year, we have 3 games in 17 days or whatever which is ridiculous.

Suppose they are 2nd and 3rd line players, or even VERY RELIABLE 4th-liners with an emphasis on defense or the ability to play offense and force the other team into defense ? If they avoid Manny Maholtra status, to me that's OK given the talent elsewhere. It does scare me a bit about the scouting department, because we won't have the opportunity to draft No Doubt About It's like Kappo anytime soon. I wonder if JD likes those players......hmmmm.

Agreed...we now have seen the same helter-skelter D under 2 different coaches and systems. I think that QUINN -- not Ruff -- needs to put his stamp on things. I also think we have been a bit too quick the last few years to elevate some of our D-men into Bobby Orr Status based on 1 or 2 years or a decent playoffs: Ryan McDonough, Brendan Smith, Skjei, etc. That said, they shouldn't have done a complete 180 and gone from major plus to major negative. I hope Quinn gives the pairings -- whichever ones he settles on -- 20-30 games where they aren't touched. We need CONTINUITY to see what these guys can do. Offense is something you can do by yourself, but defense is something you need to know where your partner and the front line is or are going to do to be effective. Brian Leetch and Jeff Beukaboom were both NOT exceptional defensive players but they were very good because they played together for years and knew each's tendencies.

Based purely on TALENT, would you say the Rangers are a playoff team ? In other words, based on pure talent would you say they should be considered for a playoff berth or even favored to be one of the teams that actually makes it ? I look at this team and the answer is YES. I agree a ton with the pre-season analyses: the Rangers need to jell....we need the Defense to communicate better/more with the front line....Skeij is a big question mark....do Hank's "bad" games suddently happen 1 out of 4 nights instead of 1 out of 10 ?.....etc. But with Panarin, Mika, Trouba, Kappo, Kreider, etc....sorry...this is NOT a talent-deprived team like those under Tom Renny and the post-Jagr clubs or God Forbid the late-1990's/early-2000's clubs. Our 2nd and 3rd-line players have a few years under their belts but they are NOT expected to carry the club. They just have to be OK-to-good. Not spectacular or looking to have a career year or two that sets the goal unrealistically high (like happened with Ryan McDonough). Quite frankly, I'd be disappointed if we don't make the playoffs (even if we have to trade Kreider, which kills me). I didn't say that the last 2 years.

With no salary cap, I'd agree with you. But if Kreider is going, Strome is a cheap fix.

Looks a bit like the 1991-92 team !! :D

Is Henrik shaky ? 4 goals....any part of our team look good/shaky ? How's Kappo look ?

Just in...how we looking ? SCORE !!!

That was the 1995 playoff series vs. Philly, coming off the Cup. Rangers were coming off the Cup hangover and the lockout. Plus a bruising 1st round series vs. Quebec. It was an overreaction by Neil Smith, who started to make bad trades after not making many bad ones leading up to the Cup. Nedved and Kovalev both couldn't hack it in NY. Hated trading Zubov, don't know why he was included. Ulf was at the end of his career.

And Kappo doing both ! :D

I like your thinking !! :clap:

Larry Brooks' piece today basically a call for the Rangers to keep Kreider. I'm sure the piece was aimed at JD, who goes back with Brooks over 40 years. I'd rather sign Kreider and get rid of Buchenivich and do a buyout or whatever of a bad contract.

I am surprised that I didn't see more negativity or hesitation because of Hughes size. Do they think it's not an issue today (it would have been 40 years ago, maybe even 20 years ago)...or that he'll grow and put on weight ?

It is going to be a fascinating side-by-side because the first 2 picks are both going to in the largest media market in North America. And playing for 2 teams with a pretty good rivalry. The differences between them -- one bigger and stronger, the other more ready-to-play but svelte -- adds to the intrigue. I hope they are both good players. Well, I hope Kakko is great. :D

That run to the Finals and that seminal Battle for New York turned alot of luke-warm Rangers/Islander fans into hard-cores. The Rangers went from NASL Cosmos level interest to on par with the Jets and Mets and Knicks for me.

I think the guy covering the Rangers does an OK job....he's not a MUST-READ like Larry Brooks but he's got some good insight. The analytics pieces are good. Carp's stuff is fantastic, as usual, and he interacts with his readers which was always his strength.

Fair points, Phil...but other than Hank, if we aren't going to sign Kreider, then WHO are we giving a $6MM or more contract to ? Other teams have double-digit $MM players and others right below that. We've got nobody within $3 MM of Hank. Are we getting Panarin and 1 or 2 others ? Kappo/Hughes come cheap, who else we gonna spend it on ?

Maybe on a team with more talent, he'll rise to the occassion ? I say sign him for $6 MM/year. Compared to what deals we signed in the last few years, that's not unreasonable.

That's what the Chargers said back in 1998. :D

Why do you say that ? Nothing in Gorton's history says he would do something reckless. I think it's 95% or 99% Hughes or Pakko. Unless they detect a medical issue with those guys, and/or see something with major upside with the #3-#5 guys, it'll be Hughes/Pakko.

Do we have any polls here at BSBH that show who our members would take if they could, Hughes or Kakko ? I'm gonna guess it's maybe 70% for Kakko. Wonder what a Devils message board would show........:D

You have to gamble that on a much better team that his natural talents -- size, shot, speed, skills, etc. -- will add another 10-12 goals over 82 games. I think it's a bet worth taking on CK, a homegrown talent. I don't think he'll wilt from the pressure.

Aside from having a ton more pressure being a clear #1 with a New York team than a 1/2 with Columbus (!), you never know how a guy will perform in NY.