Gravesy

There's probably a multitude of reasons, and like I said the general malaise with the team is a big part of it, but just saying it's Housley is far too easy and simplistic. They've had bad defensive coaching in the past and Fox was a superstar. I'm not seeing the offensive coaching getting the blame for the forwards forgetting how to play hockey. Bad defensive coaching manifests itself in bad team defense. And we see that, so Housley is part of the problem. But what Housley does or doesn't do has very little bearing on what happen when Fox has the puck on his stick.

Yes, but guys like Adam Fox doesn’t lose the technical ability to play hockey at an elite level because of a subpar defensive coach.

So Housley has coached the Norrisness out of Fox? I don’t think Housley is great and he can be blamed for bad team defense, but the severe drop off in individual quality goes far beyond the impact of a coach imo. Housley isn’t coaching guys out of the ability to do the basics right, to merely wave their stick in the general direction of the attacking player or to needlessly cough up the puck at inopportune times. I won’t be sad when he goes, but this is part of the overall malaise in the org.

Can they make the playoffs? Yes, it's absolutely possible. Can they win the Stanley Cup? No, I don't think that's on the table. This team as currently constructed peaked with their semi final appearances. I don't think this group, this year, has a chance in hell to eclipse that, personally. You can take @Keiriks approach and say let's get in, if you're in you have a chance. I don't have a problem with that. My view is that there is too much wrong with this entire setup, from the top and all the way down. I think the best thing that could happen is missing the playoffs, followed by a clear out of GM and coach. Of course, if Drury's staying no matter how this turns out that changes things. If that's the case we might as well get rid of Laviolette right now and see what sort of bounce we can get from that.

To be clear, I think firing Laviolette is warranted. No matter whether you think it’s the GM or the players, he’s not getting a tune out of these guys and they certainly aren’t playing for him. My point here is that I don’t thinking firing him solves much, if anything at all. Sure, you might get improvement, but I would be completely shocked if they get anywhere close to contention. To me, Drury getting to hire another coach is the definition of putting lipstick on a pig. This organization needs a complete house cleaning imo. The GM and the coach should both go.

Sure. It depends how you look at it I guess. I don’t disagree that this team is good enough to make the playoffs in a different set of circumstances. But to what end? I’m not really interested in a “we made the playoffs” participation trophy. This team as currently constructed, from the GM and down to the 7th D, is done. I would like every decision to be made with the next 2-3 years in mind, not trying to save whatever’s left of this season. Unfortunately, this being the Rangers that’s probably what will happen.

I’m not sure there’s any point in firing Laviolette at this point. The season is over, and like I said before the worse this gets the better for the long term. Ideally to the point where there’s no way around a complete clearing of the decks. I don’t want the new coach anywhere near the absolute shit show this is going to be towards the end of the season and immediately after. I guess you could get an interim in to steady the ship, but to what end? The only argument I can think of is maybe if they turn it around it could raise trade values, but I think that would be incremental.

He is what he is. A potentially good to very good top 6 player. He isn’t a franchise altering player, and he’s unlikely to be the guy to put the team on his back. Luckily he isn’t paid like that. The contract is fine, possibly even really good. Coming in here to relitigate this contract after every game is pointless. It’s a terrible team and nothing is working.

At this point I’m rooting for them to lose. Get the best shot possible in the lottery and leave no room for doubts as to whether this season is salvageable or not. The last thing I want to see is one of those «splash» moves from the other thread involving a saviour north of 30 coming their way. I also feel like the only way the right moves will be made is if this truly crashes and burns. It’s the Rangers, so they’ll probably make the wrong moves anyway, but crashing and burning at least gives them a shot.

The question is; is his GM’ing better than your formatting? It’s a close one for me, Bob.

It’s never been more over. Any attempt at «saving» this season would be futile and ridiculous. And also very Rangers. The only move here is to make moves with a retool in mind.

There’s probably something to this. But if you’re trying to run something approaching a meritocracy, sitting Kakko was a complete joke of a decision.

No, because this team isn’t winning the Cup or even coming close even with Marchand. If I’m trading Kreider I’m getting a good, young player who can be part of the retool that is unquestionably coming.

Signing 29 y.o. Rantanen at 14m per seems like the type of move the Rangers probably should not be making.

Exactly, so trading your most valuable piece for a rental makes very little sense. Unless you’re re signing Rantanen, which seems problematic and probably unwise.