BrooksBurner

I initially liked this, then not as much after a little more digging. That year he put up 31 goals, 5 were empty net and 13 were PP goals. Unlikely to happen here. It was also pre-leg injury the following season, which really damaged his career trajectory IMO. In the shortened season where he had that pace, 7 of his 17 goals were PP goals. I would see his PP totals likely going down here, not up, even if he is on the PP1 (in the bumper spot), because he will not be a focal point. It might be reasonable to expect a bump up from his more normal 20 goal/50ish point production, just from increased 5v5 time playing with Panarin though. Maybe 25 goals, 60-65 points. Something like that...which looks pretty familiar doesn't it.

Production is not linear throughout a season. Sports is so frequently streaky with players going through stretches of elevating their play, or their play declining. You even gave examples of this with Shesterkin and Kreider where they hit stretches of decreased production from their regular season rates. It happens in reverse just as easily. It’s not hope. It’s just how shit works. That’s why it can frequently take several tries for great teams to win a Cup. The Strome comment was a light hearted joke lol, but you’re asking me to essentially prove that athletes are streaky between elevating their play and their play declining, and me no got time for all that. If you don’t think they are, that’s cool. I disagree. I see it all the time in all sports.

Here’s what I said since it seems you haven’t read it: Does it really matter if Shesterkin posts a .927 or a .935? We know he’s capable of a .935. He doesn’t have to do it across 82 games to win a Cup. He has to do it in the playoffs. Does it really matter if Kreider scores 50 again? We know he’s capable of scoring in front of the net, rebounds, deflections, providing traffic, etc. He doesn’t have to score at that rate in the regular season to win a Cup. He has to do it in the playoffs. I shouldn’t have to go through each Stanley Cup winner proving out such an obvious claim that elevated play is required to win. I’ll just let you think you’re right instead because it’s easier, especially since you’ve had a tough week losing Strome and his emojis.

Terrible summation of what I've said. You're shifting goal posts because you made a shitty claim that players rarely elevate their play in the playoffs. You're right. These guys don't elevate their play. They just continue playing in the playoffs like it's game 22 on a Tuesday in November against the Coyotes.

That doesn't equate to anything I've said.

It happens all of the time. I'm surprised at the stance you'd take here.

Expand on that. I don't know what you mean.

Strome was 15 goals per 82 games before Panarin. 22 goals per 82 with Panatin. 46% increase. If Trocheck is 22 per 82 now without Panarin, a 46% increase would be 32 per 82. 32 goals for Trocheck. That's the target.

not you or me though right

That slump that cost him the Hart is baked into the team's record. If he stayed at .940, they probably win the Metro. Anyway, what I originally said was they didn't need to be as good to make the playoffs, as long as they elevate their play in the playoffs. I personally don't care if the Rangers get in as a 6th or 7th seed with Igor posting a .927, if he posts a .940+ in the playoffs. Even if they don't have home ice...which was a weirdly lopsided advantage this postseason. Most seasons it's not that prevalent.

With all else the same, if he’s a .927 goalie instead of a .935 one, do you think they’ll make the playoffs?

Yes and made a donation for him. Totally not cap circumvention either right?? Tampa probably does it those dirty fucking fucks

The comments on every The Athletic article that had anything to do with Strome were brutal…with an overwhelming number of “likes”. Unless @CCCP had a bot net that targetted and racked up the likes on those articles, it’s pretty safe to say the majority of Rangers fandom on the interwebs loathed Strome.

What does “if he’s up for it” mean? Lol.

I guess he got suspended for the NCAA championship game back in 2019, because of this: Then he led the team to a championship in 2021.

Great interview. Rooting for this kid

Yes, I agree with that, but to an extent. Kreider doesn't have to match 50. Shesterkin doesn't have to match a .935. They can't just fall off a cliff, but they don't have to replicate those seasons. The team cleared the playoffs by 26 points this year. I also think the current lineup is better than the pre-trade deadline lineup from last season.

Want.

Palat is a good player, however when you pay him $6M x 5 because you got spurned by an elite player in Gaudreau who is from Jersey…well, big ouch. Fuck the debbies.

I’m of the belief that the Rangers don’t need their guys to replicate the seasons they had. They are still a playoff caliber team. What will matter is if they can elevate their play for the duration of the playoffs when it matters.

I agree they need to develop Lafreniere. I just don’t know if that’s PP1 in the bumper spot. What would help Lafreniere the most is probably to be in a position on the PP where the puck is on his stick to make plays. Either the left or right boards and they’re not moving Zibanejad or Panarin for obvious reasons. There is another path here and that’s simply to play PP2 more and have Lafreniere in a prime spot on it.

I think it could have a decent impact. If teams are cheating Zibanejad’s side, which they were doing all playoffs, there may be more room for Panarin to feed Trocheck rather than going around the top to Fox to Zibanejad, or directly full cross ice to Zibanejad.

Breaking this out into another thread rather than discussing it in "Ryan Carpenter signs for $750k" lol, because it's probably an opinionated topic. On the one hand, I'd love to get Lafreniere some PP1 time. On the other hand, Trocheck is a better fit in the bumper slot with Panarin on the right boards looking to pass. Making the bumper a left handed shot would look to receive a pass from Zibanejad on the left, and his bread and butter is one timers so I don't think that's as good of a set up - though you could make an argument of a fake one timer followed by quick feed to a lefty shot towards the middle for a one timer there instead. Interested to see where people fall on this.