BrooksBurner

But if they win, they are in it as much as anyone else for 1 of the WC spots. It's basically a playoff game for them. They've been playing some really good hockey the last couple of weeks.

I agree with this. I think I just don't really have the confidence that there's much left, if any, extra steps or half steps to be gained through training. At some point the physical attributes that can be attained are maxed out. I kind of feel like he's there already. Rather than quicker, he could still get stronger, and that might help bully his way physically to the middle of the ice instead of requiring separation though.

Lafreniere's issue was always training. He was lacking foot speed, acceleration, separation, stamina, etc. It was talked about all summer, and it was clear from game 1 he had improved those things significantly. The talent was already there but couldn't be showcased - like having the engine of a Pinto inside a Mustang. Kakko's issue isn't physical training. We've said for about 4 years now, since after his rookie season, how he has done all the right stuff to improve physically and be ready. That's why so many had been clamoring for a break out from him. Occasional plays and spurts are there, check that snipe last night as a prime example, but he may never figure it out or have the confidence to be consistently good every night. His issue is between the ears and that's not an easy problem to get past.

The Devils really fell off from last year. They suck now

Flyers can be a grueling matchup with a legend like this coaching them. Even if you like the Rangers’ chances to win, a Torts team would probably take a chunk of flesh on the way down. He’s never going to stop pushing his players to give everything they have.

Cool. I'll take Keller in the summer then so they can pay for some defense.

Why would the Bruins not be in on him? Strange

April fool's cancels out your JK, so I agree with the post

Two sides to the pull the goalie train there.They were finally doing some stuff 5v5, and you could either say just let them keep playing 5v5 and see what happens a little longer, or maybe you could say Lavi trusted they could win/keep possession and have a faux-PP to tie the game. Both views are valid IMO, matter of preference.

Deserved loss in a rather meaningless game, who cares

Nice finish from a tough angle by Roslovic

Cuylle has been complete ass for about 20 games now. Maybe he's just tired and run out of stamina on the year. We could use what he brings in the playoffs when he's cooking, but not sure he's going to be useful this year.

All that means is they kinda stink at 3v3 and shootouts. That doesn’t matter in the playoffs.

If I’m Tampa/Philly/Washington I’d want to take my chances against the Rangers when the alternatives are the Panthers/Canes/Bruins/Leafs

I think it would cost them the same as Jack Hughes’ contract. Jack Hughes signed that before he was anything, and 8 years at the time included 4 UFA years. Lafreniere just had a better season than Hughes when he signed his extension, Laffy would be selling 6 UFA years, and the cap sky rocketing. I doubt he’d sign his entire 20s away for less than 8 per.

If that happened and that’s all Lafreniere is, then they’ll be rebuilding in a post-Panarin/old-Zibanejad world and the high cap hit for meh production wouldn’t matter for a while.

1. Artemi Panarin 2. Adam Fox 3. Vincent Trocheck 4. Alexis Lafrenière 5. Igor Shesterkin 6. Mika Zibanejad 7. Chris Kreider +2 8. Jonathan Quick 9. Jacob Trouba 10. Ryan Lindgren 11. K'Andre Miller 12. Braden Schneider 13. Kaapo Kakko 14. Jimmy Vesey 15. Zac Jones l 16. Will Cuylle 17. Matt Rempe 18. Jack Roslovic 19. Erik Gustafsson 20. Alexander Wennberg 21. Barclay Goodrow 22. Jonny Brodzinski 23. Chad Obvious reasons

The Rangers would be wise to come to extension terms this summer. Hopefully there’s no hard feelings by having been dragged through the proverbial mud by the fan base and quite possibly management in general.

1. Artemi Panarin 2. Adam Fox 3. Vincent Trocheck 4. Alexis Lafrenière 5. Igor Shesterkin 6. Mika Zibanejad 7. Jonathan Quick 8. Jacob Trouba 9. Chris Kreider 10. Ryan Lindgren 11. K'Andre Miller 12. Braden Schneider 13. Kaapo Kakko 14. Jimmy Vesey 15. Zac Jones l 16. Will Cuylle 17. Matt Rempe 18. Jack Roslovic 19. Erik Gustafsson 20. Alexander Wennberg 21. Barclay Goodrow 22. Jonny Brodzinski 23. Chad Re-added Trouba and Lindgren to where they were prior to injury.

That’s basically for anyone, except maybe Filip Chytil. How good was Chytil?

He's practically an untouchable piece now, because the only guys you'd even trade him for aren't getting traded. He's PPG as soon as he's PP1. He probably would be sniffing 70 points right now if he already was this year.

Goodrow in the locker room:

I agree, but that’s because there are a lot of analytically good teams with equalish odds of winning, and only one can. The Rangers are bad analytically. If I were ranking odds of winning, they are probably in the 10-12 range out of 16. They would be bottom 2-3, but I respect some of their talent + Igor to overcome some of that. Just my two cents.