Blake Wheeler Is Struggling

[Gravesy]

Yeah, luckily for the first time in a while the Rangers HC doesn't treat the 4th line as a penal colony/doghouse for underperforming players.

Wheeler would kill that line. Next move is the press box. 

[Pete]

It was pretty obvious that Wheeler on the first line was never a real solution. I'm stunned that Laviolette even tried it. 

[RJWantsTheCup]

Wheeler isn't going to help the 4th line at all, but there's nowhere else to play him.

[Pete]

Just now, RJWantsTheCup said:

Wheeler isn't going to help the 4th line at all, but there's nowhere else to play him.

[BlairBettsBlocksEverything]

Can Wheeler pick up an 'injury' *winkwink* and go on LTIR until like February or something? Like I have no doubt that a fresh, healthy Wheeler can help this team in the playoff push/in the playoffs. He doesn't have the legs right now though. 

 

I said originally I don't need Wheeler to be good in October. And honestly, I don't need him to be good in November either. But eventually he's gotta show any semblance of bein gable to contribute. His age caught up to him really fast, and maybe he just needs to not play for a while and get re-focused.

 

He looks very frustrated with himself as well. I'm sure he knows he's better than what he's shown. There was a play last night where I think he thought he could've deflected a shot and missed it and he slammed his stick. This is weighing on him for sure. Hopefully with the added opportunity he can get the first one, get the monkey off his back and start producing. But I'm not confident in this.

[RangersIn7]

35 minutes ago, Ozzy said:

I'm giving Lavvy the benefit of the doubt here and I think he'll figure out how to get the most out of Wheeler.  

 

30 minutes ago, Br4d said:

 

It's got to be a tough situation for Laviolette.  He probably has all the respect in the world for a vet like Blake Wheeler.  However he has to do what is best for the team.

It’s hard for everyone. 
Wheeler has had a brilliant career. Been an all-star, point per game player, a team Captain, etc.

 

But at this point, he just doesn’t look like an NHL player anymore.

 

As I said, if some rebuilding team wanted to keep him around as a 4th liner or extra forward, there’s possibly some value there. 
But if you fancy yourself as a contender, this guy doesn’t look like he can be in the lineup anymore. 
 

You can give him a little more time. But I think if you hit the 20-game mark or so, and he still looks like this, you gotta look elsewhere. 
By that point you’ll have seen all you need to. 

[Sharpshooter]

Goodrow and Wheeler going to San Jose to make room for Kane!

[BrooksBurner]

Father time comes for all athletes.

 

Except Tom Brady. Tom Brady was the only athlete I've seen truly defy it. He was 45 and still playing at an insanely high level. He could have kept playing until who knows what age.

[Morphinity 2.0]

14 minutes ago, BrooksBurner said:

Father time comes for all athletes.

 

Except Tom Brady. Tom Brady was the only athlete I've seen truly defy it. He was 45 and still playing at an insanely high level. He could have kept playing until who knows what age.

The drop off here is so steep though. He still had 16g, 39a in 72 games last season. I thought 30 points was a reasonable mark for him, but he'd be lucky to get 15 at this rate. 

[Br4d]

18 minutes ago, BrooksBurner said:

Father time comes for all athletes.

 

Except Tom Brady. Tom Brady was the only athlete I've seen truly defy it. He was 45 and still playing at an insanely high level. He could have kept playing until who knows what age.

 

Nolan Ryan played at a high level until 45 and then got hurt and fell off the cliff.

[phillyb]

Favorite Nolan Ryan stat is Robin Ventura lol

[Phil]

2 hours ago, BrooksBurner said:

Father time comes for all athletes.

 

Except Tom Brady. Tom Brady was the only athlete I've seen truly defy it. He was 45 and still playing at an insanely high level. He could have kept playing until who knows what age.

 

Lidstrom was the same way.

[RangersIn7]

I just hope they don’t rush Othmann on account of Wheeler.

 The kid’s played 9 professional games. 
 

Hoping he gets in the 30-40 game range before they knock on that door.

[Albatrosss]

there comes the time when you take the old cow, i mean wheeler, to the pasture and SHOOT IT!!!

[Scott]

53 minutes ago, Albatrosss said:

there comes the time when you take the old cow, i mean wheeler, to the pasture and SHOOT IT!!!

That's violent and he deserves better. Shuffle him off to the glue factory.

[RangersIn7]

4 minutes ago, jsrangers said:

That's violent and he deserves better. Shuffle him off to the glue factory.

Like the horses at Yonkers Raceway… straight from the winners circle to the Dog Chow Plant.

[Jdog99]

Give him at least two more next to Zib. That doesn't work, try him out on the 4th line. Then you can cut bait...

[Ozzy]

I hear you guys loud and clear, and I know he's not even showing very many signs of life, but I still think we gotta give the guy more than just a few weeks of being here.

 

I know, I'm fucking crazy, but I just feel like he's been such a good leader, and solid citizen in the NHL for such a long time, that something's gotta be in there that can help us.  I dunno, I just have a really hard time believing this guy went to a complete zero over the summer.

 

I still gotta stick to at least Christmas as my "cut along the dotted line" for him.

[Jdog99]

8 minutes ago, Ozzy said:

I hear you guys loud and clear, and I know he's not even showing very many signs of life, but I still think we gotta give the guy more than just a few weeks of being here.

 

I know, I'm fucking crazy, but I just feel like he's been such a good leader, and solid citizen in the NHL for such a long time, that something's gotta be in there that can help us.  I dunno, I just have a really hard time believing this guy went to a complete zero over the summer.

 

I still gotta stick to at least Christmas as my "cut along the dotted line" for him.

 

as long as we're winning...no reason we can't be patient

[Ozzy]

5 minutes ago, Jdog99 said:

 

as long as we're winning...no reason we can't be patient

 

That's kinda where I'm at Jdog. 

 

We're gonna need his contribution, no doubt....I just think he needs more time to settle in.

[RJWantsTheCup]

Just now, Ozzy said:

 

That's kinda where I'm at Jdog. 

 

We're gonna need his contribution, no doubt....I just think he needs more time to settle in.

I would give him some more time too, but at what lines expense is the question?

If Kakko would've worked on Zibanejad's line it wouldn't be such a problem.

[The Dude]

Very exagerated takes here.

 

One of his penalties last night was pretty weak.

 

He was going to the front of the net and getting open in the slot most of the night. All you can really ask from him on that line, is to get open or create room for his linemates.  Some shifts he did that. Its game 1 together. Let the line gell a little before we say it doesn't work.  

 

I think he will snap out of it. Just needs 1 to break the schneid. 

 

 

[Sod16]

Regarding Wheeler, Coach Hemingway is instructive:

 

"How do you go bankrupt?

 

Two ways, gradually and then suddenly."

[Scott]

3 hours ago, The Dude said:

Very exagerated takes here.

 

One of his penalties last night was pretty weak.

 

He was going to the front of the net and getting open in the slot most of the night. All you can really ask from him on that line, is to get open or create room for his linemates.  Some shifts he did that. Its game 1 together. Let the line gell a little before we say it doesn't work.  

 

I think he will snap out of it. Just needs 1 to break the schneid. 

 

 

Not sure it's all that exaggerated, otherwise why would he have gotten all of 4 shifts in the 3rd period?  First one coming past the 9 min mark.  He was dreadful.

 

http://shiftchart.com/game/2023-11-07-red-wings-rangers

 

 

 

[Br4d]

10 hours ago, Morphinity 2.0 said:

The drop off here is so steep though. He still had 16g, 39a in 72 games last season. I thought 30 points was a reasonable mark for him, but he'd be lucky to get 15 at this rate. 

 

It's really not unusual to step down and have the step down be right off a cliff at his age.  Some guys can keep it together but they're usually the guys who have been fitness maniacs their entire career and they're still running the stairs every day.

 

Use it or lose it.