Lavy Lines Shake up — Do You Like it?

[Shesty Cola]

Panarin – Zibanejad – Lafreniere

Cuylle – Trocheck – Smith

Kreider – Chytil – Kakko

Edstrom – Carrick – Vesey

 

Personally I love it.

 

-Zibby badly needed some sort of injection and what better than working with Panarin and an emerging LaFreniere on either side of him. He looked better today.

- Cuylle deserved a promotion and Trochek if he plays like last year that 2nd line is a gritty line with at least some scoring ability 

- The 3rd line becomes one of the better in the NHL. Chytil is a legit scoring C and Kreider is a very good wing.  Kakko though kinda a bust as a scorer does everything else.

[Ducky]

To early to tell. Need a few games together to see if they develop good chemistry but looks good on paper 

[Valriera]

Looked good today 

[Shesty Cola]

44 minutes ago, Ducky said:

To early to tell. Need a few games together to see if they develop good chemistry but looks good on paper 

Definitely early but I like the rationale with what Lavy is trying to do.

[RangersIn7]

Give it a legit 12-15 games.

It’s not exactly what I would’ve done… but it’s close.

And I think its more or less the right alignment. 
 

But please give it a real honest look. 

[jsm7302]

It sure says something about the development of this roster over the past few years. This could not have been done  successfully due to the talent void that existed however now our homegrowns are showing some shine and promise. I like it and hope it works out but yesterday wasn't a good barometer; the Isles had a depleted defense and were missing a key player. Definitely in the, let's give it 10-15 games camp. On paper it looks good though.

[Br4d]

Necessary changes if the Rangers are going to a finals.  Hopefully they work.

[Sharpshooter]

I thought they looked really good on offense. This was maybe the first time this season where Mika looked completely engaged. But, it was one game against a bit of a depleted Islanders team. See how it is in another ten games or so.

[Ozzy]

14 hours ago, Ducky said:

To early to tell. Need a few games together to see if they develop good chemistry but looks good on paper 

 

2 hours ago, jsm7302 said:

It sure says something about the development of this roster over the past few years. This could not have been done  successfully due to the talent void that existed however now our homegrowns are showing some shine and promise. I like it and hope it works out but yesterday wasn't a good barometer; the Isles had a depleted defense and were missing a key player. Definitely in the, let's give it 10-15 games camp. On paper it looks good though.

 

1 hour ago, Sharpshooter said:

I thought they looked really good on offense. This was maybe the first time this season where Mika looked completely engaged. But, it was one game against a bit of a depleted Islanders team. See how it is in another ten games or so.

 

I'm running with you guys on this one too;  I'd like to see them keep this rolling for the next 5-7 games more before I can really see what's cooking with the changes.  Yesterday was pretty good, and I don't think it's a coincidence Mika had 3 points, even though one was to Kreider.

 

The fact that he looked like he had a heartbeat was a positive sign though!

 

JSM has a good point, and that's what I think we lacked over the years; a coachable bunch of players that are actually COACHED to play in a SYSTEM that uses the players assets and strengths in a coordinated manner, that doesn't just rely on talent alone.  Cuylle is a prime example.

 

Once we tighten up our defensive zone coverage, and start limiting turnovers and high danger chances against, this team is going to be a really tough out.  Right now I keep seeing the gaps in coverage and the turnover flubs that lead to Shesty having to be a brick wall.  But I think with these guys buying into playing as a unit of 5 over the stretch of the upcoming west coast swing, I think it comes together.

[Sharpshooter]

The Mika/Kreider hookup on that shorthanded goal was sweet, as was that play by Smith that led to the Trocheck goal. That was a silky smooth steal and pass. Even though the defense has been suspect, the PK has been excellent. Obviously Igor is a big part of that, but I still like what I'm seeing.

[Pete]

According to the NaturalStatTrick game report, despite starting in the defensive zone 17% of the time 5v5, Zib's line was dominant with a xGF% of 69, five high danger chances for and only two against. 

 

The Chytil line was at 52%...the Trocheck and Carrick lines were an ungodly 35%.

 

Possible we are seeing a case where there's a good chance they have the right players, they just need to find the right combinations.

 

Personally I would have just flipped Zib and Tro and left the Chytil line alone. Cuylle played a specific role on that line as a puck hunter, and that's a role that Kreider is unwilling or unable to play. For Kreider and Smith, might be better for them to play with a center who has more of a shooting mentality than Mika does right now, so Trocheck fits there and has some chemistry with Smith anyway. 

 

Defense is a team game and when you put the lines in a blender you have to expect some adjustment, so they have nowhere to go but up after yesterday's effort.

 

The benefit of the line blender in this case is that it's forcing the players to be a little more intentional, instead of just assuming that player X will be in position Y.

[RJWantsTheCup]

I agree with Pete.  He should've just switched Tro & Zib and left the 3rd line alone.

That being said they need to keep the lines the same for a few games before altering them again if need be.

[RangerDanger]

1 hour ago, RJWantsTheCup said:

I agree with Pete.  He should've just switched Tro & Zib and left the 3rd line alone.

That being said they need to keep the lines the same for a few games before altering them again if need be.

Yup, I just posted the same thing in another thread as far as just switching the 2. Also not a huge fan of the D combinations we went back to.

[RichieNextel305]

It wasn’t just the Islanders game. Mika looked more engaged in the Ottawa game too. Lines looked good. Hopefully, we get more of this Mika. Will lead to more points for him, regardless of whether or not the lines remain as is or go back. Still would like to see the team as a whole tighten up a bit more defensively and not have as many breakdowns. I do believe that will happen eventually. The fact we continue to gain points even while not playing our best is encouraging.

[Sod16]

Broadcast noted that the previous three games were first time since 1997 that the Rangers had failed to get 20 shots on goal in three consecutive games.  Time to change the lines?  

[Albatrosss]

Mika looked pretty good.  Still waiting to say the same about Kreider at even strength.  

[RangersIn7]

1 hour ago, RichieNextel305 said:

It wasn’t just the Islanders game. Mika looked more engaged in the Ottawa game too. Lines looked good. Hopefully, we get more of this Mika. Will lead to more points for him, regardless of whether or not the lines remain as is or go back. Still would like to see the team as a whole tighten up a bit more defensively and not have as many breakdowns. I do believe that will happen eventually. The fact we continue to gain points even while not playing our best is encouraging.

We are 10 games in.

Hes a good hockey player who has gotten away from the things that have made him a good hockey player.

And he’s dragging CK around the ice.

Getting them away from each other is a good thing that should’ve happened sooner.

 

I don’t blame Lavy for not doing it last year. 1st year coach and he needed to see it play out under him and his coaches and his system.

 

And he gave it another 10 games this year.

 

But he sees it.

Now is the time.

And he’s done it.

 

Let’s see.

 

[Jdog99]

I like it a lot.

 

Chytil seems to make anyone around him better...so hopefully we get Kreider back to contributing at 5v5.

 

If Zibanejad can't perform in between Bread and Laf...then fuck him. Seriously...fuck him.

 

And Cuyle-Tro-Smith are 3 of the least entitled dudes on this team. They'll be fine. 

[Br4d]

7 hours ago, Sharpshooter said:

The Mika/Kreider hookup on that shorthanded goal was sweet, as was that play by Smith that led to the Trocheck goal. That was a silky smooth steal and pass. Even though the defense has been suspect, the PK has been excellent. Obviously Igor is a big part of that, but I still like what I'm seeing.

 

Smith is a better all-around RW than the Rangers have had recently except on short-term rental.

 

His ability to take the puck away between the blue lines is really strong.

[Shesty Cola]

5 hours ago, Jdog99 said:

I like it a lot.

 

Chytil seems to make anyone around him better...so hopefully we get Kreider back to contributing at 5v5.

 

If Zibanejad can't perform in between Bread and Laf...then fuck him. Seriously...fuck him.

 

And Cuyle-Tro-Smith are 3 of the least entitled dudes on this team. They'll be fine. 

Zibs man. Such a strange dude. He was high flyin under Gallant. And Panerin was the one stunted (scoring wise at least).

 

I really hope this move reinvogorates him. If we can get the Gallant Mika back this team would be so explosive now that we have both Laffy and Chytil as potential really high level offensive guys too.

[jsm7302]

11 hours ago, Shesty Cola said:

Zibs man. Such a strange dude. He was high flyin under Gallant. And Panerin was the one stunted (scoring wise at least).

 

I really hope this move reinvogorates him. If we can get the Gallant Mika back this team would be so explosive now that we have both Laffy and Chytil as potential really high level offensive guys too.

Explosive...yes.....however also explosive going the other way for our opponent. I really want our D woes to be addressed. Watching the Isles and Caps cycle down low on us for extended periods of time was gross. 

[Shesty Cola]

1 hour ago, jsm7302 said:

Explosive...yes.....however also explosive going the other way for our opponent. I really want our D woes to be addressed. Watching the Isles and Caps cycle down low on us for extended periods of time was gross. 

Good points and maybe its just a settling in for the lines. 

 

Did we lose any coaches on the defensive side?

[Pete]

16 hours ago, Br4d said:

 

Smith is a better all-around RW than the Rangers have had recently except on short-term rental.

 

His ability to take the puck away between the blue lines is really strong.

He's about what I thought he'd be, surely an upgrade, but at this point we know his role is not RW for CK/MZ as they were constructed.

CK/MZ thrive on the rush, but it can't be the only way they play. Their line needs sustained pressure and they had too much one and done in their game. MZ stopped shooting and insisted on passing to CK, CK doesn't participate on the forecheck or cycle whatsoever. So a failed rush just comes out of the zone and goes the other way. Smith is player who's at his best off the rush and in transition so he doesn't help mitigate that issue.

 

These lines should work. MZ now has options, and more importantly support. CK can continue his role on Chytil's line provided Chytil and Kakko get pucks to the net. Kakko will be the workhorse on the boards on that line. Smith and Trocheck look good together, I originally didn't want to split the 3rd line but I do think that Tro and Smith need a puck hunter and Cuylle is that, in spades.

They just need to gel and 4 days of practice before the next game is a gift right now.

[JHS]

After last night's game it appeared the team was really lost on the ice and struggling with these new lines.  I was at the game and the amount of missed coverages, out of sink rushes, bad passes and the like was off the charts.  Granted it was probably just a bad game but I certainly think some of it has to do with the poor line chemistry.

[Ducky]

40 minutes ago, JHS said:

After last night's game it appeared the team was really lost on the ice and struggling with these new lines.  I was at the game and the amount of missed coverages, out of sink rushes, bad passes and the like was off the charts.  Granted it was probably just a bad game but I certainly think some of it has to do with the poor line chemistry.

Agree especially having had time to practice this week