2011-2012 Season

[Lucy Brown]

Although they are playing well I'm not a true believer in this team. I dont see them being able to beat any of the top teams in the playoffs. Just waiting for the other shoe to hit the floor.

[SirYohans]

Originally Posted by Lucy Brown

Although they are playing well I'm not a true believer in this team. I dont see them being able to beat any of the top teams in the playoffs. Just waiting for the other shoe to hit the floor.

I thought for a minute that the recent winning streaks were a bit deceiving because of the teams they were playing. But over the last few games they've looked great against the strongest teams in the east IMO (Pens, Flyers, Caps, Lighting.)

We'll see how they size up with the Bruins eventually. That's the only team that really scares me because they are steamrolling everyone. But when I think about it, the Rangers and Bruins are very similar. Both are very sound defensive teams with outstanding goaltending. On offense they both have a balanced scoring attack with any line able to chip in. The Bruins are just scoring alot more goals.

But you can kinda see it with this Ranger team. They appear like they are still gelling and are a work in progress, but are going to start scoring some serious goals. Of course, I hope I'm right because that will make 'em a really dangerous team.

Originally Posted by pesadillamal

The pieces will be added if they continue to play well leading up to trade deadline. For now, it would be a pretty damn good idea to keep rolling the same team and let them gel. Then they could make one or two trades come dealine time to prepare for a big run. I am pretty sure Potvin just wanted to ride out this hot streak rather than play GM like most Ranger fans think they would be great at. How that could cause a 50 year drought is beyond me. If the perfect deal comes up, they will bite. Otherwise they bide their time for now. Maybe Staal comes back in a month or two. That's a pretty good trade for nothing.

The Rangers are not soft. They may not win a bunch of fights but they are more than willing to fight for their teammates. As of a few days ago they led the league in fights, were second in the league in hits, and fourth in the league in blocked shots. Looks really soft to me. Add Rupp and take out Mitchel and they could hold up physically in any series. Boston is a very tough team and the only one that would scare me. The Lightning have one of the softest teams out there and they took Boston to 7 last year so I may be affraid of the matchup but I think they could hold their own. A lot of work to do before then though.

If you're a Ranger fan and you can't even enjoy seven and five game winning streaks sandwiched around two losses then what's the use?

I know. I don't see how you can call this team soft considering how more than half the teams in the league have maybe 1 guy that's willing to scrap. I mean, think about team unity too. You guys have seen how other teams have handled it when they've been pushed around or challenged physically. It's disgusting! When push comes to shove, I think the Rangers are going to stick up for each other and have each others backs. That's all you can ask for.

[nyr2]

Originally Posted by pesadillamal

The pieces will be added if they continue to play well leading up to trade deadline. For now, it would be a pretty damn good idea to keep rolling the same team and let them gel. Then they could make one or two trades come dealine time to prepare for a big run. I am pretty sure Potvin just wanted to ride out this hot streak rather than play GM like most Ranger fans think they would be great at. How that could cause a 50 year drought is beyond me. If the perfect deal comes up, they will bite. Otherwise they bide their time for now. Maybe Staal comes back in a month or two. That's a pretty good trade for nothing.

The Rangers are not soft. They may not win a bunch of fights but they are more than willing to fight for their teammates. As of a few days ago they led the league in fights, were second in the league in hits, and fourth in the league in blocked shots. Looks really soft to me. Add Rupp and take out Mitchel and they could hold up physically in any series. Boston is a very tough team and the only one that would scare me. The Lightning have one of the softest teams out there and they took Boston to 7 last year so I may be affraid of the matchup but I think they could hold their own. A lot of work to do before then though.

If you're a Ranger fan and you can't even enjoy seven and five game winning streaks sandwiched around two losses then what's the use?

First off, yes we should all enjoy a winning streak, but enjoying a winning streak in November/December and awarding them the Cup are 2 very different things. Of course I am happy that they are winning, but I still don't feel it with this team...if they keep it up and are still doing this in February then it will paint a different picture. And this streak they are playing well in spite of themselves because Tortorella is still playing with the lines. Maybe they are gelling as a team in the locker room but I don't think they are this one cohesive unit on the ice, like all great teams are.

And hey, if you are happy with average, then good for you, but I don't live in that world. I live in reality. I live as a die hard Ranger fan that has seen one Cup and only one solid showing in the nearly 18 years since. As I said, I am not saying just go out all willy nilly and make a deal to make a deal...I was not a fan of the Bobby Ryan talk. I said I feel they need a top 4 d-man with size(a guy that will actually use his size so I'm not talking about a Hal Gill type, we already have Boyle for that) and a few pieces up front.

Last, being a soft team or not has nothing to do with fighting majors...at least in my eyes. And I don't think you necessarily need an enforcer to not be soft, although it doesn't hurt. The fact is that they have been and will be pushed around. As a team they lack a passion and aggressiveness that is necessary. Callahan isn't intimidating anyone...I use him as the example because he could lead the league in hits and it wont really matter. I love the guy, just like I love Dubinsky and Prust...but that's it. That's the physical element of the team. There is no d-man that is a physical presence and certainly no one that will make anyone pay for running Lundqvist. He gets hit all the time, its only a matter of time before someone goes Lucic or Tootoo and then what?

[nyrgoal]

Originally Posted by nyr2

First off, yes we should all enjoy a winning streak, but enjoying a winning streak in November/December and awarding them the Cup are 2 very different things. Of course I am happy that they are winning, but I still don't feel it with this team...if they keep it up and are still doing this in February then it will paint a different picture. And this streak they are playing well in spite of themselves because Tortorella is still playing with the lines. Maybe they are gelling as a team in the locker room but I don't think they are this one cohesive unit on the ice, like all great teams are.

And hey, if you are happy with average, then good for you, but I don't live in that world. I live in reality. I live as a die hard Ranger fan that has seen one Cup and only one solid showing in the nearly 18 years since. As I said, I am not saying just go out all willy nilly and make a deal to make a deal...I was not a fan of the Bobby Ryan talk. I said I feel they need a top 4 d-man with size(a guy that will actually use his size so I'm not talking about a Hal Gill type, we already have Boyle for that) and a few pieces up front.

Last, being a soft team or not has nothing to do with fighting majors...at least in my eyes. And I don't think you necessarily need an enforcer to not be soft, although it doesn't hurt. The fact is that they have been and will be pushed around. As a team they lack a passion and aggressiveness that is necessary. Callahan isn't intimidating anyone...I use him as the example because he could lead the league in hits and it wont really matter. I love the guy, just like I love Dubinsky and Prust...but that's it. That's the physical element of the team. There is no d-man that is a physical presence and certainly no one that will make anyone pay for running Lundqvist. He gets hit all the time, its only a matter of time before someone goes Lucic or Tootoo and then what?

Then Prust will spin a guy around and round and landed a few shots for the edge or Dubs will just drop the gloves and wrestle around. Girardi, del zotto, eminger, mc d, gaborik, Richards, stepan, cally, anisimov, etc etc. There is no deterrent on this team. Prust and Avery will drop the gloves but face it noone is scared of them and there presence on the ice will not stop teams from taking liberties.

Lucic, chara, thorton, horton, mcquaid I mean Boston is full of rough and tumble guys who can all play the game as well.

Even Philly, Simmonds, Ronaldo, shelly, hartnell, briere those are all guys who cheap shot the shi& out of other players and have muscle and balls on the team to bck it up. Look at last game vs Philly. Prust stood up to the whole team but one more incident and he was gone. Briere took a cross check to the face of del zotto and nobody ever even looked his way

Those are only a few of the tougher teams. If you guys think Gab, stepan, Richards, Henrik and the other stars can take shots like they do all year then I have pitty for you bc come Feb or come the game when we lose one of our top guys to a cheap shot then it will already be to late.

Teams like Boston, you never see Tim Thomas getting ran, or top line guys being ran and if u did then you have guys like Lucic running your players or goalie to show they won't take it.

This team is rolling and I'm loving it but I wanna see some toughness from either the players we have or someone else brought it before Henrik or Gab end up like Miller. We have big guys like Boyle, Girardi, Sauer but they are soft and when your 6'3 + and 225lbs + there is no reason you can't be a tougher guy and handle yourself in a scrap or two.

[nyr2]

Originally Posted by nyrgoal

Then Prust will spin a guy around and round and landed a few shots for the edge or Dubs will just drop the gloves and wrestle around. Girardi, del zotto, eminger, mc d, gaborik, Richards, stepan, cally, anisimov, etc etc. There is no deterrent on this team. Prust and Avery will drop the gloves but face it noone is scared of them and there presence on the ice will not stop teams from taking liberties.

Lucic, chara, thorton, horton, mcquaid I mean Boston is full of rough and tumble guys who can all play the game as well.

Even Philly, Simmonds, Ronaldo, shelly, hartnell, briere those are all guys who cheap shot the shi& out of other players and have muscle and balls on the team to bck it up. Look at last game vs Philly. Prust stood up to the whole team but one more incident and he was gone. Briere took a cross check to the face of del zotto and nobody ever even looked his way

Those are only a few of the tougher teams. If you guys think Gab, stepan, Richards, Henrik and the other stars can take shots like they do all year then I have pitty for you bc come Feb or come the game when we lose one of our top guys to a cheap shot then it will already be to late.

Teams like Boston, you never see Tim Thomas getting ran, or top line guys being ran and if u did then you have guys like Lucic running your players or goalie to show they won't take it.

This team is rolling and I'm loving it but I wanna see some toughness from either the players we have or someone else brought it before Henrik or Gab end up like Miller. We have big guys like Boyle, Girardi, Sauer but they are soft and when your 6'3 + and 225lbs + there is no reason you can't be a tougher guy and handle yourself in a scrap or two.

Well we are on the same page here. Since we are stuck with Tortorella, I would like to see the physical presence come in the form of a defenseman because otherwise it could be the toughest guy in the league(like Boogaard) and never play because this guy only wants to play 3 lines.

[pesadillamal]

Originally Posted by nyr2

First off, yes we should all enjoy a winning streak, but enjoying a winning streak in November/December and awarding them the Cup are 2 very different things. Of course I am happy that they are winning, but I still don't feel it with this team...if they keep it up and are still doing this in February then it will paint a different picture. And this streak they are playing well in spite of themselves because Tortorella is still playing with the lines. Maybe they are gelling as a team in the locker room but I don't think they are this one cohesive unit on the ice, like all great teams are.

And hey, if you are happy with average, then good for you, but I don't live in that world. I live in reality. I live as a die hard Ranger fan that has seen one Cup and only one solid showing in the nearly 18 years since. As I said, I am not saying just go out all willy nilly and make a deal to make a deal...I was not a fan of the Bobby Ryan talk. I said I feel they need a top 4 d-man with size(a guy that will actually use his size so I'm not talking about a Hal Gill type, we already have Boyle for that) and a few pieces up front.

Last, being a soft team or not has nothing to do with fighting majors...at least in my eyes. And I don't think you necessarily need an enforcer to not be soft, although it doesn't hurt. The fact is that they have been and will be pushed around. As a team they lack a passion and aggressiveness that is necessary. Callahan isn't intimidating anyone...I use him as the example because he could lead the league in hits and it wont really matter. I love the guy, just like I love Dubinsky and Prust...but that's it. That's the physical element of the team. There is no d-man that is a physical presence and certainly no one that will make anyone pay for running Lundqvist. He gets hit all the time, its only a matter of time before someone goes Lucic or Tootoo and then what?

I am happy with average? They have the most points per game in the NHL. I am judging them by what they do on the ice, not what you think they are.

The line in bold is way off. How could you be second in the league in hits and fourth in blocked shots if you lack passion and intensity? And if the willingness to fight has nothing to do with toughness then I don't know what to tell you. When Henry gets bowled over then we will see. We certainly have nobody to pound the guy into submission but they will answer the call at the very least.

[pesadillamal]

Originally Posted by nyrgoal

Then Prust will spin a guy around and round and landed a few shots for the edge or Dubs will just drop the gloves and wrestle around. Girardi, del zotto, eminger, mc d, gaborik, Richards, stepan, cally, anisimov, etc etc. There is no deterrent on this team. Prust and Avery will drop the gloves but face it noone is scared of them and there presence on the ice will not stop teams from taking liberties.

Lucic, chara, thorton, horton, mcquaid I mean Boston is full of rough and tumble guys who can all play the game as well.

Even Philly, Simmonds, Ronaldo, shelly, hartnell, briere those are all guys who cheap shot the shi& out of other players and have muscle and balls on the team to bck it up. Look at last game vs Philly. Prust stood up to the whole team but one more incident and he was gone. Briere took a cross check to the face of del zotto and nobody ever even looked his way

Those are only a few of the tougher teams. If you guys think Gab, stepan, Richards, Henrik and the other stars can take shots like they do all year then I have pitty for you bc come Feb or come the game when we lose one of our top guys to a cheap shot then it will already be to late.

Teams like Boston, you never see Tim Thomas getting ran, or top line guys being ran and if u did then you have guys like Lucic running your players or goalie to show they won't take it.

This team is rolling and I'm loving it but I wanna see some toughness from either the players we have or someone else brought it before Henrik or Gab end up like Miller. We have big guys like Boyle, Girardi, Sauer but they are soft and when your 6'3 + and 225lbs + there is no reason you can't be a tougher guy and handle yourself in a scrap or two.

Yeah, I wish our team was as tough as Boston but they are not and nobody else is either. You mention that nobody is affraid of the Rangers but then you list Philly as if teams are affraid of them. That is BS.

[nyrgoal]

Im sorry if it came off as me trying to say teams are affraid of Philly, that wasnt my intention. I was talking about Philly being dirty and having dirty players, but also having players that are not afraid to run another goalie, or give payback to a team that takes liberties on there team.

All in all I love the Rags this year, however when it comes down to it, we need a bit more toughness if were gonna go deep into the playoffs. Everyone knows that playoff hockey is a huge step up from regular season hockey. Players need to be faster and tougher.

Like I said, we have big guys and there is no reason they cannot play a tough game. Im just sick of the past 3 years seeing Henrik get run over time after time and nobody is there to do anything about it. I wanna see a tough Dman.

[nyrgoal]

Tonight is exactly why we need a tough dman. Nobody to clear the net. Weak shot front the point with guys screening Henrik, then a weak goal off the faceoff which Henrik shouldve had but still the kid scores on his 3rd swipe at the puck bc he out muscles Feds and of course there is no dman to help out.

We need a stay at home dman to just clear the net. Like Scott Stevens, Chara, Pronger or even Engelland or Brookbank. Engelland and Brookbank arent even great dmen but what they lack in skill they mzke up in physical play and dont gdet pushed around or let there goalies get ran.

We lose more battles in the corners bc the Rangers look scared to go in the corner first in the defensive zone. Plus the D needs to take the body more instead of poke checking everything. They miss more poke checks and more players just skate by them and have wide open shots on net.

[nyr2]

Originally Posted by pesadillamal

I am happy with average? They have the most points per game in the NHL. I am judging them by what they do on the ice, not what you think they are.

The line in bold is way off. How could you be second in the league in hits and fourth in blocked shots if you lack passion and intensity? And if the willingness to fight has nothing to do with toughness then I don't know what to tell you. When Henry gets bowled over then we will see. We certainly have nobody to pound the guy into submission but they will answer the call at the very least.

So is Alex Ovechkin suddenly at best an average player? Or is he still one of the top 3 players in the world in a very bad place right now? Kovalchuk didn't suddenly suck last year, Gaborik didn't lose his scoring touch last year...guys and teams(see the Ducks) play below their potential just like guys and teams play above it. Kris Versteeg won't be in the running for the Art Ross at seasons end just like I don't see this current Rangers team in the hunt for the Cup at the end of the season. After the all star break we can reassess...one of us will be wrong, and believe me, I hope it's me.

And fighting for the sake of fighting doesn't mean anything in the long run...I LOVED Barnaby...but Barnaby could have had 40 fights in a season, but he was never a deterrent to other teams, it was his agitating that made him special...just like Avery has been at times or like a guy like Claude Lemeiux was in the playoffs. I love Brandon Prust and I would like to see him stay with the team for many more years, but no one will think twice about running Henrik or Gaborik, or anyone else just because he is there, because as entertaining he might be, hes not going to win the majority of his fights in convicing fashion and hes not very big.

If they win tonight after being down 3-0 then that will say something about their tenacity and heart...if they lose, then I want to see how they respond to the let down. Adrenaline is high right now as they have scored 2 unanswered...

[pesadillamal]

Originally Posted by nyr2

So is Alex Ovechkin suddenly at best an average player? Or is he still one of the top 3 players in the world in a very bad place right now? Kovalchuk didn't suddenly suck last year, Gaborik didn't lose his scoring touch last year...guys and teams(see the Ducks) play below their potential just like guys and teams play above it. Kris Versteeg won't be in the running for the Art Ross at seasons end just like I don't see this current Rangers team in the hunt for the Cup at the end of the season. After the all star break we can reassess...one of us will be wrong, and believe me, I hope it's me.

And fighting for the sake of fighting doesn't mean anything in the long run...I LOVED Barnaby...but Barnaby could have had 40 fights in a season, but he was never a deterrent to other teams, it was his agitating that made him special...just like Avery has been at times or like a guy like Claude Lemeiux was in the playoffs. I love Brandon Prust and I would like to see him stay with the team for many more years, but no one will think twice about running Henrik or Gaborik, or anyone else just because he is there, because as entertaining he might be, hes not going to win the majority of his fights in convicing fashion and hes not very big.

If they win tonight after being down 3-0 then that will say something about their tenacity and heart...if they lose, then I want to see how they respond to the let down. Adrenaline is high right now as they have scored 2 unanswered...

I see what you are saying. To me every season is a new one so as of right now I am on board. Maybe because I predicted they would be in contention for the division all year before the season started I am being way too quick to accept them as a contender. I expect it and will be disappointed if they flounder.

I also see what you guys are saying about a deterrant and sather has tried to force one on Torts for a few years now but in respect to the remaining enforcers and their families he knew not to try again. You said the same before and I was happy with the Rupp signing because it is as close to an enforcer that Torts will play. The only possible deterrant would be if Torts turned Avery loose and that isn't going to happen. If you don't have a top dog you have to answer with cheapshots sometimes. The problem is that they have the players that would do that but Torts doesn't like that stuff. He should let them cross the line every so often.

[nyrgoal]

Originally Posted by pesadillamal

I see what you are saying. To me every season is a new one so as of right now I am on board. Maybe because I predicted they would be in contention for the division all year before the season started I am being way too quick to accept them as a contender. I expect it and will be disappointed if they flounder.

I also see what you guys are saying about a deterrant and sather has tried to force one on Torts for a few years now but in respect to the remaining enforcers and their families he knew not to try again. You said the same before and I was happy with the Rupp signing because it is as close to an enforcer that Torts will play. The only possible deterrant would be if Torts turned Avery loose and that isn't going to happen. If you don't have a top dog you have to answer with cheapshots sometimes. The problem is that they have the players that would do that but Torts doesn't like that stuff. He should let them cross the line every so often.

Perfectly said Pesa. Rupp will make a huge difference when he comes back and like you said, we have the ability and players that can and would go out there and throw a cheap shot or take a few liberties on other teams but its a matter of taking off the cuffs.

Nicely said again.

[Lucy Brown]

Man would I like to see Avery get turned loose. If anything it would be very entertaining. Could you imagine Avery on the Flyers. He would be a King in Philadelphia. That would be my worst nightmare. Avery goes to the Flyers and plays 15 to 20 mins a game and does what ever he wants.

[SirYohans]

Originally Posted by Lucy Brown

Man would I like to see Avery get turned loose. If anything it would be very entertaining. Could you imagine Avery on the Flyers. He would be a King in Philadelphia. That would be my worst nightmare. Avery goes to the Flyers and plays 15 to 20 mins a game and does what ever he wants.

It's like, I can't even imagine that. Or better yet, Avery on the Devils running a muck on the Rangers. That's just a disturbing thought.

[pesadillamal]

The losses suck but even more disturbing than that is the fact that the last two games have been unwatchable. Tortorella wants to play a rough game and get in people's faces and then the idiot dresses a charmin lineup. Hagalin has been good but while Mitchel started out good, he really doesn't bring much to the table. He could fXck off and that fXggot Christensen could follow suit. Torts is so stubborn some times I would like to kick his teeth in. Rupp is coming back and Avery should be in the lineup also if weasel Torts wants to play the game he says he does. Or maybe changing lines like you are Scotty Bowman (far from it asshole) on an acid trip will all of the sudden work. Boyle sucks balls also but at least he hits.

Scumbag Torts was waiting for a reason to take Avery out and I don't even think he was given a reason.