Rangers 2010-2011

[mug25 2]

I'm just wondering if the NY experience is getting to Hank. I mean, didn't he just do a taping of Martha Stewart?

I just hope his head is in it this year, because this team, while scrappy and not overly offensively gifted, is well balanced and does work.

Wouldn't mind trying Steps in between Cally and Dubi and giving AA some time on the first line though. Him and Gabby work well, and Frolov is just a whatever at this point. Whatever extra you can get out of him, you take and are happy, and whatever you don't get, you just say "whatever" and move on.

The thing is, the pack line works SO well together that it's turned into an "If aint broken, dont fix it" sort of thing. Either way, Stepan needs to continue to get 1st/2nd line ice time. He's showing that he's got amazing vision on the ice and has been making some really good plays since returning to the 1st line.

[burrn 0]

I'm just wondering if the NY experience is getting to Hank. I mean, didn't he just do a taping of Martha Stewart?

I just hope his head is in it this year, because this team, while scrappy and not overly offensively gifted, is well balanced and does work.

Wouldn't mind trying Steps in between Cally and Dubi and giving AA some time on the first line though. Him and Gabby work well, and Frolov is just a whatever at this point. Whatever extra you can get out of him, you take and are happy, and whatever you don't get, you just say "whatever" and move on.

So that's why he was ill a few days back! lol

[mug25 2]

great win vs the flames tonight. Staal DESTROYED Stajan with that open ice hit.

[RussianDangler15 0]

That was definantly one of the best hits I've seen in a while.

[Chappie 0]

It was Beukeboom-like.

Also, really liking Stepan's game so far since Torts dug him up off the 4th line. Just wish Frolov wasn't along side him. He adds nothing.

[mug25 2]

It was Beukeboom-like.

Also, really liking Stepan's game so far since Torts dug him up off the 4th line. Just wish Frolov wasn't along side him. He adds nothing.

The more I think about it, the more I'd like to see a Dubinsky - Stepan - Gaborik line. Torts himself has already said that Dubi-AA-Cally line is getting "stale".

[Chadd 916]

Torts himself has already said that Dubi-AA-Cally line is getting "stale".

Why, did they play three shifts in a row together? Guys, and lines, go in cycles and constantly changing lines usually causes more problems than it solves.

[mug25 2]

Why, did they play three shifts in a row together? Guys, and lines, go in cycles and constantly changing lines usually causes more problems than it solves.

3 shifts in a row? They've been playing the entire season together. He just said they're getting stale. For the most part, he's kept the lines pretty much the same. The Prust-Boyle-Fedotenko line he made by tinkering with things the first 5 games of the season and it's paid off.

[BenderHockey 127]

3 shifts in a row? They've been playing the entire season together. He just said they're getting stale. For the most part, he's kept the lines pretty much the same. The Prust-Boyle-Fedotenko line he made by tinkering with things the first 5 games of the season and it's paid off.

I agree. The PBR line has been excellent. Not huge numbers, but a lot of hard work.

[mug25 2]

I agree. The PBR line has been excellent. Not huge numbers, but a lot of hard work.

9 goals out of Boyle is pretty good numbers. He's 2nd on the team in goals. :D That's more than his career total before this season LOL

[Chappie 0]

He still has no playmaking abilities, lol. At least he's made up for it though with his goal scoring, and he's been a ton more physical (which was my biggest beef with him from the start).

[mug25 2]

Freaking AWESOME game tonight vs the Panthers.

Got to watch it live at the Bank Atlantic Center. This was prob the best game I've seen live in a while. Usually when the Rangers come to town they play really flat. Tonight lots of hitting — even from Del Zotto and really great goaltending by Henrik. 40 save shutout :D

AND my boy Stepan scored!

[Chappie 0]

Yeah they played well. They really fed into Hanks style of goaltending too. Lot's of outside shots that are low and "screened." He can just get low, peak around those in front of him and pick off in coming shots.

Tonight is another one of those big games, I'm kind of worried, especially since Gaborik's out with the flu.

I hope we get Prospal back soon too. Frolov is starting to come around, but I really rather have him on a line with Dubi and AA and move Callahan down to the third. It would make our bottom two lines even more balanced, and we can get White out of the lineup, and Boogy would only start against other "tough guy" teams.

[mug25 2]

Gaborik is on the ice :D LETS GO RANGERS!

[Chappie 0]

And yet it was still a depressing loss. At least Gabby showed up.

[zachary 2]

And yet it was still a depressing loss. At least Gabby showed up.

That was a sick shot he had. Everyone was so surprised it went in I swear there was a 2-3 secs delay between twine and cheering.

[Chappie 0]

Yeah he lasered it. He, Avery, Prust and Roszi had real strong games. Staal looked good too. The rest of the team, not so much. I think the amount of games they've played so far (most in the league), combined with the style of play they are imploring under Tort's is really taking it's toll on the team.

[mug25 2]

What a depressing loss. It's so obvious that whoever is coaching the powerplay needs to get their act together....

Crosby's slewfoot on Callahan was pure garbage. As much as I hate Avery it was good to see him stand up for his teammate and seek revenge — sadly it didn't work. LOL Gotta love what Dubinsky said about Crosby during the intermission.

[Chadd 916]

What a depressing loss. It's so obvious that whoever is coaching the powerplay needs to get their act together....

Crosby's slewfoot on Callahan was pure garbage. As much as I hate Avery it was good to see him stand up for his teammate and seek revenge — sadly it didn't work. LOL Gotta love what Dubinsky said about Crosby during the intermission.

And for those of us that didn't see the comments...

[Chappie 0]

What a depressing loss. It's so obvious that whoever is coaching the powerplay needs to get their act together....

Crosby's slewfoot on Callahan was pure garbage. As much as I hate Avery it was good to see him stand up for his teammate and seek revenge — sadly it didn't work. LOL Gotta love what Dubinsky said about Crosby during the intermission.

This seems to be a re-occurring theme. No matter if it's Mike Sullivan or Perry Pearn, we can not get a legitimate PP going consistently, and it doesn't matter who the personnel is. I really feel like we are just not running the right system. For one, why isn't Frolov in front of the net? Why did we never use Drury in front of the net?

The best PP coach we've ever had was Jagr when it was basically him running it, or at least running his line in 05-07. We have not had a legitimate PP since Straka - Nylander - Jagr, and it's frustrating. I miss how fun that line was....

[MattyBoy 1]

And for those of us that didn't see the comments...

[Chadd 916]

Pretty matter of fact, didn't get excited or dwell on it. Handled it very professionally.

[The Mafia Line 0]

I'm going to say it again, the Rangers are a #1 center and #1 Dman away from being a very very good team. Even after this loss.

[mug25 2]

I'm going to say it again, the Rangers are a #1 center and #1 Dman away from being a very very good team. Even after this loss.

While obviously not immediate solutions, Staal will continue to get better. He will be a true #1 D-Man in time. Heck, since watching him in his rookie season up until now you can see a huge improvement. Even Girardi is improving (leads the league in blocked shots). A very large portion of the defensive mistakes have been coming from Del Zotto this season.

As for the #1 Center...though he's a few years away Derek Stepan will hopefully fit nicely into that role. Unless of course Brad Richards gets signed in the off-season (highly unlikely with the cap space). Even with the following players coming off the books next year it seems like a stretch that the Rangers will be able to afford Richards without cutting loose a big contract (Drury or Rozsival ?)

LW / Frolov $3.0 Mil

C / Prospal $2.4 Mil

C / White $2.4 Mil

LW / Fedotenko $1.0 Mil

Dubinsky and Callahan are both RFA's and it's been said their salary cap hit could almost doubt the current 4.1 mil combined. Also RFA's are Anisimov and Boyle.

With such a stacked 2011 Free Agent list I'm guessing the Rangers roster will look VERY different come next October.

[kirkomlett1 0]

Is there a reason that anyone knows of why Anisimov never goes on Gabby's line when they're trying out new combinations?