PerreaultForever

I was impressed with Frederic taking him on. Held his own too. I'm not sure we have a single guy who would do that. McCabe might, but probably wouldn't fair too well. Nobody else. Bruins found another Bruin.

I think the better question might be should Dahlin be playing at all?

Actually the only time I get depressed is watching the Sabres.

Well idk. I watched the Bruins play Washington tonight and compared to what I saw between us and NJ this was like a whole different league. This game was the pro league and our game was little league. We're going to have to get a lot better to compete with either of them.

I'd be more worried if the Sabres had broken a sweat as that would mean deeper breathing and more chance of picking it up but since they didn't, they're probably fine.

Oh great back to Dahlin Montour. They were SO good before makes sense. 🙄

I actually never thought Bylsma sucked. It's a minority view I know, but he inherited a pretty bad team. As you say, didn't mesh with Eichel and his hockey was dull and boring and we decided we wanted to play "fast" and run with our big allegedly offensive stars and then that didn't work so we brought in a psychologist(?) instead of a coach? A motivational speaker to build up those fragile egos? So I guess JBot recognized these guys don't know how to lead and don't know how to win and don't know how to elevate their game (the culture) so the solution was build them up and praise them or whatever it is Kreuger supposedly was going to do and they would rise to that. Then add even more similar players (like Skinner and then Hall) and we're all set. Well guess what, still no leaders, still no compete, still don't elevate their game. So what now? A hard ass like Torts who doesn't put up with quitters or slackers? I've wanted that for years but would these guys respond to it? I doubt it. So what's left? What coach will magically get this sad sack of don't seem to care losers to play like they give a damn? I cannot think of a coach available that could fix this. Maybe we need to hire Babcock to bully them.

The core, the stars, the so called leaders (at this point) are still the same.

Wait. I thought everybody keeps telling me I'm wrong and Sam goes to the dirty areas so why do we need Risto?

I'm not going to argue that we've had great coaching, but we've had several different ones with different styles and different systems. They have all been lauded when they arrived and run out of town later. If the results are the same, even with these changes, don't you have to look at the things that didn't change?

It's not that. We've had healthier rosters than many teams many years. It's just that hockey gets tougher, more physical, teams bear down and it's simply harder in the second half (roughly) of a season and we don't elevate our game to match that. We have been soft and have lacked team effort for a long long time. All those mistakes are valid, so poor drafting is a reason for sure, but there is still a lot of talent on this team. We have way more talent for example than New Jersey but they still beat us. We lack a work ethic, team spirit and a winning culture.

Why stop there? I hear Mike Danton's out on parole.......................... (ya, just what this broken culture needs, a guy the Rangers can't stomach).

damn. you beat me to it.

maybe he's playing hurt?

Coming in later and reading over all these comments the one thing that can be agreed upon is that there is enough blame to spread around that there is pretty much at least one or two people here putting the blame on pretty much everybody on the roster and in management and in ownership. Some say this guy some say that guy etc. but I think only Reinhart got a pass cause he didn't play 🙂 (there's few others but you get the point). We go through this every year and you can argue forever but at some point you need to consider the constants year to year (at least since the tank). I think a complete tear down would mean several more lean years, but is there any real way to erase the baggage for the guys who have been here? idk.

Dave was a different kind of power forward entirely. He was (still is) a barrel chested big upper body kind of guy. Solid and strong and thus really hard to move out from the slot area. And that was in an era when you could hack and whack pretty good in there. Thompson is a gangly giraffe with nowhere near the same solidness in his upper body. For him to be similar to Dave he'd have to have a physique like Chara, and he does not. More importantly perhaps, he simply doesn't play that way or drive the net with his body forward. He just tries to snap that wrist shot whenever he gets anywhere near the slot and most are easy pickings for the goalie. If we had a Dave Andreychuk Kreuger wouldn't have to put Risto in front all the time on the PP 🙂

He simply does not have the attitude or style to become the power forward we all want. Pretty sure Cozens has already hit more guys in 1 year than Thompson has in all his time here. and I know it's not just about hitting, but for brevity, he just doesn't play a power forward type game.

Just disgraceful. We have so much more "talent" on the roster and we get out worked and beaten down by a bunch of nobodys really and they don't even have their #1 goalie. Good job Lindy, you are getting the most out of what you have, which isn't much. When we don't have a goalie bail us out we are sunk. Just disgraceful and yet, the same as every other year. Dump some of our "stars" and get me a bunch of Miles Wood types.

I disagree. He's just awkward. I was hoping he'd become something and use that size, but he doesn't and he doesn't really have an identity. Doesn't do any particular thing well and thus has no real role. I'm pretty much done with hoping for him or Mitts and would rather the bottom six was filled with Lazars and Reiders or other similar hard workers and grinders.

I don't think they are playing very good at all, but they are picking up the points and a win is a win so let it slide and see what happens. The Giraffe needs to be sent to Rochester. He is useless.

Maybe. Skinner's definitely an enigma. I don't think he is going to the net or shooting as well as he did first year but of course he played with a better center that year. I can't really say which of those is more accurate or causal. Maybe both.

likely, a stronger immune system.

I said it ALMOST LOOKED intentional. I don't think it was, but it was the laziest dumb play I've seen from a Sabre this year by far. There are coaches in this league that would bench a player for it.

If Reinhart can't go, this is the perfect opportunity for Ralph to try Skinner with Jack and see what happens. Switch Olofsson over to RW and play Skinner-Eichel-Olofsson and not the giraffe. If it works, Skinner earns his top line spot and we have Skinner-Eichel-Reinhart again when Sam is back. If it doesn't, back to line 4 Skinner goes. Ralph gets to save face as it was an injury move and nobody has to placate their ego. It's the perfect opportunity and if Ralph isn't taking it it means he will never give Skinner another real chance to prove himself.

To be clear, the lack of effort was for the entire team, not Eichel specifically. When you are being outshot 14-4 in the opening period it means either the other team is really good or your team hasn't shown up. The Rangers are not really good.