Pre-Game Talk: Rangers @ Predators 12/28 8pm

[Maliks PlusMinus]

Should McIlrath play? Yes. But we have won 35% of matches with him in so far this season and 73% with him out. Clearly that is not indicative of how well he has played and is largely coincidental (or because many have been without Klein/Godqvist), but it's unlikely to have disastrous consequences to leave him out.
It's more worrying to me that Glass has wormed his way back into the line-up on a regular basis.

 

[aufheben]

The larger concern is how AV rewards players. Kreider hasn't pulled his weight this season, and is cemented into the Top-6; Fast, who has done next to nothing this year, is given plenty of chances in higher roles; Girardi is a trainwreck and plays with McDonagh, who should be the Rangers' best defenseman.

Etem and McIlrath play a great game to start the holidays, and now they're scratched. I ****ing just KNEW he wouldn't sit Boyle or Girardi. The message to the players is it doesn't matter how well they play.

 

[BBKers]

Nash - Brass - Zucc
Lindberg - Step - Miller
Kreider - Hayes - Etem
Stalberg - Moore - Fast

McD - Klein
Yandle - Big Mac
Staal - Boyle


Waive Glass
Let Girardi rest until he is 100% to go

Never gonna happen though

 

[Revel]

Nash - Brass - Zucc
Lindberg - Step - Miller
Kreider - Hayes - Etem
Stalberg - Moore - Fast

McD - Klein
Yandle - Big Mac
Staal - Boyle


Waive Glass
Let Girardi rest until he is 100% to go

Never gonna happen though

First time I've seen Kredier dropped to Line 3. You're a trailblazer and I agree! For anyone thinking "No way!":: If he shows signs of life, then I have no problem moving him back to Line 2. But a message needs to be sent that he must perform.

The D pairings are what I'd do, too...once Klein makes it back.

 

[mrmel329]

I bet if we fire AV Mess would come back and coach this team as he wanted to do before AV with his assistants graves and leetch

 

[GOAT AINEC]

First game back from break and everyone healthy against the last team the Rangers beat before all the losing started.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

The only thing that could get AV fired is us missing the playoffs, even then he probably gets to start next season.

 

[hi]

This is AV's RANGERSTOWN, where everything is made up and logic doesn't matter.

 

[silverfish]

HC: Mess
D Coach: Leetch
PP Coach: Leetch
PK Coach: Beuk
Goalie Coach: Richter

'94 forever!

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Yes!

 

[TheDirtyH]

Tbh these plyaers are big boys now, I'm not worried about how they'll take the scratching or the messages it might send. Fact is, for all the reasons Ail and Machinehead so nicely listed for us, this roster is totally ****ed up. Everything that could be misused is misused. The product is as bad as it could be, and we know this bc it's been this way before. Who cares about the culture, AV is jeopardizing this season and the success of the hockey club!

 

[TheDirtyH]

HC: Mess
D Coach: Leetch
PP Coach: Leetch
PK Coach: Beuk
Goalie Coach: Richter

'94 forever!

Can we keep Allaire?

 

[Ail]

I'm still upset even though we all pretty much knew what was coming.

I don't know how to reconcile that, lol.

 

[HatTrick Swayze]

I'm almost as upset that Nash-Brass-Zucc is still being completely forced as I am with the McIlrath scratch. Makes no sense. Fast in the top 6 also makes no sense...

 

[Infinitum Vitae*]

I bet if we fire AV Mess would come back and coach this team as he wanted to do before AV with his assistants graves and leetch

I'm sure a lot of people would laugh but I'd love Moose as the HC. He'd have the locker room by the balls

 

[Irishguy42]

Mike Keenan is available. 1994 baby!

Maybe pull Marc Crawford away from the Swiss League? I dunno.

Both of these guys would be a hell of a lot more entertaining than Vigneault, anyway.

How sweet would it be to get Gretzsky to coach the Rangers....not that he needs the money to add to his quarter billion networth.

I'm now picturing what the fanbase would be like if we fired AV shortly after the Christmas break, hired Keenan, and then proceeded to win the Presidents Trophy and then the Cup...

IronMike4Lyfe

 

[*Bob Richards*]

I, like most of you, also saw this coming a mile away and yet I'm still pretty damn irked by it lol.

 

[aufheben]

I'm almost as upset that Nash-Brass-Zucc is still being completely forced as I am with the McIlrath scratch. Makes no sense. Fast in the top 6 also makes no sense...

There are a lot of things about this roster that don't make sense. Those are definitely a few.

Forwards and defensemen, he's playing some guys way above where they should be, while better players are below them. It really does look like a lineup decided by who makes the most $.

 

[BlueshirtBlitz]

But AV's not a problem guys!

 

[mas0764]

I'm not on the fire AV train. Not during the season. If anything, fire him during the offseason. Who could we get to replace him that's better? Boudreau, if he's fired from the Ducks? I can't think any other coaches on the market would be better to bring in mid season to replace AV.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in-season or out of season.

Two seasons.... Cup Finals and Conference Finals... has a bad month before the calendar even changes in his third year... FIRE HIM!!!!!!!!!!

Come on.

 

[aufheben]

Also pulling lines out of a hat and arbitrarily awarding people.

I'm making note of this picture for potential playoff avatars.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Why can't we just try these lines for a game?

Nash-Brass-Zuccarello
Kreider-Stepan-Etem
Lindberg-Hayes-Miller
Glass-Moore-Fast

McD-Klein
Yandle-McIlrath
Staal-Boyle

Let Girardi heal his kneecap and then deal with him when he gets back.


See I even let AV keep his pet Glass in the lineup.

I just want to see what Etem could do playing with Stepan and Kreider. If that doesn't work, switch him with Miller.

Fast in the top 6 isn't going to work. He filled in admirably in the playoffs last year, but it's not working this season. With Kreider and Stepan struggling, AV should be trying to jumpstart then with a new line mate if he's so hell bent on keeping them together as a pair. Try Etem there, he's definitely earned at least a game in the top 6.

 

[Chaels Arms]

The Rangers have had so much success in AV's tenure, really up until this past month or so, that he wasn't put in a situation where holding vets accountable becomes a big thing. Canucks fans warned us about this though. Bad at in game adjustments and bad at holding players accountable.

If this works somehow then fine but if we keep getting the same ****** play out of Kreider and Stalberg and if Girardi still looks hampered this lineup better not last longer than a few games.

 

[egelband]

Lets see how this plays out. AV is a players coach. Obviously. Nothing matters until the playoffs. Im happy to let this play out.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Lets see how this plays out. AV is a players coach. Obviously. Nothing matters until the playoffs. Im happy to let this play out.

In the playoffs he'll do the same thing. Glass will play.