LastWordArmy
Registered User
A look at what this loss means for the New York Rangers
http://lastwordonsports.com/2016/04/24/window-closed-rangers/
http://lastwordonsports.com/2016/04/24/window-closed-rangers/
The answer is yes and no. There's gonna be a lot of history in this post so bare with me.
Yes with this exact core it's over, but who is the core? There were guys on that 79 team (Tzachuk, Vickers) who were around from the early 70s, and guys on the the 86 team (Maloney, Greschner) who were around from the late 70s team. So you don't have to blow it entirely up. Guys like Stepan, McD, and even Lundqvist sharing time with a Shetyorkin/Halverson and maybe not starting the playoffs can still be here.
From 98-00, Smith had some really good pieces in Sundstrom, Cloutier, Savard, Knuble, Johnson, Kloucek, Cherneski, Zidlicky, Schneider, etc. Some were lost to injuries of course, but he also totally messed up and struck out.
This group has more pieces than that and also 5/6 more in the pipeline than can help out in the next 2-3 years. That's not too shabby.
The key for Gorton, Clarke, and Greeley, is to also identify a certain psychological element to these players in how they handle pressure. So many of these Rangers with the exception of Lundqvist, Brassard, and maybe one or two others are completely erratic and inconsistent during the playoffs. No killer instinct, don't play the same from game to game.
They need more rats, guys who will get in a Crosby or Tavares's face which is why I'm so high on a skilled guy like Kovacs. Even if he's just a third liner with good shootout skills, that agitation could make him a very effective playoff performer.
Of course it is. I just hope Gorton doesn't think it's still open or it's going to be a LONG offseason.
Who is Chris Lizza?
Exactly.
Nobody.
This organization is not pathetic or poorly run.
Nor is it broke.
The window is closed for this bunch.
And that should include the coach.
We have a good core.
We have Hank
In Slats we trust!
Its closed. Everyone older than Zucc should not be on the team next season.
I'll reiterate that to be truly successful in this league, a team needs a bonafide defenseman and a premiere center. We still have neither. McDonagh looks to be more of a solid first pairing defenseman instead of a guy to build your blue line around. And neither Stepan nor Brassard are elite.
This is something I've always wondered myself. Granted, we've had the same 2 teams dominate for a half decade, so tough to find other examples. I would've hoped our strong depth and by committee philosophy would worked given the playoffs are a war of attrition.
Would be nice to see how far the Blues can go, since they are weak at C and not sure Pietro will qualify as that franchise 1D in the vein of a Keith or Doughty.