Post-Game Talk: PS #4 - 10/03/16 | RANGERS @ flyers | 7:00 PM - MSG

[haveandare]

Graves and McI is a big, big pair. That's like 13 feet of d man.

 

[Riche16]

The thing here, for me, is that

Nash struggling
Hank struggling/injured
Vesey/Skjei/Buch struggling
Not playing McIlrath

Are all hypothetical situations that are far less likely to all occur than Girardi being terrible.

Meanwhile, there are redundancies in place for all of these (besides Hank, which is the least likely to happen) that if any of the aforementioned hypothetical situations do occur, the Rangers can overcome.

Nash struggles? He struggled last season. Rangers will score by committee.
Hank struggles/injured? Buckle up.
Vesey/Skjey/Buch struggling? Lots of depth this season.
Not playing McIlrath? Again, good (read: better) D depth this season than last.

However, if Girardi is netting -20 shot attempts per 60 and AV keeps playing him 22 minutes a night, there's nothing to do there.

I guess it just seemed oversimplified to me.

There are a TON of question marks here. A lot has to go RIGHT for this squad to make the play-offs.

If G plays poorly but is still forced onto the ice night after night, that would be on AV... again, ur answer to McIlrath fits for G also. A lotta depth out there.

 

[Ori]

kind of hoping so. I'm not expecting much from this team this year other than some fun hockey.

Yes true, should be a fun season.

 

[Vickers8]

Keep playing Lapierre when we should be trying younger guys with a Rangers future, don't get it

 

[Lion Hound]

Graves and McI is a big, big pair. That's like 13 feet of d man.

Ha ha!!!

This has the potential to get physical tonight with these two on the same pairing.

 

[mandiblesofdoom]

Keep playing Lapierre when we should be trying younger guys with a Rangers future, don't get it

AV's favorite song is "Stop Making Sense."

 

[RempireStateBuilding]

Keep playing Lapierre when we should be trying younger guys with a Rangers future, don't get it

They need #grit and #tufnes tonight since they're playing the Flyers.

 

[Apocalypse Dude]

I hope the D plays well and Graves has a good game, it's nice seeing a Maritimer play for the blueshirts. Philly is playing a lot of their main guys though, hopefully it doesn't get ugly.

 

[offdacrossbar]

Graves and McI is a big, big pair. That's like 13 feet of d man.

and if size equaled quality of play we would be the best team in the league.

weve got some trees

sadly, it does not.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I 100% agree that Vesey isn't ready. But I'm sure there was a handshake deal in getting him to come here.

I don't see how he isn't ready.

 

[Lion Hound]

I don't see how he isn't ready.

Me too...Not only do I feel he is ready, I think hes been top 3 best players on the team in preseason each game he has played.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

There must be an alternate universe where Vesey hasn't done much.

Maybe Barb is there.

 

[Trxjw]

Handshake deal or not, Vesey looks ready for an honest shot in a 3rd line role. He might not stick there and it's a long season for a guy coming out of college, but he's earned that chance without a doubt, IMO.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

I'm extra excited for the implosion when both Tanny and Lappy don't get cut over guys like Hrivik or Gerbe.

True that!

We all know it basically, maybe preparing subconsciously.

 

[FLYLine27*]

I 100% agree that Vesey isn't ready. But I'm sure there was a handshake deal in getting him to come here.

He's been one of the better players in both games he's played. Not sure how you came to that conclusion. Unless you meant Buch? That I could understand a bit more.

 

[silverfish]

He's been one of the better players in both games he's played. Not sure how you came to that conclusion. Unless you meant Buch? That I could understand a bit more.

I'm of the opinion that this isn't true. I think he's been sufficiently outshined by other forwards in each game he has played. He looked good in game 1, playing with Nash and Hayes against terrible competition. He looked less good in game 2, playing with bad linemates against NHL competition.

Which is why I believe tonight is another good test for Vesey. AV is giving him the linemates to succeed. He has to take advantage. He's getting his chances.

 

[Irishguy42]

I'm of the opinion that this isn't true. I think he's been sufficiently outshined by other forwards in each game he has played. He looked good in game 1, playing with Nash and Hayes against terrible competition. He looked less good in game 2, playing with bad linemates against NHL competition.

Which is why I believe tonight is another good test for Vesey. AV is giving him the linemates to succeed. He has to take advantage. He's getting his chances.

FWIW, Vesey was moved up to the Kreid/ZBad line in the third period of the last game. He looked a lot better once that happened. At least, to me.

So yeah, being put with actual linemates seems to help him.

 

[silverfish]

FWIW, Vesey was moved up to the Kreid/ZBad line in the third period of the last game. He looked a lot better once that happened. At least, to me.

So yeah, being put with actual linemates seems to help him.

Yeah, but he took Miller's spot, and I don't want to bring that up because then it will devolve as usual

 

[Irishguy42]

Yeah, but he took Miller's spot, and I don't want to bring that up because then it will devolve as usual

He was certainly an upgrade to Miller on that line, so there's that

 

[Levitate]

I'm of the opinion that this isn't true. I think he's been sufficiently outshined by other forwards in each game he has played. He looked good in game 1, playing with Nash and Hayes against terrible competition. He looked less good in game 2, playing with bad linemates against NHL competition.

Which is why I believe tonight is another good test for Vesey. AV is giving him the linemates to succeed. He has to take advantage. He's getting his chances.

Unless we were expecting him to jump in as a 30 goal 60 point NHL forward right away, a NHL rookie not carrying a line of bad linemates versus NHL competition shouldn't be a mark against him

e: on top of that I haven't seen any actual bubble forwards that have outperformed him, but again I'm only going off his first game. Guys like Grabner, Gerbe, etc, look fine as 4th liners but not as players who should be competing with Vesey for a scoring role

 

[silverfish]

He was certainly an upgrade to Miller on that line, so there's that

BLASPHEMY!

Unless we were expecting him to jump in as a 30 goal 60 point NHL forward right away, a NHL rookie not carrying a line of bad linemates versus NHL competition shouldn't be a mark against him

e: on top of that I haven't seen any actual bubble forwards that have outperformed him, but again I'm only going off his first game. Guys like Grabner, Gerbe, etc, look fine as 4th liners but not as players who should be competing with Vesey for a scoring role

Mainly, I'm thinking the competition for the final top-9 spot is between Vesey and Pirri because for some reason, AV won't use either on the fourth-line. As of right now, I've got Pirri ahead of Vesey.

It's not the end of the world if a kid coming out of college needs some time to square up to the speed of the pro game in the AHL for a bit.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Pirri certainly showed more poise than Vesey and he's been in the league already. He's a sniper! Basically the first guy since Duke, we've had that is shot-first-mentality. Dude's a lock, top-9.

Vesey, I'll have to make the eye test today. Haven't seen nearly enough, Pirri has the numbers.

But are four balanced lines ever a bad thing? All lines forcing the opponents into backchecking, as they could be all defensively and offensively sound?

 

[Levitate]

Oops, I forgot about Pirri for some dumb reason

 

[Revel]

i must be watching a different player...i think Vesey has been very good....for what he is...a young player learning the pro game. I think hed be fine on a 3rd line with Hayes and Nash....

I'm with you

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

BLASPHEMY!



Mainly, I'm thinking the competition for the final top-9 spot is between Vesey and Pirri because for some reason, AV won't use either on the fourth-line. As of right now, I've got Pirri ahead of Vesey.

It's not the end of the world if a kid coming out of college needs some time to square up to the speed of the pro game in the AHL for a bit.

I don't disagree that Pirri has been better than Vesey, but that doesn't mean that Vesey has looked like he isn't ready.

Personally, I thought he looked much better than both of his line mates on Thursday (specifically Nash, who looked like doo doo butter.)