claver2010 {l Wrote}:doesn't matter the coach or the composition of the team, nothing throws the rangers off more than a rookie goalie no one has heard of
The Rangers hate prosperity. They can never, ever, do things the easy way. This big Swiss dork is a terrible goaltender, just like the homeless guy Pittsburgh found at Penn Station and threw into the goal where he shut the Rangers down completely for two games and forced the Rangers to dig deep and avert an early playoff edit against a team in Pittsburgh that was running on fumes. The seven game series with Pittsburgh meant that by the time the Rangers had dispatched an actual worthy opponent in the Canes in another brutally physical series that they were utterly spent against a Tampa team they should have beat when all things were equal. But they had no legs and by the end of game three, it was pretty clear the Rangers had shot their wad and had nothing more to give and were predictably rocked to sleep over the next three games.
Even assuming the Rangers can overcome the Devils—and I don’t know that is necessarily going to happen here—Ruff is a much better coach than Gallant and has made adjustments that the Rangers have not found an answer for—the gas tank is emptying. They might also be able to beat the Canes because honestly, with that roster the Canes have no business advancing deep in the playoffs, but by the time they get to the Bruins or Leafs, they’ll be utterly spent and will go quietly. It is probably time to begin acknowledging that the roster and core of this team is not and will not ever be good enough. Fire Drury, fire Gallant, see what you can do to move Trouba, Panarin. Trade Kakko and Laff—who have both wildly underperformed vis a vis their draft positions, and send Miller to someone who actually has a competent stay at home defensemen who can cover for his myriad of defensive deficiencies. Give Kreider the “C” for the transition—it’s going to take another few years to rebuild. I’d be open to trading Zibby as well. Excellent regular season player, but in contrast with Kreider who seems disinterested in the regular season at times, but elevates his game in the playoffs, Zibby shrinks in the playoffs.