They just need to get Kakko or Lafreniere rolling and they've got that 5v5 winger. You gotta think one of those guys is going to pick it up down the stretch with the rest of the team rolling the way they are.
shesty seems a worthy heir to the throne ... but we get outshot way too often... i aint feeling it (feeling it would mean i could see us in the semis this year)
I don't see how anyone can argue against permanently replacing Kakko with Lafreniere on the first line. Let's take a look at some statistics: Kaapo Kakko has spent most of the season playing on a line with two all-stars, and most of his time with a Norris Trophy caliber defenseman behind him. His line-mates have combined for 91 points this season. Kakko has 14 points. I'm sorry - that is not good. He is not a good hockey player. Lafreniere played with that line for the past two games and scored a goal in each game. He deserves his chance.
I wonder if it would make sense to move Kakko to Center? He's underperforming at RW in a big way. Maybe put him in the middle and let him make plays for his wingers?
How the hell did the Rangers get on a two week break at this point in the season? Next game is 2/15. Even with the All-Star break factored in that is a long break for February. Hopefully Gallant and his boys will come up with some new twists in the interim.
The next time they play they will be down 4 to 6 points in the standings and all the vibe of being on top will be gone. It's just not healthy for a team to spend this much time idle in the middle of the season. If the Rangers have any way of better controlling the schedule next year they should take it. If I'm Gallant and Co I take this opportunity to make some real changes to try to get some of the young stars rolling. Keep Lafreniere on the top line and make Kakko the third line Center to try to get him jumpstarted. The Rangers could use another star Center in the build and Kakko is not blowing the roof off with his play at RW.
NHL scheduling is always a mystery wrapped in a riddle to me. Have the Rangers even played the Penguins or Capitols yet? I know they've had some impressive wins and some real dumpster fires against other top teams, but those are the two I really want to see them be able to hang with finally.
The only team they haven't been able to solve this year is Colorado. When they run into an offensive powerhouse it becomes too easy to get blown out early and unable to catch up, even with Shesty in goal. This has been a Ranger weakness for decades now. They always had the same problem against the Penguins in the past.
Brennan Othmann is the first player in the OHL this season to have 30 goals. He's got 56 points in 37 games.
i was wondering, last week, why have the so many NHL teams played like 4 and 5 games fewer than us???
Part of it is schedule and part of it is probably Covid discipline. How many games have the Rangers had postponed due to Covid quarantine problems?
This. The NHL is using what was supposed to be the Olympic break to make up all the games that were lost to COVID-19. The Rangers were remarkably well-spared from the COVID Pandemic. Meanwhile, the Islanders have 10 games to make up. I agree that the break is not ideal, but we have some key injuries (Fox, Kakko, Chytl) that can heal up. This could work to the team's advantage
Gonna love watching the first couple of games after the break. Hopefully Gallant and company have been working on stuff and taken full advantage of the time. I'd really like to see a breakout from any of Lafreniere, Kakko or Chytil.
The Rangers defense is loaded right now. If the young wings break out we're looking at a really nice run the next few seasons.
