Twenty-one games into this season, the Rangers are tied with the New York Islanders at the bottom of the Atlantic Division with 23 points. The Rangers have one game in hand though. The Flyers have two more points than the Rangers with two games in hand while the Penguins have five more points and have played one more game. The first place Devils are six points ahead with a game in hand.
Even with the Rangers near the bottom of the division standings, John Tortorella still thinks its too early to look:
“Twenty-one games into it, it’s way too early to be looking at standings,” Tortorella said Friday. “But having said that, we need to play more consistently, especially at home. I don’t want to get too far ahead as far as what’s going to happen if we lose. But we have concerns about our consistency, and that’s what we’re trying to work on.”
Read more from Jeff Z. Klein at the NY Times
…I 100% agree with Torts. Its just to early, if they swing back to back wins, unheard of, they could be right back in the thick of things. At 40 games its time to look at the Standings and evaluate what else needs to be done. But for now, just flip past that part of the newspaper.
Too early to look at the standings??? More BS here I’m afraid. The standings are a direct reflection of how messed up this team is. First the standings are relevent at this time because today the 13th ranked Panthers who we play tonight are just 10 points behind the Caps the top ranked team in the conference. This shows you how tight the league is and every game no matter when it is will be just as important as any other regarding the final standings in April. If that’s not enough if they beat the Rangers tonight they will be a mere point behind the Rangers with a game in hand! Second it’s basically a given that when comparing Sather to Lou Lamoriello you’re looking at a corporate cancer as opposed to the Pulitzer prize of GM’s. How many injuries have the Devils had to deal with and look at this team. It’s simply disgusting that the richest team in the NHL has such a major douche bag running this team. Well if it’s not bad enough Lou makes Sather look like the asshole he is we now have to contemplate the idea that Garth Snow is also a better GM than Sather as well. If that’s not enough to make Sather pack his bags and leave town then what the hell is? Next although it’s true that we’re only just past the 1/4 point in the season but the reasons the Rangers sit where they are lie within the teams stats. Everybody is complaining about the injuries to Dubi and Drury. Anybody doing that had best realize that Dubi had a whopping 10 points in 18 games well on his way to another 40- maybe 50 point season. Is that what we get with that new contract Dubi?? 65-75 points are a must or you and that contract are a huge bust. And Drury?? El Capitain?? A big 6 points in 18 games??? So really what are we getting when and if both these guys return? A whole lot of nothing if you ask me, simply an awful lot of wasted cap space sums these two up in a nutshell. Hey Gaborik is having a great season and we can only hope he stays healthy. Prospal has been very good so far but can we expect that point a game pace to be maintained throughout the season? He has done that 2 times in his 13 years as a pro so call me a pessimist but I say that’s wishful thinking. Kotalik has been OK, and Del Zotto has had a very good rookie season so far. After that the roster is simply painful to look at loaded with underachievers who are wasting my time as a fan and the teams time too. After Dubi and Drury who undoubtedly lead the team in disappointment we have Enver Lisin with 8 points in 20 games, Ryan Callahan with 7 pts in 21 games, and Higgins with 5 points, 5 in 20 games and Brian Boyle with 3 points in 21 games although in his defense he doesn’t get that much ice time. You would have thought Kotalik and Higgins were good moves but Sather has the anti Midas touch where everything he touches turns to shit. And finally as if we didn’t already know, …REDDEN AND ROZSIVAL SUCK AND COULDN’T MAKE MY HIGH SCHOOL TEAM. With the cap the way it is I’m afraid this team needs to be torn down and redone. Sather needs to go first. I would keep Gilroy, Del Zotto, and Staal (even though he’s been stinking it up pretty good too lately). Redden Rozsival and even Girardi have shown they have to go. Prospal is 34 and Kotalik is 30. These guys belong on a team that has a chance to win now which the Rangers have no shot at doing leaving these guys as trade bait. Long story short the team should keep Gaborik, Lundqvist, Gilroy, Del Zotto, and Staal. Every other player should be considered trade bait and hopefully Messier can rebuild the team before Gaborik and Lundqvist are too old and the rebuilding will need to continue after that. I doubt very much that the Rangers will make the playoffs with the roster the way it is and something needs to be done NOW!!!!
It’s obvious that Jeff Klein is hanging out with Sather. Skip that part of the newspaper you moron???? That’s what Sather has been doing for the last decade which is why he knows nothing about the players who play NHL hockey today.
Hey Klein we all know Larry Brooks knows nothing of hockey which is why he works for the rag that he is employed with. But the NY Times is supposed to be a reputable source of reference. With that comment up above that reputation takes a major hit regarding sports anyway. maybe you’re better at reporting on International affairs? So go to Afghanistan and report and stay away from reporting on the Rangers where your ignorance shines through first loud and clear. Sather must have bought you a box of Cubans!