Where's The Offense?
Not sure how it's possible for a team to be dependent on a player who's scored just three goals in 14 games this season, but that's just what's happened to the Rangers.
In the three games since Rick Nash was injured, Rangers forwards have scored exactly one goal (Ryan Callahan). That's right, in the last nine periods, one goal from Rangers forwards. Just let that sink in for a second.
The Rangers offensive futility has them dead last in the Eastern Conference in goals scored with just 41. Tampa leads the Conference with 69 goals.
They're also tied for 28th in the league with a miniscule seven power play goals.
So who are the biggest offenders for the Rangers? Enjoy...
Brad Richards - 0 goals in his last 12 games
Marian Gaborik - 1 goal in his last seven games
Ryan Callahan - 1 goal in his last six games
Taylor Pyatt - 0 goals in his last 13 games
Chris Kreider - 1 goals in 10 games this season
Brian Boyle - 0 goals in 14 games this season
Jeff Halpern - 0 goals in 17 games this season
Michael Del Zotto - 0 goals in his last 10 games
Marc Staal - 0 goals in this last 13 games
Matt Gilroy - 0 goals in 11 games this season
...wow, that's ugly folks. And before everyone argues about how Nash has been out of the line-up, the Rangers ended last season 11th in goals scored without the big guy. And of the 222 goals scored last year how many do you think were from Dubinsky, Anisimov, Prust, and Mitchell? Not many. So even with the Nash injury the Rangers have virtually all their goal scoring back from last season.
...so what does this all mean? It means that not having Nash in the line-up is no excuse for this embarrassing display offensive futility. They did it without him last year and they should be able to do it without him this year.
...the trick now is to get these guys believing in themselves again, because their offensive confidence is shot. And the way they do that is by putting pressure on opposing defenses through a relentless forecheck and cycling with the puck. Getting a guy to the front of the net would be nice also.
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@Tony Sofio , look at the senators game. Were down 2-0 and torts gets the team back 2-2. Goes to a shootout. Now you put 7 of our top scorers out there and only 1 can convert? Thats not a coach problem. Thats an effort problem. Torts is not afraid to bench Gabby or Richards. He is a great head coach.
Richards does not look like an elite player out there. No speed, no play-making, he isn't shooting. We go up against OTT and I see rookies on their team I've never heard of making better looking plays with more speed, style and urgency (not to mention they lead to goals or scoring chances).
He's a veteran, a leader and supposed high hockey IQ. Gotta be the guy who helps turn this team's offense around. He's not gonna do the grit job so he needs to help take care of the offense or, yeah, I'd seriously consider buying him out over the summer.
As for Gabby, he's always been a wimp. Avoiding checks and weak on the boards in the offensive zone since he got here. I forgive him, as long as he is producing. He's not producing. Last season was Gabby's season with the most toughness to it. I'd see him throw checks and work hard.
I have no problem with Nash, he creates chances, inspires play in his teammates. In fact I'd put that A on his sweater instead. Just praying he gets back sooner like Powe and not later like Staal (because yes, he has a concussion).
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Offense is always going to be a problem under Torts. Personally I'm Ok with that, as long as they're STIFF on defense. Their team defense has been absolutely atrocious, and if you can't play D under Torts then you're not going to generate any offense. It all starts with the back end in this system, and the players aren't playing it properly. Bottom line.
@TheNYRBlog With the talent on this team there is no reason for their poor play .someone has to be held accountable .. I say its torts
@jeanine1994 a coach and i mean a real coach knows his players strengths and weaknesses from what i see our biggest weakness is torts
@jeanine1994 i agree on home grown im willing to be patient and develop them it could be fun to watch .
@jeanine1994 look are dynasty teams the Isles and oilers their success was largely due to tgeir farm not trading youth for vets like 94
@CaptCally24 we do have a great group of home grown guys right now, it's really good to see
@CaptCally24 for the rangers doesn't automatically make you a ranger or mean I'm going to have undying devotion to you.
@jeanine1994 i like what came out if our farm , cally , delz,stall,miller , kreider , girardi ,step , hags, mcd ,
@CaptCally24 I think you need a healthy combination of both. But I too am not typical, just because you r wearing the jersey or work ...
@jeanine1994 im not a typical ranger fan i dont like just cause your a ranger i believe in building through the farm mess and graves are
@CaptCally24 mess can do anything! Haha and Leetchie and Richter r brilliant I know they'd be good
@CaptCally24 mess might be good? His dad and him have been coaching kids forever and mess coach the junior championships a few yes ago..
@jeanine1994 they were good for the fans but who really led them ? I say Keenan and mess
@jeanine1994 mess might be good but hes no where unlike graves leetch and Richter ? Not so sure about them
@jeanine1994 graves does alot of work with the kids , he scored 52 goals while being a force . He is a hockey player like my boy Cally..
@CaptCally24 I hear that. I believe Mess, Richter, Leetchie and Adam would all be excellent coaches
@jeanine1994 at this point i would give graves the head coaching job . Graves ran some clinics for my guys he lived hockey and he loves
@jeanine1994 i dont believe that however i do believe he has his favorites , Richards not doing much but still in line up .22 didnt get that
@CaptCally24 he's not able to use players strength to his advantage, he wants everyone to be the same
Carl Hagelin, Derek Stepan, Ryan Callahan
Taylor Pyatt, Brad Richards, Marian Gaborik
Darroll Powe, Brian Boyle, JT Miller
Brandon Mashinter, Jeff Halpern, Stu Bickel
I was not blaming Torts, but with these lines I am going to start getting on his case. The bottom 5 on this team now cannot score a goal. When you are struggling to find the back of the net, this is not the time to put in a bunch of physical players. This is a horrible lineup in my opinion. If it were me I take Boyle out, and obviously Bickel and replace them with Kreider and Thomas. Come on Torts use your head...
so from the title of this post, "where is the offense". Well now it is on the bench because that is how Torts deals with the toughness issue...
I doubt Nash is coming off the IR if he is not practicing today. Could be in for the long haul with his inure, which I think is almost assured to be a concussion after it has been this long. As for the other injuries man is Girardi a warrior. Cannot believe he is on the ice after that.....
In addition, of course Torts has Kreider and Thomas skating as extra-forwards with Bickel playing on a line. I mean jeez your best line asides from the Hagelin line was Halpern Kreider Miller. And also at least thomas offers some offensive production as opposed to Bickel or Boyle. Honestly, just get Boyle out of the lineup for anyone.
@slapshot13j I just can't comprehend sitting both Kreider and Thomas down in the press box and playing Mashinter, Boyle, Halpern, Powe, and Bickel/Asham. It has me very cautiously optimistic about Nash.
@slapshot13j @jtf1218 Yeah, with Nash not practicing today it is very unlikely he's back in the line-up tomorrow.
Del Zotto, Girardi, Powe all practicing, but not Nash, McDonagh, or Asham. Could be better, but could also be worse.
@TheNYRBlog Overall the team is not playing cohesive and the big-money players are not stepping-up, but tripping. #NYR
I think they all forgot what do to in a hockey game. They so far have played 20 mins of good hockey in all of their games.
I think they all forgot what do to in a hockey game. They so far have played 20 mins of good hockey in all of their games.
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Just looking at that it really puts a couple things into perspective.
1. After Pyatt's great start he has completely vanished
2. Brad Richards better start doing something differently
3. Gaborik still has 7 goals, but has to be more consistent then showing up once every 5 games
4. Boyle is a joke of a hockey player
5. This team managed to add an elite goal score and became more offensively inept.... ONLY THE F***ING RANGERS1
@slapshot13j yeah, boyle has been playing hard and hitting everyone... this is what everyone has been wanting him to do... Boyle is not a joke, he isn't a scorer, he is finally playing his game lately...
@TheNYRBlog I totally agree. It's been embarrassing watching this team the last week or so....
