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00:00This is a good hockey team.
00:02I'm going to say it now.
00:03Say it.
00:04This is the opposite of what we saw last year with their 12-4 start.
00:11There's a little bit of smoke and mirrors.
00:13There were some holes.
00:14They got some timely goals.
00:15They got some good, decent enough goaltending anyway last year.
00:18This year, everything, and this is the chances that they got,
00:22particularly last night against Edmonton, against a very good team,
00:26a perennial cup contender in Edmonton.
00:29Correct.
00:29Two of the best players in the world.
00:34What's up, hockey fans?
00:35We've got another episode of Up in the Blue Seeds for you today,
00:39your favorite Rangers podcast from the New York Post.
00:42As always, it's Molly Walker, joined by Rangers favorite Brian Boyle,
00:46and we've got plenty of games to get into today.
00:50Rangers are 2-3 to start the season,
00:53but they've been shut out in three of those five games, all at home,
00:58making them the only team in NHL history to go scoreless through their first three games at home to start a season.
01:06Last team to do some variation of that was the now-defunct Pittsburgh Pirates in 1928-29.
01:14That game went 187 minutes because it went into overtime,
01:18but the Rangers are currently at 180 minutes of scoreless hockey at MSG.
01:24These games, though, Brian, I mean, aside from the offense and the season opener,
01:30the last two, the Rangers really haven't looked that bad, though, no?
01:34No, they haven't.
01:35Yeah, the first season opener was a dud, so it is what it is.
01:40There's a lot of devotion.
01:41That aside.
01:41Yeah, we'll put that on the back burner for a second.
01:44Listen, this is a good hockey team.
01:48I'm going to say it now.
01:49Say it.
01:50This is the opposite of what we saw last year with their 12-4 start.
01:57There's a little bit of smoke and mirrors.
01:59There were some holes.
02:00They got some timely goals.
02:01They got some good, decent enough goaltending anyway last year.
02:05This year, everything, and this is the chances that they got,
02:09particularly last night against Edmonton, against a very good team,
02:12a perennial cup contender in Edmonton.
02:15Two of the best players in the world.
02:17The chances they got were based on or was from execution of their structure.
02:23They played a patient game, and then when they had the puck, they were direct.
02:26I thought everyone contributed.
02:28I thought, you know, you want to get a goal every three or four games
02:33from your fourth line.
02:34That line could have had three or four.
02:36Edstrom alone could have had three or four.
02:39Yeah.
02:40He had a numerous amount of chances.
02:42The carrot hit a post.
02:43He had another great day in the first period.
02:46And it all was off of their structure.
02:49So that's what I think will translate.
02:51They have to stay the course.
02:52You cannot cheat the game for offense because then it'll look like it looked last year.
02:59So I really like, we will get into it, but I really like, you know,
03:04what their top guys are doing to get chances.
03:07There are some guys that need a little kick in the pants.
03:10I think if that happens, this is a scary team.
03:14And in a weak, honestly, a weak division.
03:17So even because the Washington game, you know, Washington just played a Tampa team where,
03:24you know, they kind of pushed back and got a big win against Tampa.
03:29Washington's a good team.
03:29People kind of overlook them every year.
03:31They smoke and mirrors.
03:32No, they're a good team.
03:32They got enough.
03:33Yeah.
03:33They got goalie in that game.
03:35And then if Stuart Skinner was, which one's a good one?
03:39Dr. Jekyll, right?
03:40He was Dr. Jekyll last night.
03:42Which one?
03:44You know, and he does that feast or famine act.
03:46And it was feasting for Edmonton last night with Stuart Skinner.
03:49Yeah.
03:50And they limited Edmonton as a whole to three high danger chances.
03:55I think defensively, this is, it's night and day from last season.
04:01There is a total buy-in on the defensive system, 100%.
04:05And it is, I mean, when you think about it, what have they given up?
04:11Six goals in total?
04:13Four have come with an actual goalie in net?
04:17You know?
04:18Yeah.
04:19Like that alone is very encouraging from a defensive standpoint.
04:24But I wrote about this for my column after the Edmonton game.
04:28And for a team that has historically had such strong starts in the first year under a new
04:35coach, I don't think that growing pains at the beginning of this season could be the
04:41worst thing in the world.
04:42Because I believe Mike Sullivan is here to build something that's going to last.
04:46A foundation that they can actually build upon that is going to stay in place and not going
04:54to be flimsy and movable.
04:57And that's what the Rangers wanted when they brought in Mike Sullivan.
05:01They don't want to do this whole, you know, new coaching staff every two years.
05:05Who the hell does?
05:07You know?
05:07They ideally want to build something that's going to go the distance, not just to the
05:12Stanley Cup final this June, but season after season after season, perennial contenders.
05:18That is the goal for everybody.
05:20And the last two coaching staffs were not able to build a foundation that could withstand all
05:28the things that the Rangers went through when it all collapsed at the end of year two and
05:32each of the last two coaching staffs.
05:34Yeah, and you're 100% right.
05:37And it's not just on the ice.
05:38I think it's in the room and how they approach everything.
05:41And that's why I'm still not worried.
05:43And I'm not worried that they might cheat the game.
05:45I think because just how Sully operates.
05:47And we talked about this in the preseason.
05:49Like they win three, four, five in a row, or they lose a couple in a row.
05:52Or this happens, right?
05:54Mike Sullivan is going to walk into the room today.
05:57Okay, this is what we did well.
05:58This is what we didn't do well.
05:59This is a good play.
06:00This is where we can clean some things up.
06:01It's the same message every single time, which I always really appreciated.
06:06And, you know, in a hot market like New York, that is paramount.
06:11And if you want to, if Rangers fans want another little nugget to chew on that could get you
06:16to sleep tonight.
06:17Like, go look at how Mike Sullivan started in Pittsburgh.
06:21I think, I believe, he was 0-4.
06:25And they hoisted that year.
06:26So, this is, you know, and the following season.
06:29Now, people can say, well, then what?
06:31And, yeah, they made the playoffs every year and didn't have a ton of success after.
06:35But, it's hard in the cap system when you win to keep all your players.
06:41So, I think he's, he'll get them back to what they, you know, they'll be feeling good.
06:47There's too much talent not to score.
06:49And the other side of it is, you know, you want, you want longevity and have, you know,
06:54perennial success in terms of getting into the playoffs and being a team to reckon with.
06:59But, have great structure and have an all-world goalie.
07:03Because, even days you don't have perfect legs or you're a little tired or you're playing
07:07three and four nights on the road, which happens.
07:10And they're going to run into that, especially in an Olympic season.
07:13You got probably the best goalie in the world behind you.
07:17And if there's structure in front of him where he can read plays and know where breakdowns are,
07:21he's going to get even better.
07:23You could be looking at, you know, a Connor Hellebuck type regular season from Igor.
07:29Which is really, really exciting.
07:31Because he can make those stops.
07:34And he can play the puck.
07:35And he can help.
07:36Like, there's, especially with a banged up D.
07:38He can alleviate some of that issues.
07:41And they're not in their end.
07:42Because they play defense in all three zones.
07:45Because that's what defense is.
07:46When you don't have the puck, where are you?
07:48You're in the right spots.
07:49And they were last night.
07:50And that's how they got so many chances offensively.
07:53I mean, going back to what you said about, you know,
07:56building foundationally off the ice as well.
07:59I think we're already seeing that, too.
08:01I mean, JT Miller talking about, let's not blow this out of proportion here.
08:06You know, which is exactly the kind of message you want to hear from your captain.
08:10And he is, he's so like that.
08:12You know, just a little dismissive of, you know,
08:15we like the way that we're playing.
08:18Forget about, you know, the scoreboard.
08:21It's about, you know, and that's a message that Sullivan has also maintained as well.
08:25You know, there's been a lot of talk about the process.
08:28A lot of talk about how they take these losses.
08:32How they move on from them.
08:34Even Mika Zibaneja saying, I don't know whether I should laugh or cry.
08:38I was so happy to hear that.
08:41Perspective on the whole thing.
08:42Because, I mean, how, what kind of mental challenge is it, you know,
08:47from a player's perspective to start the season with that kind of historical stat
08:52hanging over your head?
08:55Yeah, listen, I've gone long stretches without goals.
08:58And it's really, really difficult.
09:01Because if you could pinpoint why, or like, what could I change?
09:05You just start polluting your brain with so many different ideas.
09:11Right.
09:11You never really stick to one.
09:13And, you know, when you're dialed in as a player, it's almost like just being naive
09:19or, you know, just ignorant to everything else going around you.
09:24You're solely focused.
09:25And people talk about being in the zone, and they can't really explain it.
09:29It's just, you're almost like dumb to everything else.
09:31You're just like, oh, play.
09:32It works out.
09:33And then when it's not going great, or you can't finish, it's just you're thinking of
09:39everything.
09:40I remember I used to go on a stretch, and I'd watch my own goals from years before,
09:45being like, okay, that's me doing it.
09:48I know I can do it.
09:49I've done it before.
09:51Not that I, and I wasn't.
09:52You just need a reminder.
09:53Yeah.
09:53Like, oh, geez, I'm getting these chances.
09:55Usually they go in.
09:56What's going on?
09:57And you could see last night, like someone throws a stick on the side,
10:00and it hits their stick on a Mika chance, and it just kind of dribbles wide.
10:04That's going to even itself out.
10:07I mean, JT Miller, he was in, you know, comparatively speaking,
10:11he was in a war zone last year compared to this.
10:14No offense to the New York media.
10:16You guys are, you're demanding, and it's great.
10:18And that's why people care and watch.
10:22Vancouver is a little bit different in terms of rational or irrational.
10:28And the fans clamor for it, so the media provides it,
10:33and that's just part of playing in Vancouver, so it's a little different.
10:36He's still going to get all the questions and all the media attention,
10:40but I think JT Miller is conditioned to handle it,
10:43as I do with the rest of this team after going through last year.
10:47Is there any positive from last year?
10:49Let's just forget that season.
10:50Yeah, okay, but I think they're hardened now to handle something like this,
10:56where it's like we're fine, like we're playing well.
10:59It's going to go in.
11:00Yeah.
11:01Command it from each other.
11:02Like we're not just going to pretend it's not happening.
11:04We're two and three, and you are what your record says you are,
11:07but they're not 0-5.
11:09No.
11:10That's a, believe it or not, a bigger hole, like a way bigger hole.
11:14It is.
11:15Than two and three.
11:16And how many, ten goals on the road?
11:18It's not like, I know, I mean, the –
11:20Hey, Rangers fans, the players hate your guts.
11:23They're never going to start playing.
11:24Yeah, that's what it is.
11:27No, I mean, offensively on the road, they were fine.
11:31Right.
11:31So I think it's just a matter of time, just a little snake bit in that home,
11:36I think.
11:37And obviously, I mean, Charlie Lindgren was outrageous in that Capitals game.
11:42He clearly still has taken his brother's departure from New York
11:45a little personally.
11:47Like, get over it, man.
11:50Hey, we were saying before we got on here, whatever fuels you.
11:55You know, whatever fuels you.
11:56And you know what?
11:57It fueled him tenfold.
11:59He was outrageous.
12:01And sometimes you just got to tip your cap to the other goalie
12:04on the other end of the ice.
12:05So there was –
12:07I know.
12:08Top ten.
12:09I mean, arguably one of the seasons so far.
12:12So, yeah, that was outrageous.
12:15And we'll probably get into a little bit more of that.
12:18But we do have a bit of an injury report to get to.
12:22So news.
12:23News time.
12:24New news, as they say.
12:26Yeah, new news.
12:27That's great.
12:29All right.
12:29So Vincent Trocek sustained an upper body injury in Buffalo
12:34and is considered week-to-week, but he was just put on LTIR today.
12:40So that's a bigger loss than initially expected.
12:46I mean, what kind of loss is that for the Rangers, Brian?
12:50So, you know, the power play.
12:53I know they're kind of tinkering with that and putting different guys in,
12:55but he just – he won so many draws on that power play.
13:00He can do a number of different things.
13:01This is – he's – again, he's so important to that team
13:05in every single aspect of the game.
13:08Penalty kill the power play.
13:09Five-on-five, you can drive offense.
13:11Just kind of slots everybody in great spots.
13:14But, you know, it's an opportunity to get some more reps early in the season
13:20for some other guys.
13:22Noah Laba comes to mind.
13:23And it's – yeah, it's difficult because I believe it's like 10 games
13:29and 24 days is the amount of time he is required to miss if you want any relief
13:35on the LTIR, which they're going to have to have because that's not –
13:40that's not the only thing that's nagging the Rangers right now.
13:44Yeah.
13:44Sticking with Trocek, though, Sullivan puts in Parson at first
13:51and then switches to Brodzinski the last two games.
13:55But it kind of makes sense.
13:57I think Parson didn't really show much during the preseason,
14:01and I think Sullivan has a penchant for a more stronger presence
14:06just on the third line and lineup in general.
14:10And I don't think Parson brings that for him.
14:13He needs to be more – so we were doing – we did the preseason game in Boston.
14:20We talked about that.
14:21But it just was – I don't want to say timid, but you have to be more engaging
14:26and really sort of mix it up.
14:28It's not about plays with the puck when you're not in a top six role.
14:33It's go get some energy, get into somebody's jersey, create that way.
14:38He's a bigger guy than I even thought he was, but you've got to play to your size.
14:42And Brodzinski plays above his size.
14:43I think –
14:44Yes.
14:44Honey Brodzinski's proven himself, I think, a number of different times.
14:49A number of different coaching staffs.
14:51And it's still kind of like, all right, you're going to start the year
14:53as like the 13th or 14th guy.
14:55So – and credit to him for just – you know, he doesn't – he seems like a humble guy
15:00that's just going to go to work.
15:02He is.
15:02And guy's really around that.
15:04He doesn't expect – even if he deserves it.
15:08It's just he proves himself every day.
15:12You need guys like that as well.
15:14And sometimes watching and watching a little longer than you think you should be,
15:19hopefully starts a little fire in your belly where you can come out and be –
15:24you know, because Parson's shown flashes.
15:26He's shown flashes in Nashville.
15:28You know, he's – there's a player there, a smart enough player there where you need
15:32just – if you have a tiny bit more attitude, he could be part of some solutions
15:38in the bottom six.
15:39But there's – bottom six are pretty good.
15:41Yeah.
15:42Yeah.
15:43It's hard to argue.
15:44And, yeah, I think Brodzinski looked a lot stronger just in that role.
15:51And to your point, Brodzinski has been such a phenomenal soldier for the Rangers
15:57over these years.
15:58He has continuously stepped into this role and, like you said, never asks for anything.
16:04The guys in that room adore him.
16:07He's a great presence, locker room guy.
16:10And you know what you're going to get out of Johnny Brodzinski every night.
16:14It's the same thing.
16:15So a little bit more of a reliable option there, so it makes sense.
16:20But, yeah, you're right.
16:21We've got a few more injuries.
16:23Carson Soucy got hurt in Pittsburgh, another upper body injury.
16:27He crashed into the boards pretty awkwardly in the second period while going in for a hit.
16:33And he left that game and he never came back.
16:36The Rangers put him on injury reserve pretty quickly after that.
16:40So he's out at least a week retroactive to that second Penguins game, I believe.
16:45And Matthew Robertson gets the call.
16:49Even if the Rangers wanted to call Scott Morrow up at the time, I don't believe that they could have because of cap restraints.
16:56But now that Trocek is on LTIR, they were able to recall Scott Morrow.
17:02But it sounds like it's more so out of precaution for Will Borgen, who is also not practicing today due to a lower body injury.
17:11But they're not exactly ruling him out for this road trip in Toronto and Montreal.
17:17So still a possibility that he's good to go.
17:20But we were just saying before we came on here with the customs and going on the road, you've got to make sure that you've got an extra player in tow just in case.
17:28What did you make of Robertson and his couple of games?
17:33I want him to have success.
17:37And there's sort of an adrenaline when you get called up where you're kind of freewheeling.
17:41And you should feel that way when you've played a number several years pro without much of a sniff.
17:47It's like at that point, hey, let's just play my game because I've been waiting a long time for this.
17:52So I'm rooting for him.
17:54I like a lot of what he can do, what he brings.
17:59If, again, it's just when you get called up, you want to be reliable.
18:06You want, it's the hardest thing to do.
18:08You've got to earn the coach's trust.
18:09And you never know how a game's going to go.
18:12But if you're up a goal or you have a great start to a game, is he worried about putting you on the ice for that, what do we say, the other shoe to drop?
18:22I think that was your turn for it.
18:23Yeah, that was my turn.
18:25And you can't think that way.
18:27You just have to earn his trust and do the things that you know.
18:31He played a lot of hockey.
18:32He played a lot of pro hockey at this point now.
18:33Yeah.
18:34So I'm fine with him.
18:37I like the embrace.
18:38Yeah.
18:38There's some juice going.
18:40Yeah.
18:40No, it hasn't.
18:41He hasn't looked out of place to do his game so far, which I think is a really encouraging sign, especially last night against Edmonton.
18:49You know, that was, first of all, it was his hometown team.
18:53Very cool thing for him to do.
18:54So you can imagine the nerves there, too, as well.
18:59But he was solid.
19:01He really, he was solid.
19:03And that was going to be far and away his biggest test, obviously, because the Oilers were far and away the best team the Rangers have faced so far.
19:11But he's such an interesting case because, yeah, he's a higher second round draft pick.
19:16Never really amounted to what the Rangers thought he could.
19:20He got his first two NHL games, made his debut at the end of last season, only after the Rangers were eliminated.
19:26Because I can imagine from management perspective, it's kind of like, why not?
19:30You know, let's see what he looks like.
19:33And I also think it was somewhat out of anticipation of Zach Jones not coming back this season because we knew that they were going to need to fill in that 7-D role.
19:44And so Matthew Robertson gets to make the opening night roster at a training camp for the first time in his career.
19:51So very cool for Matthew Robertson.
19:54And, you know, he could stick for a little bit here, depending on how long Carson Soucy is out.
20:00And now Will Borgen is a question.
20:02So we could see a lineup that includes both Matthew Robertson and Scott Morrow in Toronto on Friday.
20:11Hey, that's fun.
20:12Or tomorrow.
20:13That's fun.
20:14Yeah.
20:15Of course it's fun.
20:16But here's the thing.
20:17Like, you're a call-up and you're playing with a team that has, now, has good structure.
20:24It's less freewheeling.
20:26It's, you know, Mike Sullivan's got them in all three zones playing with structure.
20:29You don't have any idea how much easier that is to understand your check, your positioning, good communication, although players talk less and less as years go by on the ice.
20:41But, yeah, and then, yeah, you're right, like, not only is he an Edmonton kid, he played for the Oil Kings for, like, 15 years, it looks like, because of all the COVID stuff.
20:50He started young.
20:51But, yeah, it's your moment.
20:54You know, he's not 30.
20:55No.
20:56Right?
20:56And he's a big boy.
20:57So, I would give him a leash, especially with the injuries.
21:02And don't, you know, wait for him to make a mistake.
21:06It's going to ease.
21:07I like the coaching staff.
21:09I like what, no, I'm saying for the coaching staff, don't, like, hey, at home is different than on the road.
21:16It'll be interesting to see against the Toronto team if he's in and he's playing against.
21:19I mean, that's a good-looking team.
21:22Watched them last night.
21:23They might give up some, but they had their third-string goalie in.
21:28That's a good hockey team.
21:30That would be certainly a crazy test because they're on the road and your matchups, you might be on, you know, over the boards.
21:35You get caught out and a 34s line comes out.
21:37So, it'll be, it's just more information, more reps.
21:41Hopefully, he just keeps confident.
21:43Yeah, no, I think it's a great opportunity for him and one that he has definitely very patiently.
21:49Waited for all these years.
21:51So, very interesting how that kind of came to fruition.
21:56On an even more positive note, I feel like we have to address that Adam Fox is off to an incredibly strong start to the season.
22:04I mean, four points in five games, three goals.
22:08I don't know exactly what the numbers were, but I feel like he had three goals through the first, like, 25, 30 games of last season.
22:14I honestly think it was, I honestly think it was more, and I think his first goal was an empty netter.
22:20Yes, it was.
22:21He would not shoot on the power play the first half of the season.
22:23This year, he's shooting, I don't know, we can get into the power play because it obviously hasn't scored at home.
22:28But it looks, they should have.
22:32Yes.
22:32It's going to go in if they continue to move it around like they were.
22:36And it's a big reason is because he's establishing shot early, and it just causes more chaos, and then you have weapons.
22:42And, yeah, he looks back to old form, especially on that power play, and, you know, what's more impressive is his partner hasn't quite gotten his footing yet,
22:53and he's still performing, Adam Fox is still performing at a level that I think everyone, including himself, expects.
22:59Yeah.
23:00What is your evaluation of the Fox-Gavrikov pairing so far?
23:05Because even Mike Sullivan said he feels like it's still a work in progress.
23:09Yeah, and that's fair.
23:10I think it's fair, and you sign a seven-year deal, and you come over to play in a different system.
23:18I don't think Gavrikov has played with a player like Adam Fox, and not many guys have.
23:24I think he's such an Adam Fox, such a unique sort of player, that that is going to take time.
23:31There are moments in preseason where he looked great, and he looked fine.
23:33I think when the real games start, and, you know, competition notwithstanding, just the fact that it means something,
23:43it can get into your head a little bit if you're not quite comfortable.
23:47Like, he didn't forget how to skate, but he does look a little slow to make decisions, and when you're slow to make decisions, you look slow.
23:53So he needs more reps.
23:55He needs to see sort of how the game's developing a little bit better and not beat himself up too much because, again, that's a slippery slope down.
24:03You know, talk about athletes' confidence.
24:05And, man, it's like a disease.
24:10It gets India and tells you all these things that you can't do things, and he can.
24:14He's a good player.
24:15He's done it for a long time.
24:17It's just an adjustment, and it's a unique player he's playing with.
24:22Simplify, play physical, make your reads, and do whatever you're going to do.
24:26Do it hard.
24:27Don't try to play perfect because hockey's not a perfect game by any means.
24:32Look at the goal against last night.
24:34Mm-hmm.
24:34Things happen.
24:36Yeah, it does.
24:38I think the thing that I want to see from Gavrikov a little bit more is holding the zone a little bit better.
24:43I feel like he's let the puck trail by him one too many times when he shouldn't have been able to have at least kept it in the zone.
24:52So that was my biggest quarrel, so to say, through his first five games as a Ranger.
24:59But it's early, and I do think that Sullivan's system is so detailed and specific.
25:08Like, I feel like one of the biggest things that we saw in that season opener was it looked like they were thinking through the system too much, and it made them look so much slower and just not assertive at all.
25:22So I'd like to see him settle into that a little bit more.
25:29It takes more than a camp to.
25:32Of course.
25:32You know what I mean?
25:33It's collectively how many guys have sort of picked up on, especially the forwards.
25:38I mean, they're spacing how they forecheck, the patience when they have to be patient.
25:43They're not getting one passes and beating three guys for an odd man rush.
25:47Remember the odd man rushes last year.
25:48Holy smoke.
25:49There's been, like, negatives.
25:51Right.
25:51Like, they've been right there.
25:53Yeah.
25:54You're playing – like, Connor McDavid had an individual effort in the second period with a backhand from outside the hash marks that went high.
26:03And I was like, well, that could have been dangerous, but that's the best player I've ever seen in my life, and that's all you're giving him.
26:10I think we're doing okay.
26:11They kept him above.
26:13He didn't really get through.
26:15I was just – I was really, really impressed, and a lot of that was the forwards, just being in the right spots because you need – that's how you have to defend with forwards.
26:25The D, of course, and you have to have great sticks and all that, but I'm impressed with how quickly they've grasped the concept and realized how beneficial it is offensively if you're in those spots in the right places.
26:40And I thought the Miller line did really, really well against the McDavid line.
26:45I thought J.T. Miller, particularly low in the Ds on a few occasions, I mean, looked like a selkie candidate.
26:51His stick –
26:52Yeah.
26:52He killed plays and started breakouts.
26:55I was thoroughly impressed.
26:57Yeah.
26:58I think aside from that first game where it was pretty clear that J.T. was still laboring a little bit from whatever injury he's suffered in preseason,
27:07since then he's been pretty, pretty good, pretty solid.
27:11He's not going to miss the home opener, the seat on his chest and coming out and, like, try and get that guy not to play in that game.
27:19So maybe he was still a little banged up, but the farm boy over there from Pittsburgh is – he's a tough kid and he's a proud guy.
27:26So he's going to play.
27:27And that goes a long way with the rest of the group.
27:30Yeah.
27:31No, 100%.
27:32It was good.
27:34Maybe one more guy that we should probably talk about, Artemi Panarin.
27:38I spoke to him after last game, the Oilers game, and he admitted to me that the first few games were really difficult for him.
27:46He also was hurt in preseason, two different injuries, apparently, a lower body and an upper body.
27:54But he's just looked a little not engaged to start, which is obviously not what you want to see.
28:01But, again, it's only five games, so maybe he just needs to get into it.
28:05But, I mean, he said – after he told me that the first few games were difficult, he also said the last two, I at least feel better.
28:13But, yeah, we still lost those games, not scoring anything, so it's never easy.
28:18Hockey is life for us.
28:19You're always thinking about that.
28:20We just got to change our way and start winning games, especially got to start winning games at home.
28:25So, it's tough.
28:27It's tough when – especially when it's a matter of offense and your number one offensive guy hasn't really been involved at all.
28:37So, I look at that, and they were the same number.
28:40Obviously, Mary Gabrick was left shot, but, you know, I would – I played with Mary Gabrick for a number of years,
28:48and I was so impressed with – yeah, he had a bunch of goals, and people thought he was a certain type of player.
28:56He got around the net a lot, especially if it wasn't going perfect for him.
29:00Now, these elite superstars are funny.
29:03I remember Gabby had 40 or 39 goals, and he came to practice one day with a new stick, new curve, new pattern,
29:11and he's, like, firing the puck off the glass left and right, and we're kind of looking at each other like,
29:16you know, your goal away from 40 is four games left in the season.
29:21Why are you changing your stick?
29:22You're having a hell of a year.
29:24Yeah.
29:24So, you don't try to figure out these guys.
29:26You just – you don't because you can't, and it'll drive you crazy because then they do things that you're just like –
29:32your jaw drops.
29:34Right.
29:34I think Panarin is in a spot now where, in terms of evaluating him, you just – you look at his legs,
29:41and you look at if he's creating.
29:45That's what I would do.
29:46And in the last couple games, it looks like that's coming back.
29:49He evaluates it in terms of points and goals, and that's just what he's always done.
29:54He's done it at this league to the highest level, top five in the last five years, I believe,
29:59in points and whatnot in production.
30:01So, of course, what matters to him is tangible stats because that's what he's getting paid to do.
30:08For me, you know, a game like Sam Carrick had last night, I'd be like, yeah, that was a good game.
30:13I know I should have got to bury one of those, or we've got to score.
30:16But I'm like, I'm good.
30:18Yeah.
30:18We're doing our job.
30:20We're not expected to do this and that.
30:21We want to when we get the chance, but we're not – he's expected every game to score.
30:26Pass, get an assist, score a goal, whatever it is.
30:28And it's not happening.
30:30It's not happening for anybody, but he's going to take on the brunt of that responsibility
30:35just because that's what drives him.
30:36So those quotes don't surprise me at all, and it also doesn't worry me at all
30:41because that's what he's demanded since he's come over from Russia and Chicago.
30:46Like, that's just what he demands of himself, and he'll work himself out of that.
30:49Yeah, I saw some people online wondering if it had anything to do with his lack of contract,
30:56but I don't – that's not a factor at all.
30:59I don't think that anybody's worried, especially Artemi, not worried about getting paid.
31:04He'll get paid whether it's here or elsewhere.
31:08That's not really a matter.
31:10He's got all the money too, so.
31:11Yeah, that doesn't need much more.
31:14Yeah, so a bit of a mixed bag through the first five games,
31:22but I think there's a lot to like so far,
31:25especially when you're comparing the product to last season.
31:29And going back to what I said at the beginning of the podcast,
31:31I truly believe that this is part of Mike Sullivan laying down the foundation
31:36that he wants for this Rangers team.
31:39So we shall see.
31:41I agree, 100%.
31:41All righty.
31:44Seems like a good place for us to stop.
31:46Give us a thumbs up.
31:47Comment down below what your thoughts are on the Rangers' first five games.
31:52Are you concerned?
31:53Are you happy?
31:55Are you freaking out about going scoreless at home through the first three games?
32:00Let us know, and we'll talk again next week.
32:03Bye.
32:14Bye.
32:15Bye.
32:16Bye.
32:17Bye.
32:18Bye.
32:19Bye.
32:20Bye.
32:21Bye.
32:22Bye.
32:23Bye.
32:24Bye.
32:25Bye.
32:26Bye.
32:27Bye.
32:28Bye.
32:29Bye.
32:30Bye.
32:31Bye.
32:32Bye.
32:33Bye.
32:34Bye.
32:35Bye.
32:36Bye.
32:37Bye.
32:38Bye.
32:39Bye.
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