When former Golden Knights head coach Gerard Gallant was hired by the New York Rangers earlier this summer nobody in the hockey world was surprised. One of the league’s better coaches was officially a free agent and it was only a matter of time before someone scooped him up. It so happened to be the young, slick skating Rangers, that in ownership’s opinion hadn’t grown enough under their last regime. One area that needed addressing was NY’s lack of toughness. With that in mind, the Rangers added some of the street toughness the Golden Knights are known for.
When you’re a good team and you are ready to win that’s when you start filling in your roles. You get these guys you need to help push you over the top. When you have nine, ten, eleven kids that have to play. I get a kick out of people who said ‘we lacked toughness.’ I knew we weren’t that tough in New York. I knew we needed to get to it.-Jeff Gorton, former New York Rangers GM on Cam and Strick Podcast
After four seasons and one coaching change the Golden Knights have built a reputation for being tough as nails. And it’s not just about throwing bodies around. The word is out, it’s unlikely Vegas backs off from blocking a shot. The Golden Knights have been racking up points and early round playoff wins by wearing down their opponents with size, skill and taking bruises. None of that was happening in Manhattan.
https://twitter.com/camjanssen25/status/1430247771601264641?s=21
In one swift move the Original 6 team spent their offseason firing an established front office and a bright, young coach to be more like the 31st franchise.
You look at the lineup and you see a team ready to take the next big step. I want to be the hardest-working team in the league – to work hard, to battle hard, to make other teams say, ‘That team works hard every night.’-Gerard Gallant, NY Rangers Head Coach
At his introductory press conference in NY the former Golden Knights leader sounded as if it were 2017 again. His hard working style turned the highly motivated Misfits into a Stanley Cup contending team. Playing fast, along with quick decision making led the Golden Knights to the Finals, not necessarily the heavy, physical style we would see later in Vegas. It was the second season when the local club became bigger, heavier skilled players were added to the roster. The past two seasons Vegas was the biggest and beefiest team in hockey and it’s earned them three trips to the conference finals in four seasons.
Those guys are completely valuable. That’s why you see the Rangers go after Barclay Goodrow. That’s what they’re going after Reaves.-Jeff Gorton, Cam and Strick Podcast
One of the uglier incidents last season occurred in front of Ranger fans at historic Madison Square Garden. NY star Artemi Panarin was unfairly assaulted by Capitals power forward Tom Wilson during a meaningless late season contest. Ownership was furious with Wilson, on ice officials, NHL’s Department of Player Safety and their own personnel. The one-sided scuffle in essence changed the direction of the Rangers, leading to an organizational house cleaning.
NY ownership realized to compete, you have to be able to play like the big boys, or like the Golden Knights. Vegas has become a team other franchises are beginning to emulate. One thing we know Gallant and DeBoer both agree on is mixing it up and playing some old school hockey once in a while. Or old man hockey as Ken would say. Maybe it’s Vegas’ success, or maybe other coaches believe it’s also the style to play to make the promise land.
Will Riley
It’s funny the NYR used to be known as the Edmonton Oilers South (Messier, Jeff Beukeboom, some guy named Gretzky, Glen Sather etc) now it really does seem like they are emulating / becoming the VGK East.
Richard Santomauro
With Reaves gone, someone has to be the one to step up and issue a beat down. Who will that guy be? Kolesar?
THE hockey GOD
bettman’s current wussie NHL doesn’t need anyone to “step up”. The era of Broad street bullies and Big Bad Bruins is long gone in trash can called EPIC ERA OF HOCKEY.
The current era of hockey is more like rainbow- knee bending entitlement witches slurpy murky shlockey, barely resembling old time heroic hockey in name or form.
Daryl
Unfortunately, you are 100% correcty
Richard Santomauro
And so it goes. From the greatest generation of the 1940s to the sissy generation of today. People today are so spoiled. Whiny. Everything has to be given to them. They have ruined football, baseball and hockey in many ways.
Richard Santomauro
Good luck to Gallant, Reaves and the Rangers. I grew up in north Jersey and will be rooting for them (except when they come to Vegas).
Tim
This is off topic but I think interesting. In the last few days some strange things have happened for me to wonder. I’m not a conspiracy theorist but Petro who just bought an 8.1 million dollar house less then a year ago just sold it to Patch. With 6 years left on his contract I find that a little odd unless his wife doesn’t like Vegas and may want to move back to her home town St. Louis. Second Jack Eichel just hired Pat Brisson as his agent and to add to the drama coincidently we just drafted Brandon Brisson’s his son last year and he’s playing at Michigan and a pretty good player. I’m not saying where there’s smoke there’s fire but it makes you think.
THE hockey GOD
GG should have called a time out . Good coaches know when to call a time out. He didn’t and Billy Buckner let him down.
Daryl
Which none of that has to do with this article or VGK. Sounds like you just want to stir the pot. Maybe you can explain anything PDB has done or what our Walrus has done
Yes we all agree GG should have called aTO. Good for you for recognizing that as well. Maybe you can explain what happened to our Capt and the rest of our scoring in the playoffs. How many PP goals did we score again? Yeah, we know, it’s all due to bad ice
THE hockey GOD
yes it does it takes exception to the article’s paragraph one, sentence two some twist or spin about being one of league’s best coaches. Yet he was out of work for longest time and is clueless about the use of “time outs”. (plus he hated eastern European players )
Daryl
And what has PDB ever done besides ruin every team he coaches for?
THE hockey GOD
the article is about NY rangers and PDB, not misguided illusions about current coach.
Daryl
You just said it was about PDB and I asked a question about him.
Didn’t you bring up MAF yet you just said the article wasn’t about him????
THE hockey GOD
@Daryl
“You just said it was about PDB and I asked a question about him.
Didn’t you bring up MAF yet you just said the article wasn’t about him????”
I mistyped
meant to say
The article is about NY rangers and NOT PDB, nor misguided illusions about current coach.
sorry about that typo.
and FO/GM/owners bare brunt of roster moves, not coaches. They set roster in terms of meeting idiotic salary cap, owners set budget and ultimately are responsible for spending decisions, and make major roster decisions. Most of these moves made well in advance prior to hiring of any coach especially true for PDB in which many of the moves where in place before he was hired. Learn the game, don’t hate the game.
Tim
Off topic but interesting. I’m not a conspiracy theorist but in the last couple of days some interesting things have happened. First Petro who bought a home for 8.1 million in Las Vegas a year ago just sold it to Patch when he has 6 more years on his contract. Why? Did his wife not like the house or was she homesick for St. Louis? Next Pat Brisson just became the new agent for Jack Eichel is it just a coincidence that we drafted his son Brandon Brisson last year who’s a pretty good player at Michigan? Maybe nothing or is there something in the wind? Does anyone else find this a little odd? The question is I guess are we going to make a move on Jack Eichel which I hope we don’t but we all know how the Splash Brothers like to make the big moves.
Net29
Pietrangelo just paid $5.25M for a lot in the same area as Foley, Gruden, Carr.
hdbiker7851
Tim – interesting – where do you grab the news from or are you just trolling? Not that it really matters but the world is so full of fake news one just has to wonder. It would have been more spectacular had you said the Walrus was the new owner of Petro’s 8.1 mill home because of the huge pool.
Tim
hdbiker, I’m not a fake news kind of guy. Did Petro sell his house to Patch that’s a fact, secondly did we draft Brandon Brisson and is his dad Pat Brisson Jack Eichel’s new agent that’s a fact. Not saying anything is up but that’s a couple of coincidence that may or may not mean anything. Throw in the Splash Brothers history of trying to one up everyone it makes you think. I like most don’t want Eichel who may be one hit away from retirement. I just through it out there time will tell.
THE hockey GOD
“Brandon Brisson and is his dad Pat Brisson” as long as it’s not MAF’s agent
VGK should be A OK !! Trying to draw in Eichel to VGK ? I don’t think that is going to happen with that injury hanging over his head, damaged goods.
Daryl
I could have sworn there was another player on this team with the exact same agent as MAF!!!
THE hockey GOD
splash ? more like tiny ripples in wading pool.
the splash moves were ones San Jose made in signing of their big D man a few years ago.
VGK recent moves have not been close to “splash” worthy.
THE hockey GOD
maybe call them the Ripple brothers ?
hdbiker7851
Tim: I didn’t say it was fake news I only asked where you get the information from. I noticed someone added to the news that Petro apparently doesn’t know what to do with all his money 5.25M for a lot where Foley, etc live. I remember when they played hockey for the love of the game and needed a summer job to support their families. As you indicated you have been around for a while and probably know that is a fact.
THE hockey GOD
that is a fact ,Jack
and you can take it to the bank.
I once saw Bart Crashley working at local bowling ally.
DOC (Go Knights Go)
OR ….. Could it just be, PETRO found another house here that him and his wife liked better?
Probably the logical thought!
knights fan in minny
save your comments for your new site beat it
knights fan in minny
no one likes a quitter boy see ya hurry up holiday weekend your gone see ya bye beat it vamoose leave scram
Tim
Doc your old enough to know where’s there’s smoke there’s fire especially since Pat Brisson took over as Jack Enchel agent. Maybe nothing maybe something.
DOC (Go Knights Go)
Yep Tim, maybe!
Tyler Durden
Still living rent free in minny’s head, eh Doc?
Hahahaha
knights fan in minny
worry about your self clown boy tyler
Daryl
Seems like he is living rent free in your head seeing how you just can’t wait to get on here to post about him
DOC (Go Knights Go)
Yea Tyler, he’s so easy to get into his head. Lots of room there!
knights fan in minny
your a moron a couple more days and we will all be free
THE hockey GOD
@Daryl
“You just said it was about PDB and I asked a question about him.
Didn’t you bring up MAF yet you just said the article wasn’t about him????”
I mistyped
meant to say
The article is about NY rangers and NOT PDB, nor misguided illusions about current coach.
sorry about that typo.
Duaney24
A couple more of Barry Beck’s style in the lineup would not hurt.