Recap: Jim Cerny’s Weekly Chat [October 9, 2013]

Oct 8, 2013; San Jose, CA, USA; New York Rangers defenseman John Moore (17) takes a shot on goal during warm ups before the game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center at San Jose. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Blueshirt United, and NY Twitter man Jim Cerny took time to talk to the fans about the current state of the team in his weekly chat hosted on Bluueshirts United. Here are some key pieces of info:

• No update on Rick Nash, will have a better answer tomorrow for if he’ll play or not. Mentioned that he did travel with the team, so that’s a good sign.
• Hopes along with some players he talked to (mainly Lundqvist and AV), that lat night is used as a wake-up call, and that they’ll be back on track tomorrow.
• Stated how AV wish they could go out and practice today, but that Cally and Hank said the best thing to do is sit back and analyze game, figure out what went wrong and correct it ASAP.
• Nothing new on the Hagelin front. Still in NY rehabbing.
• Some concerns about last nights defensive breakdowns, but praised the team on Monday’s effort. Stressed consistency.
• Team is ready to move on and forget last night.
• If the Rangers want to beat the Ducks, they need to bring their same game that they had in Los Angeles to come even close. Calls the Ducks talented and skillful offensively, and can also use their bodies.
• Mentioned that the Rangers defensemen need to stop running all over the place, or if they do a forward must cover them at all times. Spoke about this same topic about their powerplay giving up so many breakaways.
• Mentioned how AV wants to give it time with the lines he created, but stated that the Zuccarello, Pouliot, and Brassard line has played well together, but has yet to finish. Mentioned that when Callahan gets his legs back he expects to see changes made.
• Callahan’s shoulder feels good, legs aren’t 100%, but getting close, expects to be at 100% by weeks end. As for his mouth and lip.. not too great.
• Rangers organization is happy with Richards performance to start the season, and that AV has put him in a spot to succeed. But consistency is key, and that is something that Richards will be working hard on.
• Mentioned how AV was going to be using today as a tape session to talk about the defensive breakdowns. AV wasn’t happy about this at all.
• Jim Cerny mentioned he has no idea what is going to happen in regards to call ups if Nash’s injury is long term. If Nash isn’t ready to go Thursday, Fast will play.  If Nash is out long term, he expects to see Kreider or Miller to return to the Ranger lineup.
• Mentioned that the Rangers aren’t there yet. Stepan missed all of training camp and preseason, Hagelin missed pre-season all first 10 games. While Callahan missed all of preseason. The evolution of the lineup is coming. To early to tell what the lineup is lacking until all pieces are back together.
• Said game was so far out of hand to really judge the teams penalty kill. Mentioned he didn’t like the Rangers giving up so many shorthanded chances, but hey they scored on a 5-on-3 powerplay. Total improvement over past years.
• Jim Cerny talked about how Lundqvist is a perrenial slow starter, and that he’ll get his game back sooner than later. Did mention that Hank kept them close, or it could have been a lot worse. Lundqvist wasn’t at fault for last nights game. His teammates in front of him were the bigger issue.
• Callahan, Zuccarello and Brassard saw times at the right wing spot after Nash left injured.
• Didn’t ask the players about Tomas Hertl since bigger issues arose, but was wondering if the team expressed any resentment towards Hertl for his move.
• Expects to see Lundqvist in net Thursday.
• Feels Zuccarello has been our best winger aside from Richards, and that the coaching staff will have a tough time removing someone from the top 6 to make room for Callahan.
• No excuses on the teams lack of understanding the system, but that they’re working on it.
• Team has to find a way to battle through this road trip. Did this in 2011-12.
• Feels that the execution needs to be better for the system to work, as well as spacing.
• The schedule is the schedule, nothing you can do.
• Mentions that the team is a group of professionals so they perfecting the new system will come. The evaluating period that AV did in the preseason did take away from implementing the system, but that patients is key.
• Pyatt has looked good. Not sure if its because of AV being coach or not, but thinks he has helped Pyatt improve his play. Mentioned how Boyle and Pyatt have played well together.
• Mentioned that it may have hurt doing the long evaluations, but feels that it will come together. Mentioned being patient.

Phew! A lot of things covered in an hour, but he did answer all the important questions out there regarding the state of the team as they head into their game Thursday against the Ducks.