New York Rangers Yankee defenseman Jacob Trouba less unexpectedly became the topic of the week. The defender, known for his tough and often questionable tackles, was nailed by the Florida forward over the weekend Evan Rodrigues in front of the goal with an elbow to the head. Trouba himself was standing on his feet for one reason or another and when the striker tried to go around him, the Rangers defender extended his elbow, which hit Rodrigues in the chin.
There was a huge uproar from the situation, because it was Trouba. Earlier in the Carolina series, the defender made a big tackle on the opponent with tremendous speed and power, but the receiver’s fall prevented the big hit. Many considered the tackle questionable. In January, the American player was suspended for three games after elbowing Vegas Pavel Dorofeev.
It feels like there’s a lot of buzz around Trouba because Tackles are often a bit questionable.
– Share a little, ‘s hockey expert Ismo Lehkonen laugh.
– It’s just that when you fight for the biggest trophy over there, the rules are a little different than here at the birdhouse. We can shout from here that Trouba has no morals, but that entertainment business involves toughness and merciless fighting. It’s entertainment and it sells tickets, whatever we think about it, Lehkonen continues.
The jury checked the situation on the video, but was content to sentence Trouba to a two-minute suspension instead of an ejection. Later, NHL disciplinary fined the player $5,000 for the elbow tackle. Trouba Makes eight million bucks per season.
– Nothing but a hat to go around. Oh Jacob-parka, now he can’t even eat, the Florida pilot who coached Trouba in Winnipeg in the past years Paul Maurice frowned at the sanction.
– I guessed that nothing would come of it. After everything, I don’t really understand where that five tons even came from, if it wasn’t considered a head tackle. The judgments have been given and the clubs live with them. And as for Trouba, there are 31 teams that would take him to their team at any time. Florida also constantly plays on the borders of the rules, so the Rangers’ job would be nothing without Trouba, Lehkonen concluded.
Who surprised?
Dallas Veterans Jamie Benn34, and Tyler Seguin, 32, have earned their praise. The leading players who received severe criticism from time to time in previous years have finally found their place in the team with the emergence of a new generation and are now fulfilling their role in a downright excellent way. Benn is the self-righted captain, heart and soul of Dallas, even though he is effectively no longer in the punch of yesteryear.
Benn has played excellently between two sensational juniors. Wyatt Johnston and Logan Stankoven have used all the experienced Canadian roller in the fountain of youth.
– After many disappointments, Benn exudes maturity, when there are already well over 1000 games under there. Less is sometimes more and he is clearly now constantly playing on the side of winning, so to speak. He has calmed down and now recognizes situations better, and what needs to be done at any time. He no longer has to rush everywhere, but rather look after the two junior formulas galloping around, Lehkonen laughs.
– That chain is a wonderful composition and clearly a bonus card that Dallas didn’t know in the fall that he would get in the spring. Seguin, on the other hand, has located what was on the sidelines from time to time Roope Hintz excellent as a number one center. Some big goals here and there, high-quality two-way play and 57% of the starts. The center forward, who pitched in Boston in 2011, has been a really valuable player for his team.
– He also had a hip problem before and maybe the pain is behind him now. You have to remember that this is a Stanley Cup winner who has the tools and know-how to get to the end. It’s also a good thing that he doesn’t have to be in the front row anymore, there are other players for that now. When the youth has emerged from the back, it’s as if he has found his right place and played excellently.
Who cheated?
The Rangers’ top line has dived in an unimaginable way in the series against Florida. New York’s number one center Mika Zibanejad has not made a single hit in the nine previous matches and against Florida his results are recorded as 0+0 and -3.
In the losing fourth match, Zibanejad’s stray pass in overtime started a series of events that led to the Florida player’s drive through and thus to the ice and the winning goal.
They have been equally lost Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin and a star defenseman who is apparently playing injured Adam Fox.
– In the foursome, these brothers were nowhere near the level that is required. How come Kreider doesn’t get a single shot on goal? Of course, there is such a situation now that Aleksander Barkov has put Zibanejad in his back pocket. But Kreider also needs to be able to do more than a pillow fight, Lehkonen insists.
The next match will be played on Friday morning in New York. Lehkonen doesn’t give Rangers hope if the top team doesn’t wake up.
– There’s no point in continuing if these guys don’t start playing. Florida has been completely dominant in three games and yet the series is 2-2. This foursome must quickly accept the challenge and focus their resources if they are going to be able to play. Otherwise, the holidays start.
Goal of the week
Rangers’ best has included a youngster Alexis Lafreniere, which has taken great strides during the year. In the third match of the series, we saw two really spectacular hits.
– Many questioned what this guy did in New York before, but he has come a really long way in a short time. Here’s a skilled power forward superstar of the future for the NHL.
What next?
Outside of the match series, the most interesting news came from New Jersey. The Devils hired someone who got a job from Toronto after the season as their new head coach Sheldon Keefen. The appointment was interesting not only because it was made immediately after Keefe’s firing, but also because of the potential of Keefe and the Devils.
Lehkonen considers the alliance to be promising.
– This is a good combination. Keefe has a good winning percentage with Toronto in the regular season and even in the playoffs, it was all about the little things. He certainly got a lot of lessons and tools from there, which he can use now. He is a completely different level coach now than when he started in the NHL. The Devils got a good coach whose philosophy fits the team well.
– And it must be remembered here in Finland too, that the fired coach has not failed. Disappointments grow and teach, and often such coaches are richer in experience and better coaches in the end.