Assuming he gets cleared to play again, don’t fix what isn’t broken right?
We have a Blake Wheeler sighting at today’s #NYR practice. He’s wearing a red non-contact jersey.
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) May 6, 2024
by DismalChance
@New York Rangers
25 Comments
Wheeler should only see the ice if we are dealing with injuries. Chytil and Brod are in before he is imo.
BUT… it’s a huge boost to the locker room to have him back on the ice for practices
How the hell did they detach that baby grand piano from his back?
Just playing! This is great news. Wheels seems like a great guy and a solid teammate. Glad he is remaining around the team for the playoffs.
He shouldn’t play, but it must be great for the other players to see him on the ice after that awful injury.
In the behind the scenes video from game 1 against the Capitals, you can see how Wheeler sat in the locker next to Rempe after the game and talked and laughed with him. It must be great for the young guys to have a guy like that around.
Chytil is cleared to play and still isn’t playing. If we’re up 3-0 in three Cup Finals, maybe get them in the lineup so they can get their names on the Cup. But unless that happens, and believe me, it’s not going to, leave them on the bench. If things start going poorly this series and we have to adjust, like if we go down 2-1, yeah, sure, bring in Chytil.
You never know what will happen between now and mid June. I’ll take as many options as I can.
I mean obv hes not gonna be playing, but man good for him. Seems like a gem of a guy. Prob great for team morale to have him around too.
Great but he gets the same response as chytils.
We dont need him. Pending injury, this is what our roster should look like for the playoffs. We have dominated play for 5 games. Do not change
Even if he just works as a scout team that’s valuable. The dudes seen it all in the league so having him act as an opposition player in drills can help. Same goes for Chytl btw.
regardless of whether he should play or not, this is something that some of the past teams lacked, depth. playoff runs can be long, draining, and riddled with injuries. this line up is super balanced and can really go on a run, but run into a few injuries, and you can slot chytil, wheeler, and/or brod back in up front. on the back end? can slot jones and or ruhwedel in. none of which are slouches. nice insurance policy to have.
Absolutely. Fucking. Not.
Wheeler is like 3rd on the list of guys I’d put it. Fil, Brodz and then maybe Wheeler. Not sure who else is on the scratch list but I might even throw Endstrom in before Wheeler.
Wheels is a good dude. He deserves to be practicing and traveling with the team. He’s probably not cracking the lineup again this year, but he’s a veteran and well liked in the room. Having him around does us no harm.
If he’s playing it’s already over
I love to see this for his own personal health and as a morale boost for the team and locker room but if he does see the ice in the playoffs it means some key guys are out…I hope it doesn’t get to that point. I’d rather see Chytil, Brodz and maybe even Edstrom get in the lineup before Blake. While he’s a great veteran presence, is a big body with a great hockey IQ and passing ability the dude is just soooo slow at this point in his career. He was skating in mud all season for us and that was before a major leg injury. At least he played 54 games this year and is eligible to get his name on the cup even if he doesn’t see the ice during the playoffs. Chytil is the guy that would need to play at least a game in the Finals to get his name on it without a petition to the league.
Gonna need as many healthy bodies as possible and his experience is gold at this time of year. Love to see it.
Am I wrong for thinking if it’s not broken don’t fix it?
Wheeler shouldn’t ever realistically play this postseason assuming the team is healthy, but the depth they have truly is insane.
Both Jones and Rhuwedel as emergency Dmen who would be starters on most other teams
Chytil as a borderline elite forward to replace anyone who’s slumping or injured; and then Wheels as absolute emergency insurance
Wheeler is the 16th forward behind Edstrom
Didn’t want to make a separate post about it but big shout out to Kreider last night. He hustled on the back check and broke up two prime scoring opportunities for the Canes. And the 2nd power play goal was also result of him hustling to get the puck off a deflected pass attempt.
With Kreider hustling (and playing physical), Zibanejad heating up to go with his solid defense, and Roslovic using his skating to enter the zone and create space, our Top 6 is looking like the best in the playoffs.
I don’t think there’s a chance that Wheeler will even get healthy enough to play, but then again I thought the same thing about Sergachev until he actually suited up for the lightning.
Hockey players are a different breed.
Of course he’s back, he can smell what this team is cooking. ❤️
🥹🥹🥹 glad he’s skating
NO!
I want him to get to raise the cup!