The Rangers are rudderless.
Perhaps the biggest conundrum that faces general manager Jeff Gorton on the other side of Monday’s 3 p.m. trade deadline might not be the amount of draft picks or prospects he will have amassed — which should be aplenty to fuel a relatively quick rebuild — but who will be the much-needed strong voice in the locker room for the business-like and hands-off approach of coach Alain Vigneault.
That, of course, is assuming Vigneault remains the coach while the organization goes through this rebuilding process that is far more painful from the inside than it looks from afar. Because as these Rangers are being dismantled piece by piece, they have understandably unraveled. It has been very difficult for anyone to pull them together as they have lost six straight in regulation and have 10 defeats in the past 12 games. That projects a question of who exactly is going to be that galvanizing figure — or figures — in the future.
Rest assured, Henrik Lundqvist still carries the strongest voice in the room and he isn’t going anywhere for now. But leadership from the crease always has been a strange dynamic, needing of supplementation up front.
see also
Rangers legendary GM: I know Jeff Gortons pain
The man who sat in Jeff Gorton’s seat just over…
Captain Ryan McDonagh has been out since Feb. 9 with his unspecified upper-body injury, with no practical reason for him to push to get back while he is being strongly considered in trade talks. Rick Nash has sat out two straight strictly as a precaution, while arguably the best rental winger on the market awaits what seems like an inevitable trade. Mats Zuccarello continues to play while he is also considered, and he admirably answers all the questions in the losing postgame locker rooms with honesty and candor.
Even Lundqvist sat for two straight while he tries to rediscover his own own game following 12 goals against in 127:25 minutes of playing time. Rookie goalie Alexandar Georgiev got both games of this recent back-to-back, and showed admirably — even if the Rangers’ No. 1 goalie prospect remains Igor Shestyorkin, headed back to his KHL contract after going along for the ride and not playing a game with the Olympic Athletes from Russia in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
The Rangers were hoping this season was going to be a big step forward for their younger core players like J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes and Brady Skjei. But instead, they are no different from the rest of the squad that has somehow fell sort of their own modest preseason expectations.
“I think it’s just an opportunity for us young guys to step up,” Skjei told The Post on Friday night. “Our captain being out is definitely tough, then a few other guys. So for this young group of guys, we have to step up and take on that leadership role and help out these young guys, play the best we can. We can do a better job of that, for sure.”
see also
When it comes to Rangers rebuild, rivalry takes backseat
You’ve read that Thursday’s trade, in which the Rangers sent…
The team had a day off Saturday to breathe before a glimmer of happiness comes when Jean Ratelle’s No. 19 is finally lifted to the Garden rafters before Sunday night’s game against the Red Wings. And Gorton will continue to burn up the battery on his phone as he continues to offer the sacrifice of this season to the hockey gods for the hope of the franchise having a brighter future.
“I think everyone is on the table,” Gorton told MSG Network on Friday. “When you’re doing what we’re doing, it takes a lot of work and a lot of effort. And we’re going to need to bring in a lot of young players and guys that can play in the game today. And we have to look at our best players and our best assets. Unfortunately, that might hit home a little bit with some guys that have been here and had some success.”
Gorton is rebuilding completely, and doing so in a cold, calculating manner. Who is going to lead them on the ice and in the locker room once the dust settles from this organizational turning point is hard to figure. But it’s a question Gorton has to ponder — and answer.