Regarding the Rangers, who with 16 wins in 31 games entering Friday’s Garden match against the Kings, are precisely the ordinary team their record indicates:
1. Stretches such as this one, in which the Blueshirts have played well in one of their past six matches (good versus the Devils while poor against the Panthers, Penguins, Capitals, Stars and Senators) should create clarity for Jeff Gorton as the general manager weighs his options with the Feb. 26 trade deadline coming into view.
Because no matter the paucity of formidable teams in not only the Eastern Conference, but also in the NHL, it is unrealistic to reach the conclusion the Rangers are legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, or even an affordable piece away from becoming one. Hence, it is incumbent upon Gorton to cash in on the expiring assets under his control and accelerate the team’s remodeling, whether it costs ownership a couple of playoff dates or not.
The Rangers need to add more of an edge and to become a team that wins far more one-on-one battles and spends much more time in the offensive zone and much less backing into its own end. This year’s club lacks both bark and bite. We’re in Vanilla-land here with a team that has been kept afloat since the end of October by superior goaltending from Henrik Lundqvist and Ondrej Pavelec, who have combined for a .929 save percentage and 2.38 goals-against average.
And though the deadline does not strike until Feb. 26, there is nothing wrong with jumping the market if the price is right for pending free-agent wingers Rick Nash and Michael Grabner, despite their value to the Rangers. Beyond that, management is coming up on uncomfortable moments of truth regarding Ryan McDonagh and Mats Zuccarello, both of whom are eligible to hit free agency in 2019.
If Gorton and the front office are not going to re-up the core pieces, chances are their value would be at their highest now, when acquiring clubs would get them for two playoff runs at reasonable prices (McDonagh on one of the NHL’s all-time club-friendly contracts at $4.7 million per and Zuccarello at a most reasonable $4.5 million per) rather than one at either this year’s draft or next year’s deadline.
The Rangers might miss the playoffs if they dismantle. But they also might miss the tournament anyway. Jim Dolan’s ownership group and front office have little for which to apologize since the cap went into effect in 2005-06. But same old, same old won’t cut it. If taking a step back is necessary to take two steps forward — and maybe a younger, more energized team would make the playoffs anyway — the time for that is now.
2. Have you ever seen an inverted payroll pyramid such as the one the Rangers are displaying on their defense? As in: First pair of McDonagh and Nick Holden ($1.65 million), total of $6.35 million; Second pair of Brady Skjei ($925,000) and Kevin Shattenkirk ($6.65 million), total of $7.575 million; Third pair of Marc Staal ($4.7 million) and Brendan Smith ($4.35 million), total of $10.05 million.
Probably not a model of success.
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3. Smith, who played so well in the playoffs following his deadline acquisition from the Red Wings, has been the Rangers’ most disappointing player since signing his four-year extension, and by a significant margin. No. 42 doesn’t technically qualify as a free-agent signing, but if he did, he would be venturing into Wade Redden territory.
4. From Ulf Samuelsson to Jeff Beukeboom to Lindy Ruff, the identity of the assistant coach in charge of defense doesn’t seem to have the slightest effect on the blue line’s propensity for over-pursuit of the puck at the expense of protecting the front of the net. For better or worse, this must be by design of head coach Alain Vigneault.
Yes, J.T. Miller allowed his man, Zack Smith, to get position in front on Ottawa’s 3-1 goal eight seconds into the third period of Wednesday’s 3-2 defeat. But why would Skjei leave the front — while pointing and likely yelling to Miller to pick up the vacated area — to join Shattenkirk in pursuit of Tom Pyatt after the winger had beaten No. 22 down the left side off the opening draw? Skjei tried to block the pass, but had he held his ground, there would not have been an open man to receive it.
This is the rule, not the exception to how the Rangers have defended for years. I just don’t get it.