Everybody on the Same Page

October 23, 2011 | Posted by Leslie Treff

Even before last night’s 2-0 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, there were questions about the Rangers’ identity. Temporarily sidetracked by two wins this week, the question reared its ugly head again last night, as New York looked pretty lost on the ice against Edmonton. If not for Henrik Lundqvist, who in my mind is the best goaltender in the NHL right now, the Rangers would surely be 0-6, and off to the worst start in recent history.

But Lundqvist is between the pipes, doing acrobatics to keep the Blueshirts in the game. Everything starts and ends with him, and although, there was a scare last night, when he had to leave the game because of foot pain, it appears that this is nothing serious and Lundqvist will be back either tomorrow or for the home opener against Toronto on Thursday.

Although netminding is the starting point for any contending team, and the Rangers duo might be the best in hockey, it does not define the identity of the team. Last season, the Rangers were a grinding team, hard to play against, in your face, very good defensively, but a little short on talent.

Shots on goal and actual goals were an issue, so General Manager Glen Sather went out and got a number one center, Brad Richards, to cure the most obvious glaring deficiency. The addition of Richards was not supposed to change the identity of the team, just give it more offensive production. The hope was also to be able to pick up a first line winger, but Sather was unable to do so without giving up a key young defensemen or a prized forward prospect.

Also a problem was the salary cap, to which the Rangers were coming dangerously close. Unless, of course, they waived Sean Avery, sent Mats Zuccarello down to the AHL and bought out Wojtek Wolski. There was only a short window for doing this over the summer, and for reasons that seemed good at the time, all three players were on the active roster for the pre-season. All of them had offensive ability (or in Avery’s case, once did) and a good shot at staying with the NHL team. As we all know, what has happened now is that both Avery and Zuccarello have been banished to the AHL, while Wolski has been out injured.

Whatever you may think of Wolski’s work ethic or consistency issues, the young man has amazing offensive talent. It was there in junior and it was there in Colorado–he can be very effective. But he has to be managed and the question that is whether that can be done here. Zuccarello is also very talented, tends to be more of a one-way player, but as yet unproven in North America. Frankly, I don’t buy that Zuccarello can’t play in a top six role in the NHL, but I am not sure that either Wolski or Zuccarello can be successful on this team.

Because this team is basically still a grind em out, 2-1 win, and if it goes to OT, no-problem, team. Neither Wolski nor Zuccarello are those kinds of players. And that kind of team needs a very powerful defense. With the ongoing injuries to Marc Staal and Mike Sauer, its very hard to make it work.

At this point, the team just doesn’t have enough to win consistently. But the least the management and fans could do is to be honest and say, this is who we are, and unfortunately right now we can’t win with what we have on any consistent basis. Management can then admit to themselves that they made a mistake signing Zuccarello and not buying out Wolski, because neither player fits the identity of the team, and make other arrangements to strengthen the team without causing distress.

Everyone in the organization needs to be on the same page, from the players, to the head coach, to the Director of Player Personnel (who does the drafting), to the General Manager as to what the identity of the team is going forward. It may not be the exciting, offensive hockey that everyone was hoping for, but it can win. And in the end, that’s what the fans will be happy with and will make the team the most money.

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