This blog has not been in existence long enough for me to get into my patience with this team, my thoughts on making a change are actually a culmination of the past 5 games.? 5 games may be a short period of time in a grueling 82 game season, but it is more of an offshoot of the 97-04 Ranger teams.? They always looked good for 1 game out of every 4 or 5, just good enough to make you think that they could turn it around.
So let us look at the past 5 games.
Loss against the Preds 0-3
Shootout win against the Leafs 5-4
Loss against the Panthers 2-4
Win against the ‘Yotes 7-3
Loss against the Kings 1-4
On the surface it isnt horrible, they picked up 4 points in 5 games, certainly nothing to make you say”tear the team down”.? But lets look at those 5 teams, and games a little different.
Coming into tonight those teams records were 22-30-8 for a combined 52 out of a possible 120 points.? So in reality you are talking about some pretty poor teams, teams that shouldnt make the playoffs, teams good teams feast on, teams the Rangers are NOT feasting on.? Look at it even further, the opponents got a total of 7 out of a possible 10 points against us. OUCH.? How about another groin shot?? those 5 games encompassed 15 periods and one overtime.? If you overlook the shootout “goal” you get for the win, and the 2nd period against the Coyotes the Rangers have been outscored 18-10.
The nightmare gets worse believe it or not.? The Rangers now have to head in to Anaheim and San Jose, 2 of the best teams in the entire league on back to back nights.? In all if we manage to win even one, I will be shocked.
So, as I have eluded to, it is time for a change, and here is what I propose:
The first line shouldnt be tinkered with, inevitably they are reunited, so why even bother splitting them up.
The second line is missing a Center in the worst way, I like Cullens game on the wing a bit more than at center and Betts has been terrible as the Center.? I cant even begin to count how many times the guy got the puck and didnt even look to see what his options were, he just threw it at the net. Ordinarily I dont really care, I love guys who shoot, but you have to give yourself a chance to score you know? Hold the puck long enough to get a shot with guys in front, let your teammates create space for you, etc.? He just does not know how to pass, as seen by his grand total of 3 assists (2 Regular Season, 1 against the Devils in the playoffs)? as a New York Ranger in his career.? I say bring up Jarkko Immonen and plug him in at 2nd line center.? Although he hasnt exactly been tearing the AHL up so far this year, he HAS to be better than Betts, and he plays a 2-way game.
Trade Blair Betts and 1 or 2 defenseman, They are overloaded at D and Betts is simply not worth putting out there.? You can not point to his faceoff ability or his penalty killing ability as his face off percentage is a meager 48.2% and the Rangers on the PK are a whopping 81% on the PK, good enough for 22nd in the league.
The 3rd and 4th lines should be some combination of Ward, Orr, Dawes, Prucha, Hollweg, Hall, and Hossa.?
The Defense needs to be looked at, you can not seriously tell me the Rangers are playing the guys they want to trade, and are sacrificing wins so that they can move them.? I’m sorry but if that is true then management and the coach should come out and flat out apologize to their fans for not playing the best lineup they can.? Thomas Pock HAS to play.? Period, I dont care what anyone says, the kid has to play.? If the D is going to suck, I would much rather have it sucking because a kid is learning and making mistakes than a vet making the same mistake for the fifty millionth time.? With that said Kaspar has to go.? I was hesitant to see him in the lineup against the Devils after his preseason showing, but for that game he proved me wrong.? Since then he has been an abomination, his lack of speed and lack of taking the body is really hurting the team.? If he was out there throwing big intimidating checks, and pestering the opposing teams into taking penalties, then I could overlook his own zone play.? But this year he has been a shell of his old self, and is hurting the team.? Someone over at Sam Weinmans blog mentioned that Sandis Bozolinsh has been on the ice for 7 of the 11 goals scored against the Rangers since he has come back.? I havent confirmed that number, but it does sound about right.? The guy is just not worth having out there if he is going to cost your team everytime he is on the ice. Though to be fair, he was partnered with Kaspar today, and Kaspar was so bad out there it is hard to fault Bozo too much.? So I might be willing to give Bozo a few more chances, but he has to be paired with either Ward or Tyutin, preferably Ward, otherwise you are just asking for trouble.
So if I had it my way Rozsival, Bozo? and Kaspar would be gone, Malik? would be your 7th defenseman, and both Pock and Ivan Baranka would be playing.? If we are going to give up 4 goals a game, at least do it while developing your kids.?
Nigel Dawes has to play.? Period, end of story.? Marcel Hossa is a -7 so far this year with 0 goals, 0 assists in 11 games played.? Nigel Dawes in 7 games played has a goal and is only a -2.? I can not for the life of me figure out what Hossa has done to be in over Dawes.? Potential? Are you kidding me?
Colton Orr.? Look, I am not saying this guy is going to be a Todd Bertuzzi or something, but I certainly do not believe he is a detriment to this team.? I may not be an expert, but the kid looks like he can play 6 minutes a night without a problem, and actually serves a purpose as opposed to Hossa.? Let Orr play, and let Orr fight.? You know what the first thing I would have done after the Kings went up 2-0? Sent Orr out there and made him goad someone into a fight.? Win or lose it energizes a team, and when a team is flat, those are the thing a coach needs to to go get his team back into the game. Speaking of coaching…
Tom Renney.? I was a fan of Renneys all year last year, he had the team practicing hard, playing hard, and winning, but his personnel decisions, loyalty to undeserving players, and punishing of players not deserving it has just gone on long enough.? Tom should be “promoted” to another part of this organization, because I think he truly is a Ranger, he lives and dies for the team, and I like to see guys like that stay with the Organization, but he has made no sense with the moves he has made.? Maybe my suggestions won’t work, but to me, and I believe to most fans, they MAKE SENSE.? The biggest problem I have with Renney is what he does just doesnt seem to make sense most of the time.? Perhaps it is hockey naivete on my part, but reading message boards and other fan comments, I am not leaning towards that direction.? If I had my choice, Jim Schoenfeld would be the new coach, I think he is perfect for this team, is a winner, and has the attitude I like in a coach.
One last thing to chew on.? The following were the Rangers giveaway totals of tonight:
Jagr:4
Rozsival & Malik:3
Bozo & Prucha:2
Lundqvist, Straka, Nylander, Shanahan, Orr:1
When your top 5 man unit of Straka, Nylander, Jagr, Rozsival, & Malik have a total of 12 turnovers…you are in DEEP trouble.
Final Score: Kings 4 Rangers 1
Rangers 3 Stars Of The Game:
1)Brendan Shanahan.? He had a good game.? Was a -1 for the game, but did score the lone goal.
2)Ryan Hollweg. Credited with 3 hits in just over 7 minutes of ice time. The same amount of hits Kaspar had in twice the ice time.? Ryan was Even for the night, Kaspar -2.
3)Fedor Tyutin. Toots was solid out there, he threw a nice hit, and was Even for the night.
-Inferno
