Well, this post was supposed to be the 2013 New York Rangers post-mortem. Who should stay, who should go, and defusing the panic over the Henrik Lundqvist contract situation.
All that changes today.
The Rangers fired head coach John Tortorella today, a shocking move considering he was two years removed from an Eastern Conference final appearance and a trip to the second round this past season.
It is a shock considering tumultuous circumstances such as a lack of a training camp, a 48-game schedule, and a huge roster turnover.
Many fans and pundits became weary of Torts' defense first, shot blocking, sacrifice offense for defensive assignments system. Others were weary of his confrontational attitude toward the media and his players.
Despite all this, the consensus was that he at least deserved one more season to get the Rangers to a Stanley Cup.
Now, he is gone.
Why the sudden departure? It's simple.
Henrik Lundqvist is a free agent after next season. He is undoubtedly the Rangers' superstar and most important and valuable player. After the season, he made disturbing comments about his future with the Rangers, declining to say he wanted to stay in New York. Throughout the season, Lundqvist made backhanded comments to the press regarding the Rangers' lack of offense and absolute ineptitude on the power play.
At 31, Lundqvist will be past his prime in a few years, and is desperate to win a Stanley Cup. He isn't getting any younger.
These disturbing comments, and the specter of father time most likely scared the pants off General Manager Glen Sather. He cannot afford to let Lundqvist walk away. He has to make him happy, and if it meant changing the coach, and the system, so be it.
It is possible the other star players on the roster, such as Rick Nash, Ryan Callahan, and Brad Richards, echoed Lundqvist's sentiments. A prevailing thought in the media and social media universe was that Tortorella lost the locker room this year. That is entirely possible, too.
Whatever the reason, one has to believe the main purpose of this move is to keep their superstar goaltender happy. The Rangers cannot afford to lose him. If they do, you can bet the Rangers will return to the dark years of 1998-2004.
If Henrik disapproved of Torts' system and tactics, a change needed to be made. Immediately.
Step one of keeping King Henrik happy is complete. Step two is working on a contract extension. Step three is hiring the right coach to replace Torts.
Conventional wisdom dictates the Rangers should pursue an offensive-minded coach, especially to help with the Power Play. Names such as former Vancouver coach Alain Vigneault comes to mind. If the Rangers want to go for the big name, Vigneault is the most logical choice.
Other names that come to mind are former Buffalo coach Lindy Ruff, Ranger immortal Mark Messier, or the Rangers' AHL coach, Ken Gernander. However, Ruff is a defensive-minded coach and is not the best fit. Messier has never coached at any level. And Gernander is not NHL-tested.
One dark horse many have failed to mention is Islanders assistant coach Doug Weight. Weight is a former Ranger draft pick that started his career on Broadway. As Isles assistant, he turned their power play into a dangerous force that gave the Pittsburgh Penguins fits in the first round of the playoffs. He is articulate, well-spoken, and is an excellent communicator. The Ranger players would love him, and he could potentially fix the Rangers' broken power play.
Most of all, this offensive mindset will allow youngsters like Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller to flourish, stars like Rick Nash to play his game, and to even fix Brad Richards, assuming he isn't bought out.
Most of all, it will make their franchise goaltender happy.
It's unfortunate the Tortorella era had to end this way. He probably didn't deserve his dismissal.
But in the long run, it may have been necessary.
The Rangers' offseason is off to a bang.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Annual "Vent at the Continuing Failures of the Rangers" Tirade
If you don't want to believe I am a rabid, die-hard, pour my heart into my team New York Ranger fan, then don't bother reading this post.
But I consider myself an objective man, and the truth must be told.
The Rangers deserve to be swept by the Boston Bruins.
In the biggest game of the season, the Rangers sleepwalked. Like many games over the last decade, they have prayed that Henrik Lundqvist would bail them out.
One screened goal and one unlucky bounce later, he couldn't. Why? Because the Rangers simply can't score. They lose, 2-1.
And now, they are down three games to none.
Can they come back and win four in a row? Of course! The city of Boston has been on both ends of 3-0 comebacks. They know.
But if the Rangers want to show their fans any signs that it can be done again, their effort MUST change. Now.
Tonight was an embarrassment. A disgrace. They displayed no energy, little fight, and frankly, their body language suggests they are concerned about setting their tee times.
From the puck drop on, the intensity on the ice and in the crowd suggested both teams were playing a throwaway game on a Sunday night in early November.
Even when Ryan McDonagh gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead on a shot from the point, you still felt uneasy. You still felt uninspired.
The Bruins should have scored at least three, maybe four goals in the first period.
They should have scored more in the last ten minutes of the second.
When they got bounces going their way, you knew the Rangers were doomed.
Every single year, the most passionate fanbase in hockey experiences these disappointments. I can list them all off the top of my head. But that's a story for another day.
Tonight, this Rangers team played like it wanted to go home for the summer. Ranger fans don't deserve this. Not at all. And when your team wins only one Stanley Cup in 73 years, you get pretty damn frustrated.
And that is me right now. I, for one, have had enough of the constant mediocrity and disappointment. Is it so much to ask that we get a dynasty, or at least one more Cup?
EVERY. DAMN. YEAR. It's the same crap. This franchise should be the Yankees, not the Mets. I'm sure Mr. Lundqvist agrees.
Ok, I'm done venting.
I will be in front of the TV cheering on my team as I always do for Game 4 Thursday night. But we'd all better see a passionate effort.
My next Ranger-related post will either be the offseason game plan, or celebrating the fourth comeback from a 3-0 deficit in NHL history.
But I consider myself an objective man, and the truth must be told.
The Rangers deserve to be swept by the Boston Bruins.
In the biggest game of the season, the Rangers sleepwalked. Like many games over the last decade, they have prayed that Henrik Lundqvist would bail them out.
One screened goal and one unlucky bounce later, he couldn't. Why? Because the Rangers simply can't score. They lose, 2-1.
And now, they are down three games to none.
Can they come back and win four in a row? Of course! The city of Boston has been on both ends of 3-0 comebacks. They know.
But if the Rangers want to show their fans any signs that it can be done again, their effort MUST change. Now.
Tonight was an embarrassment. A disgrace. They displayed no energy, little fight, and frankly, their body language suggests they are concerned about setting their tee times.
From the puck drop on, the intensity on the ice and in the crowd suggested both teams were playing a throwaway game on a Sunday night in early November.
Even when Ryan McDonagh gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead on a shot from the point, you still felt uneasy. You still felt uninspired.
The Bruins should have scored at least three, maybe four goals in the first period.
They should have scored more in the last ten minutes of the second.
When they got bounces going their way, you knew the Rangers were doomed.
Every single year, the most passionate fanbase in hockey experiences these disappointments. I can list them all off the top of my head. But that's a story for another day.
Tonight, this Rangers team played like it wanted to go home for the summer. Ranger fans don't deserve this. Not at all. And when your team wins only one Stanley Cup in 73 years, you get pretty damn frustrated.
And that is me right now. I, for one, have had enough of the constant mediocrity and disappointment. Is it so much to ask that we get a dynasty, or at least one more Cup?
EVERY. DAMN. YEAR. It's the same crap. This franchise should be the Yankees, not the Mets. I'm sure Mr. Lundqvist agrees.
Ok, I'm done venting.
I will be in front of the TV cheering on my team as I always do for Game 4 Thursday night. But we'd all better see a passionate effort.
My next Ranger-related post will either be the offseason game plan, or celebrating the fourth comeback from a 3-0 deficit in NHL history.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
NHL Second Round Preview
Even though I am posting this a day late, here is the full preview for the NHL's conference semifinals.
NY Rangers vs Boston
Both teams arrive here following epic comebacks. Boston rallied from down 4-1 in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs with less than ten minutes remaining to tie the game in the final minute of regulation. A Patrice Bergeron goal won it for the Bruins in overtime. The Rangers rallied from series deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 against the Washington Capitals, winning both Games 6 and 7 with Henrik Lundqvist shutouts. Both teams are on an emotional high right now.
In reality, these two teams couldn't be more evenly matched. Both play a physical, in-your-face style, which suggests the series will come down to a battle of attrition. Both teams are banged up right now. The Rangers are still missing physical forward Ryane Clowe and top defenseman Marc Staal. Boston's Dennis Seidenberg was lost in a collision during Game 7, and his status for the series is questionable. This would be a huge loss for Boston. The Rangers' top defensive pair of Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh were beaten up by Washington's relentless physical play. If Staal can't come back healthy, how will both survive against a much more physical and larger team?
Aside from which team is more physical, the series will come down to special teams. The Rangers must get their power play going, and quickly. That will be a tall order against the Boston penalty kill, ranked 4th in the league during the regular season. The Rangers also need to get Rick Nash going. He went goalless in the Washington series. Imagine if he gets going.
And of course, the X factor in the series is goaltending. The Bruins have a young stud in Tuukka Rask. The Rangers have Lundqvist, the best in the world. He is also on the top of his game right now. As much as the Rangers have been inconsistent offensively, they can always rely on the man they call Hank to steal a game or two.
In a series like this, you need to go with the better (and hotter) goalie.
Rangers in 6.
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa
The New York Islanders gave the uber-team known as the Penguins fits in Round 1. It prompted a goaltender change. Tomas Vokoun is now tending goal in relief of the underachieving Marc-Andre Fleury for Pittsburgh. Ottawa has the red-hot Craig Anderson in goal and is brimming with confidence after dispatching of the second-seeded Montreal Canadiens in 5 games. The Senators are not afraid of Crosby, Malkin, and their band of stars. They can light it up on the scoreboard like the Penguins can, and can intimidate and get under the skin of their opponents. Just ask more than half the Montreal roster.
Anderson is more than capable of stealing games against Pittsburgh's high-powered offense and special teams. If Erik Karlsson is on his game, he can also carry the team. The Islanders proved the Penguins are beatable. I think the Senators pull it off.
Senators in 7.
Chicago vs Detroit
Detroit, like their original 6 counterparts in New York and Boston, showed resiliency and pride by coming back to defeat the Anaheim Ducks in 7 games, winning 3 of 4 games in overtime. Now, they run into their archrival, a Chicago team that is more complete than Anaheim. The Hawks do it all; they get good goaltending when needed, have excellent special teams, and have a very deep roster. The Wings have gotten what they needed from their top players: forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, and goalie Jimmy Howard. It won't be enough against the Hawks, who get contributions from new heroes every single night. The Wings will display the pride and guts factor again, but will run out of gas.
Blackhawks in 7.
Los Angeles vs San Jose
The Kings proved their championship mettle in Round 1. They rallied from a 2-0 deficit against the St. Louis Blues, winning in 6. They also survived a fatal goaltending error from Jonathan Quick in overtime of Game 1. They are proving last year was no fluke. The Sharks, however, have ridden the hot goaltending of Antii Niemi to this point, sweeping a soft Vancouver team in Round 1. They'll need the Vezina nominee to play like one again if the expect to beat the champs. The Sharks also come in well-rested, while the Kings survived a very physical series with St. Louis. This series will come down to the goaltending; will Quick or Niemi make the fatal mistake or the key save? In theory, that would make the series a toss-up. However, you have to go with the more experienced team with the championship pedigree.
Kings in 6.
NY Rangers vs Boston
Both teams arrive here following epic comebacks. Boston rallied from down 4-1 in Game 7 against the Maple Leafs with less than ten minutes remaining to tie the game in the final minute of regulation. A Patrice Bergeron goal won it for the Bruins in overtime. The Rangers rallied from series deficits of 2-0 and 3-2 against the Washington Capitals, winning both Games 6 and 7 with Henrik Lundqvist shutouts. Both teams are on an emotional high right now.
In reality, these two teams couldn't be more evenly matched. Both play a physical, in-your-face style, which suggests the series will come down to a battle of attrition. Both teams are banged up right now. The Rangers are still missing physical forward Ryane Clowe and top defenseman Marc Staal. Boston's Dennis Seidenberg was lost in a collision during Game 7, and his status for the series is questionable. This would be a huge loss for Boston. The Rangers' top defensive pair of Dan Girardi and Ryan McDonagh were beaten up by Washington's relentless physical play. If Staal can't come back healthy, how will both survive against a much more physical and larger team?
Aside from which team is more physical, the series will come down to special teams. The Rangers must get their power play going, and quickly. That will be a tall order against the Boston penalty kill, ranked 4th in the league during the regular season. The Rangers also need to get Rick Nash going. He went goalless in the Washington series. Imagine if he gets going.
And of course, the X factor in the series is goaltending. The Bruins have a young stud in Tuukka Rask. The Rangers have Lundqvist, the best in the world. He is also on the top of his game right now. As much as the Rangers have been inconsistent offensively, they can always rely on the man they call Hank to steal a game or two.
In a series like this, you need to go with the better (and hotter) goalie.
Rangers in 6.
Pittsburgh vs Ottawa
The New York Islanders gave the uber-team known as the Penguins fits in Round 1. It prompted a goaltender change. Tomas Vokoun is now tending goal in relief of the underachieving Marc-Andre Fleury for Pittsburgh. Ottawa has the red-hot Craig Anderson in goal and is brimming with confidence after dispatching of the second-seeded Montreal Canadiens in 5 games. The Senators are not afraid of Crosby, Malkin, and their band of stars. They can light it up on the scoreboard like the Penguins can, and can intimidate and get under the skin of their opponents. Just ask more than half the Montreal roster.
Anderson is more than capable of stealing games against Pittsburgh's high-powered offense and special teams. If Erik Karlsson is on his game, he can also carry the team. The Islanders proved the Penguins are beatable. I think the Senators pull it off.
Senators in 7.
Chicago vs Detroit
Detroit, like their original 6 counterparts in New York and Boston, showed resiliency and pride by coming back to defeat the Anaheim Ducks in 7 games, winning 3 of 4 games in overtime. Now, they run into their archrival, a Chicago team that is more complete than Anaheim. The Hawks do it all; they get good goaltending when needed, have excellent special teams, and have a very deep roster. The Wings have gotten what they needed from their top players: forwards Henrik Zetterberg and Pavel Datsyuk, and goalie Jimmy Howard. It won't be enough against the Hawks, who get contributions from new heroes every single night. The Wings will display the pride and guts factor again, but will run out of gas.
Blackhawks in 7.
Los Angeles vs San Jose
The Kings proved their championship mettle in Round 1. They rallied from a 2-0 deficit against the St. Louis Blues, winning in 6. They also survived a fatal goaltending error from Jonathan Quick in overtime of Game 1. They are proving last year was no fluke. The Sharks, however, have ridden the hot goaltending of Antii Niemi to this point, sweeping a soft Vancouver team in Round 1. They'll need the Vezina nominee to play like one again if the expect to beat the champs. The Sharks also come in well-rested, while the Kings survived a very physical series with St. Louis. This series will come down to the goaltending; will Quick or Niemi make the fatal mistake or the key save? In theory, that would make the series a toss-up. However, you have to go with the more experienced team with the championship pedigree.
Kings in 6.
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