With the New York Rangers dreaming of a Presidents’ Trophy down the stretch, the similarities between 2015 and 1994 start becoming more evident.
It didn’t quite start the way we envisioned.
After an epic run during the 2013-14 season, which saw heartfelt stories littered across the team (see Marty St. Louis and Dominic Moore), fans realized a few young New York Rangers would have to step up in 2014-15.
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After all, losing staples such as Brian Boyle, Benoit Poulliot, Anton Stralman and Derek Dorsett, a few step-ups were necessary.
For much of the season, the Rangers found themselves in that solid, but not fantastic category. They were discussed as a top 10 NHL team, yet lingered in the No. 3 spot of the Metropolitan Division which hovers just above a Wild Card spot.
Queue the name of Cam Talbot.
When Henrik Lundqvist went down with the throat injury (helped by a Ryan McDonagh stick), Talbot stepped in and marveled us all. More importantly, the team learned who they really were.
During that ridiculous stretch Talbot put up a 16-4-3 mark as the Rangers won 21 of the 25 games that were played.
It was almost two months of games which saw this team truly become the dominant version Alain Vigneault has always envisioned. They routinely displayed a free-flowing breakout with suffocating defense – a combination that becomes lethal in hockey.
They’ve been so good, that the Presidents’ Trophy isn’t just in their grasp, they’re the front-runners.
Should the Blueshirts capture the Presidents’ Trophy, it’ll mark the first time they’ve done so since, you guessed it, 1994.
Nobody is claiming the 2014-15 Rangers are the 1994 squad we saw take us from the brink of insanity to ecstasy, but major similarities do exist. These comparisons come much easier too considering some of their recent additions over the past 15 months.
Perhaps it was the magical stretch without the face of the franchise that has us starting to compare.
Regardless, here are five reasons the 2015 Rangers remind us of the 1994 Stanley Cup Champions:
Next: Reason No. 5
Mar 21, 2015; Raleigh, NC, USA; New York Rangers defensemen Keith Yandle (93) looks on against the Carolina Hurricanes at PNC Arena. The New York Rangers defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 3-2 in the shoot out. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
5. Trades To Fit Style
Remember what general manager Neil Smith did 21-years ago at the trade deadline?
He shipped off young stud Tony Amonte to the Chicago Blackhawks for Brian Noonan and Stephane Matteau. He also brought in Craig MacTavish and Glenn Anderson who was stunningly traded for fan-favorite Mike Gartner. Not to mention a key November trade which brought defensive whiz Steve Larmer and Nick Kypreos in for James Patrick and Darren Turcotte.
Esa Tikkanen was a huge acquisition during the 1993 trade deadline.
1993 and 1994 Additions-Subtractions:
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Out:
Mike Gartner, RW
Darren Turcotte, C
James Patrick, D
Tony Amonte, RW
Todd Marchant, C
In:
Esa Tikkanen, LW
Stephane Matteau, LW
Brian Noonan, RW
Glen Anderson, RW
Steve Larmer, RW
Nick Kypreos, RW
Craig MacTavish, C
Although the Rangers were the best in the regular season, Smith decided he needed more toughness and veteran leadership to gel with head coach Mike Kennan’s style. He especially thought more toughness was needed.
Both Smith and Keenan knew the team pre-deadline was a spectacular 82-game regular season squad. Still, they both felt it drastically needed to change face in order to win 16-games in the playoffs.
We all remember what Matteau’s trade deadline acquisition led to:
While there’s no question the overall attitude and style between the 1994 team and the 2015 couldn’t be different – as ’94’s tough and gritty squad is a complete contrast to ’15’s speed and free-flowing one – each general manager wasn’t afraid to make moves that furthered their head coach’s philosophy.
We’ve seen it with Glen Sather the past two seasons.
Sather has done a phenomenal job in the development department. Coming into the 2013-14 season he possessed one of the youngest teams in the NHL. Over time, however, he’s added some veteran leadership and some skill that Alain Vigneault loves and could lean on with his “get it and go” system.
The following is basically the transformation from John Tortorella to now.
2014 and 2015 Additions-Subtractions:
Feb 22, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing Martin St. Louis (26) after defeating the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Blue Jackets 4-3 in a shoot out. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
Out:
Ryan Callahan, RW
John Moore, D
Anthony Duclair, W
Brian Boyle, C (FA)
Benoit Poliout (FA)
Anton Stralman (FA)
In:
Marty St. Louis, RW
Keith Yandle, D
Kevin Klein, D
Kevin Hayes, C (FA)
Dan Boyle, D (FA)
While the number of transactions for today’s team pales in comparison to two-decades ago, notice Sather’s ability to not be afraid to acquire the smaller-type player that Vigneault is okay with.
The Keith Yandle acquisition was the cherry-on-top in fully signalling the franchise will give up some youth in exchange for a win-now attitude. It is the same philosophy Neil Smith displayed 21-years ago.
Furthermore, bringing in veterans like Marty St. Louis and Dan Boyle who have done it before echoes the same sentiment as the ’94 team bringing in Messier and all of the other former Edmonton Oilers who found themselves on that memorable team.
Next: Reason No. 4
Apr 2, 2015; Saint Paul, MN, USA; New York Rangers forward Carl Hagelin (62) celebrates a goal scored by forward Dominic Moore (not pictured) during the first period against the Minnesota Wild at Xcel Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
4. Depth and Balance
It is fascinating to compare both the 1994 and 2015 Rangers lineups.
When looking at the full lineup, and comparing each line and pairing, the depth and balance each squad represents is flat-out stellar.
This is the lineup Keenan started games with. However, as all diehard Rangers fans know, it’s not the lineup Keenan ended games with.
Much like Tortorella, Keenan absolutely adored tinkering with the lines and pairings during the game. In fact, it was such an art to him that he finally decided on a “start of game lineup” and “end of game lineup.”
Because the Blueshirts were so weak down the middle, Alex Kovalev or Esa Tikkanen frequently had to play the second-line center. Kovalev was such a playmaker though, that at the end of games he was propelled to the right side on the Adam Graves-Mark Messier line. Tikkanen would then center Matteau and Larmer and MacTavish would be in the middle of Anderson and Noonan.
The Rangers were so deep that Doug Lidster only played due to an Alex Karpovtsev injury. Lidster became one of their unsung heroes of the tournament as he filled in on the first d-pairing with Brian Leetch after Jeff Beukeboom was nicked up – one of the instances coming in Game 7 of the Finals.
Just look at the balance and depth across both lineups.
Dominic Moore and Craig MacTavish are very similar. Moore is by far the Rangers best faceoff man and defensive specialist at the center ice position. For the ’94 Rangers, MacTavish played that very same role for a team who wasn’t strong down the middle.
The arrival of Keith Yandle can now assume some of the duties Sergei Zubov helped the ’94 team with. Dan Girardi and Jeff Beukeboom mirror each other and Steve Larmer and Carl Hagelin also play the same dominant defensive style game (although they each do it differently).
It’s funny, even Adam Graves and Rich Nash enjoy similarities as each squad’s pure goal score (Graves finished with 52 and Nash currently has 42).
Next: Reason No. 3
Jan 20, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers right wing Jesper Fast (19) congratulates right wing Kevin Hayes (13) for scoring a goal against the Ottawa Senators during the second period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
3. Studs Entering Stardom
Even if you claim to be the biggest Rangers fan in the world, I bet I stump some of you on this next question.
Who was the Rangers top point scorer during the 1993-94 regular season?
You’d probably guess Mark Messier right? I mean, he was the MVP just two seasons earlier during his first season in New York. Or how about Brian Leetch? He was the Norris Trophy that same very 1991-92 season and scored over 100 points with his good friend Messier.
If not those two, it must be Adam Graves then. After all, he did break the Rangers single-season record for goals in a season with 52 that year.
Nope. The correct answer is defenseman Sergei Zubov.
At just 23-years of age, Zubov enjoyed a true breakout season in ’94. When the Rangers found themselves on the power play that season, him playing the point with Leetch with Graves, Messier and Alex Kovalev up front was a dream unit.
Zubov led the team with 89 points that season.
Additionally, the aforementioned Kovalev was just brilliant during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Without Zubov and Kovalev’s rise to prominence in those playoffs, they would’ve come up short.
In 2015 we are seeing the same type of potential with the likes of Kevin Hayes and Chris Kreider.
Both guys are absolute beasts and can each play the role of true power forward with a little polishing. Jesper Fast and T.J. Miller furthering their development this season is even further reason to get excited about the task which lies ahead.
Next: Reason No. 2
Nov 1, 2014; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault and right wing Kevin Hayes (13) shout against the Winnipeg Jets during the third period at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
2. Coaching
Head coach Mike Keenan won exactly one Stanley Cup during his 20-year NHL career.
However, he was a man who was used to getting close to the promised land.
Keenan reached the Stanley Cup Finals an incredible three-times prior to 1994. Twice with the Philadelphia Flyers (1985 and 1987), and once with the Chicago Blackhawks (1993).
May 4, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; New York Rangers head coach Alain Vigneault (top) reacts on the bench against the Pittsburgh Penguins during the third period in game two of the second round of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at the CONSOL Energy Center. The Pens won 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Despite many who believe the ’94 Rangers won despite Keenan instead of with him, there’s no arguing some of the buttons he pushed during that run worked like a charm.
Okay, so maybe pulling Mike Richter in Game 4 against New Jersey was a terrible idea. However, what about his timeout in Game 6 against New Jersey where he didn’t utter one word to the team. Instead, he just stared at them.
Mark Messier responded with his natural Hat Trick during his famous “called game” and the rest is history.
Present Rangers coach Alain Vigneault has also been to the promised land already.
During the 2010-11 season with the Vancouver Canucks, Vigneault lost a tough-fought 7-game series to the Boston Bruins during the Stanley Cup Finals. Twice with that Vancouver team Vigneault won the Presidents’ Trophy.
It’s interesting.
There’s no question that there couldn’t be more of a stark contrast between the coaching styles of Keenan and Vigneault. Yet each guy was gotten so close to kissing the cup prior to taking over the Rangers job.
Next: Reason No. 1
Apr 4, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist (30) takes a drink during a second period timeout against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers defeated the Devils 6-1. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
1. Goaltending
The final piece to this comparing puzzle comes down in net.
During that most famous Game 6 against the New Jersey Devils in the Eastern Conference Finals, Mark Messier did play the role of hero. Although, many Blueshirts’ faithful will argue Mike Richter was the true hero of that game.
He was superb.
If it hadn’t been for Richter, Messier and the Rangers wouldn’t have had a shot to make their epic comeback and force Game 7.
Oh yeah, and this one:
Richter was a guy who always seemed to come up huge when the moment needed it the most.
Lundqvist must once again match Richter’s big-game heroics.
No Stanley Cup winning team can make it through with average goaltending. Fortunately for the Rangers they have that piece locked down with Lundqvist, and even Cam Talbot should disaster strike in some crazy fashion.
Furthermore, the comparisons between Ryan McDonagh and Brian Leetch are tough.
Both guys are two completely different players. However, Leetch made a name for himself in 1994. Although he was already among the league’s best prior to those playoffs, his play stepped up another 10 levels during those 23-magical games in the Spring of ’94.
McDonagh will need to do the same thing in 2015 if the Rangers have any designs on bringing the Stanley Cup back to New York City.
We know the captain can play defense. We know he’s as solid as a defenseman you’ll find around this league.
The question will be this: can he up his game to Leetch-status come playoff time?
