New York Rangers’ Trade Deadline Success Hinges on Alain Vigneault
The Rangers’ Trade Deadline has come and gone, filled with some surprises and plenty of question marks. New York’s big move was receiving Brendan Smith from the Detroit Red Wings for a pair of draft picks. Now that the Deadline is over, the success is in Alain Vigneault’s hands.
Alain Vigneault had his contract extended by Jeff Gorton earlier this year. Now it is Vigneault’s turn to do Jeff Gorton a favor. Gorton succeeded in notching the New York Rangers a defensive upgrade by acquiring Brendan Smith from the Detroit Red Wings.
Still, Gorton failed to make any other moves. When we originally heard the Smith trade, we said the trade “fixed nothing.” We also wrote that more moves had to be coming for it to be a success.
No more significant moves came, meaning this is the team the Rangers will be finishing the season with. While Smith brings an improvement to the table, he also brings plenty of question marks only Alain Vigneault can answer.
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Defense on Defense on Defense on Defense
When everyone is healthy, the New York Rangers will have Adam Clendening, Dan Girardi, Nick Holden, Kevin Klein, Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skjei, Brendan Smith, and Marc Staal ready to go. That’s eight defensemen for six spots.
Gorton successfully found six defensemen that can be pieced together to make a strong enough defense to make a Stanley Cup run. Given the Rangers’ forward depth and goaltending (yes, Henrik Lundqvist is a positive) having a league average defense is all the Rangers need.
Tomorrow night’s defense will be league average or better.
Ryan McDonagh-Brendan Smith
Marc Staal-Nick Holden
Brady Skjei-Adam Clendening
However, Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein will return from injury. Girardi and Klein are the two worst defensemen on the roster, meaning their insertion into the lineup will knock the Rangers’ defense below the “league average” ranking.
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Vigneault’s Choice
Jeff Gorton’s failure can be Alain Vigneault’s redemption. Gorton was supposed to trade at least one of Nick Holden or Kevin Klein to ensure Vigneault would play the right defensemen for New York’s success.
Instead, Gorton failed to move either Holden or Klein. Now, Vigneault will be forced to make a decision when everyone is healthy. Vigneault can use the lineup mentioned above to give the Rangers a real chance to win, or he can do….
Ryan McDonagh-Dan Girardi
Marc Staal-Nick Holden
Brendan Smith-Kevin Klein
….yikes.
While we loved the Brendan Smith acquisition, this is why complementary moves were so important. Vigneault owns the ability to advance or destroy the Rangers’ chances for the rest of the season.
Brady Skjei must play. Adam Clendening has been terrific in his limited playing time. Dan Girardi and Kevin Klein are two of the worst defensemen in the NHL. The decisions are simple, but Alain Vigneault has not shown the ability to make simple defensive decisions thus far in his career with the Rangers.
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Jeff Gorton’s Trade Deadline downfall could be his lack of movement on defense. Jeff Gorton’s Trade Deadline success could be the one move he made on defense. We don’t know which it will be yet. Only Alain Vigneault does.