New York Rangers: New defensive mindset will prove to be for the best
The New York Rangers are a team that heavily relied on their offense last season. This season, their focus seems to have shifted to defense, and that will be for the best.
There are a lot of factors that go into making a Stanley Cup winning team. They must be solid in all three zones. Their goaltending must be top-notch, and they have to have a shut-down defensive system. So what have the New York Rangers done to better themselves?
They made themselves better defensively. It might have come at the expense of their formerly elite offense, but they’re stronger now because of it.
It’s been said that great defense and great goaltending wins Cups and the Rangers have a chance to prove that this next season.
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This past offseason, GM Jeff Gorton sent away Derek Stepan to the Coyotes in order to make cap room space for Kevin Shattenkirk. They also got Anthony DeAngelo in that deal.
These moves prove that they felt the need to upgrade their defense was so dire that they were willing to give up a big part of their offense in Stepan to sign a capable defenseman. But that wasn’t their only move.
But that wasn’t their only move.
They also bought out Dan Girardi’s contract. Although it is dead cap space, they did it in order to better their defensive situation. They also re-signed Brendan Smith to a four-year contract so he could continue to play with rising star Brady Skjei.
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The Rangers know that part of the reason they were ousted from the playoffs so early last season was that of their subpar defense. If they had a better defense last season, combined with their offense, they definitely could have gotten further.
Last season, the team was a combination of good offense and good goaltending. That gap in the middle (the defense) is what cost them. However, since goaltending is technically a defensive position, it makes sense to concentrate on one aspect of the team and make it the best possible.
Also, it’s important to consider that great teams such as the Predators and Penguins have solid top defensive pairings. The Penguins have Olli Maatta and Kris Letang, and the Predators have Roman Josi and Ryan Ellis.
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It’s great that the Rangers have finally decided to shift their focus to what has worked for two of the best teams in the league. Although they still have some problems on offense because of the lack of center depth, they have gotten stronger because of their moves this offseason to focus on their defense. And if they play to all their strengths, it might be able enough to lead them to the long-awaited Stanley Cup Championship.