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New York Rangers: Five things the Rangers need to go their way

By Nicholas Zararis

VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 9: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 9, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - DECEMBER 9: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers looks on from the bench from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena December 9, 2015 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 12: Head coach of the New York Rangers Alain Vigneault speaks to the media prior to Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 12, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 12: Head coach of the New York Rangers Alain Vigneault speaks to the media prior to Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers during the 2017 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Bell Centre on April 12, 2017 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Coaches stay out of their own way-

The Atlantic Division finals last season were an unmitigated disaster for the Rangers. They lost to a much weaker Ottawa Senators team, blowing  two multi goal leads in the third period.

Inexcusably Marc Staal and Nick Holden were continually sent out in the last five minutes of playoff games which ensured disaster. Neither Staal or Holden was able to cover for the others mistakes. Together they made Jean-Gabriel Pageau look like the second coming of Sidney Crosby.

Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich were not consistently in the lineup because Matt Puempel and Tanner Glass were.

The list of puzzling decisions could go on and on. But this year, the front office brought in an equalizer.

Lindy Ruff is a former head coach with a career record of 571-432 who’s been to the Stanley Cup final and came within a Brett Hull goal of winning one.

Head coach Alain Vigneault could be shown the door to make an example if the Rangers get off to a slow start. And with any coaching change, there is a changing of systems which takes time.

Next: Four thoughts through four pre-season games

Time the Rangers don’t have.

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