New York Rangers: What to and not to worry about

Looking at what the New York Rangers should and should not worry about after two brutal losses to open the NHL season

The New York Rangers are off to a poor start to their 2017-18 campaign. After falling to the likely worst team in hockey in the Colorado Avalanche, New York followed up the performance by surrendering eight goals to the Toronto Maple Leafs in another defeat.

The 0-2 start has many people panicking, as New York has been out-scored 12-7 through two games. Considering New York’s struggles in keeping the puck out of their own net last season, concerns about the defense are plentiful.

However, there have been concerns across various areas in New York’s play. Any time a team gets off to a start as poor as New York’s, people will find what to worry about. The real question is what should and should not be worried about. In this article we will look through what has transpired thus far, and what you must and must not worry about moving forward. Let’s look!

Do Worry: Alain Vigneault’s Coaching Decisions

Another season, another horrendous start for Alain Vigneault. There is a laundry list of concerns people should have with the man behind the bench for the New York Rangers.

First, Vigneault continues to play Kevin Hayes in the shutdown center role. Not only has Hayes struggled to produce offensively, but his defensive game has weakened. This is to be expected when he is playing in a role he is unfit for.

Second, Vigneault has glued Filip Chytil to the bench. While understandable late in a game, late in the season, it’s happened early in games, early in the season. Chytil has not been afforded the chance to show off his talent, but he remains in the lineup, toiling away on the bench.

Third, Vigneault has given zero power-play time to Jimmy Vesey, and little power-play time to Brady Skjei. Two of the stronger power-play performers on the Rangers have been reduced to penalty-killing only roles.

Fourth, Vigneault put Marc Staal on Ryan McDonagh’s first pairing. While the move worked out offensively, defensively Ryan McDonagh now has another anchor on his hands. That cannot last.

Fifth, Vigneault blew the series against the Ottawa Senators last postseason. Not entirely relevant, but always worth reminding people about.

Considering Alain Vigneault’s track record, these decisions paint a trend, not things to shrug off. This may be a long season of poor Alain Vigneault coaching decisions.

Don’t Worry: Brendan Smith

The first two games of the 2017-18 campaign for Brendan Smith were less than stellar. Possession wise he put up ghastly numbers, by the eye test he looked out of sorts, and overall he looked nothing like the player who helped shore up the 2016-17 Rangers’ defensive corps.

However, it’s far too early to worry about Smith. Smith is an established NHL defenseman who has shown he can play excellent defense in Alain Vigneault’s system. His struggles can be chalked up to one of numerous factors, such as Lindy Ruff taking over the defense, getting used to some new forward, or just an early season slump.

Remember, it’s been only two games. While Smith did not look terrific in the preseason, some players take longer than others to get their games going. If Smith is still struggling at the end of October, it’s time to worry. For now, let the talented defenseman find his talent in the coming games.

Do Worry: Anthony DeAngelo

There are various reasons to worry about Anthony DeAngelo, however they may not be the ones on your mind. DeAngelo has not looked impressive through two games, much like Brendan Smith. There’s a major difference between the two players though, as Smith has earned the trust of the New York Rangers’ coaching staff, while DeAngelo is more of a bubble player.

It’s no secret that DeAngelo is an offense-first defenseman, so the Rangers attempted to pair him with a defenseman they deem defense-first in Marc Staal. That failed, and DeAngelo saw his ice-time dwindle when Staal moved to Ryan McDonagh’s pairing.

The two issues with DeAngelo are his constant miscues, and what that will mean to the Rangers’ coaching staff. The miscues should concern because they lead to scoring chances against. We must be patient with DeAngelo, but at the same time Derek Stepan is not on the team, and the Rangers are attempting to win now. DeAngelo should be able to succeed, and quick.

The more pressing concern with DeAngelo is what the coaching staff will do if he struggles. While one would wish this is not the case, the simple answer seems to be Nick Holden entering the lineup in his place. That is a disastrous possibility, and a reason to worry greatly.

Do Not Worry: The 0-2 Start

Would we prefer the New York Rangers be 2-0 right now? Of course! But you can’t always get what you want, and the Rangers are 0-2. If the Rangers finish two points out of a playoff spot, sure, you can look to the opening night loss to the Colorado Avalanche. However, every team goes through early season struggles and tinkers as they look to see what lineup works best for their success.

The Rangers have some new players adapting to Alain Vigneault’s system, and the lineup is an evolving work in progress. New York certainly should have beaten the Colorado Avalanche anyway, but Semyon Varlamov had a terrific evening. The loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs was troubling, but again, it was the second game of the season.

A long losing streak would be cause for concern, but for now, put down your pitchforks and let the Rangers finish out the month of October before worrying too much.