This start to the New York Rangers’ season has been abysmal. However, one doesn’t need to look too far back for another Rangers team that had such a disastrous start.
After 10 games, the New York Rangers hold a measly 2-6-2 record (six points). The team is last in the Metropolitan Division. Their wins have been ugly, their losses uglier.
A team that is supposed to at least be a lock for the playoffs is now in danger of missing the postseason. However, as unexpected and disheartening this current run of games is, the Rangers have gone down this road before.
Going into the 2013-14 season, the Rangers were coming off of a disappointing end to their season, a resounding loss to the Boston Bruins in the second round. The core of the team had made the Eastern Conference Final the season before so this early exit was a setback.
Then-General Manager Glen Sather had decided he had seen enough of Head Coach John Tortorella and replaced him with current head coach, Alain Vigneault.
With minor tweaks to the roster, the team was again set to contend. Then they stumbled out of the gate. Through the first nine games of the 2013-14 season, the Rangers owned a 3-6-0 record (six points), tied for last in the Metropolitan Division.
Yes, the Rangers team that most recently played in the Stanley Cup Final began the year in a remarkably similar fashion.