As the New York Rangers attempt to win a Stanley Cup in Henrik Lundqvist’s championship window, they continue to take steps backwards. What gives?
The New York Rangers nearly won the Stanley Cup in 2014. A few bounces and Henrik Lundqvist could have held the ultimate prize over his head. However, puck luck went the Los Angeles Kings’ way. Whether you believe they made their own luck or got the breaks, the Kings handed The King his ultimate defeat.
But it wasn’t supposed to be an ending for Lundqvist. It was supposed to be the heartbreaking episode before the big finale. However, Glen Sather, Jeff Gorton, and Alain Vigneault have teamed up to ensure Lundqvist does not return to the promised land. As the New York Rangers seek to send their future Hall of Fame goaltender back to the Stanley Cup, we can’t help but wonder: are they doing everything they can?
No.
Roster Misfortunes
The New York Rangers have managed to make some baffling decisions every offseason. First, it was trading Carl Hagelin for peanuts, then using those peanuts to draft a terrible prospect. Next, it was trading Cam Talbot for a package most General Managers would laugh at. Finally, it was moving Derek Stepan for a prospect who would not play, and a draft pick that would turn into somehow both a mega-reach and a far too safe prospect. That combination is impressively mind boggling.
With each decision, the Rangers stressed they were attempting to manage their assets. They knew they couldn’t re-sign Carl Hagelin. Fine. Cam Talbot would leave after the season. Sure. Derek Stepan was being paid like a first line center and playing like a…..first line center. What?
For Hagelin and Talbot, the deals were the right ideas, but the wrong execution. With Derek Stepan, the deal was the wrong idea and the wrong execution. Jeff Gorton moved Derek Stepan due to fear of his no-movement clause, but failed to have a contingency plan in place. Additionally, as I wrote at the time of the trade, Gorton moved Stepan for a deal that did not equal his value because he felt he must take the best of the worst deals. Gorton traded Stepan for a laughable package because of an unfounded fear of the impending no-movement clause.
Related: Should Alain Vigneault be fired?
Anthony DeAngelo joined the team in the Stepan trade, as he was likely the only young defenseman available from the Coyotes. Gorton brought DeAngelo aboard to save face, but must have known that given Alain Vigneault’s history of not playing young talent, the coach would never play the offensive-minded defenseman.
Now DeAngelo is in Hartford, where he will hopefully at least play more taxing minutes than the ~7 minutes a night he played with the Rangers.
Of course improving the defense in front of Lundqvist to improve his chances at a Stanley Cup was the big idea this offseason. Gorton successfully managed to bring in Kevin Shattenkirk (or Shattenkirk successfully managed to bring himself aboard, depending on how you look at it) and DeAngelo joined the fray. Dan Girardi was bought out two years too late, leaving Marc Staal and Nick Holden as the major question marks.
Though the Rangers could have bought out Marc Staal and kept Derek Stepan, they opted for the opposite. They chose the third pair defenseman over the top line center. Thus, Henrik Lundqvist plays behind two top nine centers, and Marc Staal continues his reign of terror.
To be fair, Staal has improved some. But for all the improvements Staal has made, Nick Holden has managed to worsen. Holden somehow still owns a roster spot, making Brady Skjei play two defensive positions at once. While the Rangers could have handed Lundqvist a stellar defense of:
Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Shattenkirk
Brady Skjei-Neal Pionk
Brendan Smith-Anthony DeAngelo
Instead, Lundqvist must play behind Nick Holden more.
Related Story: A list of Alain Vigneault's lineup debacles
Alain Vigneault’s Repetitive Mediocrity
I have shared my laundry list of complaints with Alain Vigneault so many times that I considered writing this section in French to switch things up. Vigneault does not have the best interest of the organization in mind.
As Lundqvist accepts the Rangers’ attempts to re-build on the fly, Vigneault has ignored every practice rebuilding coaches must employ.
Young talent getting the chance to shine? Nope. Pavel Buchnevich plays on the fourth line instead. Young defensemen playing important minutes without anchors? No way! Brady Skjei plays with Nick Holden, Anthony DeAngelo and Neal Pionk are in Hartford.
Young forwards receiving proper deployment and ice-time? Not a chance! Vigneault will only trust the players that play a defense-first game, and if there is a veteran option ahead of the youth, he will always choose the veteran.
What’s worst about Alain Vigneault, is that the problems he is having this season are all too familiar.
From an article explaining why Vigneault was fired from Vancouver:
"During his time here, Vigneault displayed an inability to consistently nurture young talent. In the salary cap constrained world, getting contributions from young players with small salaries is paramount.Clearly, young players who were committed to defense first (like Tanev and Hansen) would be in the good books of Vigneault, while those with creative offensive instincts (Hodgson and Kassian) would be forever shackled."
and
"We won’t go so far to say his team had tuned him out, but they had become a mostly complacent crew."
Sound familiar?
From an article pointing out Alain Vigneault’s weaknesses in Vancouver:
"Occassionally it seems like Alain Vigneault is too slow to adjust to the opposition. Whether or not he’s too slow to adjust or too tactically stubborn with how he wants to attack his opponents, this is something that has burned Vigneault and the Canucks on several occassions in the past."
and
"Con – Too Conservative with the Lead"
and
"Con – Treatment of Young Talent"
Again, sound familiar?
The Rangers are not only accepting of Vigneault’s faults, but they continue to enable him as an organization. By signing him to an extension last season, the organization rewarded him for his faults, and sent a clear message to Henrik Lundqvist.
The re-build on the fly may be the public message, but this is not a rebuilding team. This is a team without a plan, accepting mediocrity and hoping better falls onto their laps. When trades like the Carl Hagelin and Derek Stepan trades go down, and decisions are made by Alain Vigneault, the Rangers shouldn’t count on that luck going their way.
Next: What the Rangers should and shouldn't worry about
And Henrik Lundqvist’s championship window will close a little more each day.