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New York Rangers: Five ways the team can improve from within

By Nicholas Zararis

VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers smiles as he looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena February 28, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. New York won 6-5 in overtime. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - FEBRUARY 28: Head coach Alain Vigneault of the New York Rangers smiles as he looks on from the bench during their NHL game against the Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena February 28, 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. New York won 6-5 in overtime. (Photo by Jeff Vinnick/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 22: Head coach of the New York Rangers Alain Vigneault yells out from behind the bench against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 22, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – FEBRUARY 22: Head coach of the New York Rangers Alain Vigneault yells out from behind the bench against the Montreal Canadiens during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on February 22, 2018 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Montreal Canadiens defeated the New York Rangers 3-1. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

The New York Rangers are not going to make the playoffs for the first time in eight years. The team can return to the playoffs next year with a few in-house tweaks.

Unfortunately, things did not go to plan for the Rangers this season. The team’s Stanley Cup aspirations were a house of cards balanced on a high wire. The team gave off the illusion of being a playoff team from Halloween up till about the Winter Classic. The team’s outstanding goaltending combined with a strong power play kept them around.

After the Winter Classic, the team caught the injury bug and it derailed the season beyond repair. The big two injuries were Kevin Shattenkirk’s meniscus tear and Chris Kreider’s blood clot. It is no coincidence that the team’s power play stalled when two of the unit’s most important players went out of the lineup.

The glaring flaw throughout the entirety of the season has been the team’s defense. The personnel of the defense is not well suited for the defensive scheme the coaching staff employs. The scheme is oriented around generating odd-man rushes and pressuring the puck carrier to force turnovers.

There are several ways the Rangers can improve their team without bringing in any new players from outside the organization. Of course, the biggest change starts at the top.

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