New York Rangers: So what about Cody McLeod?

It was kind of a surprise when enforcer Cody McLeod survived the final cuts and made the opening night roster. What does it mean for the team going forward?

Every coach and organization has a different understanding as to what makes an effective hockey team. Some place a premium on players that have extra elements to their game like speed or hands. While having an enforcer on the roster is starting to become outdated, some old school hockey guys like having one around, just in case.

It is clear through two weeks of training camp that the New York Rangers’ head coach, David Quinn, wants a little snarl in his team. For far too long the team turned the other cheek when challenged and played soft. There was a need for a culture change to get the players more aggressive and engaged in play.

If a player consistently gets bullied and the entire team embraces the turn the other cheek mantra, it results in a soft team. A soft team is easier to play against and things often snowball out of control. Think back to the Rangers’ game against the Nashville Predators last season. The Predators ran riot on New York and bullied them around the rink.

That was with Cody McLeod in the lineup. The entire purpose of an enforcer is to serve as a deterrent and prevent a team’s star players from getting targeted. Instead, McLeod is a traffic cone on skates that eats more punches than he throws.

Does it matter?

In a vacuum, McLeod making the opening night roster is not a big deal. New York has a season or two to play with in terms of player development. Most teams cannot successfully complete a rebuild in just one or two seasons. This means that the actual group of guys on the ice need to tread water and not be an embarrassment.

If Quinn feels like he needs McLeod around for a rebuilding season, I can understand that. The Boston University product is new to coaching at the NHL level and it may be instinctual that he wants a tough guy around.

Ultimately, I don’t think it’s worth getting too upset about McLeod dressing. If there is someone clearly outplaying him but getting only limited action, then it would make sense.

But at face value, an enforcer playing minutes in a rebuilding season is nothing. This roster choice is not preventing a young player from getting NHL level minutes. It would not make sense for Lias Andersson to play fourth line wing minutes, so nothing to worry about on that front.

However, the lone issue with this roster choice is it is a drag on McLeod’s line mates. The enforcer just does not have the skill to contribute anything in the offensive zone which essentially makes his team play five on four.

If a player with upside like Jesper Fast or Vinni Lettieri is saddled with McLeod, that would be concerning. But as a whole, this is not something to lose it over.