New York Rangers: Brendan Lemieux has got to go

Becoming a liability

As much as Lemieux is valued for his physical play and his willingness to go to the net, he is becoming a liability to this Rangers team.  It’s clear that he has a reputation and it is following him.   He was fifth in the NHL in penalty minutes last season and  is second in the NHL this season with a team leading 111 penalty minutes.  There’s no doubt that he is a target when it comes to the referees and that has cost the Rangers this season.

Is there a Ranger fan who hasn’t cringed when Lemieux has gotten involved after the play is over, anticipating a penalty?  How many times has he gotten the equalizer when it should have been the Rangers getting the man advantage?

Although Lemieux has set career highs in assists (12) and points (18) this season he has scored only six goals and has a plus/minus rating of -14.   He scored 12 goals last season, mostly the result of an inordinately high shooting percentage of 24.3% while with Winnipeg.  For a player who takes a lot of penalties, his production isn’t good enough.   Of the top ten players in penalty minutes in the NHL this season, he has scored the fewest goals.

Lemieux has had his highlights this season.  He has contributed at key times and his five fighting majors are tops on the team.  On a team with a need for physical players, he fills a vital role…for now.

If he scored more he could possibly be forgiven, but the lack of discipline is inexcusable. Taking that penalty was just plain dumb and selfish.  With two suspensions and a fine on his record and the referees looking out for the slightest infraction, it’s inevitable that he is becoming a greater danger to the success of the team.

Lemieux is a restricted free agent this summer, with arbitration rights.  It would be in the Rangers’ best interests for Jeff Gorton to try to find a taker for Lemieux and replace him with a tough player who has more common sense and more skill.

And we won’t get a chance anytime soon to ask David Quinn why he had Lemieux on the ice in overtime just five minutes after committing that egregious foul, never mind the fact that Lemieux did nothing to prevent the game winning goal from being scored.