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Should the New York Rangers shoot for the playoffs?

By Jason Katinas

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers celebrates with his teammates after scoring the winning goal in overtime against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals as Matt Hendricks #26 of the Washington Capitals slides to the ice after Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2012 in New York City. The New York Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals in overtime 2-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07: Marc Staal #18 of the New York Rangers celebrates with his teammates after scoring the winning goal in overtime against Braden Holtby #70 of the Washington Capitals as Matt Hendricks #26 of the Washington Capitals slides to the ice after Game Five of the Eastern Conference Semifinals during the 2012 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 7, 2012 in New York City. The New York Rangers defeated the Washington Capitals in overtime 2-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Washington Capitals shake hands with the New York Rangers after Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
Washington Capitals shake hands with the New York Rangers after Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2013 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

The road ahead

There is no doubt that the New York Rangers have a tough road ahead for the 2020-21 season. The shortened season will feature realigned divisions with the Rangers settled into the East Division.  The newly aligned division will feature two division champions in the Washington Capitals and Boston Bruins and a New York Islanders team that made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season. It also includes a Philadelphia Flyers team that boasted the third best record in the NHL from Thanksgiving 2019 through the league’s suspension of play on March 11. But as the old adage states, “when the going gets tough, the tough gets going”

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Team management must be pragmatic to make the most of any situation, but it is of extreme importance that the New York Rangers, as an organization, provide its players with a positive environment. Setting a positive example, from the top down, sets the tone for a winning culture. It may seem an oxymoron, but a winning culture does not require actual winning to attain.

A winning culture is a mindset that establishes that losing is not okay. That in all instances, trying and striving to win is the only acceptable course of action. This mindset becomes prevalent throughout the organization, that every executive, coach and player is striving to be better.  It breeds competitiveness, raises the battle level and forces players to earn their ice-time game in and game out.

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The New York Rangers led by John Davidson, Jeff Gorton and David Quinn need to ensure and reinforce that losing is never acceptable. The team may fail to win, taking a loss, but it must never do so because losing is okay. Developing their young talent is important, but development does not occur in a vacuum. Providing the players a positive and focused environment is just as, if not more important to their success as ice-time.

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