New York Rangers fans are invested in their team. They feel every win and loss with tidal wave of emotion. In a rebuild expectations need to be tempered and the learning curve expected. To see the teams improvements and where it needs to improve further, we must take the emotion out of our judgement and review the team’s progress as it plays out before us.
This is the first in a series of report cards for the Rangers, graded at the end of every sixth game, or 10 percent of the games played in a 56 game schedule. The team will be judged not only on their play during each six game stretch, but also in a running comparison to judge improvements. This is not a will they or won’t they make the playoffs analysis, but a review of the state of the rebuild, now in its third season.
The state of the New York Rangers rebuild
The New York Rangers are last in their division and currently tied for last place in the NHL with the Ottawa Senators. The team bookended their six games with stagnant efforts that resulted in losses that were both disappointing and frustrating. The four middle games were played with far more urgency and intensity, but ultimately resulted in just one win and one shootout loss for a total of three points earned.
The Rangers are a young team that needs to learn how to win. They need to understand how to hold on to a lead and what it takes to mount a comeback. The team’s veteran leadership is currently missing in action. Its goaltending, thought to be an overwhelming strength headed into the season has been more of a weakness. Faceoffs are a continued issue and the penalty kill is still porous.
On the brighter side of the puck, the Rangers youth movement has shown steady progress. Kaapo Kakko has started the season hitting twine. Filip Chytil, before being injured in the fifth game was off to an impressive start. Brett Howden has anchored an effective fourth line. K’Andre Miller has been exceptional on the blue line and Alexis Lafrenière, although held scoreless, has shown he can play at the NHL level.
However, for all of the good and the bad in these first six games, has the team improved? If we are simply reviewing game results in terms of wins, losses and points, no one would qualify three points in six games an improvement. That said, in comparison to last season, while the team is not technically better, they are playing much better hockey.