The New York Rangers have found the “it” factor
The New York Rangers success this season has been attributed to many things. Many fans and pundits reference their special teams and goaltending. Others refer to the roster shake up and the coaching change. In truth it is all of these things and none of these things. The team is playing in a manner that proves it is more than the sum of its parts. There is an air of confidence surrounding this team that has not existed since the team won the President’s Trophy in 2015.
This season’s New York Rangers are a team that has found “it”. In the team’s fourth year since announcing a rebuild, the team has found ways to win that were out of reach the last three plus seasons. In every game there is a sense that the team can and will comeback or a calm that they will hold their leads. This is in stark contrast to last year’s team and is reminiscent of the culture change that occurred when the league had returned to play with the 2005-06 season.
The more things change the more they stay the same
The preceding seven seasons were some of the darkest in New York Rangers history. They missed the playoffs every season from the 1997-98 campaign through the 2003-04 season. The organization wasted the twilight, but still very effective, years of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Mike Richter and Brian Leetch. Then President and General Manager Glen Sather traded away just about every viable asset leading into the lockout that cost the league the 2004-05 season.
The team that came in the following season was built around solid veteran leadership with a splash of youth. They found success behind a resurgent Jaromir Jagr, a rookie goaltender named Henrik Lundqvist and a structured team defense that was absent for many years prior. Though there are differences, this year’s team has the same swagger that the 2005-06 team had before the 2006 Olympic break derailed their momentum.
The New York Rangers need to watch for splinters
The growing chip on the current teams shoulder has brought them too unexpected heights so far this season. Many changes have occurred since the team headed into the final games of the season last year. John Davidson and Jeff Gorton are out and Chris Drury is in as President and General Manager. Following that change, Drury has taken to shake up the roster to make the team tougher. He also changed coaches, replacing David Quinn with Gerard Gallant.
All of these actions have shaped the team into who they are this season. Though, Many will point out that the teams analytics are poor and their continued success is unsustainable. That they are being held afloat by superior goaltending and special teams. These arguments are simultaneously both true and false. The Rangers are winning with excellent goaltending and special teams, but there is something more at play.
The Rangers IT factor pic.twitter.com/1kDxrwS3sq
— Jason Katinas (@JasonKatinas) March 22, 2022
In comparison to last year, the team now surrenders more shots against and has scored fewer goals, on a game-by-game average. Yet, this team continues to secure win after win. Conversely, last years team fell apart when trailing and was unable to consistently mount comebacks. They also provided the fanbase with regular heart attacks while protecting a late lead. Though the team statistically played well for most of the year, they could not secure the results. They simply did not have “it”.
The good and the very good
Yes, Igor Shesterkin’s .938% save percentage versus last years .916% is a big factor to this year’s success, as are Chris Kreider’s career high 41 goals scored. That the team has a power play operating at a 26.29% success rate and ranked second in the NHL also factors in. As does having the ninth best penalty kill (82.22%) to give the Rangers a 108.51 combined special teams score, the fifth best in the NHL. Yet all of this does not equal “it”, each of these factors have occurred because of “it”.
Several of the decisions Chris Drury made in the off season were questioned and heavily criticized. However, to see this team now is to understand that his changes have elevated the team. Gerard Gallant’s reputation as a players coach has allowed the team to flourish and develop organically. For all the complaints about roster decisions and line combinations, his message is heard and the team has bought in. The players brought in, specifically Ryan Reaves and Barclay Goodrow, have brought with them a sense of on-ice character the team was lacking. They are now tougher for it, they fight back.
What’s “it” all about
The “it” factor is not that there are more saves made, it is when they are made, protecting a one goal lead or keeping the score tied. It is not that the power play is dangerous, it’s that it comes through when it is needed to tie a game, or to win it as it did against the Tampa Bay Lightning this past Saturday. This team plays with more than their skates and sticks, they play with heart. They play with moxie and a heavy chip on their shoulder. There is a confidence here that knows they are never out of it and a character that shows no quit.
This is why they are an analytical anomaly. This is why their success has been sustained. This is why they are only three points out of first place and will be a feared team in the playoffs. This is why they win. Simply, they have “it”.
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