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Rangers Report Cards: The Coaches and Chris Drury

By Marvin Azrak

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 28: General Manager Chris Drury of the New York Rangers speaks during a press conference prior to the jersey retirement ceremony for Henrik Lundqvist taking place before the game between the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2022 in New York City. Henrik Lundqvist played all 15 seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers before retiring in 2020. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 28: General Manager Chris Drury of the New York Rangers speaks during a press conference prior to the jersey retirement ceremony for Henrik Lundqvist taking place before the game between the New York Rangers and Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on January 28, 2022 in New York City. Henrik Lundqvist played all 15 seasons of his NHL career with the Rangers before retiring in 2020. (Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 23: Assistant coach Mike Kelly of the New York Rangers handles the bench during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on October 23, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 23: Assistant coach Mike Kelly of the New York Rangers handles the bench during the second period against the Columbus Blue Jackets at Madison Square Garden on October 23, 2022, in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Rangers Report Cards: Mike Kelly: C

Mike Kelly’s responsibility was the power play wizardry on Gerard Gallant’s coaching team. According to Money Puck, the Rangers were shooting for the stars with a 24.1% conversion rate on the power play, ranking 11th in the league.

However, in the playoffs, the Rangers’ power play success rate dropped to 17.9%, which landed them in a not-so-impressive 11th place out of 16 contestants.  Considering their offensive firepower, that’s like having a Ferrari stuck in traffic. Sure, there are other factors at play, like team chemistry, but come playoff time, the coach’s job is to work that magic, and well, it didn’t happen. Too often, the Blueshirts seemed a bit stuck in the mud.

Throughout the season, teams sent a player to the blue line to snatch away that oh-so-tempting cross-ice pass, a one-timer straight to Mika Zibanejad’s “office” on the left side. I mean, can you blame them?

Yet it’s like Kelly had a “Do Not Disturb” sign on that office door. And that meant minimal chances for Alexis Lafreniere, Kappo Kakko, and even K’Andre Miller. It’s like they were all stuck in an elevator to nowhere.

When on the power play against New Jersey, the Rangers must’ve thought the goal was on vacation because they failed to score on sixteen consecutive power plays. You’d think they were allergic to scoring. However, credit to the Devils, they turned on their defense mode and scored two short-handed goals. Not exactly the kind of party you want in the playoffs if you’re the Rangers, huh?

Allowing stuff like that to happen won’t earn you a front-row seat in the postseason. Coach Kelly has some work to do the next time he lands a job.

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