The New York Rangers have run into a slew of issues, and things are starting to look bleak. The white towel has not been raised, but their standing in the Metropolitan Division is currently playing "Sugar, We're Going Down" by Fall Out Boy.
There is one way that they are going to try and switch things up, but there is no guarantee it will make a difference. It could involve moving on from a veteran player who was apart of head coach Mike Sullivan's regime in Pittsburgh, and it is related to the team's most recent recall transaction.
Let's talk about it.
Sheary is good, but not contributing enough
Conor Sheary is the kind of player who can be picked up and placed in any line or configuration of this lineup. That makes him an important piece, but there is a downside to his game. He doesn't contribute nearly enough to make a real difference.
As the Rangers have lost five of their last six games, there has to be a difference now. That one win against Montreal was a hard-fought win, but it could have very easily been a blowout loss.
Sheary has played 32 games this season, scored a goal, and added eight assists for nine points. The 33-year-old winger plays nearly 15 minutes a night, at 14:46 average time-on-ice. That is not nearly enough for someone who plays that many minutes a night.
Enter prospect Gabe Perreault who was just recalled with a chance to prove himself.
What Perreault's recall means for the Rangers
Perreault had a small stint with the Rangers during the second week of November. He registered an assist in the three games played, with an average ice time of 13:09. This season has been productive for the 20-year-old down in the AHL with Hartford, as he has scored 10 goals and added seven assists for 17 points in 20 games.
At this point, there is no reason not to try and get the most out of Perreault while he's back in the NHL. Sheary could use some of the same kind of treatment that Mika Zibanejad just got, with a healthy scratch. Instead of being late to a meeting, the emphasis on putting pressure on Sheary and letting players like Perreault prove what they can do would help bring a sense of urgency to the rest of the group.
Perreault is not on his last rope with the Rangers yet, the same can't be said of Brennan Othmann who was called up alongside him. With both back in the fold, it is clear that President and General Manager Chris Drury wants to see what the kids can do while the team is in a funk, and instead of waiting another year to hoping they can be NHL regulars, he is giving Perreault (less so Othmann) time to prove it.
It shouldn't hurt.