The New York Rangers are in a rut, and all roads are leading toward this being a very long and weird offseason. But, things could still turn themselves around, as there are still over 50+ games left to right the ship.
To be able to get back on track, this team needs to start playing a flawless game with no one underperforming. Here are three players that seriously need to pick up the slack, as they are the main hindrances on this team. From contenders to pretenders, these three helped polarize this team in the wrong direction.
Mika Zibanejad
This team sinks or swims depending on the kind of night that Mika Zibaejad is having. His struggles this season are a cause of the recent struggles over the past month. He is such an integral part of this roster, both in on-ice performance and in leadership qualities.
In 31 games this season, he has scored six goals and added 15 assists for 21 points. Not a bad pace for any NHLer, but as a 1C, and for Zibanejad, he is seriously lacking. Another sore note on his stat sheet is his abysmal -17, which is the worst on this team and tied for the fourth-worst in all of the NHL.
Recently, things have gotten so bad for Zibanejad, that he was demoted down the lines to the fourth line. His play-time has been slashed considerably, and he has to try and make the most of it with limited opportunities.
Chris Kreider
Alongside Zibanejad, Chris Kreider is another member of this team that is seriously lacking. I guess you could argue that the pairing of Zibanejad and Kreider, which used to be a lock for success, is now hurting the team in more ways than one. They have been split up a good chunk of the season thus far, after being on the top-line for so long.
This season, Kreider has been adequate in the scoring department, with 10 goals, which ranks him as being just behind Will Cuylle, with11 goals, and Artemi Panrain,with 16 goals, for the team lead. But, that is just about it, as he has only registered a measly single assist this season. Kreider has naturally been known as a goal-scorer in his career, with even notching a 52-goal season in 2021-22, but surely he can help out on more than one assist.
His speed has been absent at times, and the frustration is getting to him. How can you blame him, as he was named alongside former captain Jacob Trouba as the team's two-biggest fish for another team to catch. That is a huge distraction.
Reilly Smith
Crazy to think that the opening night's top line has underperformed the most this season for the Rangers. That is just the kind of year this franchise is having, and why fans have all but lost hope on the Blueshirts making it anywhere close to the playoffs. Reilly Smith is the final player that has underperformed this season.
In 30 games, he has lit the lamp six times and added nine assists. He was not signed to be a 30-goal scorer, but from what he has shown, his age is showing mightly. At 33 years old, he simply cannot be on a top-line, playing top-line minutes. Furthermore, of players that have played at least 30 games this season, he has the fourth-fewest amount of shots on goal for forwards with 46.
Do you think these three players have underperformed this season? Do you think they have the ability to turn it around? Perhaps in the Dec. 20th matchup agains the Dallas Stars?