Last summer, I wrote a post outlining teams around the league who had yet to name captains, guessing who they would choose and whether or not that would be my choice. At the time I wrote it, it was widely speculated that the Rangers would name Ryan McDonagh the next captain, following in the footsteps of many greats. Heck, I even wrote why I thought he should be chosen. So, having been right, how do I think McDonagh is faring?
Let’s look at statistics. Mac seems to be struggling this year, but is he really? He has only 18 points through 40 games this year, which isn’t too far off from his pace set last year of 43 points in 77 games played. There is something that feels off, though; several stretches of point-less games (most recently, a 7 point streak that ended with an assist on January 20 vs. Ottawa), a lack of presence defensively, etc.
McDonagh has 36 giveaways so far this season, which seems not so steep until you realize he only has 22 takeaways, giving him a +/- per 60 of -0.91. Though there has been a steady decline, this isn’t really worrisome; the Rangers defensive core has been aging and it’s becoming clearer and clearer that pairing Mac and Dan Girardi is not the greatest idea. The part that does worry me is that he doesn’t seem to have the presence that we’re so used to in years past. He looks a bit lost, kind of flailing and unsure of puck possession, as opposed to past years when watching him on the ice was like watching a brick wall defending yet another brick wall.
Another worrisome statistic is his shooting percentage. Mac has 75 shots so far this season, with a shooting percentage of 5.3%. Though we’re only halfway through the season this is lower than his shooting percentage last year (7.9%), a career year for him which we, as hopeful fans, assumed would be a building step for him. For a 25 year old, regression, as minor as it is, is scary. You know that his raw talent is obviously there, so what’s stopping him from shining again this year?
Alain Vigneault has the only defenseman on the first power play unit as Dan Boyle, who has been missing longer than tank tops and flip flops in New York City. Boyle has registered 11 points – ELEVEN!! – through 35 games as a Ranger. He’s regressing a bit, but we’re talking about a defenseman who regularly tallies up 40 points per season. The Rangers shopped for him for very specific reasons, and the power play was a major one. It’s late enough in the season that to see him not producing, it’s okay to toss in a McDonagh, the supposed leader of the team who has shown a knack for offense.
McDonagh has the maturity level to be a great captain, but he has to show a bit more of it on the ice. it’s a lot of pressure to lead a team in a huge market like New York City, and a grace period for adjusting is certainly allocated, but there’s only so long before you wonder how much pull he has anywhere. Captains aren’t always loudmouths – in fact, they rarely are – but the presence of a Shea Weber or a Jonathan Toews shows much more on the ice than Ryan McDonagh has shown at all this season. Warrior McDonagh – the D-Man who laughed off IV fluids after playing over 50 minutes in a triple OT win – has unfortunately been relegated to the same milk carton carrying Dan Boyle’s face.
So what does Mac have to do to get into New York’s good, elite leadership graces? Only time will tell.
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