Is Dan Girardi 'done'?

Is Dan Girardi ‘done’?

The Rangers embarrassing loss in Edmonton was the exclamation point for the embarrassing regression from the Rangers defense. Unfortunately it all centers on Dan Girardi. The veteran Rangers blueliner has become an absolute liability.

This issue is no longer about his already questionable decision making ability. Players can cover up their decision making through their athletic prowess (Chris Kreider), their effort (guys such as Brandon Prust) and their positional sense but Girardi’s awful play has become so apparent and it’s because he’s basically doing nothing right on the ice anymore and it’s got to the point where he needs to be removed from the line-up, even if it’s just for a game or two.

Girardi can’t skate well enough for Alain Vigneault’s system, he makes bad plays with the puck but his positional play has now never been worse. He’s far too often removed from the play in his own zone. To the point where he can’t even block a shot which has so often been his saving grace (because fan bases overrate heroic blocked shots like it was the Spartan’s last stand) and a key defense from his defenders (of which I used to be one).

How many times was Girardi behind the goal or nowhere near his man in the Edmonton shambles last night? You probably lost count. So many goals against this year have been uncontested markers. So many have been because the Rangers veteran defensemen – of which Girardi is the most experienced Ranger – have been caught behind the play, behind the net and nowhere near where they should be. This is not bad luck, the result of a bad bounce this is bad defense. Especially when it happens on a game by game basis.

Make no mistake; Girardi isn’t the only culprit in what has become a severe team wide issue. Almost no one is playing acceptable defensively, but Girardi’s fall from grace has had a devastating effect on the entire unit and it’s about time Alain Vigneault – arguably facing his biggest challenge since joining the Rangers – makes meaningful differences to the defensive unit. Flirting with Dylan McIlrath and Dan Boyle is no longer enough. Bigger names (bigger contracts) and loyal servants also need to be held accountable.

The Rangers likely don’t have the cap space to make a meaningful trade even if they wanted to and they don’t have enough, legitimate NHL ready depth to bring up players from the AHL to make a positive impact so Alain Vigneault and Ulf Samuelsson’s coaching ability to make positive change from within is now needed more than ever. Bad habits can linger but it’s a long time until April so now is the time to make difficult decisions. It needs to start with (at least) Dan Girardi sitting for a game or two. The harsh questions now need to be asked internally; can Girardi play in this system, for this ‘contender’ and if so how can he be accommodated?

Look back through the goals from the Edmonton game – if you dare. How many blown coverages do you see? How many players are out of position, seen mishandling the puck or not boxing out in front of Henrik Lundqvist? How often is the front of the net left unmanned? The poor play from the team’s blueline has absolutely become an epidemic. Lundqvist wasn’t stellar in Edmonton but superman can’t save everyone, nor can Lundqvist. The problems in front of him have gotten too significant.

Again, this isn’t just about Dan Girardi but it needs to start with the loyal veteran. Alain Vigneault needs to hold his senior players accountable. Right now, no one is being accountable – or responsible – in front of Lundqvist. Girardi looks increasingly ‘done’. If the Rangers had the manpower it’s likely that Girardi, Marc Staal and even Keith Yandle (if not the entire group) would all be facing serious questions about their defensive play but at least Yandle is making contributions on the ice with his offensive skill set. What can Girardi and Staal say they are contributing right now?

Shuffling line combinations and defensive pairs isn’t enough anymore. Real change is needed. Habits need to be broken, no matter how. The Rangers need to sort their defensive woes out and fast. As tough as it is to make an example out of a ten year, loyal soldier – and genuinely good guy – the tough decisions need to start with Dan Girardi.

 

 

Share: 

Mentioned in this article:

More About: