Two questions for this week’s mailbag. As always, email us your questions using the form on the right.
Vigneault
Felix asks: Given all the (well deserved) criticism about AV’s stubbornness in sticking with declining aging players, why do think he hasn’t learned his lesson from his Vancouver days and is seemingly recreating his own demise, this time in New York?
This is tough to answer. Part of AV’s dismissal in Vancouver was due to reluctance to play younger guys. That appears to be true this year, especially with Dylan McIlrath. However Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, and Kevin Hayes have all flourished under AV. The argument can be made that Kreider, Miller, and Hayes all had to play, as the Rangers had no other option and that when there is an option, AV leans on veterans at the detriment to the team.
McIlrath and Emerson Etem appear to be the major sticking points here for people. Etem himself has admitted that he had a rough camp and was behind the eight-ball from the get-go. So focusing on McIlrath, it is very difficult for a person to play a rookie –especially one that has some issues skating– over “proven” veterans.
We all know that Dan Girardi and Marc Staal are in a steep decline this season. That said, the Rangers aren’t trading them, and the club will only go as far as those two will take them. It behooves the coach to keep them on the ice and hope they work out their kinks. Whether you agree with it or not, and I certainly don’t, that’s how he thinks.
Is he recreating his mistakes in Vancouver? Possibly. I think McIlrath has proven he belongs. I also think he will get more time next year when Dan Boyle retires. As for his usage of Keith Yandle, well, we’ve covered that already.
Steve asks: Do NHL players get the flu shot? What preventative measures are taken against sickness? (short version of the question)
I honestly have no idea, but I’m leaning towards it’s the player’s choice. You can’t force someone to get a fly shot. Apparently you can’t even enforce the MMR vaccine on infants, so you can’t enforce flu shots on grown adults.
Personally I think they should all get it as a preventative measure. The flu is very contagious, and if one guy gets it, you assume that at least one or two others will. But flu-like symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean the flu. Again, if a player wants the shot, he gets it, if not, he doesn’t. I’m no doctor though.
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