Alain Vigneault has a job because of Henrik Lundqvist

Has Lundqvist saved AV his job?

I’m not a pessimist, in fact I am usually quite the (complete) opposite but here’s a grim statement for all you Rangers fans out there: barring a remarkable turnaround in performance, momentum and decision making the Rangers will be enjoying the offseason in about ten days time.

Here’s another pretty bold statement for you: this season Henrik Lundqvist has saved Alain Vigneault his job. At first glance Lundqvist’s numbers are not their usual Vezina standard until you dig a bit deeper and see what incredible numbers he’s actually put up against the quality of shots he’s facing. Lundqvist has never had it harder and yet has never been more important to the Rangers success.

There have been a ton of articles on the internet recently advocating the brilliance of Lundqvist against the backdrop of the anything-but brilliance in front of him. The Rangers record is solid, the numbers respectable and it’s primarily thanks to Lundqvist. Yet, here we are in playoff week one and Alain Vigneault has been loyal to the players (read: problems) who have been the root of the Rangers’ issues that have undermined them all season long.

The penalty ‘kill’, the horrendous regression of AV’s defensive unit led by Dan Girardi and Marc Staal, the ‘deployment’ of Keith Yandle, the scratching of player X or player Y instead of Tanner Glass etc… In short, there have been a ton of issues with the Rangers this season and quite frankly most have been coaching decisions, even if the roster is indeed flawed and needs urgent remedying.

Let’s pause for a moment – while the Rangers sole world class, truly elite player is injured causing widespread angst among the fanbase – and think where this team would be without him, without Henrik Lundqvist. This team may very well not be in the playoffs. They may very well be flirting with a top ten draft pick. Oh, they haven’t got a first round pick you say? I digress…

For all the talk of Claude Julien’s job security in recent weeks it is perhaps Alain Vigneault who could, should(?) be looking over his shoulder given the almighty, yet steady and plain to see regression the Rangers have made this year as well as the never-been-greater reliance on one player, Henrik Lundqvist.

Let’s assume for a moment that the Rangers get swept by the Pens. Not nice to think about but a very realistic proposition. Should Vigneault have job security? Should he have a stay of execution? Probably. His first two years at the Rangers helm were of such legitimate success he deserves a chance to write the obvious wrongs but if his stubbornness gets the better of him and he continues to refuse to make change maybe he will be looking for a new job. There is, after all, only so much even Henrik Lundqvist can do.

Jeff Gorton is also facing a significant summer. His first year will be over. Pressure will be mounting on Gorton and the Rangers roster requires major surgery if the team is to stay(?) in contention but he has few resources at his disposal. The focus will be off the ice and squarely on the Rangers general manager to get rid of the warts that exist. Gorton’s first year hasn’t been exactly stellar; for example how good (or bad) is the Eric Staal rental looking one month on? Could Gorton look to take a change of direction with the coaching staff? It could happen.

There’s likely a lot of scrutiny heading the Rangers way this summer. If Alain Vigneault avoids the fallout that will surely come after what looks set to be a quick first round loss he’ll have one man to thank and one man only: Henrik Lundqvist.