While Brandon Dubinsky is playing himself out of numerous dollars so far in this series, it is perhaps Dubinsky’s play (amongst many others, to be fair) that is strengthening Ryan Callahan’s bargaining position come the summer. The Rangers have lacked a consistent forecheck, lacked tenacity and have lacked a player that can combine those aspects with an offensive ability. All of that leads you back to Callahan. No doubt, Callahan’s negotiating team in the summer will be pointing towards the whole vacated by Callahan in this series. While players such as Brandon Prust have done a good job physically and players such as Gaborik are getting chances, no player on the roster – at present – is efficiently combining all those things the way Callahan can.

The Rangers are struggling mightily to score in this series and in Callahan they are missing their spark. They are missing their heart and soul leader and it has maybe shown up more than many fans may have feared. While it was to be expected, Callahan’s absence should not be an excuse as their are numerous veterans on the roster that should have the ability and presence to lead the offense. While it starts with Gaborik; Dubinsky, Anisimov (invisible so far), Wolski, Prospal and even the younger players such as Stepan have failed to make inroads into the Caps zone. The only Rangers forwards to distinguish themselves thus far have been Prust and Boyle – but for their physicality and not their offense.

The Rangers are starring down the barrel of a series sweep. They need to find some offense and they need to do so very quickly, after all you can’t expect Lundqvist to shut out the Caps four times. They need to find some offense and find it through the sources being paid to provide it. A quick series defeat would further expose the over reliance on Callahan in so many areas and will no doubt have his agent rubbing his hands in excited anticipation. Glen Sather won’t be looking forward to that meeting.

 

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