lindy ruff

Two questions for the mailbag, but it’s really three and I combined two into one question. I’m sure you’ll understand why. As always, use the widget on the right to submit your questions for the mailbag.

Rich asks: For the love of everything why won’t they fire Lindy Ruff?
Lee asks: What is your (realistic) reason why Ruff is still coaching this defense? They are really not this bad.

This is why I combined these two questions. As for the first one, I don’t have an answer as to why he’s still here and wasn’t let go with Alain Vigneault.

As for why he still coaches the defense, I am racking my brain trying to find logical reasoning. Ruff’s teams have never had defensive success, and his teams were great offensively to cover for weak defensive performances. The only thing I can think of is that maybe they like that Ruff can bring out offensive qualities in defensemen. I don’t necessarily agree, but I was running low on realistic answers.

The lack of defensive zone structure and insistence on giving up speed through the NZ and not stepping up until the top of the circle are major problems. It shows on the ice and it manifests itself in the numbers. There’s not much else for me to say on this that I haven’t already said.

It is worth noting that there are some LD personnel issues that need resolving as well.

Lee asks: Why don’t the Rangers have a captain yet?

Everyone expected Mika Zibanejad to be named captain until he wasn’t. Prior to that, most expected that Chris Kreider would either be traded or be extended and then named captain, until neither happened.

I think the hesitance is with Kreider’s situation. He’s in a Mats Zuccarello situation, the only difference being there is a higher chance of Kreider being retained than Zuccarello. If Kreider is extended, then I still think he’s going to get the C. If not, then I expect Zibanejad to get it before next season starts.

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