Is there a Rangers leadership void in the locker room?

On Live From the Blue Seats last night, Rob made his triumphant return and brought up a doozy of a topic. With coaching staff and player leadership alike unable to hold the team accountable for mistakes on the ice and/or flying the zone prematurely, is there a Rangers leadership void in the locker room? The Rangers don’t have a Sidney Crosby, or a Brad Marchand, or a Matthew Tkachuk. They don’t have that one guy who will hold others accountable for mistakes.

Disclaimer: Obviously we don’t know what’s going on in the locker room. What we do know is the Rangers make the same mistakes repeatedly, hanging out their goaltender to dry. They did it with Henrik Lundqvist, and they are doing it to Igor Shesterkin.

The potential Rangers leadership void isn’t unique to this season. It’s been a problem since, quite honestly, Martin St. Louis retired. The Rangers–for the most part–have had a strong bond in the locker room, but sometimes that strong bond doesn’t always mean holding teammates accountable. These guys are human, after all. It’s easy to forget most of them are friends off the ice.

How often do you call out your friends? It’s a fine line and it’s tough.

To be clear: This isn’t an excuse. Friends should hold friends accountable. For the Rangers leadership void to be filled, someone needs to step up. And no, this isn’t related to Barclay Goodrow being waived, as this problem existed while he was here too.

It likely can’t be Jacob Trouba, despite wearing the ‘C’, as he’s more of a lame duck captain at this point. The helmet toss is the one good example we’ve seen from him. It did work that year, but we haven’t seen that kind of moment. Doesn’t mean it isn’t happening, but we haven’t seen it.

Artemi Panarin only has a year left after this one. Mika Zibanejad has bigger concerns right now. Adam Fox seems quiet. Chris Kreider would have the ‘C’ if he wanted it, and while he seems like the most likely to call out his teammates–aside from Trouba–he simply doesn’t do it. That’s fine.

The only player with a letter that might fill that Rangers leadership void is Vincent Trocheck. It’s something Becky mentioned as we were recording the podcast last night. Trocheck is a solid option, but at what point does he step up? Does he want to step on Trouba’s toes, even if Trouba’s likely to be traded in the offseason?

Rangers leadership void is about grit, but not that kind of grit

The word “grit” comes up a lot when talking about the Rangers. For some reason, that word has been used to mean tough guys who punch, like Matt Rempe. But that’s a very narrow definition of the word. Grit is tough to play against. The Rangers played with grit in the first 7 games of the season. They were aggressive, hounding the puck, and making life difficult for their opponents.

That grit disappeared in the most recent 7 games, ironically coming when one of their “grittiest” players returned to the lineup. Grit is about players, of course, but it’s more about process. Holding each other accountable and calling out mistakes is part of that process.

The Rangers need to find that additional voice in the locker room. Maybe someone else steps up. Maybe Shesterkin finally snaps. The Rangers leadership void can be filled by someone already on the team, it’s just a matter of who and if/when.

A difficult trade may be needed

As Arthur Staple noted, the Rangers will be no better than the sum of their parts–held back by their weakest links in Zibanejad, Lindgren, and Trouba at the moment–unless something changes. Unless they change the way they play, thus holding each other accountable, then difficult decisions will be needed.

Trouba and Zibanejad aren’t going anywhere due to their contracts. So if that’s your go-to answer, find a different one.

There are a few players the Rangers will likely make available for improvements. Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren come to mind immediately. Brennan Othmann as well. But it’s about the right move, not just any move. If a player like Kakko in particular is moved, then it needs to be a move that fills this Rangers leadership void.

If Boston falls out of the race, would Brad Marchand become available? Seems blasphemous, but he is the type of personality the Rangers would need. But that’s a long shot to begin with.

This all circles back to the need to make difficult decisions this season. Again defaulting to the 2004 Boston Red Sox trading Nomar Garciaparra to improve their team. Though the Florida Panthers trading two of their best players for Matthew Tkachuk is the best hockey example. Brady Tkachuk is not only not available/realistic, he’s not even in the same stratosphere as his brother.

Come trade deadline season, Chris Drury is going to have a difficult task of going all in with this current core, addressing the clear issues on the blue line while also addressing this Rangers leadership void. It’s a difficult ask that, unless a Stanley Cup comes to New York, is a lose-lose situation for the Rangers.