Rangers Recap: We Went Blues

As reports leak from the Rangers that they are considering a major roster shake up, there was hope the team would be motivated. Instead, we saw more of the same: A defense pair that was unplayable and on the ice for multiple goals against, Mika Zibanejad continuing to be a shell of himself, despite a nice assist, and a Rangers team that is not a fun watch right now.

This iteration of the Rangers is getting closer and closer to the vibes felt during the 2015-2016 season where they can only win with elite goaltending. With Shesterkin facing 43 shots on goal, this is just now a pattern of horrendous team defense, and I’m not sure how the team can fix it with the personnel in house.

Not to preemptively compose the eulogy on this core, but it seems like we are getting closer and closer to a changing of the guard, and it honestly can’t come fast enough. Either that, or Peter Laviolette needs to adjust the system to his current personnel.

It speaks volumes when the players come up from the AHL and are–by eye test–more engaged and hungry for the puck. Brett Berard made his NHL debut, got his first NHL point, and had a nose for the puck this team just doesn’t have. There was an intangible energy and aura about how he was playing. An “it” factor if you will.

Berard brought heavy forechecking, multiple takeaways, playmaking, and good skating with consistent effort. How is it players like this are in Hartford and fans are forced to watch the same players who have let down the team down time and time again when it mattered most?

It feels like there’s no rhythm to this team, and part of that problem may be in the locker room. Jacob Trouba is still captain, and that’s fine, but when it was obvious he’s not in the future plans, how much of the locker room can he command? Part of that is on him, but most of that is on how this offseason was handled. At this point, it’s probably better just to cut ties now. He’s a lame duck captain and the leadership group is disjointed at best.

The Rangers’ vibe is off and in this perpetual state of mid outside of a few kids and Artemi Panarin. Vincent Trocheck’s game is off, Zibanejad’s is off, Ryan Lindgren is unplayable, Jacob Trouba is unplayable. It’s hard to look at the leadership group and still be confident in their ability to lead the locker room. When the leaders play this bad, what kind of message is it actually sending?

This chapter of the Rangers core is over. To further delay the breakup is a slap in the face to the fans. The time for roster tinkering is done. The Rangers act like they’ve won cups before and that a switch can just be flipped and they’ll play better. It didn’t work two years ago. It won’t work now. It’s not a winning hockey culture.