The Rangers return to action Monday after being off since their 3-2 win over Anaheim last Tuesday. New York's holiday break came at a perfect time, as it allowed the team to heal physically. More important, it hopefully allowed the Rangers to be in a position mentally, which has been a major issue recently.
Physically, it looks like Dan Girardi, Kevin Klein and Antti Raanta will all be able to go Monday. Girardi, who has missed the last five games due to a swollen knee suffered blocking a shot Dec. 9 in Vancouver, is a good probability to play. However, the knee is still swollen, though that has gone down, and there still remains a hairline crack. Girardi played through the injury against Edmonton and Calgary and we all saw how well that went. If Klein is back coupled with the presence and growth of Dylan McIlrath, it begs the question of the why the hell is he playing? Let Girardi sit till he truly is 100 percent. Given all the wear and tear on his body along with his season-long, sit him until the knee really is healed, I just don't understand the rush to get him back. Plus, if he struggles again, the mental issues that also have existed all year will just get worse.
Klein, who missed his 11 straight game since leaving a 4-3 win over Carolina at the Garden on Nov. 30, practiced Sunday. Prior to being sidelined, Klein was playing very solid hockey, so his return will provide the D a boost. With G and Klein back, the defenseman combinations are expected to be once again, Girardi-Ryan McDonagh, Klein-Keith Yandle and Dan Boyle-Marc Staal. I hate to beat a broken record, but the way the cap was handled while Derek Stepan and Klein were out really annoys me. Stepan came back a game early from qualifying for LTIR eligibility, which is 10 games and 24 days. Klein, based upon his absence, was eligible. If the team didn't want Jarret Stoll, then try and deal him rather than just waive him. Try and get an asset before waiving one, even if one not wanted. Plus, the decision not to place either one on LTIR, meant that NY was unable to call up a d-man for the Western Canada swing, forcing G to play two games he shouldn't have. He struggled in both and you wonder if either Brady Skjei or Chris Summers might have been better options resulting in a win in either.
Raanta, out since getting hit in his helmet by a Jared Spurgeon shot on Dec. 17, looks like he will back up Henrik Lundqvist on Monday. With NY playing Monday then Wednesday against Tampa and Saturday against Florida, Raanta might not see action for a while. With no back-to-backs until January 16-17, it will be interesting to see when AV uses Raanta,
Viktor Stalberg, bought out of the last two years of a four-year, $12 million contract, by Nashville, over the summer, gets another chance Monday after being scratched the last two games. Stalberg is running out of chances to show he belongs in the lineup. After a decent start, he has faded dramatically. I kind of understanding starting a player against his former squad, because he isn't going to get up for and play well against them, it might never happen. However, that opportunity comes at the expense of Emerson Etem, whose recent plays warrants a continuous spot in the lineup rather than being a healthy scratch Monday.
Stalberg replaces Etem, making the lines: Kreider-Stepan-Fast, Nash-Brassard-Zuccarello Lindberg-Hayes-Miller and Glass-Moore-Stalberg. I expect Miller to maybe get moved up and Fast down, as I noted before. In addition, the team is in desperate need of second ling winger, especially since AV doesn't seem to have any confidence in Miller despite his strong play lately.
Hopefully the break provides the physical rest and mental timeout needed. So many players have struggled. Chris Kreider is in a contract year and his play does not warrant the major increase he likely expects. Rick Nash, other than a handful of games, has seen his scoring plummet from the 42 goals of a year ago. Just as important is that his defensive play may be even worse than his offensive ills. If Kreider isn't the most disappointing, that award or failure goes to Kevin Hayes, who has looked nothing like the player that forced his way into breaking camp and played a major role in the team's playoff run a year ago.
On the blueline, the struggles of the Big-3 have been well documented. While much of the focus has rightly been on Girardi, Staal doesn't get a pass. His reliance on the stick check, rather than physical or position play, has cost him repeatedly. It would be easy to see his prior injuries have caused his regression, but that's too easy of an excuse. Either because of G's issues, his own desire to take on too much or poor play, McDonagh hasn't played like the McD of old and you have to wonder if his role as Captain has weighed his play down, though that too is an easy excuse.
What does GM Jeff Gorton do? New York, despite the lack of cap space, won't stay quiet. He could try and move Staal (six years, $34 million through 2021) and Girardi (six years, $33 million through 2020). However, both have no-movement clauses that then transition into modified no-trade clauses for the final three seasons of their deals. Who is taking on those contracts in general, let alone from a pair of struggling players? I admit that I misread the market and didn't expect this accelerated level of regression, as I advocated signing both.
Gorton could try and move Klein, signed through 2017-18 at $2.9 mil per, but Klein, prior to being sidelined, might have been the team's most consistent d-man, as I noted below. Maybe Yandle, who counts just $2.63 million against the cap with the Coyotes picking up half the tab and unlikely to return to his expected salary demands, would be attractive for several teams. But as a rental, would he bring back a top-six forward?
Kreider, making $2.5 mil now but looking for a big payday as a free agent, most certainly would draw a ton of interest. But are you willing to pull the plug on a player who potentially fits the bill as a future top-tier power forward? The same can be said about Hayes, who also will want a bit payday and has struggled. I could see him moved, since he may not profile as a winger and could be ill-suited to remain at center.
Andrew Gross added this one: "A more radical move might be dealing Brassard (five years, $25 million through 2019) before his modified no-trade clause kicks in next season; or Stepan, in the first season of a six-year, $39 million deal. But quality centers are a tough commodity to develop." That would be radical but dealing a center to get a winger seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul. Now if you get more than one piece, possibly. But both Brassard and Stepan are playoff-proven performers, and as noted, finding quality pivotmen isn't easy.
Gorton will need to get creative. It will not be easy and dealing another first round pick should not be in the equation given how many have been moved lately. December 15, the Rangers dressed first-rounders from four straight drafts in 2009-12, McIlrath, Miller, Kreider and Skjei. That 2012 pick was the last first rounder NY had, as the last several year's picks were dealt for Rick Nash and Martin St. Louis while this upcoming year's pick went to Arizona for Yandle. Be aggressive, but be smart. Trade some but much of the future for hep now. I know I am being contradictory but really betwixt and between on how Gorton should operate.