The Rangers continue their season-long nine-game homestead Sunday against a Flames team coming off an overtime win Saturday against the Sabres. New York has to date made the least of this stint at MSG, going 0-3-1, including another subpar effort Thursday in a 4-2 loss to the Blue Jackets. Following tonight's game, the Blueshirts take on the Metro division conference leading Penguins on Wednesday in a nationally televised broadcast.
In the last few weeks, most of the Rangers' beat writers have been singing from the same hymn sheet, both in general and mirroring the mood on this site, highlight the deficiencies on this squad. I have written a lot about it, supplemented by the fine comments provided by you. Another shot across the bow or salvo if you will was written today by Larry Brooks.
Much of what Brooks wrote today has been discussed by us in this blog. For example, the struggles of Callahan and Girardi and how that needs to be considered if/when signing them to long-term deals. Plus, if a deal cannot be reached by the trade deadline, the team should consider dealing them before the March 5 trade deadline. In addition, Brooks mentioned the lack of a identity on this team and that Henrik Lundqvist's struggles may be partially due to the change in style from one where the five players in front of him were charged to prevent any shots from going through to one that is more freelance in nature in the defensive zone. However, there were two comments that Brooks made on which I wanted to place my focus.
1) "Was it truly such a good idea for Alain Vigneault not to have watched any video of last season’s games during the 12 weeks between the time he was hired and the start of training camp? Because if the personnel on hand is not compatible with his vision, shouldn’t he maybe have known that before the start?" I am almost at a loss for words on this one, but the second quote may be worse. I mentioned in my last blog that "Possibly it is as coach Alain Vigneault said that the team lacks the talent to play his system, but again, he knew the talent when he took the job and is required to meld the system to the talent, at least for the immediate future."
I guess we all know that the answer is AV did not known this squad at all even when they hit training camp. I can understand not making total judgments because the system used was diametrically opposed to the one he runs, but how in good conscience could you have had broken down video cuts on each player to get a preliminary sense as to their strengths and weaknesses? This means, you started to make calls in what was a bastardization of a training camp given all the travel and bodies that were taken to Banff, so it comes as even less of a shock how bad the start of the season was. I blame the players a lot for that, but now, a big part of my blame rests with the coaching staff and on Vigneault for not knowing the team prior to camp.
2) "The Rangers have gone from having a maniacal control freak and his equally maniacal assistant (in professional temperament, that is) in their ears and faces to a seemingly detached coach who leaves much of the work to the players themselves. I asked one player this week whether he had been shown video relating to a specific play on the ice. The response, not offered as a criticism but in a matter-of-fact manner, was, “He says what he says and then expects you to figure it out.… Last time I checked one of the jobs of a coach is to teach and instruct. If what Brooks is saying is correct, how in today's day and age of video and statistical analysis, do you not cuts showing what's working and now, either by DVD or by streaming to an iPad, like NFL teams use? What instruction is being given to remediate the repeated issues to date? Do you just go on the ice for practice with no clue at all? I mean the situation seems to worsen every time more information surfaces about how this team is run. Maybe Brooks has it wrong, but if true, my resolve that this may be the wrong coach for the team strengthens.
The likely lineup today with Derick Brassard (rear end) returning to the lineup and Marc Staal still out likely is, though Falk could get in for McIlrath:
Kreider-Stepan-Nash Richards-Brassard-Zuccarello Hagelin-Boyle-Pyatt Pouliot-D. Moore-Dorsett
McDonagh-Stralman Del Zotto-Girardi J. Moore-McIlrath
Lundqvist
Wonder if Curtis Glencross, who just came back from injury, brings his A-Game given the rumors that the Rangers may be interested in him?