Accountability is defined as the state of being accountable, liable, or answerable. Early in his tenure as the Rangers’ head coach, David Quinn has shown that he will hold players accountable for their poor performance. If a player isn’t providing the right effort or playing at the level that he believes is appropriate for that player, he will be held accountable and benched. Quinn is following through on what he has preached since taking over in New York.
The latest player to receive pine time is Kevin Shattenkirk. Saturday, Kirk played just 7:29, sitting the majority of the final two periods, seeing most of his action on the power play. Thursday, Shattenkirk will watch from the press box.
Shattenkirk is not the first nor will he be the last to be held accountable. Kevin Hayes, who is also one of Quinn’s guys, evidenced by his attendance at the introductory press conference and comments therafter, was benched during the second game of the season. Pavel Buchnevich also was stapled to the bench for a bit. Now, it’s Shattenkirk’s time and it’s hard to argue with that decision based on his poor play the first three games of the season.
How does a coach get his message across that if you don’t play hard or smart or at the level of your talent, you will be held accountable? Easy, cut a player’s ice time. Immediately, message will be received. In addition, send that message to those players who are viewed as leaders and/or have a history with the coach.
In this case, ‘Kirk checks both boxes. Shattenkirk understands why he will be a healthy scratch. In addition, this is not the first time Quinn has benched Shattenkirk in his career, which ‘Kirk discussed after Quinn’s opening press conference. When Quinn took over as the coach of Lake Erie, Colorado’s AHL affiliate, after having helmed Shattenkirk at Boston University, he benched Shattenkirk due to his poor effort etc. Shattenkirk obviously rebounded then and I do expect that to happen now.
“You have to learn from it, obviously. I’m not a guy that would take that the wrong way and mope about it. It’s the NHL; if you’re not playing well, there are guys that are playing well. Tony DeAngelo played a phenomenal game the [Sunday] night [in Carolina]. He’s earned a spot on the roster. I think all the ‘D’ have earned a spot on the roster, and I’m probably the guy that needs to fight a little bit harder to get my spot back. It’s on me, for sure.
“I know that it’s a process, but this is probably a good little kick to get me going and get me out of this — I don’t want to say slump — but just get my confidence back and start playing the game I know I have.”
Shattenkirk has failed to remotely live up to the four year, $26.6 million deal he signed before last season. A torn left meniscus suffered in training camp adversely impacted him throughout last season, ultimately cutting short his debut campaign in New York. Nothing has been reported that the knee is bothering, but it’s possible that he isn’t fully all the way back, both physically and in terms of re-adapting to game action along with a lack of confidence and need for quicker decisions and more urgency on the ice, which have contributed to his early struggles. Though that may be a convenient excuse in explaining his issues. I am not yet ready to bail on Shattenkirk or claim he is a bust, but the defensive woes that plagued him in the past, especially in Washington, have been on display all too often as a Ranger. If he isn’t producing offensively, offsetting those own-zone issues, then the signing looks even worse.
Under coach Alain Vigneault, everyone went crazy when he didn’t hold veteran players accountable. Now, Quinn is doing so, giving rookies some leash to learn on the fly, and fans still aren’t happy. If you want to say Cody McLeod shouldn’t play, that’s fine, but when a forward has to be benched, as Vladislav Namestnikov rightfully was, someone has to play, as going 11/7 nightly doesn’t make a ton of sense. I get that someone else should be up, but that’s not happening immediately. If you also want to argue Marc Staal deserves to sit, that’s fine, and I hope the permanent A on his jersey isn’t why he is in the line nightly, but that might be a reason. The same also could be said regarding Neal Pionk, if you go by his advanced metrics. But Quinn is giving the younger players a bit of leeway and Pionk is hurt by skating with Staal, which might factor into to him remaining in the lineup. I do expect Fredrik Claesson to get in a game before too much longer, the only question is who he will replace.
From the paragraphs above, Namestnikov, Hayes, Buchnevich, McLeod and Shattenkirk have all been benched during a game or scratched for at least one contest. Accountability therefore isn’t lip service but enforced by the coaching staff. Even though others might warrant sitting, just because they have yet to ride the pine, doesn’t mean they won’t. Though there are some, looking at you Mats Zuccarello and Mika Zibanejad, who by virtue of status or current/future role on the team, may be less likely to be sat.
I am someone that hates losing. But I understand this is a year of growth. Wins and losses are secondary to seeing the system implemented to become second nature, even though the ramifications of incorporating that system will be mistakes that lead to ugly goals and losses, as we saw Sunday. If the effort is there and we see the younger players improving, down the road, the pain now will be the gain in the future. Short term pain for long term gain. While I am watching a game, I am not thinking that way. Stepping back after, I can live with the loss, even though I may go off on a twitter or blog rant.
Accountability is the buzz word on the Rangers. No one should be immune. How refreshing of a chance will that be if this proves to be and remains the case?
New York Rangers Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»