Are the New York Rangers Stanley Cup Contenders?
We are about halfway through the NHL season, and it is safe to say this New York Rangers’ season has been a roller coaster ride. Ups and downs, good games and bad games, but now it’s crunch time in hockey. We need to find out what kind of team this is; a contender or a bust.
To win a Stanley Cup, there are a few things that you NEED as a team. If you have scoring, good goaltending, and a strong and solid defense usually you can contend. There is also another thing that past cup winners have had, consistency.
This is something the Rangers have not shown us in the 2014 season, and they’d better learn about it quick if they want this to be their year. You never know what you will get out of this team. For example, they beat a strong Toronto Maple Leafs team 7-1 on the road, then two nights later lost to a weak Columbus Blue Jackets team at home. You need to win 16 games to be able to hoist the Stanley Cup, but you can’t lose too many on the pathway to the Stanley Cup Finals. If the Rangers developed some consistency in the second half of the season I wouldn’t be surprised if they had a good playoff run. They are a good team with boatloads of good players, they just need to gel together and win big games.
Chemistry has also been an issue, ever since giving up a lot of young talent and sandpaper guys to get Rick Nash, the locker room hasn’t been the same. Notably losing Brandon Prust to Montreal and Brandon Dubinsky in the Nash trade to the Jackets these Rangers have not played as one team with one dream. Nash is an incredible talent, but it seems that they gave up too many important players to get him. The Rangers had an incredible 2011 run to the Eastern Conference Finals, but came up short. Everyone said they did not have enough scoring, so they got Nash. Now it seems they’ve lost some toughness and do not have any great 3rd line grinders. They got their scorer, but lost great teammates. Also, this team has a ton of big name dynamic players that are not performing to their maximum. Nothing against Mats Zuccarello, but he is not as talented as some Ranger players, yet he leads the team in points. They aren’t molding together enough and letting their big time players take their role. It is great that Zuccarello is playing well, but he is not the guy you want to rely on. Overall, it seems that they can’t find their perfect well rounded lineup that will help them make their mark on the Stanley Cup.
Some of the Rangers’ players have not met their usual standards either. A player that is known for being inconsistent in his career is Michael Del Zotto. A bad year, a couple good ones, then this year has been a joke. Just watching him skate makes me want to vomit. He doesn't play as hard as he used to, make the plays he used to, and he never seems to be in the right position. He is an automatic trade, but once again, Glen Sather (General manager) feels otherwise. Sather is known for his bad moves, but one great thing he did for the organization is trade Scott Gomez for the then prospect Ryan McDonagh. McDonagh is turning into a star, he has been the Rangers MVP thus far, and is a legitimate contender for the Norris Trophy (MVP of defenseman). He has been a huge bright spot in the Rangers team, and looks great for the future.
On the bright side of this Rangers team, they are young and fast, but still have great playoff experience. Guys like Carl Hagelin and Co. are extremely young but have played their fair share of playoff hockey. This is one thing I think that will work to the Rangers’ advantage. With those young guns they also have Great veteran players who make big plays, notably Brad Richards. He won the cup in 2004 via Tampa Bay Lightning and has been there and done that.
If this team can develop consistency, and their big name players can fulfill their role then they will be a contender. After seeing their sort of bipolar way of playing, that seems like a lot to ask for, but we will see.
