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Rangers Analysis: The Chris Higgins effect

New York Rangers' Christopher Higgins, left, is stick-checked by Boston Bruins' goalie Tim Thomas in the second  period during an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in New York.  (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

More photos » Stephen Chernin - AP

3 months ago: New York Rangers' Christopher Higgins, left, is stick-checked by Boston Bruins' goalie Tim Thomas in the second period during an NHL hockey game Sunday, Nov. 1, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Stephen Chernin)

With the "Chris Higgins goal watch" finally coming to a dramatic end Thursday night in Vancouver Ranger fans have shifted their attention to Higgins once more. Many people--me being one of them--hold the ideology that Higgins poor play was because of his lack of confidence, which in turn was because of his lack of goals, which is finally over.

Higgins has been one of the biggest eye openers--negatively--thus far this season. I hate to beat a dead horse but him only having one goal in 15 games needs to be addressed again here, especially since before the season started there were whispers that he was going to find himself on the first line.  

I have called for secondary scoring on this blog for about a week now, and I think that Thursday night proved my point. The Canucks kept Marian Gaborik off the score sheet (and effectively out of the game) and the Rangers seemed to have no response. This is a problem, a problem.

No one is denying that there are not offensive disappointments right now for the Rangers. In fact when it comes to forwards aside from Gaborik, Ales Kotalik and Vaclav Prospal mostly every other forward isn't producing goals the way that we speculated.

Join me after the jump for more.

Star-divide

Let's take an in depth look at the forwards who aren't producing:

Ryan Callahan: I hate to put him on this list since he is doing everything else right, but this is an offensive numbers list so, to be honest, he belongs here. Callahan's 2 goals and 3 assists gives him 5 points in 16 games. Some people--I'm looking at you Jim--called him to have 30+ goals this year. Well he is currently on pace for 10 goals and 15 assists for 25 points in 82 games. He needs to pick up his game and fast. The good news for Callahan is that he is playing well, he is just a little snake bitten. My prediction? Once he gets a few more goals he will heat up.

Chris Drury: Some of you have been defending Drury's lack of offensive numbers because he is seeing a lot less power play time. And while I agree that this will cause his numbers to drop his 2 goals and 4 assists leaves him on pace for 10 goals and 20 assists in 82 games. Unlike Callahan however Drury is not always doing the little things right, some games he is and others he isn't. Look the bottom line on Drury is that I can stomach him scoring 20 goals and putting up 50 points at the end of the season, but power play time or not him throwing up 40 points is unacceptable. Unfortunately he has a full no movement clause so there is literally nothing anyone can do till his contract runs out.

Brandon Dubinsky: Although Dubinsky has a respectable 3 goals and 7 assists in 16 games thus far, he only has two points in his last 8 games. To me Dubinsky needs to start scoring more goals, and its pretty safe to say that his game has been off a little recently. No major concern here I just truly expected Dubinsky to break the 20 goal plateau, and he very well might, but not at his current pace.

Michal Rozsival: I know that some of you don't expect any offense out of him (and after his start to this season who can blame you) but he needs to be more of an offensive force out there. It might surprise you to know that when he actually does shoot he can a cannon, and can actually be quite effective. To prove my point: he only has 11 shots so far this year, putting him on pace for 56 shots on the season. He has never had less that 104 shots as a New York Ranger. Yes, I am aware that he is not on the power play anymore but in this up-tempo system he should have more shots then what he currently has.

Christopher Higgins: We talked about this above so no need to go into any more detail. He needs to get back on his game, hopefully this goal helps.

Every one of those players was tabbed as a 20+ goal guy--except Rozsival who I was expecting about 10 goals out of. Currently the group of them have 8 goals on the season between them. That's not a good sign for a team who wants to do some damage in the playoffs. Especially since Higgins, Callahan, Dubinsky and Drury (maybe) were all tabbed as top 6 guys.

Maybe if Higgins gets his game back on track he can help his line-mates (hence the title of the post) but only time will tell. Here is to them finding their games again, for every ones sake.

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Shooting Percentages

Callahan – 4.3% career 8.7%
Drury – 7.4% career 12.0%
Dubinsky – 12.5% career 7.9%
Rozsival – 0.0% career 7.5%
Higgins – 3.6% career 11.7%

I mean, other thatn Dubinsky, everyone is either the worst shooter in history or been seriously snake-bitten thus far. All of the forwards are among the team leaders in SFON/60 (Shots For while on the ice, per 60), which means they’re generating chances, even if they’re not for themselves persay

I’m not ready to jump ship yet, but it would be nice these players’ to start producing the results these underlying stats indicate they should.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Nov 5, 2009 9:15 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Dubinsky is not shooting enough in my opinion

Now that might be because hes on a line with Gaborik but who knows

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Nov 5, 2009 9:18 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Clearly he isn't

If he’s on pace for his standard goal total (15) with a career high shooting percentage.

His 123 shot pace definitely won’t cut it. I mean, if he’s going to average a full assist per game, then no one would care much, but the 36 assist pace isn’t really good enough to justify not firing more often.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Nov 5, 2009 9:30 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

What makes that even stranger is that we heard (ad nauseam) from Sam and Joe how Dubi spent $300 an hour renting out a rink to practice his shooting, because he felt he wasn’t shooting enough

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by Jim Schmiedeberg on Nov 5, 2009 9:35 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Well

That may explain why his % is up, that work surely would help his accuracy.

It doesn’t help his instincts for recognizing when he should pass and when he should shoot. In that he’s obviously falling back into some old habits

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Nov 5, 2009 9:46 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Bench Drury

I totally agree with the above that drury is not producing. But why doesn’t he get benched? Dubinsky and Higgins both benched when they screwed up. Why not “droopy” drury? And get that C off his chest. He doen’t have “it” to be the team captain.

by dizinno on Nov 5, 2009 11:45 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

If we take the C away from Drury, who would be our captain? I don’t really see anybody else capable of doing the job. I do agree that Drury is struggling though.

by MattPwrcf1 on Nov 5, 2009 12:13 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Call me crazy…but how about Avery? We need somebody with heart, someone who can motivate the team when they are down.

by dizinno on Nov 5, 2009 12:41 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

The last part is true

But Avery doesn’t fit that description. When he gets in one of his moods, the team rolls their eyes at him, including the coach. Fan favorite is not equal to Team Favorite.

Prospal would work. So would Gaborik. But I don’t forsee Drury getting stripped of his C any time soon.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Nov 5, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

ok I will call you crazy (you asked for it) : You are crazy!! lol

I don’t think Avery would be good for a captain. He does play with passion, but that is not the only thing required of a good captain. I wouldnt want to see Gabby with the C because the added pressure might negatively affect his production.

by MattPwrcf1 on Nov 5, 2009 1:03 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

i have a question… where was lisin?

by Tophubufu on Nov 5, 2009 12:15 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Why would he be on that list?

His offensive play has been better than expected

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Nov 5, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

not on the list i’m just saying in the last game…

by Tophubufu on Nov 5, 2009 12:16 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Injured

hurt his foot. Should be back tonight

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Nov 5, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

ok i was wondering i hadn’t heard that… haha i when i was watching the game the other night i was like why the hell isn’t he playing…

by Tophubufu on Nov 5, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I have an addition

Where is Gilroy on this list? 3 pts in 16 games from an offensive defenseman is disappointing, even if he is a rookie.

I mean, his defense has been much better than expected but he’s got less points than Rozifail

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Nov 5, 2009 12:19 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

i thought about Gilroy

but as a rookie D man you can’t tell me you expected much from him. Thats why hes not on the list.

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Nov 5, 2009 12:20 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

gilroy if i’m not mistaken is also a higher +/_ than rozi… i could be wrong…

by Tophubufu on Nov 5, 2009 12:22 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

It is

But +/- is an overated stat.

But yes, by almost every conceivably metric Gilroy’s been better than Rozsival except for points.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Nov 5, 2009 12:34 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Not much

But more than what he’s provided. I mean MDZ + Gilroy combined is about what I expected from both of them, but I expected it to be less one-sided.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Nov 5, 2009 12:30 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

MDZ has the goods though offensivley

was highly touted, just dropped in the draft ranking

Blueshirt Banter: Covering the New York Rangers the only NHL team with three home arenas.

by Joe Fortunato on Nov 5, 2009 12:32 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Alright, but Gilroy went straight to the NHL w/o passing Hartford and not collecting $200. Plus he was fairly explosive during pre-season.

So I expected a better start out of him offensively. That’s just my opinion though. It’s not like I want to get rid of the guy, just want more offense.

I also want him paired with Staal already, though Redden-Gilroy has been pretty darn solid.

Camp Tortorella - Where Vomit is a Mainstay

by RangerSmurf on Nov 5, 2009 12:37 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Give him time, Gilroy will come around eventually. He has good offensive skills and just needs time to adjust and get used to the pro game.

by MattPwrcf1 on Nov 5, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

He’s in a new place. He needs time to get adjusted. I know, it’s been 15 games, but still… He hsa to get used to the idea of having friends and family watching him more often then they did in Montreal.

Loise Lane

by mrs.higgins21 on Nov 9, 2009 7:29 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

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Atlantic Standings

GP W L OTL PT
New Jersey 58 36 20 2 74
Pittsburgh 59 35 22 2 72
Philadelphia 57 29 25 3 61
New York Rangers 59 26 26 7 59
New York Islanders 58 23 27 8 54

(updated 2.9.2010 at 9:00 AM EST)

26 - 26 - 7

Won 1


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