A Season In Shambles: 10 Steps towards a better tomorrow

After losing a must win to the Bruins today, it seems like the Rangers playoff hopes are all but lost. Even if the the rest of the bottom dwelling teams manage to implode, the game we are playing is not enough to do anything but get us embarrassed by the Capitals. The time has come for the Rangers to accept their situation, and play the hand they've been dealt - something John Tortarella has refused to do all season. While some people are asking for the team to tank the remaining games, in hopes of securing a better draft position, I have never been a fan of this scenario. While I respect the right for a team that has secured a playoff position, or home ice, to rest and protect their star players in late season games, nothing disgusts me more that a team with nothing to lose, who has let their fans down all season, not having the pride to finish the season strong.I have proposed 10 simple steps the organization can take to ensure that this team, every player and member of the staff, can show that they want to be a Ranger and what they can offer us. There are changes that can allow the organization to evaluate the talent within it, while still finishing hard, and maybe even sneaking into the playoffs with wind in our sails. 

1. DEMOTE WADE REDDON - This is something that has been talked about, suggested, and threatened all season. While Reddon's play has improved a bit lately (meaning he occasionally only looks "bad" instead of "horrible") he is still failing to live up to his $6.5 million a year salary. The Wolfpack have 6 regular season games left, and worse chance of making the playoffs then the Rangers do. Sit him down, explain that he hasn't lived up to his end of the bargain, and reporting to Hartford is the best thing he can do for the organization. Explain that the 3 weeks of riding buses are meant to be a wake up call, and that he will be given a fair chance to make the squad in the fall. Furthermore let him know, while the Rangers would love to have him as a contributing part of their squad you understand, at this point of his carer that he might prefer to play for a team that can guarantee him a spot on an NHL club, and offer to entertain any reasonable offer his agent can negotiate. Do I think anyone is going to take him, not at all. Hopefully the reality of the fact that no one else wants him, and the Rangers are prepared to bury him Hartford for the remainder of his contract will cause him to turn it on, or cut his losses and hang them up all together. I would recommend Corey Potter takes his spot as the 6th D - I don't think he is outstanding, but I think he can hold his own as a 3rd D pair . I know we have bigger prospects on D, just wait for step 3.

2. VOROS AND LISIN TOO - Torts has made it clear these aren't his guys. They're not going to challenge the current roster for playing time. Get them to Hartford and let them skate. Lisin is young and needs to play, maybe he finds some parts of his game that are missing and can contribute, maybe another organization sees something in him and we've given him a chance. Mostly, I think it he could be a good companion to Russian super prospect Evegny Grachev - share his stories and insights of life in the NHL. Lisin and Anisimov, the two Russian players on the Rangers, became fast friends with the parent. Grachev is 20 years old and the only Russian on the 'Pack - I have a feeling he might welcome the addition of Lisin. Voros has had his moments with the Rangers, but things have never worked out as well as he hoped. I'm not sure that he's going to find alot of offers for NHL jobs. He's been a fan of the organization since he was a child, and he seems to be enjoying life in the tri-state area. He also seems popular among all his teamates with the Rangers. Maybe he accepts his fate and re-signs to become a great veteran presence for the talent coming through Hartford. A good locker room presence can be important for young players and he has enough games at the NHL level to let these kids know what it's like playing in the bigs. It's usually the weaker the players who make the best the coaches and think this could be a great fit for him. He finishes his career  in the minors, earns an OK paycheck doing, and probably finds a job with the organization waiting for him when his playing days are over. 

3. "WHERE ARE THE NEW BOYS" - We might not have Joe McGrath in the front office, or the Hanson brothers waiting to give us the spark, but we need some fresh blood. With the Wolfpack all but out of it anyway, and 3 new bodies coming from the parent club, lets invite some of our prospects to see the big show. Bring up a rotating cast of prospects and use them as a 5th line in practice. Thanks to our moves of Reddon, Lisin, and Voros we have some room against the cap, so keep 4 healthy scratches around for each game. Watch them with the big boys for a few practices see who "has some jam" (Who says that Torts?). These kids are hungry to get to the bigs and show they belong. If you aren't seeing what you want in practice slide one of these guys in and let them see if they give the spark you want. I think, when he was up, Paranteau really brought some spark when he was on the ice, I know Torts has concerns about his skating, but I when I have seen him play, on the NHL and AHL level, he seems to make things happen and have a bit of a nose for the net. I also think Byers got a bit of a raw deal after he was the only one who stood up for Drury and got suspended. Not a look since then. Both Locke and Weise have produced for an injury played 'Pack and have earned a look. If nothing else, bring them up and let them take in the sights and sounds, while the veterans hear the footsteps coming up behind them, looking to take their spots. We have cycled the same 10 guys through every possible line combination (often in less then a period) and he hasn't scored our goal scoring woes it's time for something new. The one prospect we shouldn't call up is Grachev. Let him step into a bigger role, with top players up with the parent club. Let him play with Lisin and Voros (borderline NHL talent) against AHL opponents, and see if he can elevate his game. 

4. PLAY ALEX AULD - everyone says our playoff hopes ride on Henriks back. Unfortunately, I think if the King can't help us now. I'm not blaming Henrik for our problems, without him, this season would have been over long ago. Unless he can start scoring goals too, this season is over. Hockey wisdom says, when the backup is between the pipes, the players in front of him tend to dig in a bit more to compensate for him. We need the guys to dig, so maybe giving, 2 or 3 of the last 8 games to Auld gets them going. Henrik, has to be mentally drained and always comes back strong off a layoff. Hank is a leader on this team, better then anyone with an extra letter on their chest, and giving him the chance to chirp at these guys on the bench all game might be what they need. After the Valli debacle this season, we need a solid back up next year. Chad Johnson might be a long term solution but another season adjusting to the pro game and developing would be best. Give Auld the chance to audition, and hopefully fill a dire need for next season.

5. HAVE A GAMEPLAN - I'm not sure what happened to "Safe Is Death" but it seems to have disapeared. Hockey Wisdom says when all else fails, keep it simple. Torts needs to identify (or create) a gameplan and hold these guys to it. Torts wants pressure is the zone, the only line giving that is Shelley/Boyle/Prust. 4th line or not, if they are line that is doing what you want, you need to stay with them. Make it clear what you want them to do, and how you want them to do it. After 70+ games you know what you have in your players, come up with a way to be competitive using what you have. That's what a coach does. 

6. BRING BACK SCHOENY - All season Torts has told the press about what hasn't been happening. If players aren't doing what the coach has shown them, and asked them to do, he needs to make sure they understand that. Burying someone at the end of the bench doesn't seem to work. Having Schonfield keeping the lines in order will allow Tortarella to deal with players and develop there games, on the spot. 

7. FIND LINES AND STICK WITH THEM - The line juggling has to stop. Moving guys up and down all game hasn't helped all season. If anything it has given the players an excuse for things not going right. Again, you know what you have in these guys, come up with lines that should work out, and let the players figure out how to make it work. If you need a spark, you have 4 hungry young players in the press box waiting to show you what they can do. 

8. IDENTIFY YOUR PLAYERS AND DEFINE THEIR ROLES - Brandon Dubinsky started his career as center who could win a faceoff, skate with top talent, and wasn't afraid to get dirty or mix it up. He hit hard and often, and showed some flashes of explosive skill, but mostly solid fundamentals. Somewhere along the line, Torts decided to make him a scoring winger. Chris Drury is a carear 3rd line center who grinds and plays solid defense. He's scored some big goals in his carear, but most of his production has been putting home scraps. There is no shame in that, but thinking that because we paid him more money, he play like a superstar is outrageous. Let him be the 3rd line center that he is. Marc Staal is a stay at home defenseman and that's OK. We are a team that's thick with grinders. You're not going to change them. If they could be 50 goal scorers, burying pretty goals for Sportcenter every night, they would be doing it. Develop them as what they are, and find a gameplan (2-1-2 forecheck) that lets them do that. 

9. HOLD BACK MDZ - Del Zotto came out the gate on fire, but he has cooled off considerably since then. While his offensive numbers, and potential, have us drooling the +/- minus 22 is not what we need. Blowing up and him and benching him is not the way to get through to him. Pulling him aside, and identifying his mistakes, and showing him to correct them is.

10. TURN GILROY LOOSE - I think Torts just doesn't like Matt Gilroy. I don't know why, but it seems he doesn't want to give the kid a break. Gilroy is a great skater and can be an offensive weapon. Even more importantly, he has stepped up his defensive game since coming back from Hartford. MDZ is great at moving the puck up ice, but I think Gilroy is the best at skating it up and getting through the neutral zone, and joining the odd man rush. Give Gilroy some more time on the PP. Give him the green light to take a few more chances. Let him play with Staal or Girardi to cover him. See what happens. I'm not giving up on MDZ, but we've waited so long to get a puck moving defenseman again, having two would be even better.