What happened to the New York Rangers this season?
There weren’t many words that the New York Rangers needed to say after their loss to the Calgary Flames on Tuesday night. But a comment from Artemi Panarin stood out.
“I would say most [disappointing loss of the season], but it’s hard to remember all of them right now because we have a bunch of them this year,” Panarin said. “We can’t play like that when we’re fighting for our life.”
This comment encapsulates what this entire season has been.
For a team that had such high hopes and expectations coming into the season, there have been many more letdown losses than uplifting wins. This specific game didn’t make any sense, but nothing this season has. Everything that could have gone right for the Rangers last year seemed to go their way. This season, nothing’s gone right.
How does that happen? Nobody seems to have any answers. They have tried sending players out and bringing them in, but the results haven’t changed.
Before the trade of former captain Jacob Trouba, the Rangers had skated to a record of 14-10-1. Since then, with a few more moves mixed in between, but have still not figured anything out. The team has earned a record of 20-20-5 since the initial Trouba deal was made.
So, what’s the plan?
Older veterans who haven’t earned ice time based on their play are eating it up, while the younger prospects are stuck in their roles in the bottom six or the scratch house.
A year ago, the Rangers locker room was a cohesive group of men whose talent could win on any given night because the 20 skaters on the ice, coaches on the bench, and management up top were all connected. Fast-forward to now, and it all seems way too discombobulated.
If there has been one lesson to learn about this season, one individual player is not the answer. If fans still believe this team can squeeze into the second wild-card spot, you’re allowed to. Playoff hockey is always exciting, no matter where your team sits. But don’t be fooled into believing that this team can go on a run, because it has been way too inconsistent for any false hope.
The more things that change surrounding the New York Rangers, the more they stay the same.
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