The New York Rangers have yet to impress
Photo courtesy of Co-News Editor Brooke Klugewicz
After a lopsided seventh-straight win for Tampa Bay, the New York Rangers were left searching for answers at MSG—an unraveling marked by mounting injuries, stalled leadership, and rising pressure on head coach Mike Sullivan to reignite a once-promising roster.
On Nov. 29, the New York Rangers (NYR) drastically lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tampa Bay’s victory against New York secured its seven-game winning streak, while the Rangers have been noticeably failing to secure wins at their home rink, Madison Square Garden (MSG).
Captain J.T. Miller spoke of the disappointing loss, saying, "We did it to ourselves…There was no urgency today…It's unacceptable. We're trying to develop a standard and an identity around here and that was certainly not it." Head coach Mike Sullivan said, "We got outcompeted from the drop of the puck…There's got to be a willingness and a want to be first to pucks, to embrace physicality. We knew the type of game it was going to be. That team, they've got hard skill, they compete and they skate."
Fans of the team are left wondering how a team of skilled players repeatedly fails to play to their full potential. J.T. Miller being named captain led many to believe that the team would flourish and start playing cohesively. However, this has not been the case all season.
Recently, the topic of J.T. Miller’s captaincy has been brought into question. While he is not responsible for the entire team, there seems to be a lack of teamwork and effort on and off the ice. There was an expectation for improvement from last season, and Miller—alongside the team—has failed to do so.
The team itself needs major rebuilding or changes in its work ethic. There seems to be a lack of effort being made, since it was clear that the team was not going to be at its best this season. While goaltender Igor Shesterkin and left wing Artemi Panarin play consistently and are making an effort on the ice, others are not.
The Rangers have also faced significant injuries to key players. Center Vincent Trocheck was out for 14 games with an upper-body injury, which hurt the team. Goaltender Jonathan Quick has recently been placed on Injury Reserve (IR) for a lower-body injury, as well as center Matt Rempe with an upper-body injury. Defenseman Adam Fox sustained an injury to his left arm from a hit during the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Fox has been placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) on Nov. 30 and will not be expected to play again until late December. Earlier in the season, defenseman Braden Schneider and left wing Artemi Panarin were placed on IR, both of whom are integral to the team’s success.
Although the team has faced many setbacks from injuries, they still should be playing better. One player who has shocked the fanbase has been forward Noah Laba. He has been a prominent player in most games and shows up when the team is struggling. Laba has four goals, three assists, and 26 game points entering the Dec. 2 game against the Dallas Stars.
While there is still time left in the season for the New York Rangers to improve and start playing like a competitive team, fans are left wondering if that time will come. While Mike Sullivan has yet to seem anxious about the team's performance, many believe that worry should be setting in.
As this is his first season as the NYR head coach, there has to be more of an effort made for the team to win more–especially at home games. Alongside this, the team needs to begin actively trying to win because it seems that the work ethic has disappeared.