The 2011 NHL Season is proving to be an interesting one in many ways. In this update, we take a look at how the New York Rangers are doing and what the future holds.
Evolution
The Rangers have long been a bit of a laughing stock in the NHL. Before the salary cap was implemented, they spent like the Yankees but lost like the Mets. They were forever buying the “hot” free agent, who suddenly played like a shadow of his former self because he was probably tired from staying up all night counting his money. Fans don’t know what to do with this team, their inconsistency to win has lead to a growing trend of inconsistency in the sale of Rangers tickets.
The last few years have seen the Rangers bite the bullet and try to develop youth, depth and, well, an actual team that can consistently win. Slowly, but surly, the team has rounded into shape. On the cusp of being very competitive, this year the Rangers dipped into the free agent pool to sign center Brad Richards from the Dallas Stars. His addition has helped produce one of the stunning developments in the league and really boosted sales on Rangers tickets. People really want to see him play!
As of December 28, 2011, the Rangers lead the Eastern Division with a 22-8-4 record. Yes, you read that right. The middling Rangers have rounded into form in a big way and Rangers fans are besides themselves with glee. Games continue to sell out of Rangers tickets as support for the team grows.
Defense
Despite all the talk about adding Brad Richards, the Rangers are really relying on their defense for their success. They have the second best goals against average in the league, giving up just 2.0 a game. The King, Henrik Lundqvist, continues to play at a top level in goal and, for once, it is nice to not see the Rangers waste his efforts.
The defense corps is made up of solid, if unspectacular players, who know how to get the job done. Dan Girardi and Michael Del Zotto have led the way and have been stellar at keeping people out of Lundqvist’s face and matching up with the other teams best line. The return of Marc Stall from a concussion should make the blue line an even greater strength for the remainder of the season and playoffs. The fact that Marc Stall has returned, fans have already started to load up on Rangers tickets.
Offense
On offense, Richards has not had the impacted expected. He’s put in 12 goals and added 14 assists for 26 points and a -2 rating. That’s not really what you expect given the huge contract he received. However, most would still view the signing as a great one because of the ripple effect it has had on the team. Marion Gaborik, the other offensive stud, no longer has to skate every other shift and no longer has the pressure to produce or see the team lose night in and night out. After a poor 2010 season, Gaborik has rebounded with a massive 22 goals and 11 assists for a +10 rating. The presence of Richards has also opened up the ice for other players who are performing better as well.
Improvements
With a 22-8-4 record, there isn’t a lot the Rangers can improve on. If there is one area that needs help, however, it is the power play. The Rangers currently have the 20th ranked power play in the league. It converts at a rather paltry 15.9 percent. Get that up to the 20 percent level and this team will be unstoppable.
Outlook
The Rangers head into the final week of 2011 on a 5 game winning streak. The second half of the season in 2012 would seem to be shaping up to be a strong one for them as well. The East is very competitive, but the Rangers have depth through all their lines. As with any team, they just have to avoid any prolonged injuries to their top three players – Lundqvist, Gaborik and Richards. Do that and the Rangers should easily qualify for the playoffs. If your a Rangers fan, now would be a good time to buy Rangers tickets.
From there, they have the kind of team that can make a deep run because of the quality of their goaltender. Having not been deep into the playoffs before with this group of relatively young players, the team is probably a year or two away from legitimately competing for the Stanley Cup. Still, they are clearly making strides in that direction. For Rangers fans, that is more than enough after years of incompetence.
