For many fans of the New York Rangers, this summer’s mission was all about repairing the defense core, the penalty kill, and the bottom-six. In the five-game series loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, their back end was a step slow to every loose puck and outmatched by Pittsburgh’s depth and speed in every other facet of the game. Dan Girardi for one, has regressed steadily since January of 2014, and the bottom eventually fell out on him last season. In his defense, he did play with a torn kneecap, but that is on head coach Alain Vigneault. Maybe keeping him in the lineup, allowing him to play wasnt helpful to him or the team. The regressions of bothGirardi and Marc Staal are undeniable, and neither are any longer able to play against top competition.
Jeff Gorton’s New York Rangers Enter Season with Major Defensive Questions
Management did a lot with very little to improve upon the teams flaws this past off-season. They did completely retool the bottom-six forwards and the penalty kill with bargain free agents. Looking at the players acquired some form advanced statistical analysis in their decision-making process. While it seems the Rangers are set to have a better showing upfront from their forwards; the defense remains largely untouched.
The Defence
There were right handed defenseman (which the Rangers sorely need) just sitting on the UFA market all summer long. Jeff Gorton largely ignored at all but a few from the bargain bin. As of now the right side of the Rangers defense includes Kevin Klein, Dan Girardi, Dylan McIlrath, and Adam Clendening. That is a step down at least on paper from last season’s horrid defense, if that’s even possible.
Clendening has looked pretty good thus far in training camp and the preseason. Is he going to be the Rangers puck moving defenseman this season? Keith Yandle and Dan Boyle weren’t the greatest defensive defenseman. However, neither were the other four regulars. Still, both were good at moving the puck up ice and with both of them departing during the summer their roles will require replacement. The problem is that there does not appear to be a replacement.
More Moves To Come?
There may be more moves to come, especially with the all of the depth forwards added to the roster. It would appear Jeff Gorton plans to enter the season with the same top two pairings. Unless Jeff Gorton knows something about Adam Clendening and Nick Holden we do not, no knowledgeable hockey fan can feel comfortable with those pairings. Can you see this back-end as it’s currently constructed competing with the likes of the Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals? If a trade were made to add a two-way defenseman like Kevin Shattenkirk, a case can be made that the dynamic of the Rangers back end completely changes. Klein and Girardi move down in the lineup and maybe even perform better. Asking either to play top pairing minutes is not fair to them and detrimental to the team.
At this moment though, it appears the Jeff Gorton and his management team are expecting rebound years from Girardi and Staal. Can they really be completely comfortable with that approach? Do they think the team can legitimately compete for a Stanley Cup with this blue line? That goes to the depth on the right side where Klein may as well be Ryan McDonagh‘s defense partner on the top pair. That leaves two of Girardi, McIlrath, and Clendening to fill out the bottom four on the Rangers mediocre back end on the right side.
Moving the Puck
Jeff Gorton certainly overhauled the forwards on the bottom six. However, it is difficult to see the team playing the rush based offense from the defensive end that it wants to play without a single puck moving defenseman on the right side. Or the left for that matter. The Capitals and the Penguins certainly haven’t gotten any worse. They will be competing for the top two spots in the Metropolitan Division. Are the Rangers going to be able to compete with that defense as currently constructed?
