New York Rangers' Playoff Effort Confirms Need For Major Overhaul

This is not the New York Rangers team of the last two seasons. Many of the same cast members remain, but the aura and blue-collar work ethic these players carried is long gone. Never was that more evident in the Rangers’ most embarrassing loss in years, a 5-0 Game 4 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins that was over as soon as John Amirante finished singing the national anthem. There was little fight, no pushback, and the Rangers showed they aren’t talented enough to keep up with teams like the Penguins.

Has the load of playoff games from the last two runs taken its toll? Probably, but it is simply not an excuse to roll over and die. If you expect the Rangers to come back from a 3-1 series deficit for a third straight year, you truly believe in miracles. The 2013-14 and 2014-15 Rangers had the work ethic and attitude to pull off such comebacks. The 2015-16 Rangers don’t.

The signs have been present as early as December, and now it is evident that if not for Henrik Lundqvist playing like the MVP of the league in October and November, the Rangers would not have made the playoffs. The defense absolutely stinks, and certain guys play like they do not have the work ethic or desire to win.

General manager Jeff Gorton is going to be a very busy man this offseason. We may be seeing the last days of Rick Nash, Marc Staal and Eric Staal, Dan Girardi, Dan Boyle and Dominic Moore on Broadway. Eric Staal, Boyle, and Moore have expiring contracts, and it is extremely difficult to see any of them on the roster next season. Nash, for salary cap reasons, may be a necessary casualty, especially if they want to overhaul the roster.

And then there’s Marc Staal and Girardi. The truth is, neither of them are good enough anymore. Their contracts are going to be albatrosses for a long, long time unless Gorton steps up and does something. The roster needs a massive retooling, and even if they cut ties with Nash, they will need to free up the cap space of either Staal or Girardi’s contracts not only to sign Keith Yandle, but to upgrade the offense with proven veteran snipers or a competent veteran defenseman.

Finally, there’s coach Alain Vigneault. Yes, he is not the one out on the ice giving a lackadaisical effort, but a major part of this season falls on him. His blind loyalty to Staal, Girardi and Boyle, plus selective accountability of young players and failure to recognize the spunk Dylan McIlrath provided to the lineup is utterly ridiculous. Also, his team seemingly was not prepared for the big spot, and at the end of the day, that falls on him and his staff.

Regardless of whether or not another miracle happens and they win three in a row, the Rangers are going to look radically different next season, and it must happen. Moments like Game 4 are the type of games that highlight this need.