What About the Post-Sundin Rangers?
Does Renney's roster have a chance to go far?
Posted on Friday, December 19, 2008 at 3:15 PMThe first Rangers game of the Post-Mats Sundin Era will certainly be revealing, if not definitive.
Facing the once-sizzling Sharks in San Jose on Saturday night, the Rangers will face several tests. To wit:
1) PSYCHOLOGICAL:
The month-long public discussion about Sundin's potential future as a Ranger had to mentally affect the Blueshirts in some way, shape or form that only a certified shrink could – make that MIGHT! – discern.
What we do know is what we see before us. While not playing Bruins-pace hockey, the Rangers are maintaining their equilibrium in the standings. They carry a three-game winning streak into The Shark Tank. That skein has been constructed during the last week of Mats Madness.
With Sundin now history, it would seem as if the Rangers' dressing room would be relieved, at the very least. Petr Prucha has not been traded and Mike Rozsival, following his game-winning heroics in Los Angeles, is almost a fan favorite again. (I said ALMOST!)
2) ROSTER CHANGES:
Following the holiday trade embargo, Glen Sather will have oodles of time to make a deal, if a reasonable exchange is possible. As long as his club plays winning hockey and remains reasonably close to the Conference peak, he should feel no pressure to move anyone.
What fascinates me more than anything, when it comes to fan response, is the constant echoing from many quarters of a sixth-month-old song, "Where, Oh, Where Has My Dear Brendan Shanahan Gone?" At last look, his agent, Rick Curran, was warbling about a possible hitch with the Flyers. But, as has been the case throughout Autumn, NADA, NADA, NADA.
If Sather still has any interest in the vet, it would surprise The Maven as much as if the GM has his eye on Claude Lemieux. But, as the last man who won the lottery shouted, "Ya Never Know!"
3) SECOND-HALF-SEASON CHANCES:
The schedule goes round and round, and where the Rangers will stop nobody knows. Having lost the Sundin Derby, the Blueshirts nevertheless have remained a competitive club because they have stayed strong in key places. One of them just happens to be backup goaltending. Steve Valiquette has come up strong so often that it no longer is an issue; he's a first-rate goalie, having underlined the point once more in L.A.
Despite the occasional glitch – Newark, for one – Henny Lundqvist hovers above the pack with the elite. Newcomers Markus Naslund and Nik Zherdev have been assets who should improve even more for the duration. Slumps notwithstanding, Scott Gomez and Chris Drury don't worry me. I expect Brandon Dubinsky to have a MUCH better second half, along with Ryan Callahan.
If the club glided high so far, there's no reason to doubt that it won't remain a contender through the regular season finish line.
4) ISSUES:
No team, not even the Sharks, is immune from problems. Renney had twin challenges: 1. Having a successful segue from the Jagr & Co. era to the new epoch; 2. Dealing with skaters who have had difficulty adjusting.
There have been power play problems, as well as defense doubts, some of which remain. As for the segue, it has been as smooth as one could expect, considering the personalities – Sean Avery, especially, included – who left and their replacements. The proof is in the standings.
Both the PP and defense are two other stories. Right now, the PP is a work in progress with reason for optimism. In terms of the D, The Maven will be carefully eyeing the evolution of Wade Redden. So far, his good games have been virtually un-trumpeted while his bad ones have been magnified. Considering his contract, there's every reason for the media to zero in on the former Senator. He remains cool and, superficially at least, confident. Time will tell how his next four months unfold.
5) POSTSCRIPT ON SUNDIN:
Plenty already has been written and spoken about Mats' move to Vancouver. My Toronto pal, Kevin Gibson at TSN, sees things clearly and sees them whole. So, I relate to you his view of the Sundin Soap Opera:
"Mats could have made things a lot easier on everybody had he signed last July first with Vancouver," says Gibson. "As for New York, the Rangers never had the Cap room to sign him. I was not shocked that he failed to wind up at MSG.
Were the Rangers ever in the game? To me, it was more like the Blueshirts were sitting in the press box as a 'healthy scratch,' watching. With Sundin, New York would have had to make a major team change, messing with their chemistry.
The Canucks had to move nobody and can even afford [Jaromir] Jagr if he chooses to return to the NHL. What I wonder is whether a 37-year-old Sundin will have the same playoff impact on the Canucks that a 36-year-old Mark Messier had eleven years ago. That is, zero playoff games in three years!"
So, for the last time, au revoir, Mats, we hardly knew ye!
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