Teflon Coach?

I’m more than a little surprised some of the New York Rangers local newspapers, and pundits, haven’t been more critical of Coach Vigneaults body of work this season. Since the Rangers 2014 Stanley Cup finals appearance the Rangers have been on a decline. Culminating in this springs embarrassing toasting by the Pittsburgh Penguins in a five game blowout. 113 regular season points last season 101 this season, another 12 point drop off next season and the Rangers won’t make the playoffs. This off season is not geared around adding players to compete for the Stanley Cup, its about adding players to make next seasons playoffs. You take away Henrik Lundqvist’s scintillating start to the season and the Rangers would NOT have made this seasons playoffs. Let that sink in, this season was a disaster only masked by Lundqvists early season dominance.

Compound that by delving into the overall poor team play and poor special teams play and there is certainly subject matter for debate. Five on five play was a inconsistent adventure usually preceded by seemingly nightly forward line shuffles. The top lines appeared to be more of a who you are placement, than what have you done lately reward. The compete level and battle intensity level just wasn’t there most nights, as it appeared the plan was to win with as little effort as possible.