All of a sudden it’s the 2024 NHL All-Star Break and the Rangers find themselves in 1st place in the Metropolitan Division. Naturally, if you take one or two scrolls on a social media app of your choice, you might guess they’re second to last!
It’s been a Jekyll & Hyde stretch of hockey for the Rangers since the season kicked off with a resounding 5-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres on October 12th. They came out of the gates steamrolling everyone, building a sizeable cushion atop the division. They’ve regressed to the mean over the last however many weeks, posting a 12-11-2 record in their last 25 games with some ugly losses sprinkled in and their division lead shaved down to 2 points.
The pessimists have resurfaced in droves and are taking some sort of a demented victory lap. This year in particular, it’s become apparent there are pockets of this fanbase that identify as diehards, but moonlight as haters, and truly revel in the downswings. They bask in regulation losses and their heart sings at every goal against. It’s all under the guise of “passion” but in reality, misery loves company. I couldn’t believe Larry Brooks suggested this team could miss the playoffs…
What Larry and his disciples never seem to grasp? This roster is not going to be the roster the Rangers go to battle with in the spring. Especially given the unfortunate news Filip Chytil is gone for the season. General Manager Chris Drury is going to make a move, probably multiple. The front office has made it abundantly clear the past few seasons that the rebuild is over and it’s time to contend.
Sure, they haven’t played structured and inspired hockey recently. Better to get it out of the way now, in the dog days of January than in May, right? Pick apart the holes and deficiency of the way this roster is currently constructed all you want. Keep pretending Drury is asleep at the wheel. Keep pretending he isn’t burning the midnight oil, sitting in an armchair fit for a king, considering every possible avenue in order to concoct the perfect solution of grit and talent to fit the culture and address the on-ice necessities.
I digress. Let’s get into the superlatives. Would love to hear what you think. What’d I miss?
Most Valuable Player – Artemi Panarin
Artemi Panarin has a demonstrated history of putting together incredibly productive seasons as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks, Columbus Blue Jackets and most Rangers. None more productive than the masterful campaign he’s in the middle of, in his age 32 season.
Panarin has 30 goals, 2 short of his career high, and 36 assists through 49 games. He’s getting to the dirty areas, playing with a purpose and taking zero nights off.
The outside scrutiny of his performance in the playoffs has been deafening, but nobody holds him to a higher standard than himself. I wrote more about his mindset this season, his newfound shooting mentality and his status as an all-time great Ranger, here.
Honorable mention – Vincent Trocheck
Similar to Panarin, Trocheck is in the midst of a career year. He’s on pace to surpass his career best point total of 75 and winning faceoffs at nearly a 62% clip. Add in three game winning goals so far this season and it should be a surprise to nobody he was named to his 2nd All-Star Game.
Most Beloved Teammate – Vincent Trocheck
Speak of the devil! Trocheck is this team’s sandpaper in the best way. He has such a knack for getting under the opponent’s skin and wearing them down with his persistent and pesky behavior.
When you consider the quieter, all business nature of Mika Zibanejad, Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, and even Chris Kreider, it’s more important than people realize that Trocheck plays the way he does.
Aside from his play on the ice, Trocheck has been the glue guy, away from the rink and inside the locker room. He and his wife Hillary graciously offered to house Will Cuylle, as he’s adjusting to life as a rookie and life away from home in Canada. Trocheck shared how he remembers the struggle of hotel life when he was a rookie 10 years prior with the Florida Panthers and wanted to pay it forward.
When Thanksgiving rolled around, the Trochecks hosted a feast for the entire team at their home in Pittsburgh. They served chicken parm, rigatoni, arancini, meatballs, linguine with shrimp, chicken culets, braciole and more. The things I would do for a seat at that table.
Peter Laviolette hit the nail on the head with his sentiments on Trocheck:
“What’s really special about Vincent for me is the way he plays the game, it’s his character…It’s what he brings to the locker room. It’s what he brings to the team on a personal level. It’s his ability to play a lot of different situations. faceoffs, power play, penalty kill, end of a game. Terrific person. He’s got a great family… If there’s anybody that really deserves to be here, that deserves a nod, it’s a guy like Vincent Trocheck, because he’s had an unbelievable year for us in New York.”
Mollie Walker, New York Post
Most Pleasant Surprise – Alexis Lafrenière
At this moment, the Rangers would be screwed without Alexis Lafrenière. Screwed! And that’s coming off a pre-season where everyone and their mothers were clamoring to cut losses and send him packing.
The game seems to be slowing down for him, he’s driving offense and the confidence is oozing. The fact he even attempted, let alone converted, this move in the shootout tells you he’s feeling it.
And he’s definitely not taking up the mantle of hosting “Off The Boards” if he’s not happy with his game and the way things are going.
Worth noting here, Lafrenière taking the next step is a surprise to everyone but this blog, of course. I proclaimed 2024 as The Year Of The Laf and he’s made me look like a time traveler from the future.
You’re Making Me Nervous – Igor Shesterkin
I’m not pressing the panic button yet, but I’m starting to sweat. His 19-12 record, .899 SV% and 2.86 GAA is serviceable, but not exactly up to his standards.
The real issue to me is the body language. It feels like he’s quick to lose all composure after allowing a goal in certain scenarios, to the point where it spirals into more goals against. To be fair, the defense is also to blame when the Rangers are allowing goals in quick succession and the odd man rushes leave Shesterkin out to dry. Maybe it’s unreasonable to expect Shesterkin to save the bacon every single time, but that’s the reputation he’s built for himself.
I’m confident goalie coach Benoit Allaire will get him back on track. Like I mentioned above, it’s better this is happening now than in the spring, when a sold out Prudential Center in New Jersey is mocking him.
Honorable mention – Kaapo Kakko
I love Kakko, but the rumors are swirling that it’s quite possible his time as a Ranger may be coming to an end. He’s been given plenty of opportunities in the top 6 and hasn’t been able to run with it.
Worth Every Penny – Jonathan Quick
If you told me in 2014 that Jonathan Quick would be winning games for the Rangers in 2024 I’d tell you you’re out of your mind. But that’s the reality we’re living in, and he’s been absolutely crucial in the wake of Igor’s struggles.
The 38-year-old Quick has been a rock to lean on in the locker room by all accounts, providing a veteran presence and a calming demeanor. You can tell he has a chip on his shoulder too, as so many pundits have counted him out the past few years. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him playing into his early 40’s.
The fact he grew up a Rangers fan in Connecticut, idolizing the iconic Mike Richter, makes this story all the more wholesome. Put simply, his 1-year/$925K contract is an absolute steal.
Honorable mention – Erik Gustafsson
Gus’ 1-year/$825K contract is another diamond in the rough deal. He’s been super steady on the backend and filled in nicely for Adam Fox when he was sidelined with a knee injury. His hockey IQ is so underrated and I’m surprised more teams weren’t willing to pay him above the league minimum.
Chief Of Compete – Peter Laviolette
I’ll be honest, I was not necessarily a fan of the move to hire Laviolette. I thought he was just another recycled coach and not enough of a change compared to Gerard Gallant.
The truth is, Lavy has been sensational. He seems to strike the perfect balance of being a “player’s coach”, while also demanding a certain level of intensity around the rink. I loved to see him implement constant competition right off the jump at training camp and at practice, in an effort to get into the habit of competing hard.
K’Andre Miller, Jacob Trouba and several others have noted the improved preparation going into games. With the help of stellar assistant coaches Dan Muse and Michael Peca, the Rangers are no longer finding themselves in situations they didn’t anticipate or prepare for.
His reluctance to switch up the lines too much is a sight for sore eyes after Gallant’s shuffling addiction. I’ve also appreciated his willingness to defend his players to the media, answer questions thoughtfully and avoid the clichés.
Laviolette earned his 4th All-Star game coaching selection this weekend, which ranks as the most appearances among active NHL coaches.
Honorable mention: Barclay Goodrow
Goodrow has increasingly become a scapegoat for the fanbase and it bothers me. I understand his production doesn’t necessarily match his contract, but you can’t knock his heart. Goodrow lost a part of his jaw, was relegated to eating/drinking through a straw for a month and then somehow had no hesitation dropping the gloves to fight after finally being able to take off the protective cage on his helmet.
Viral Sensation – Nick Bonino
Nick Bonino is a 2x Stanley Cup Champion and garners a great deal of respect from players and coaches around the league. That being said, the Nick Bonino experiment in New York did not work out. On the bright side, us fans got an iconic Sam Rosen call out of it, for which we should be eternally grateful.
Honorable mention: Blake Wheeler
Blake Wheeler may not have exceeded many expectations with his play, but his dumbfounded look at Mika Zibanejad after a gorgeous assist turned into a meme for the ages.
The Hero We Didn’t Know We Needed – Connor Mackey
Following the Hartford Wolf Pack’s game in Cleveland, Connor Mackey set out on a journey that began at 5:45am the next morning. He took not one, but two flights, in order to arrive in Ottawa for his Rangers debut. Chip the puck in deep, make the safe play and blend in, right? Nope!
With the Rangers down 2-0 (in a game they really had no business losing) and fans experiencing an existential crisis, Mackey emerged from the rubble. He picked a scrap with Ottawa’s captain – big, bad Brady Tkachuk. They exchanged blows, Mackey held his own and the momentum completely shifted. The Rangers proceeded to score 7 (7!!!) unanswered goals and walked away with an emphatic two point victory going into the break.
Mackey stopped the moping. He galvanized this group. You say recency bias, I say hero!
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