Watching all 87 games of this 2010-2011 NHL season its tough to hear those words, "the New York Rangers have been eliminated." Whether the postseason expectations set by some of us to move on past the #1 seeded Caps were more our hopes than real beliefs, we really all have to tip our hats, and give a salute to these players we cheered for all season long.
Every season is different, but this year, our NYR team finally began to lay the foundation for what seems to be the formula to success for years to come. This hardworking, lay your body on the line, never give up type of play has become the staple of this young, "twenty-something year old", core of players. Hopefully this team identity and resiliency we saw all season long becomes a fixture of this organization for the next decade and on.
To state the obvious...in years past the NYR would go out and try to sign every big name free agent on the market (Glen Sather-2010/2011 season marking his 10 year campaign). To name a few Jagar, Gomez, Redden, Rozival, Drury, etc. This clearly hasn't worked seeing as to how we haven't made it to an Eastern Conference final since the 1997 season. Things have changed for General Manager Glen Sather as he has finally given in to the "youth movement" here on Broadway.
The fact that we got into the postseason this year was a great experience for our young guys. Watching game 5 tonight, it was quite obvious that the inexperience was starting to catch up to our youth. The Caps Furious start to the game seemed to catch us on our heals, and they capitalized (no pun intended) on that opportunity.
The key thing here is, now in our next postseason appearance (God-willing next season) our guys will be prepared, and know how to react in situations such as this. A good coach always told me, "you learn more from a loss than you do from a win." Maybe those heartbreaking overtime losses, and ultimately the playoff series loss to end our season this year will teach our boys something more valuable in the long run. Something that we as fans, rightfully so, just can't grasp at the moment.
Looking forward to next season, we wont be seeing all of the same faces from this year in Blueshirt's uniforms on the ice. There are certain guys (that i feel shouldn't come back) that are expendable, and cutting them from the roster won't hinder the development of the young core upon their departure. No disrespect to their game, but it seems that they no longer fit well with this team, and the style of hockey that they play. Mccabe, Christensen, Prospal, Eminger. Mccabe was brought here at the trade deadline for one reason and one reason only, to fix the powerplay. A powerplay that went 1 for 19, and a very shaky postseason was not what the NYR were looking for. As for Christensen, he always talks about how good he can be at this level, but watching his game this season it seems as though he plays only when he wants to play. He doesn't have the same work ethic as mostly everyone else on this team, and doesn't fit in with this new "team identity". Prospal, his age and knee seemed to really hold him back in an injury riddled season. It seemed at times that he was more of a liability than an asset on the ice for us. Lastly, Eminger clearly just doesn't have the support of our head coach behind him. Aside from that he played solid and well when given the chance.
We as "die-hard" fans need to learn to be patient with our younger players who either played well, or even struggle down the stretch. We need to give them the time, as well as the support they need to develop. New York is a very sports savvy, what have you done for me lately kind of town, but in order for this type of team, with these types of players, to succeed, patience is what needs to be preached.
Guys like Anisimov (22yrs, 18goals), Stepan (20yrs, 21 goals), Wolski (25yrs, 12 goals/lots of potential), Ryan Mcdonagh (21yrs, and one of the most impressing rookie defense men of the NHL), Gilroy (26yrs, as long as he resigns/gets offered a contract), Sauer (23yrs, made a big name for himself playing greatly alongside co-rookie defense men Mcdonagh), and Brian Boyle (26yrs, 21 goals). These are the players that have such a great upside for the Rangers. None older than 26 years of age, these guys can/have been developing the necessary experience that will make this team more and more relevant league wide in the years to come.
Not to mention the young-guns who play like veterans Ryan Callahan (26yrs, 23 goals in an injury shortened season), Brandon Dubinsky (24yrs, 24 goals), Mark Staal (24yrs, All star defense men), Dan Girardi (26yrs, best shot blocker in the NHL), Brandon Prust (27yrs, NYR extra effort award winner), Henrik Lundqvist (29yrs, top 5 goaltender in the
NHL year in and year out), and lastly Marion Gaborik (29yrs, 22 goals). These are the players that have cemented the foundation towards this team's identity. Young bodies that play like old men in this league is a hard thing to find, and they are the guys who can/have been doing that for this team. In these up-and-coming years as this team continues to develop, we as fans will lean heavily on these guys for the production and leadership that we expect them to provide.
Staal and Girardi are rocks on the defensive end, Mcdonagh and Sauer look to be heading in the same direction. Marion Gaborik needs to rebound from this season and regain that 42 goal form he showed in 2009/2010. A healthy Callahan is always a plus to have in the line-up as we know he is the next-in-line captain of this team. Dubinsky, at times this season, proved he can carry this team on his back. Henrik time and time again reassures us all that he is still the world class goaltender we all know him to be.
The players we lose this year can be replaced by a combination of testing the free-agent market as well as through some promising prospects that can make a great impact for this team. The main target for the NYR in free agency is Brad Richards of the Dallas Stars. Richards won a Stanley Cup under head coach John Tortorella, and is one of the most dynamic center men in the entire NHL. Michael Del Zotto suffered a minor setback this year with some inconsistent play, but still shows a great upside for being a successful player in this league. Michael is still only 20 years old, and is a first round draft pick of the NYR. One bad season at the beginning of his career is not something that should be judged very critically. Mats Zuccarello who split time with the Rangers and their AHL affiliate the Connecticut Whale shows some serious promise. Despite his 5ft.7in. frame, he's a dangler who can be an asset in the shoot-outs, and shows a good upside to being a goalscorer in this league. Chris Kreider of Boston College is a pure goal scorer with blazing speed. Chris won a national championship at BC, and will be making a decision to go pro or stay as an amateur very shortly. Christian Thomas, a second round draft pick, who put up 54goals and 45assists this year for the Oshawa Generals of the OHL could be that big time scorer we've been searching for. Dylan Mcllrath of the Moosejaw Warriors (WHL) who saw a few games with the Hartford Whale, is a bone crushing, physical defense men we drafted in 2010 with the #10 overall pick. Evgeny Grachev, has been showing great promise for the NYR with his last two seasons in the AHL. We'll certainly be seeing these guys playing under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden very soon within the next couple of years as full time players.
These are, and soon will be our core players that will have a huge impact on this team for years to come. The bright side in New York is looking very good for these Rangers. We as fans need preach the "stay the course" mentality that coach John Tortorella has implanted here, and continue being patient as we watch these guys develop right in front of our eyes. Rome wasn't built in a day, and this team is no different. This team could be very special, lets give it the time it deserves, and most of all, LETS GO RANGERS.
@NYRCenterice
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