The Rangers 2009-10 season ended in disappointment. On Sunday April 11th they traveled to Philadelphia, PA to play the Flyers. At stake: the 8th and final Eastern Conference berth into the Stanley Cup. The winner to go into the Cup, the loser to go home. Tied at 1:1, neither team could break the deadlock after 65 minutes. The Flyers won the ensuing shootout 2 goals to 1.
Rather than piss and moan about any perceived shortcomings in the team or organization, I choose to profile (in no particular order) ten positive things for the club going forward.
1. Henrik is King
Despite seeing more rubber than the Bridgestone tire factory this year , Henrik Lundqvist kept his saves percentage at a royal .921. Not too shabby. Henrik is still the King of New York City. Lundqvist faced 2109 shots this year, the third most of any goalie this season. It’s an average of roughly 29 shots a game. To allow this many shots per game is considered very high by professional standards. What it also means is the Rangers had better play up and reduce that number next year to assuage a rightfully grumpy king.
2. Emergence of Ryan Callahan
No, Callahan didn’t set NHL scoring records this year. What he did do is quietly put together a decent season of two-way hockey, and was named one of the team’s two alternate captains. In the future, I believe that the Rangers will be Callahan’s team to lead. Moderate in stature, Callahan is outstanding in terms of leadership, heart, and commitment. Though he finished with 37 points, he finished third in the league in hits - dishing out no less than 285 punishing body checks. Callahan also blocked 81 shots. Callahan was also selected to the 2010 United States Olympic team.
3. Marc Staal...The Professional
Staal has quietly become one of the best defenders in the league. Not only did Staal finish with 27 points and a club high +11, he went on a mini goal scoring tear at the end of the season. Credited with 178 hits and 97 blocked shots.
4. Dan Girardi Packs His Lunchpail...All Year
I firmly believe that Dan Girardi would run through a wall if it would help the Rangers to victory. A steady and consistent defender, nothing flashy, Girardi turns up every day with his A-game. He played all 82 games this season, and blocked 180 shots, 6th best in the league. Girardi was credited with 178 hits this season.
5. Heart Transplant and the Birth of Artie’s Crash Crew
During the bulk of the season it was no secret that the Rangers were a little soft in the toughness department. This was underscored in a match against Philadelphia, when one of Philadelphia’s gooners roughed up Ranger’s star forward Marian Gaborik.
There was also a cross-check to the head of Ranger captain Chris Drury in Calgary that resulted in an injury and games missed. There was no response to this incident.
When officiating fails to police the conduct of players in the NHL, it falls to the “sheriff” of each team to take care of business and explain, in no uncertain terms, what is unacceptable. Donald Brashear was unable to fulfill his responsibilities in this role, and got sent to the minors. The Rangers addressed this vacancy by acquiring forwards Jody Shelley, and Brandon Prust. Not only have they kept the peace, but they also started to score goals at the end of the season, no doubt in part because they were teamed up with skillful and responsible rookie center Artem Anisimov.
6. Marian Gaborik
Gaborik’s detractors said that his injury problems would hamper and ultimately hasten the end of his career in the NHL. He left his critcs slack-jawed by playing 76 games for the Rangers and scoring 42 goals in the process, 14 on the Rangers’ ailing power play. (Scoring in general improved for the team this season, with Vaclav Prospal and Brandon Dubinsky adding 20 goals each. Ryan Callahan scored 19 goals.)
7. Erik Christensen
For a player claimed off of waivers, Christensen did a very good job of stepping in to help out a struggling team. In addition to scoring 26 points in 58 games, Christensen also finished the season +11 in plus/minus, tied for team best with Marc Staal. Christensen finished the season centering the Rangers’ top line.
8. Vaclav “Vinny” Prospal
One of the best value deals in NY Rangers history. $1.1 Million for one year, 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points in 75 games. Prospal was also named an alternate captain early on in the 2009-10 campaign.
9. Michael Del Zotto
In a fine debut year, Del Zotto scored 9 goals and 37 points in 80 games. Although he finished -20 in plus/minus, you get the feeling that Del Zotto will iron out his defensive responsibilities without sacrificing the offensive displays that have helped make the Rangers an exciting team to watch.
10. Avery the Agitator
On the strength of 11 goals and 20 assists in 69 games, Sean Avery continues to aid the Rangers in their fight for victory in a style that is not in the least quiet and reserved.
Add to this a wealth of young talent in the system, and there is good cause for optimism. Stay tuned, as the Rangers retool for a new campaign. Don’t be surprised if the Rangers trade up for picks in the draft, and if televised, definitely check out the Prospects Tournament in Traverse City, MI.
