Monzo Minor: Tough To Figure Out
By Brian Monzo
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People are scratching their heads right as now as to what is going on with the New York Rangers. All of a sudden they are not scoring, Marty Biron is playing two games in a row (relax, Henrik Lundqvist is not losing his starting job), they are not coming back in games and the power play is invisible and needs a reliable quarterback. It's tough to watch, especially because the effort is there.
After limping into the All-Star break, the Rangers have now lost five games in a row, going 0-4-1. They have scored a grand total of 10 goals in that span, including getting shutout by Montreal.
I've talked to a lot of people about the team. Not only analysts, but fans as well. The general theme is that the team for the most part is playing good hockey. The effort is there, the scoring chances (47 shots against the Red Wings) have been there, but they are just going through a funk and aren't finishing. Yes, it is true, Marian Gaborik has been bad, but you have to believe he is going to get better.
They have been getting healthier. Brandon Dubinsky, Ryan Callahan, Vinny Prospal and Erik Christensen have all returned from injury. One of the reasons perhaps for the struggles has been the re-adjusting of lines as the roster gets fatter. As per the norm, the players coming off of injury have been rusty. It is a work in progress for these guys, but having a few days off now before they head to Atlanta for an Eastern Conference battle with the Thrashers is a good thing. This will give the team a chance to re-group, re-energize and watch plenty of tape.
Looking forward, the trade deadline is on February 28th. Out of all the issues I noted earlier, the biggest need is a power play quarterback. It is expected that Michael Del Zotto will eventually be that guy. He is not there yet. After a solid rookie year, he has been anything but that this season. One thing that annoys me is when people say the Rangers are in need of a PP quarterback, as if Glen Sather can go to the local Target and pick one up. These kind of players are special, and are not easy to find. However, at the trade deadline, if the Rangers find themselves seriously pressing for a playoff spot, or even the division, Sather is going to have to get it done.
The Rangers have looked at buried Edmonton Oilers defenseman Sheldon Souray, 34, currently playing in the AHL. But as reported over the weekend, they were not happy with what they saw and will not go in that direction.
The Rangers have had scouts all over the place, including Toronto, where impending unrestricted free agent Tomas Kaberle plays. Kaberle is all but certain to be traded, and the asking price will likely be a young offensive player and a 1st round draft pick, perhaps with additional picks. Kaberle is 32 years old, and has assisted on over 430 goals in his 12 year career. It is a risky move, and with no guarantee he signs an extension (especially with the Rangers waiting for Brad Richards set to hit the open market on July 1st), it would be a tough sell. On the side other, if the Rangers find themselves this one piece away from perhaps making a long playoff run, don't be surprised if Slats and Brian Burke talk before the deadline.
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