One for the grit crowd: Rangers add some sandpaper and recall Tanner Glass

Rejoice old time hockey fans. Smile Rangers’ fans that are sick of how soft their team has become. Finally, after a long stretch of mediocrity and some lifeless hockey, the Rangers make a real change.

Sandpaper Matters

For months, I and many others have been calling for a change to this one dimensional lineup. We begged for it after Henrik Lundqvist was nearly killed in Dallas. We cried for it to be addressed at the deadline, after watching the Rangers manhandled by Metro division rivals.

I was furious to watch players like Steve Ott and Dwight King both end up in Montreal for nothing. Last night after watching them run around and smash the Rangers to the boards, I called for Tanner Glass. (Proof below)

Now Tanner Glass is with the big club for the playoff stretch and I couldn’t be happier.

The Glass Effect

Tanner Glass isn’t going to help the Rangers score more. Anyone who tries to tout that bull is trying to deflect from how wrong they are about his purpose. It’s meant to trivialize how YOU see the game versus THEIR vision for how hockey in 2017 should be played.

Glass is here for one reason and one reason only…to add a spark to a vanilla lineup. He’s here to throw 5 or 6 hits a game, cause some turmoil on the opposition defense, and drop the gloves with the next clown (i.e. Brendan Gallagher) that bumps Lundqvist. He isn’t here to solve the Rangers lack of goal scoring. Making that connection is pure stupidity.

No, Tanner Glass won’t appear on any chart or graph they worship and fawn over. Where Glass will appear on is the minds of the opposition defense when he is on the ice forechecking, or when they they think it’s a good time to bump Hank to get him off his game.

The Rangers are 5-4 in their last nine. Only two of those wins were in regulation. They only scored 3 goals or more once during that stretch. While that is an obvious concern, what the stats don’t speak to is the fact that in 4 of the 9 games they were run out of the building by a more physical opponent (NYI, CBJ, WSH, MTL).

Why Not Try Something Different?

The Rangers don’t have an offensive threat worth discussing for a call up. Matt Puempel and Brandon Pirri are doing nothing with their ice time and hurting the club. At least we know that in the 8-9 minutes Glass will receive, he’ll throw the body and be effective in his role.

Now the Rangers can add at least a different look to one of their four identical lines. Whenever Alain Vigneault decides to use him, and it looks like it could be in Tampa, the Rangers will have one line with a sandpaper aspect to it. A little piss and vinegar to go with all that milk and honey they play with.

I’m all for it at this point. It’s been long overdue to give it a shot.

Anthony Scultore has been covering the New York Rangers and the NHL since 2014. His work also appears at ... More about Anthony Scultore
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