Rangers Daily: Pressure off Blueshirts; Vegas lands coveted defenseman
Dave Starman shared something interesting early on duringthe MSG Radio broadcast of the New York Rangers game Saturday against the Philadelphia Flyers, something that speaks to coach Mike Sullivan’s winning mindset.
After telling reporters he’s “all in” on the Rangers retool, just 24 hours after the organization went public with its plan to shake up the roster amid another disappointing season, the Blueshirts coach chatted briefly with team broadcasters. Starman revealed that Sullivan dropped the word “playoffs” into the conversation, as in don’t count the Rangers out this season.
Though an unlikely outcome, it’s not completely out of the question either. At the heart of that thinking is that the pressure’s been take off the players’ shoulders, they can exhale and simply play.
You can argue that doesn’t say good things about the team’s collective mental makeup, that it takes raising the white flag to get them to play at a consistently high level. It also says something about a two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach seeking any edge, any opening to weasel his underperforming Rangers back into the playoff picture.
The Rangers (21-22-6) responded with a 6-3 win over the Flyers. That brought a five-game skid (0-4-1) to an end, and left the Rangers nine points out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, where they reside in the cellar.
There’s a glimmer of hope here, though, albeit a faint flicker. If somehow their play does indeed pick up because the pressure is off — and the roster isn’t completely torn apart — the Rangers could easily catch and pass the Flyers, Ottawa Senators, Columbus Blue Jackets, and New Jersey Devils in front of them. That’s not exactly Muderers Row — to borrow a well-worn baseball phrase. And the Washington Capitals, further up the food chain, are freefalling almost as badly as the Devils and Flyers. And yes, each is a Metropolitan Division rival.
So, that’s likely what Sully is selling in the Rangers dressing room these days. Us against the world. Everyone gave up on us. Let’s show them. And, oh yeah, those teams ahead of us aren’t really that good.
Now, here’s a worst-case scenario for the Rangers. They do play better and pass several teams ahead of them before the season finishes. Again, possible, if not extremely likely. But they fall short of a playoff berth, which feels like the logical outcome. That only serves to hurt their draft position and lessen their chances of winning or moving up in the draft lottery.
You can understand Sully’s thinking and passion to win. You can also understand it’s best for the Rangers to retool for the present and the future, and an unlikely jump back into the playoff race in the mediocre parity-driven Eastern Conference isn’t in their best interests right now.
New York Rangers news and analysis
Breaking down J.T. Miller’s role in the Rangers’ season going sideways, and their ultimate decision to retool for the roster.
Our Tom Castro questions the Rangers decision to move on from Artemi Panarin.
Has pressure been lifted off the players’ shoulders now that the Rangers went public with the decision to retool? Let’s examine what the Rangers said this past weekend.
As for Sully, the Rangers coach remains “all in” despite a likely overhaul of the roster.
ESPN: Former Rangers forward Phil Goyette died this past weekend at the age of 92. He closed his NHL playing career by helping the Rangers reach the 1972 Stanley Cup Final, and then became the first coach in Islanders history the following season.
NHL news and rumors
NHL.com: The Vegas Golden Knights swung a big trade and landed pending UFA defenseman Rasmus Andersson from the Calgary Flames, in exchange for defenseman Zach Whitecloud, two draft picks, including a 2026 first rounder, and a prospect.
Vegas Hockey Now: Here’s a breakdown of the big trade from the Golden Knights perspective.
Sportsnet: Eric Francis details why the timing finally was right for the Flames to trade Andersson.
Daily Faceoff: Mike Gould hands out good grades to both the Golden Knights and Flames for the Andersson trade.
TSN: Bad news for the Buffalo Sabres in their battle to land a playoff spot. Josh Norris is week to week with a lower-body injury.
NHL.com: Jonathan Toews expects a “very emotional” night when he returns to Chicago as a visiting player with the Winnipeg Jets on Monday.
Daily Faceoff: The San Jose Sharks placed veteran defenseman Nick Leddy on waivers Sunday.
