New York Rangers: Changes Are Needed

With the All Star break upon us. Will the New York Rangers take this time to take a close look at what they need to do in the second half of the season to make this a better team? Or will they wait 'til March to start making trades? Or will March be too late?

With 34 games left, the blue shirts will be facing the first-place Bruins three times, the Flyers five times, and two more games against both the Penguins and the Devils. With 22 other games against extremely tough teams, like Washington, Carolina, Florida, Montreal, and Buffalo.

Every game is a must win. The second half of the season will be their biggest challenge yet. But do they have the players to get the job done?

Probably to every ones surprise. Once again the Rangers have one of the worst power plays in the league. Spending big time money for a big time player in Wade Redden, who has done next to nothing to help them improve the power play or win a game.

He is by far the biggest disappointment. Michal Rozsival who has been struggling the whole season only has three power-play goals and was definitely expected to produce more then he has this year.

So let's see...Is this a coaching error, or just players who can’t get the job done—or both? Or maybe what this team is missing is the right leadership—which they would of had if they re-signed Brendan Shanahan .

They have been struggling all year on the power play. Why not drop a defenseman and add another forward to the power play? At 6'3", 222lbs, I would like to see Colton Orr park himself in front of the net looking for rebounds.

Or Blair Betts; I think he earned it so far. I know what you're saying, "Orr, are you kidding me?"

Well, can they do any worse then they have been? The answer is no, they can’t. He has the experience, size, and toughness to sit right there in front. Who knows, he might just surprise you.

Why is their best player, Zherdev , not on the top power play line ? This guys makes the impossible possible, frankly he should be playing the whole two minutes of the power play. Why is he not on the top line?

Gomez , Nasland and Zherdev were doing a pretty good job. In a game against Montreal Zherdev was playing the third line and saw little ice time. The Rangers lost that game . 

Brandon Dubinski has been struggling as well. Time to change it up. Why is he still on the power play? The same thing happen last year with Jagr. He couldn't score a goal for nothing, but yet after 20 games, everything was still worked around Jagr, and nothing positive came from it.

When things are just not working the way they should, you need to change it up. Such is the case for the New York Rangers power play. If they don’t improve it, they won't last the second half of the season or the playoffs if they make it.

Why is Dan Fritsche sitting? He has more experience with four years in the league. The guy is fast, strong, and has a really good shot. Instead, they playing a rookie in Korpikoski, who, although exciting to watch, hasn’t done much so far this season.

Petr Prucha, speed, toughness. Taking space sitting out. Why is he not at least being rotated with Sjostrom, Voros, or Dawes?

Patrick Rissmiller has only played two games this year. At 6'4", 215lbs and you're one of the smallest teams in the NHL , this guy should be playing more. Every time the Rangers play a hard physical team, they lose.

They get out checked and beat up in the corners. The reason they picked him up was to add toughness. So why isn't he playing? And it’s a shame when 5'11" 188lbs Ryan Callahan is your toughest guy on the ice.

At 6'3" 200lbs, rookie Corey Potter should be playing more. He is fast , and is an offensive threat . And plays a very good defensive game. But yet , he has only seen two games. Why isn't he at least being rotated with Kalinin who has been useless ?

Am I wrong or have these guys proved that they have what it takes and should be playing. Is it just me Or am I missing something ? 

In my other articles I have expressed that I was not a Blair Betts fan . How ever I did say that he is one of the guys that has a best chance to really produce and be a better player this year with the new line up.

Blair Betts has been extremely good this year . When that line is on the ice they make things happen. May not be scoring as much as I hoped.

But if they seen more ice time , I bet they would. Betts has been awesome on the penalty killing unit and even had some really hard checks. His game is so much better , when he is more aggressive.

When everything else isn’t working. You need to change it up. Play Betts more and that fourth line.

Although as of late , his game has improved. Dmitri Kalinin has been a waste of space and money.

If the Rangers can’t get any better then him, they will continue to have problems with their defense. Mara , Staal , and Girardi have been great this year but you need six d-men to play hard in order to win.

These are all coaching decisions , as well as just poor playing. I personally feel that they are bad decisions. Players that should be playing are not and players that should be traded or benched , are starting every game .

With 34 games left , Lundqvist has played 40 games already. With every game being a must win , with the conference being as close as it is. Lundqvist will most likely see 30 more games this second half. Will he be burnt out for the playoffs? This has been a bad decision on the coaching staff since last year.

They are in second place in their division , tied for fourth in the conference and played two more games then most of the teams in the conference. King Hank will be playing 70 games this year.

With a backup goalie that has the ability to be a starter for any team. Valiquette should have played a bigger role the first half of the season , which in turn would have made Lundqvist always well rested and healthy.

Why take chances with your starting goalie when you don’t have to? My opinion, just another poor decision by the coaching staff .

So who should stay , who should go and what will the Rangers do? As of right now, their best players are as follows:

Zherdev

Callahan

Nasland

Gomez

Drury

Mara

Staal

Girardi

Dawes

time to say good bye to

Kalinin

Redden

Rozsival

Prucha {if they're not gonna play him. They might as well trade him}

Voros

Rissmiller {He is 30 years old sitting around. Taking a spot and seeing no time }

This team does not have one player with 20 goals yet. They need a goal scorer. And they need to toughen up the Defense. Drury and Gomez have not had a good year so far, but played ok. Maybe it's time for a change. But as of yet, there are no talks of any trades and this is not good!