New York Rangers: How They Can Improve Their Sluggish Power Play

In Saturday nights game against the Nashville Predators, the Rangers were given four power plays to take advantage of, and to score on.

Well, the Rangers ended the game 0-4 on the man-advantage, dropping their power play percentage to 16.3-percent which is good enough for seventeenth place in the NHL.

In the Rangers last five games they are 4-for-21 on the power play, scoring (on average) once every five power play attempts.

You may remember my pre-season prediction that the Rangers would end in the top 10 for power play percentage.

If the Rangers continue at this pace, on the power play, they will most likely end somewhere in the top 20, possibly the top 15 throughout the NHL.

No, neither of those spots would be a terrible finishing spot for the Rangers, but if they continue to receive four or five power plays per game shouldn't they take advantage of their opportunities more often than not?

Most teams would love to receive 21 power play chances over a five-game span. Those 21 chances are 21 opportunities to score a major goal for your team, which could lead your team to a huge victory.

The Rangers power play struggles have to end if they would like to be known as one of the elite teams in the league.

Since the 2010-11 NHL season is still very young, a helpful change to the team is possible to do without hurting the teams plans for the season.

There are a few ways the Rangers can boost their power play production this season, and those ways are: a) through trade, b) through free agency, or c) by creating a new power play strategy.

Plan A (Through Trade)

When the Hurricanes and Flames pulled off a four player trade which sent power play specialist, Anton Babchuck, to the Flames, it was a major loss for the Rangers.

The Hurricanes were looking to deal, as were the Flames, and I'm sure a small deal could have been made by Rangers GM Glen Sather to acquire such a power play specialist like Babchuck.

A few defenseman that the Rangers may have interest in acquiring with such a talent, may be Francis Bouillon (Nashville), Sheldon Souray (Edmonton), Joni Pitkanen (Carolina), Tomas Kaberle (Toronto), or Christian Ehrhoff (Vancouver).

Though it may be too early to talk trade, if the Rangers power play continues to struggle, the Rangers may pursue one of those five defensemen.

According to Steve Zipay (Newsday), the Rangers are in search of a left-handed defenseman, and they would prefer a power play quarterback. Joni Pitkanen is a name that has popped up often in recent discussion with Zipay.

Plan B (Through Free Agency)

I have mentioned this player once or twice before as a possible season-signing to boost the Rangers power play.

Marc-Andre Bergeron would be a perfect addition to the Rangers as an asset on the power play. Bergeron has been cleared to play doctors, and he is currently in talks with 10 NHL teams, one believed to be the New York Rangers.

He would come at an extremely low price (likely $1million), and he would be a no risk, one-year signing.

Bergeron has an extremely hard shot, and he happens to be one of the elite power play specialists of the current NHL era.

The main risks the Rangers may come in contact with if they acquire Bergeron, would be injury struggles, and his lack of defensive talent.

Bergeron is not a terrible defenseman, but the stronger part of his game is his ability to carry the puck, and quarterback a teams power play.

Plan C (Create a new strategy)

Mike Sullivan is in charge of the Rangers power play, and he creates all strategies that have been used on the Rangers man-advantages.

A few ideas that I've been thinking about for a while are the following: a) adding an extra forward to the power play (A four forward, one defenseman, power play) b) playing Marian Gaborik for the whole two-minute power play (maybe shifting him from a winger to a point player after one-minute?) and c)shooting the puck more often (who hasn't thought about this plan?)

No, I am not a coach in the National Hockey League, but these are few ideas that I have picked up while watching the Rangers continuously fail on the power play.

What are your thoughts on the Rangers power play? Leave any thoughts, comments, or ideas you may have in the comment section below.

Thanks for the read!

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