NHL Free Agency: Could Brad Richards Help the New York Rangers' Power Play?

Today concludes the week long series analyzing the New York Rangers 2010-11 season. This season, the special teams aspect of the Rangers’ game can be described as a case of Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde. While the Rangers ability to kill penalties was business as usual, the power play was more of a hindrance than it was a help.

Starting with the penalty kill, the Rangers ranked 10th in the league with a 83.7 penalty kill percentage. The penalty kill was led by forwards Ryan Callahan, Brandon Prust, Brian Boyle and defensemen Marc Staal, Dan Girardi and Michael Sauer. 

This group of players did an exceptional job, especially Brandon Prust—Prust was third in the league with five shorthanded goals. These players also filled the void of Chris Drury, and at times, Ryan Callahan when they were injured.

The Rangers powerplay this year was abysmal. It ranked 18th in the league with a 16.9 percent success rate. New York simply never found a group of players that clicked. There was no consistency, no crisp lateral puck movement, and most importantly, there was no quarterback.

The Rangers attempted to fill this void with the acquisition of Bryan McCabe at the trade deadline, and while McCabe had a booming shot, he didn’t seem to fit in. The Rangers will attempt to address this in the offseason as they attempt to acquire Brad Richards.

The worst part of the Rangers power play this year was that it was a perpetual momentum killer. When the Rangers were starting to pick up there game and were within striking distance, a power play would be an instant momentum killer because they simply didn’t shoot the puck. If the Rangers power play took more point shots instead of passing around for a perfect shot, it would be more successful.

The proof of this statement is in the pudding. How many times over the course of the regular season did the Rangers have an errant point shot deflect off one of their defensemen? 

If the Rangers can address these power play concerns in the off-season, the power play can greatly benefit them next year. If you can, imagine a power play unit comprised of Michael DelZotto and Brad Richards at the points, Brian Boyle in front of the net and Ryan Callahan and Marian Gaborik in the slots.

The Rangers could have Brad Richards who is an excellent passer and shooter, DelZotto who did a good job running the power play last season, Boyle who is a big body with good hands, and Callahan and Gaborik who can play with effectiveness in the slots.

All in all things may have looked bleak for the Rangers power play, but the Rangers are on the rise and Glen Sather has a full plate ahead of him in the off-season.

Grades

Penalty Kill- B+

Pros: Ryan Callahan, Brandon Prust

Cons: Defensemen deflection goals

Powerplay- C-

Pros:None

Cons: Lack of QB and too much passing instead of shooting

Comments, Questions, Concerns?

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For information on what UFA's and RFA's might be bought out check out Nick Perri's buyout analysis