Is it Time for Tom Renney to Go?

After watching this past Ranger game (4 - 1 loss to Ottawa), the thought of a potential Renney dismissal went through my head. 

It's not due to this one loss, and I don't think it's too much of an overreaction.  The reason why it might be time for Renney to go is just for the lack of his message getting through. 

Plenty of other coaches have been axed for the same reasoning (Barry "I haven't coached in 13 years" Melrose to name one).

We all know the makeup of this team.  We aren't Detroit or Pittsburgh: teams so talented at this point that they still might be able to win without getting too dirty.  The Rangers are exactly the opposite of that. 

Over the past few years, players like Nylander, Jagr, Straka, Sykora and Shanahan have left town.  Not that I disagree with these moves; however...we are a team with a blue-collar identity. 

Players like Aaron Voros, Brandon Dubinsky, Dan Fritsche and Freddie Sjostrom have come here to out-work the opposition.  On a consistent basis, this hasn't happened. 

It's sinful to watch us not come and play hard, like we should.  We haven't played a solid first period in almost two weeks.  We've given up more short-handed goals than any other team in the league.  These two repugnant stats tell me one simple thing: We don't play half as hard as we should. 

Our defense has shifted from years past.  Aside from Paul Mara, our defense is depressingly passive.  Staal and Girardi will throw the body, but nothing near "bone crunching." 

The Rangers consistently are beaten at their own blue line, because no team fears them.  Honestly speaking, there is no defenseman to fear on our team. 

Roszival has regressed terribly this year...and looks like a shell of himself.  His time is certainly up at this point.  Most Ranger fans would not be disappointed to see him go.

At the end of the day however, the focus and the work ethic are just plain not there.  This is true throughout the lineup.  Aside from a very select few, many Rangers are simply not coming to work anymore. 

Again, if it were only one or two guys lacking, I wouldn't blame Renney whatsoever.  But this team needs a major shakeup. Even though we've been getting a few points the last few games, it's been only through miraculous comebacks that, quite frankly, we didn't deserve. 

It's time for a major change in Blue.  If Renney's got to go, then it's his time.  Thanks for the memories...but damn...our playing lately is nothing short of unacceptable.