NEW YORK, NY – The true key to success for the New York Rangers stands on the goal line night in and night out; Henrik Lundqvist.
The Rangers are once again a team in transition. Captain Jaromir Jagr is to Olmsk of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia taking with him the name recognition, star-power and leadership role. Stepping into the spotlight is Chris Drury who was handed the “C” while the team was Europe on its season opening stint in Prague, Czech Republic.
In the press release announcing Drury’s ascendency general manager Glen Sather called Drury a “natural leader”. His leadership talents will be tested and examined under the microscope of the New York media. Drury, 32, will be judged on his ability to lead the Rangers not only to the post season but progression beyond the second round where the team has lost in the last two tournaments.
Reasons they could fail
Drury and his fellow free agent from two summers back, Scott Gomez, cannot afford to get off to slow starts once back on North American soil for the NHL season. Last season the weight of Manhattan was on their shoulders and while they made the post season they could not carry the club beyond the Penguins’ series.
Simply stated the Rangers will fail if Gomez and Drury let down and invite the boo-birds from the rafters of Madison Square Garden.
Rookie watch
Finnish winger Lauri Korpikoski picked up 11 minutes of ice time in Prague in his NHL debut and survived unscathed. Last year he logged 79 games with the Hartford Wolfpack and collected 50 points on 23 goals and was a plus-20 on the season with 71 PIMs.
When Jagr was on the roster there was a plethora of Czechs on the roster. Now there is a subtle shift to the Scandinavian pool of players. Korpikoski has been groomed since 2004 when he was the 19th pick in the NHL Entry Draft by the Rangers. Now that trust, time and effort dedicated to developing him as a player needs to pay off on Broadway. Or it is a quick trip up I-95 to Hartford where plenty of talent awaits its turn.
How they will do
So many “what ifs”.
Prognosticators have picked the Penguins to finish first in the division. Hard to argue that pick. Second and third are up for grabs between the Rangers and the Flyers.
Without the shadow of Jagr influencing the roster, the Rangers make a strong run at the Penguins for supremacy in the division. In the end, the Penguins take the division with the Rangers second and the Flyers third.
The “what if”? If Lundqvist starts continues as strong as he did in Prague then the Rangers move up in the division and challenge for the eastern crown.
Contact the author at lou.lafrado@prohockeynews.com .
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