On a day where the stars looked to be aligned for Patrick Kane to be a Ranger, the Blueshirts laid another egg in a 6-3 loss to the Capitals. Facing a Washington team that had lost six straight and seven of eight, New York was outplayed in every phase of the game, offense, defense, and between the pipes. In case you have not been paying attention, that's five straight lousy performances, four consecutive losses and three where they were almost non-competitive and embarrassing on the ice.
Besides the loss itself, the big news from the game was the injury to Ryan Lindgren on a dirty hit by T.J. Oshie in the first period. Off the ice, while the game was underway, to help create sufficient cap room, Jake Leschyshyn - who is under contract for two more years at $767,500 - was placed on waivers. Then, as the capper to what was a fine day (sarcasm dripping), Vitali Kravtov was dealt to Vancouver for a more than underwhelming return.
Game recap:
A few thoughts:
1) Keeping this brief, as
the game to a certain extent has become the secondary focus. What I will say on this is that the team better get the proverbial heads out of their proverbial rear ends and get back to playing as they did during the first part of the winning streak. Right now, they are a hot mess. I am not sure if it's a defensive structure or chemistry issue or a combination of a myriad of factors, but the last week-plus they have been brutal and looked worse each game.
Their hold on third place in the division is still relatively secure, but their recent struggles have left them eight points behind the Devils in second and 11 shy of the Canes, who hold a game in hand. Twenty-three games still remain to re-find their way, but the longer the poor streak goes, the harder it might be to regain their mojo.
2) All you need to know about the game are these
quotes from coach Gerard Gallant and Chris Kreider:
"Defensively we were awful," Gallant said. "To give up those scoring chances, I mean how many odd-man rushes, how many breakaways? We were more focused on trying to score goals than defending some goals, and we gave them way too many chances."
“I think after that streak we think we can just show up and win games,” said Chris Kreider. “We’re playing stubborn hockey. Playing against a team that played a 1-3-1, we refused to play simple hockey and just get it in and force the defense to turn and retrieve the puck. It starts with the veterans. It starts with me, I’m not someone who should be handling the puck in the neutral zone. It’s on me to get it in. I didn’t do that enough.”
3)
Igor Shesterkin looks lost on the ice. He has given up at least four goals in four straight starts and hasn't allowed fewer than three in seven straight, leaving him with a lackluster 2.67 goals-against average and .909 save percentage on the season. After being on a roll into the All-Star break, he has fallen apart since. Granted, he has not been aided by his defense overall, especially from the blue line, but Igor has not looked confident at all. Benoit Allaire needs to help him re-center and focus and find his game, and until then, look for Jaroslav Halak to see additional starts, though Shesterkin could get the nod against LA today.
Lindgren injury.
Losing the heart and soul of the blueline for any extended period of time would be exceedingly damaging to the Rangers. Oshie hit Lindgren from behind and knew what he had done after the hit, as he held Lindgren up near the boards. Tell PK Subban, the kind of the slewfoot, to maybe get a clue, as how was Lindgren supposed to protect himself as he went to get the puck? Mark Messier's reaction to the comment told the story as to how he felt by the comment.
We all know Lindgren is a warrior and will play through pain. Best case scenario, this is a few days and he is back shortly. But he left the arena with his left arm in a sling, which could mean a shoulder separation or broken collarbone, as seen from the below. If he is out for an extended period of time, missing at least 10 games or 24 days, the Rangers could put Lindgren on LTIR and deal immediately for Kane.
I guess that's making lemonade out of lemons, but with Niko Mikkola not proving to be the answer and Ben Harpur, who dressed as the seventh defenseman and slotted in for Lindgren on Saturday, likely to remain in the lineup, unsure how anyone can find any silver lining here. If Lindgren is out long-term and enough cap space exists - which might be challenging - even after Kane arrives, if Zac Jones is not dealt, call him up and pair him with Adam Fox. New York still might make a deal for another blueliner, but the minimal cap space remaining might squash those hopes.
Kravtsov deal:
Saturday, the Rangers put an end to a saga that was unsatisfying to both sides, dealing the winger to Vancouver for Will Lockwood and a seventh-round pick in the 2026 Draft. Kravtsov, selected ninth overall in 2018, finished his New York career with 48 games played, five goals and five assists and more plot twists than a good spy novel.
My view here has been fairly apparent. Both sides are culpable. Kravstov should have gone to the AHL to start the 2021-22 campaign, which would have allowed him to build strength and adapt to the North American game. New York should have done a better job of messaging the reasons why going down would be a wise move and that it was a short-term move for long-term gains. In addition, Kravtsov looked to have earned a spot in camp, which likely clouded his view and judgment.
GM Chris Drury could have dealt him last year before the draft, but held out for a higher return. That came back to bite him, as all New York received was a possible bottom sixth winger and seventh-round pick in four years. Gallant clearly was not a fan of Kravtsov, who also was unable to stay healthy or produce consistently enough to remain in the lineup. All that said, this is exceedingly poor asset management by the Rangers. At least for Lias Anderson, they received a second-round pick, which became Will Cuylle. Here, the return was underwhelming at best.
Cap machinations of moves Saturday and Lindgren injury
With the trade Saturday and expected demotion (presuming he is not claimed) of Leschyshyn on Sunday, the Rangers will have enough cap space to acquire Kane on March 1. If Lindgren does go on LTIR on Sunday, that creates additional space enabling a Kane trade, though if I am Drury, I am working the phones to add an inexpensive blue liner like Dimitry Kulikov, as Vladilav Gavrikov will be too pricey, both in terms of salary and acquisition cost.
As HockeyStatMiner pointed out, Lockwood's league-minimum salary makes him eligible as an emergency call-up should New York have to play a game with <20 roster players. I view it as somewhat scary and dangerous that the Rangers are in this cap position. I hope that Drury has a Plan B, C and D in mind.
Two future suggestions for the league, besides Larry Brooks' SlapShots suggestion of allowing teams to trade for cap space, are: 1) in trades, allow salary retention to be packaged rather than individual. For example, in the Rangers recent acquisition of Vladimir Tarasenko and Niko Mikkola, cap retention is on a player by player basis and teams are allowed only three per squad. Why not enable retention to be packaged by deal, so if more than one player is dealt, retention should be allowed up to 25% for the total salary dealt. Second, if a player is injured and out for the game, the league might consider allowing a player in the press box to slide into the lineup between periods. Farfetched and unlikely, but a possible option.
Larry Brooks on Kane, We all know this looks to be a done deal. Those who want Kane will be ecstatic, those who don't will be disappointed. No one is changing their mind, at least until we see how the season plays out and the cost to acquire.
A concerning aspect, beyond what's been said to date, is this deal smacks of a Glen Sather type acquisition where the name on the back is way more important than the one on the front. "Super teams" have not worked all that well in the NHL, especially lately. A well-balanced lineup with depth is usually a better approach.
If Kane is healthy and produces, then the team - at least on paper - should be able to roll four lines. Granted, little depth will be able, so if an injury occurs late in the year or the playoffs, not much will be able, save for maybe Will Cuylle or Jonny Brodzinski or Leschyshyn. A bigger concern is the blue line, especially if Lindgren is out long-term.
This is not a move I would make but hard to ignore the appeal, especially if Kane pushed for the deal and presence of Artemi Panarin. The advanced metrics are not kind to Kane, which has been discussed ad nauseum, ad infinitum. But Drury or Sather or James Dolan feels that this is the move to make, then we all have to hope he is or they are correct, despite signs to the contrary.
All the chips are going into the middle. Expectations have been vastly raised. Stay tuned, the season looks like it will get even more interesting.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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