Screen Shots: New York Rangers, Edmonton Oilers and P.K. Subban
Adam Proteau gives his thoughts on what the New York Rangers will look like next season, the Edmonton Oilers' depth and P.K. Subban's on-air comment.
Welcome back to Screen Shots, an ongoing THN.com feature in which we tackle a few different hockey topics, and break them down with some short-but-sweet comments. You know the routine by now, don’t you? Let’s get straight to it:
The future of the New York Rangers and their free agents is coming into question following their first-round loss to the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers blew a 2-0 series lead to the Devils before allowing New Jersey to win four of the next five games, so there’s no shortage of people anticipating what changes may come for the Blueshirts this summer. But unless something drastic takes place – something we can’t expect with Chris Drury as their GM – the Rangers are going to look more or less the same as they did against the Devils.
That’s not to say the status quo will be embraced. Drury swung for the fences at the trade deadline with the acquisitions of star forwards Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane, but forwards Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, and Kaapo Kakko didn't put up better-than-average numbers on offense. Panarin produced only two assists against the Devils, while the youngsters Kakko and Lafreniere put up one goal and two points, and no points, respectively. The Rangers needed more from them, but Drury will be prepared to make another playoff push next season. It’s possible he re-signs one of Kane or Tarasenko, but it’s highly unlikely both will be back in Manhattan.
The Rangers have $12.3 million in cap space (as per CapFriendly), but they only have 14 players under contract for next year, and they need to find a No. 2 goalie to replace 37-year-old UFA Jaroslav Halak. But otherwise, the big part of the Rangers’ roster is going to stay in place, and coach Gerard Gallant's job should be safe. Drury has no reason to make huge moves. Good teams do lose out in the first round. The Rangers didn’t do that last season, and there’s every chance they make it to the second round with a largely similar group in 2023-24.
The Edmonton Oilers lost Game 1 of their second-round series against Vegas Wednesday, surrendering a half-dozen goals in a 6-4 result that was typical of Edmonton’s struggles during the regular season.
The Oilers had success generating offense, but once again, they dropped the ball on the defensive end. Edmonton scored the game’s first goal but then gave up three straight to Vegas as they ended the first period with a 3-2 lead. Neither side scored in the middle frame, but Edmonton pulled even early in the third period on Leon Draisaitl’s third goal of the night. The Golden Knights answered back a couple of minutes later to push ahead again, and then forward Chandler Stephenson netted what would turn out to be the game-winner. And although the Oilers would get within one goal of Vegas on Draisaitl’s fourth marker of the night, the Golden Knights didn’t allow another goal and held on to home-ice advantage.
We’re not pinning all the blame on Edmonton goalie Stuart Skinner, who played behind a porous Oilers defensive attack. However, Skinner’s .848 save percentage in Game 1 is not going to cut it against the opportunistic Golden Knights. Vegas had 11 different players who posted one point or more in Game 1. The Oilers, on the other hand, had only five players who were on the scoresheet.
Edmonton’s supporting cast has to do better with the puck. Vegas’ defense isn’t airtight, but the Oilers can’t compete in this series unless they play a well-balanced game. We didn’t see that from them Wednesday, and even if Draisaitl and fellow superstar Connor McDavid go wild on offense, the Golden Knights are going to thrive against a weak Oilers defense.
Finally, former NHL star and current ESPN analyst P.K. Subban caused consternation this week after he made a less-than-flattering comment on singer/actress Lizzo. Subban was discussing the Toronto Maple Leafs’ loss to Florida in Game 1 of their second-round Stanley Cup series Tuesday when he went off the cuff and into controversy.
“Maybe they need to pack a Lizzo-sized lunch,” Subban said of the Leafs. Yes, Subban built up lots of goodwill over the years as a philanthropist and has worked to grow the game of hockey. He should also know better than to punch down and belittle someone just because they can.
There are much easier analogies to make than the one Subban used Tuesday. It’s not as if he were providing any insight with that comment. It only disappoints a hockey community that is continually attempting to attract people of all body types and backgrounds.
It was just unnecessary on a fundamental level, and even a charismatic personality like Subban has to be called out for this clear misstep. We’re glad he’s providing a perspective different than we usually get from run-of-the-mill NHL commentators, but this attempt at levity went over like a lead balloon. An apology and a learned lesson are due from him.