There is a simple solution for the Rangers to get back on track.
When watching the 2023-24 New York Rangers, it was clear that they were having fun on the ice.
However, the 2024-25 Rangers are a completely different story.
Through 34 games, the Rangers have lost their identity and continue to play with a lack of passion.
Their confidence is fragile to the point whenever any little mistake is made, the Rangers begin to crumble under pressure.
Right now, it feels like the life has been sucked out of New York, and it's time to bring it back. Peter Laviolette preached the importance of having fun again.
“I do think you need structure, I do think you need systems. If you don’t have a vehicle to move around the ice you are not going to find much success that way. I’d also agree what they said is that you gotta bring some fun and some looseness back to the game as well.
“When it comes to open ice and attacking the game, the governors off the golf cart, it’s rip it and that’s it. There is no hey, you gotta do this. I don’t think we are seizing those opportunities enough and attacking enough inside of that. Then it comes to the decisions where we should be playing a simpler game, but we don’t.
The Rangers have all the talent in the world, but they are a broken team without any sense of confidence.
All the overthinking has caused the Blueshirts to become a shell of themselves. We’ve seen this team play some excellent hockey, so it’s clear what they can accomplish.
Don’t just stick to the system, play like the free-flowing Rangers we have all gotten to know and love.
Bring showtime back to Madison Square Garden.