NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 17: Artemi Panarin #72 of the Chicago Blackhawks scores a hat trick with this goal in the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on February 17, 2016 in New York City.The Chicago Blackhawks defeated the New York Rangers 5-3. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The New York Rangers season is over in disappointing fashion despite the team making big investments for a deep playoff run.
The original six franchise was eliminated in seven games by the New Jersey Devils on Monday night.
The Rangers got off to a quick start in the series by taking a 2-0 lead – but everything turned around since Devils head coach Lindy Ruff made the move to put in rookie goaltender Akira Schmid in game three.
The Devils then went on to win four of the next five games.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of sports news in your in-box.
We find the sports news you need to know, so you don't have to.
Schmid posted a remarkable .951 save percentage with a 1.38 goals-against average in five games.
While Schmid was impressive, the Rangers failed to adapt and outwork the Devils as a team.
That comes despite the Rangers trading multiple draft choices including a first-round pick and a second-round selection to acquire what were supposed to be two difference-making players in Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko.
There are plenty of people to blame for the Rangers collapse.
The Rangers leading point-getter in 2022, Artemi Panarin, was abysmal and failed to record a goal in the series against the Devils.
Mika Zibanejad, the second-highest point-getter for the Rangers during the regular season wasn’t much better.
He had just one goal and four points in seven games.
When your best players aren’t your best players – it’s tough to win.
But when the Rangers with all the skill in the lineup are not ready to play hockey as a team in the most critical games in the season – that starts with coaching.
While they had a great game plan going into the series, they didn’t adapt.
The Rangers failed to generate enough grade-a scoring chances as the series went on.
Since game 3, the Rangers had only 36 high-danger looks compared to the Devils’ 74, according to data from Natural Stat Trick.
That’s a 2:1 ratio in favor of the Devils.
The Ranger’s starts were also abysmal, as it surrendered the first goal in the last four games in the series.
And when your team looks that bad with all the offensive firepower from Kane to Panarin, you have to look at head coach Gerard Gallant.
In addition to the tactical problems, Gallant chose to stick with giving Panarin tough minutes despite the results not being there.
So now where do the Rangers go from here?
Well, perhaps it could move on from Gallant after the early exit. Some argue he had the most talented Rangers’ roster since the Stanley Cup winner in 1994.
Some veteran coaching options that the Rangers could look at if it decides to go that route are Bruce Boudreau and Claude Julien.
But general manager Chris Drury will have a decision to make after incredibly underwhelming playoffs.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver spoke bluntly on Thursday about the 2025 All-Star tournament format, which…
The Buffalo Bills maintained their strategy of securing their own draft picks long-term, reaching an…
The Memphis Grizzlies announced Friday that they have fired head coach Taylor Jenkins, despite the…
The New York Mets lost their first game of the 2025 season to the Houston…
The Michigan Wolverines punched their ticket to the Sweet 16 round of men's March Madness…
There has been no shortage of thinkpieces regarding future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady's…