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The New York Rangers are one of the most storied franchises in the NHL. They are an Original Six team that dates back to 1926. The Rangers are also one of the most disappointing franchises when it comes to Stanley Cup victories. The Blueshirts have just four Stanley Cups in their history, and one cup since 1940 when there were only seven teams in the league.
The Rangers have also had some great teams that fell short of a Stanley Cup victory. This may be difficult for some Ranger fans to read. Aside from the teams that are on this short list, Ranger fans have also had endure some terrible seasons, and that includes the younger Ranger fans that had to watch the Blueshirts miss the playoffs for seven straight seasons between 1997 and 2004.
So here are the five greatest Ranger teams to not win the Stanley Cup:
* I chose not to include any teams before 1967 when there were only six teams.
(@schaetz23) The New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins will begin a crucial home-and-home tonight at Madison Square Garden. The Rangers beat the Jets 4-2 Monday night at MSG, but they do not have time to enjoy the win with the number one team in the conference coming to town.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have been red-hot lately, and that might even be an insult to how they're playing. Last night the Penguins 15 game winning streak was ended by the Buffalo Sabres 4-1, their first loss since the month of February. Now the Penguins must try to re-group and begin a new streak, and without their captain Sidney Crosby.
The Penguins have found great success against their division rivals, taking the last seven contests and shutouts in their last two meetings. The Penguins have not lost at Madison Square Garden since November 30, 2011 when the Rangers erupted for four goals in the second period, and held on for a 4-3 victory. Since that game the Penguins are 4-0 and have outscored the Blueshirts 19-6.
With the trade deadline approaching on Wednesday, teams are scrambling to try and load up with the right players who can help them make a deep playoff run. Many teams are looking for offense, including the Rangers who are dead last in the league in goals scored with 78.
Many Ranger fans have quickly lost confidence in this group, and righfully so. Fans want results, and the Rangers are not producing right now. Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik have been major disappointments, and the role players on the third and fourth lines have contributed almost nothing on the offensive side. Derek Stepan has stepped up at times this season, and Carl Hagelin has shown he can find the back of the net, but the Ranger offense has been nothing short of embarrassing lately. Rick Nash has come as advertised this season, but one man cannot carry an entire team to the playoffs.
Unfortunately it doesn't seem like there are many players, if any, on the trading block who will help this Ranger team make a deep playoff run. No, the answer to the Rangers problems lies within the team itself. When Rick Nash, Carl, Hagelin, and Derek Stepan play together they find success. This line needs to stay intact, because after all, splitting these three up has not helped the Rangers offense. The more these three play together, the more comfortable they will be with each other. Who can the Rangers trade for who will really help this teams offense, Ryane Clowe? Clowe has no goals and 11 assists so far this season. Even Brian Boyle has a goal for the Blueshirts this season, so would it make sense to add a player who is yet to score this year to the team with the least amount of goals?
Brad Richards and Mrian Gaborik must have break out games this week. As all Ranger fans know, Gaborik is a streaky scorer who scores in bunches, and right now he might be in the worst slump of his career. But Gaborik's scoring struggles should lead Ranger gans to believe that it is only a matter of time before Gaborik starts hitting the back of the net instead of the goalies pads after he shuts the five-hole. So what are the Rangers going to do, trade Gaborik for a player who is yet to score so far this season? Let's not give up on Gaborik yet.
Brad Richards is a prime time player, he loves the big stage, and he performs under pressure...wait, which Brad Richards are we talking about here? Richards has been invisible at some points during this season, and I am not being dramatic. Richards and Gborik need to find a way to get back their scoring touch, and help get this abysmal Ranger offense back on track.
So what does all this add up to? Effort and will. Nothing gets the New York fans going like a hard working, grinding effort, and that is not what the Rangers have been giving their fans, especially on the road. Last season the Rangers were known as the hardest working team in the league. You may have beaten them that night on the scoreboard, but you were not going to hustle, work, and play harder than them. This season has been just the opposite. When the Rangers go down on the scoreboard, it has been hard to believe that they will find a way back into the game, and the past two games have been perfect examples. The Rangers got down by a goal both times to the Senators and Canadiens, and the Rangers could not respond with a goal of their own (the Canadiens scored just 47 seconds into the game).
The Rangers currently hold onto the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference which would set them up with a first round clash with the red hot Pittsburgh Penguins. In order for the Rangers to avoid playing Pittsburgh in the first round they need to win games, and start winning now. Time has run out on the Rangers to just sit back and play defensive hockey and look for counter opportunities, and it's time to attack. How does that famous saying go again? Oh yea..."The best defense is a good offense." The Rangers need to take this term literally and start winning the battles in the corners and along the boards.
A trade is not the answer for the Rangers. The answer lies within the players and coaches to find the motivation and will to find the success they had last year. If they cannot dig deep and play like the team everyone knows they can be now, then sorry Rangers fans your playoffs will consist of youtube highlights from the 2011-12 season.
The Rangers will be at Madison Square Garden Monday night against the Winnipeg Jets, one of the three Canadien teams they have not beaten this season.
