2009-10 New York Rangers: A Blue Print of a Season Ago?

Last season the Rangers started off 10-2-1 then quickly began to play .500 hockey. Because of their great start all they needed to do was basically stay .500 the rest of the way and they would pretty much be in the playoffs. As the playoffs looked to be at risk because of a horrible month of February the Rangers made a move in coaching releasing Tom Renny and hiring Stanley Cup winning coach tuff J. Tortorella. Tortorella succeeded in getting the Rangers to the second season and they were almost able to sneak out of the first round against a heavy favorite Washington Capital team. Rangers lost in seven games while playing their best game of the series in game seven in a losing effort.

The off season came and Glen Sather brought in some new faces with signings of M. Gaborik, V. Prospal, A. Kotalik, D. Brashear along with some upcoming rookie talent M. Del Zotto and M. Gilroy the Rangers looked improved.

As the Rangers pursued Ottawa's sniper D. Heatly a deal couldn't be reached the Rangers soon scooped up Marion Gaborik. While almost every NHL analyst disagreed with the move saying this was the worst off season signings, they critiqued Gaborik of playing with no heart and spoke of his injury's he sustained in the past. 20 games deep into the NHL season Gaborik has done nothing but impress having points in 16 of his 18 games played with 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points and is currently number two over all for the league lead.

The Rangers started off this season 7-1 and since have gone 4-7-1 with a big overtime shoot out win in Ottawa on 11/14.

The Rangers got their sniper but the only problem here is the Rangers need to get more offensive production from Dury, Dubinsky, Callahan, Higgins and Avery. While Dury and Dubinsky are currently out of the line up with injuries they need to produce when they get back on the ice. If this team plans on making the playoffs and going deep into the playoffs one man can't hold down the fort like the Jagr years.

However the potential is here for the makings of a good team as long as coach J. Tortorella can get these guys to play they way they are capable of playing and this season won't be a blue print of last.