GLENDALE, Ariz. — There’s a new voice and a new authority figure behind the bench in Alain Vigneault, but it’s not as if the Rangers’ coaching change equates to a benevolent substitute teacher replacing a malevolent disciplinarian; not in the least.
It is not going to be open-season for the club that opens its season with nine games on the road beginning Thursday night against the Coyotes. There has been, and will continue to be, a change in tone affected by the new regime, but it’s not as if the Rangers have been given license to run wild.
And, despite the “Clean Slate” mantra repeated throughout training camp, the Blueshirts are not leaving everything behind they accomplished under John Tortorella the last four-plus seasons.
“I think we’ve developed something special here in terms of work ethic, discipline and accountability over the last few years, and we’re going to look to build off that,” Ryan Callahan told The Post. “The atmosphere is going to change a little, but the overall approach isn’t going to change.
“We’ve put too much work in as a group to allow that to slip. We’ve been a good team,” the captain said. “We’ve been building the last number of years, and even though we had a bit of a dip last season, I’m confident that we’re going into this year with a strong foundation.”
The chemist may have changed, but elements remain the same. The nucleus is unchanged from 2012-13: Lundqvist; Nash; Callahan; Richards; Stepan; Girardi; Staal; McDonagh; Brassard; Boyle; Del Zotto. So even if training camp was disjointed and perhaps somewhat counter-productive, you know these guys and these guys know each other.
“We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us, and it’s not going to be easy, but I’m confident in this group,” Marc Staal said. “Obviously there’s the coaching change, and there are going to be some differences, but most of us have been together for a while, and we’re going to build on what we’ve done.
“When we’ve been successful, we’ve been a hard team to play against. That’s our objective again. As a group, we’re going to have a little more freedom across the blue line to make plays, or at least the skill guys are, but it still comes down to doing all the little things right, taking care of details and being a hard team.”
Staal told The Post he experienced no ill-effects during the exhibition games from the eye injury he sustained early last March that ruined the remainder of his season.
“Preseason actually went better than I expected,” the alternate captain said. “I feel really good. I’m completely comfortable and very confident.
“If I have a bad game, it’ll be because it’s a bad game. Don’t blame the eye.”
It’s important for Brad Richards to restore his good hockey name, as much because the team needs his expertise and skill — especially on the power play — as in order to eliminate what could become a messy issue if No. 19 slides back into the morass in which he was trapped a year ago, Everyone understands that.
And everyone understands the Rangers must produce on the power play after last year’s enfeebled performance. That includes the coaching staff that has made the specialty team a point of emphasis. Indeed, the Blueshirts worked on the power play (and penalty kill) in a 45-minute session that preceded Wednesday’s full practice.
“We’ve been trying different things, but it’s a matter of execution and being really focused,” said Vigneault, who is emphasizing the need to get a body or bodies in front. “I’m confident this group will be good.”
The Rangers won’t intimidate anyone with their size, strength or toughness. They can present a talented group, and their defense can all move the puck, but they still have to be able to move opponents from in front of their own crease, and though the idea is to quickly outnumber the opposition all over the ice, they will still have to win the one-on-ones in the dirty areas of the ice.
“We have to maintain our identity as a blue-collar team that wins battles,” Callahan said. “We have to keep our compete-level up to where it’s been when we’ve been at our best.
“Our approach isn’t going to change in that aspect. It can’t.”
The Rangers seem a more relaxed group. The environment is pollution free. Of course, the Blueshirts haven’t played a game yet.
“Having a great feeling comes down to winning,” Henrik Lundqvist said. “Winning is the best way to develop confidence.
“If you win, everybody’s happy. If not, then they’re not. It’s as simple as that.”