If the Rangers let Thomas Pock continue to languish, it will be the latest in a series of foolhardy coaching moves. Pock deserves to play.
While the logic behind pairing Marc Staal with Jason Strudwick is sound, it doesn’t mean that Marek Malik should have unassailable job security. True, Pock is an offensively minded d-man, but the Rangers are in need of offense, no matter the source. While they are also in need of defense, inserting Pock instead of Malik would not undermine their defense; Malik is often a defensive liability. It’s time, too, for Nigel Dawes to get some ice time. Or, at the very least, Dubinsky needs more than barely 3 minutes of playing time. While Blair Betts had a strong game (he is a huge asset to the team; he is role player that provides exactly what is expected of him), there was room to roll four lines against the Isles last night.
When high-priced, chemistry-challenged forwards can’t step up and finish (example: Scott Gomez flubbing a sharp angle chance at a wide open net), it’s up to the blue-collar players to pick up the slack. When finesse doesn’t get the job done, ugly and determined play does. Gomez himself spoke of his belief that what breaks the dam may be an ugly goal … but whether ugly or brimming with indescribable beauty, the goals need to come. Expectations are high because of the talent in place. The organization set the bar. Now the fans want it met.
Ankur is right to cite the need for patience, however. The season is only three games old and it’s hardly crisis mode. But frustration is a familiar sensation for fans of hockey in New York, and when so much talent, skill and potential don’t manifest themselves on a regular basis, to a consistent and positive end … it’s hard to not be frustrated.
Players who don’t perform up to expectations need to ride the pine. It’s coaching 101 not to stick with something that doesn’t work. When something doesn’t work, it must be abandoned or tinkered with until the desired result is achieved. Despite his accomplishments, Tom Renney seems unable to learn certain lessons about what to do with one’s players when they don’t do their jobs. Most people crave job security like Malik’s. If only all of us could mail it in on a regular basis without fear of recrimination.
Still, I don’t entirely fault the players for the team’s woes. They expect to be coached, they expect to be trained and honed by those who devise the plans into a well-oiled, offensively and defensively balanced machine. It’s slightly disconcerting that Renney copped to not spending enough time on fundamental drills (per Blueshirt Bulletin). But he says they’re on the task, now. I suppose we can only wait and see.
So three games are gone, two points have been won, and 79 games remain. Nothing is over. It’s only the beginning … however, it would be refreshing to see players sit for their mistakes, so others can be given a chance to shine. To waste Pock is a travesty. The talent pool for the Rangers may be a little too deep for them to use every asset, but allowing players to languish while others put on sloppy performances is a practice that needs to stop.