WASHINGTON — The Rangers weren’t sending a message so much as correcting specific perceived flaws in exchanging Arron Asham and Martin Biron for J.T. Miller and Cam Talbot.
But coach Alain Vigneault sure sent an implied message to top six wingers Benoit Pouliot and Mats Zuccarello — and by extension, the rest of the group — when he met with the press after Tuesday’s practice.
That was the sum of it when the coach was asked how he intends to use the 21-year-old Miller, who apparently will open Wednesday’s game against the Capitals on the fourth line with Dominic Moore and Derek Dorsett, and when he was queried about whether there could be other moves on the horizon.
“I see in Miller a good skill set and offensive potential,” Vigneault said of the winger who scored four goals in four games for the AHL Wolf Pack after his demotion following the Blueshirts’ opener in Phoenix.
“There are guys who are getting a real good opportunity to show what they can do in the top six and on the power play, and some guys’ production is not where it needs to be to stay there long-term,” the coach said. “They are aware of that.
“I don’t have to mention any names but it’s possible that [Miller] would move up if some guys don’t produce,” he said. “After Washington, we’ll re-evaluate, and see where we are and what we need to do.”
Zuccarello and Pouliot are both pointless through the first five games as essentially bookend wingers on the second line that has been centered by both Derick Brassard and Derek Stepan. The two wingers also have been staples on the second power play unit. Miller, who also plays the middle, skated between Zuccarello and Pouliot on that power play unit during Tuesday’s practice.
“I thought I was OK in Phoenix, not very opportunistic with the puck,” Miller, who had one shot and three attempts in the 4-1 defeat to the Coyotes, said. “I didn’t make too much happen.
“I thought I could have done better, but I’m not looking at the past. I’m here to do my job and treat every day like it might be my last.”
The Blueshirts certainly expect to be better than they were on the first phase of their nine-game swing away from the Garden. They believe they have gained some equilibrium going into D.C. off a few days at home following a grueling stretch in which they were on the road for 21 of 25 nights, stretching back to the second week of training camp.
The season-opening trek through the western badlands was out of the team’s control but the bizarre preseason itinerary was entirely of the organization’s own making and thus a self-inflicted wound.
“I think being in our own environment on a much more frequent basis where we can practice, work off-ice and go over videos is much easier to do than when you’re going from one hotel to another,” Vigneault said. “I think it’s going to be real beneficial to our group.”
The 1-4 getaway in which the Rangers were outscored 25-9 is indelibly etched into the standings, but it is also in the club’s rear-view mirror. The Blueshirts’ focus is simply on getting well against a familiar opponent in Washington, whom they’ve eliminated from the playoffs in consecutive seven-game series.
The Rangers have to improve their defensive zone coverage and rush reads, both of which have been dramatically deficient thus far. Sharper goaltending is required from Henrik Lundqvist. Without Rick Nash (concussion) for an indefinite period, the Rangers need much more from — not only Zuccarello and Pouliot — but from Stepan and Brassard, and, well, name pretty much everyone except Brad Richards and Ryan Callahan.
“When I have scoring chances I need to bury them,” said Brassard, who has three assists but no goals and is centering the remade first line between Richards and Callahan. “I need to create chances and take advantage of them.
“My focus is on getting better every day. It’s not good enough right now.”
If the Rangers aren’t good enough again on Wednesday, the changes that began with the exchange of Asham and Biron for Miller and Talbot likely will be only the beginning.