What is wrong with the New York Rangers?

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About a month into the season the New York Rangers are 6-5-3 through 14 games. A far cry from what many were expecting prior to the season.

While I don’t think it’s all completely doom and gloom yet, the Rangers do have a glaring issue when it comes to closing out games and holding onto a lead.

This is highlighted in the two most recent games. In both games, they gave up 2 goal leads which then lead to losing in close fashion after a third-period collapse or just a lackluster third period.

What is most frustrating is in these games we outplay the teams most of the time. Although for the time that we are dominated it’s when they fall apart and break instead of bending and they can’t dig themselves out of the hole.

While I think some of the players are off to slow starts, I don’t think it is an issue of player skill. I mean Mika, Panarin, Trocheck, Fox, and Kreider have all looked fine enough.

Kaapo Kakko has easily been our best and most consistent forward even though he’s not on the scoresheets. Chytil and Laf have also been good. I’d like to see more out of the bottom six but for the most part, the offense is fine enough.

I think the biggest issue is the mental aspect. Just like last season, the Rangers start to let off the gas when they have a lead late in the game. They start to check out and then when it’s time for them to get back into it they’re already too late.

I don’t think this issue is just caused out of nowhere though. I mean this doesn't just happen. This is a result of the culture of the team. Although I don't think it’s all mental issues either.

Watching this season I’ve noticed that scheming on defense just seems to be off. I fear that the players have maybe started to tune out Gerard Gallant. I can’t confirm this but gallant is widely known as a coach who’s a one-year wonder and then is shockingly and seemingly surprisingly canned.

I think the biggest issue Gallant has is his lack of midgame adjustments. He simply just doesn’t make them. If he does then he’ll just shuffle the lines every 45 seconds and not stick with a plan.

In big moments where the Rangers need a goal to stay in it, he’ll put out the line of Ryan Carpenter, Sammy Blais, and Ryan Reaves. Instead of the guys like Mika, Panarin, or Kreider who will be our best chance at scoring.

That’s not to dig at Carpenter and his line, but they’re simply not the players that should be out when we’re down 3-2, 0r 4-3 with two minutes left in the game.

The “No Quit in NY” motto this team lives by has been made a mockery of so far. They do quit. The minute things start going south they fall apart. It’s the same thing that happened last season too.

This team should not be struggling whatsoever. They have arguably a top 10-15 center, a top 5 winger, and a top 3 defenseman. As well is one of the best if not the best goalies in the world.

On top of all of that also they have some of the most promising prospects in the league as well as one of the best second-line centers in the league at winning faceoffs.

This team should not be struggling. I get a few bad losses in a trap game. Although these games are after two or three days rest. It’s embarrassing.

They can go from looking like one of the best teams in te league to looking like a farm team. This team made the Eastern Conference Finals and was only 2 wins away from the Stanley Cup Finals.

Something’s gotta give here. Either they make a personnel move or a coaching change. Personally, I’m leaning toward a coaching change.

The pieces are in place and I don’t understand how it isn’t meshing well together. Perhaps the team just needs a new voice behind the bench which happens. I mean some examples of that this year are Vegas and Boston. Both made coaching changes over the summer and are now playing some of the best hockey they’ve seen in years. Especially in Boston.

This team should look unbeatable and yet they’re not. Most nights they look like they can’t even hang with a bottom feeder.

I don’t know what the real solution is but I think a coaching change is a good start. This team should not be struggling this much. With how good the Metro division is shaping up to be they can’t afford to fall too much further behind.

Let’s hope they turn the ship around soon.