The New and Improved 09-10 Powerplay

A big question mark currently lies on the Rangers' powerplay as we head into the regular season, and rightfully so after the appalling displays we saw with the man advantage for the past three years. Some of the problem had to do with the personnel in the lineup, but I feel that most of the fault has to lie on the coaching staff of previous seasons. Tom Renney and Perry Pearn were defense-first coaches, and quite honestly, didn't have half of a brain when it came to constructing a powerplay system. I cannot even count the number of times the Blueshirts allowed opposing teams to get shorthanded offensive chances, let alone the amount of times that the other team actually converted on those chances. On one episode of the NHL Live Hockey Radio Show on NHL Network, a Ranger fan called in, his question, "Is it possible to decline a penalty, and not go on the powerplay?". That pretty much sums up the fans feelings when the Rangers were going on the powerplay last season, which finished 29th in the league.

In 2009-10, however, fans will not feel as negatively about going on the powerplay by any stretch, because this season both the personnel problem, and the coaching problem have been resolved. Starting with personnel, Ales Kotalik was brought to New York over the summer for two reasons; a) To be re-united with Chris Drury, and b) to play the point on the powerplay. If you look at any powerplay around the league that is somewhat efficient, there are always threats from the point. With Kotalik, the Rangers now have that big shot from the blueline on the powerplay, which not only produces goals, but chances for other players around the net because of rebounds that the goalies will cough up when that rocket makes contact with them.

Before Kotalik, the Blueshirts lacked the big shooter and intimidating factor from the point. Come to think of it, when Redden and Rozsival played the point on the powerplay, opposing teams would send out their top scorer because they knew how often Michal and Wade would turn over the puck, allowing shorthanded chances against. That is just plain embarrassing, especially on Redden's part, as he was brought here to QB the powerplay, but he has not shown any indications of doing so any time soon.

Speaking of powerplay quarterbacks, Tortorella has one in the making with prospect defensemen Mike Del Zotto. Del Zotto, who as of right now will be in the Ranger lineup to open the season, has really opened eyes this pre-season with his superior vision while making plays, especially on the powerplay. The Coaching staff always complains about the fact that there is no one on this team that can lead the powerplay from the blueline. Well, they have one in DZ now, and it would be a huge mistake to return him to the OHL for many reasons, but specifically for the powerplay's sake.

It is pretty pathetic that a player that has no NHL experience whatsoever is out-playing veterans Wade Redden ($6.5 million) and Michal Rozsival ($5 million) not only on the powerplay, but in all areas of the game, but that topic is for another time.

With Marian Gaborik on the ice, the powerplay automatically gets ten times better. In fact, any time Gaborik is on the ice in general, your team is ten times better. My point being that with Gabs on the powerplay, you will see a lot more conversions with the extra man. Gaborik is a prolific scorer, especially down low around the net. His hands are extraordinarily soft, which enables him to weave his way into and out of traffic and get to the net. Another part of Gabs's game that is under-rated is his playmaking abilities which will be crucial to the ranger powerplay.

And lastly, I feel that Chris Higgins will become a big part of the powerplay, mainly because of the fact that most of his goals are scored around the crease area. They may not all be pretty, but at this point, it does not matter, we just need production, and Higgins will give you that around the net.

All of this is tied together with the world-class coaching of John Tortorella. From day one, Torts stated that he would take the powerplay into his own hands, and deal with it himself, something that Renney would never have dared to attempt. Just in this pre-season, you can see the movement on the powerplay, something that we have not seen in the last few years. Prior to Torts, the powerplay unit would literally just stand around, wait for a lane to magically be given to them, and then force passes. This season, every instance in which the puck changes location, so do all five of the players, and when a shot is taken, everyone collapses to the net. This system may take time to get down perfectly, so fans need to have some patients, but when it is in full-swing, it will be very effective.
(Photo courtesy of Getty Images)