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Fan-ning the flames: Answers to Rangers fans early concerns

It is the most accurate avenue into the collective mind of The Garden faithful. Thanks to the incredible information superhighway, it takes mere seconds to take the temperature of Ranger fans, to gauge their levels of elation and depression, satisfaction and frustration (sometimes in the same sentence).

Thanks to the handful of Rangers blogs dispersed throughout the internet, this team is a constant source of dissection and discussion, a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week sports bar/counseling couch. The opinions fly - some well-founded, some based on false information – but always entertaining.

I have spent some time among the denizens of the Dell, albeit more in browsing mode than immersed in any great debate. And even though the Rangers have played just a handful of games (less than five percent of their season), some definite and common themes have formed that pique my curiosity.

To wit:

“IT IS TIME TO PANIC” (10-11-06)

Uh, no. No it isn’t. Not even close. The NHL season commenced a week or so ago. The first playoff game is 26 WEEKS AWAY! If that doesn’t bring some of you fan(atics) back from the ledge, then logic and reason are as foreign to you as the words inscribed on the back of those “Be A Ranger” t-shirts.

C’mon, folks, buka Realist. Trends don’t develop, and then become indelibly stamped on a team, in three games.

It takes at least four or five.

“ANY CHANCE LOU PINIELLA MIGHT COME TO MANHATTAN?”

And do what, pick up the goal net and throw it when the referee makes a bad call? Obviously, this line, with tongue somewhat planted in cheek, is a reference to Tom Renney’s faults, whatever they might be after NHL week one.

No, the Rangers weren’t ready to match the Flyer passion in Game 3 at MSG, which can be traced to the coach. And no, Renney’s line-juggling that night did little to spark more offense or more effort. But even alluding to a coaching change in mid-October, if only to display a sense of humor or a grasp of current sporting events, is unworthy of a response.

So why did I just spend 116 words responding?

“THE POWER PLAY IS HOPELESS” (10-11-06)

Jagr is still trying to shoulder his way back to full strength. (AP)

There are reasons for the early anemia: As Jaromir Jagr admitted, his shooting strength remains impacted by offseason shoulder surgery. And just like last year, there remains too much deference to Jagr’s greatness, too much perimeter play designed to open Jagr’s shooting lane.

Last year’s philosophical power play debate rages on, both on the chat boards and the Ranger chalkboards. Should man-advantage offense generate from pass work that forces the defense out of position, or should shooters just pepper and then crash the net, beauty be damned? Renney prefers the latter, those on the ice tilt toward the former.

Therein lies the debate.

Which leads us to …

“WE NEED BRIAN LEETCH” (10-every day-06)

At the risk of losing whatever fan respect and dignity I’ve developed, allow me to quoteth that great 20th century thespian, Cher:

“If I could turn back time…”

That would be the only way I would pursue the greatest offensive defenseman in Rangers history. And it would take about a four-year setting on the wayback machine to make it happen.

Logic and reason (there are those ugly words again) tells you that Leetch, at age 38 and without a single day of strenuous hockey training the last several months, would need time – lots of time – to get where the Rangers would need him. And even then, would Leetch’s point presence be THAT impactful that it would change the fortunes and philosophies of Jagr, Michael Nylander, Martin Straka, et al.?

Statistics don’t lie, at least these don’t. Leetch totaled just four goals and 17 points on the power play last season in Boston. That's just four more PP points than beloved Sandis Ozolinsh totaled - in 25 fewer games.

And let’s be honest: For all his greatness, would Leetch ever make would-be shot blockers quake when he wound up to shoot? His greatest assets as a power play point man were lugging the puck into the zone, and passing it to an open mate once there.

The Rangers do that now. A lot more than anyone would like.

“WHY CAN’T WE STAY OUT OF THE *&*@$! BOX” (10-11-06)

Excellent question. And a valid concern on several levels.

Leetch's better days are behind him. (AP)

In the first week, the Rangers were shorthanded 22 times, an average of more than seven times per game and a sobering total when you consider the new penalty killing forward units, Jed Ortmeyer’s absence and a defense that added two new players and subtracted its strongest entity (Darius Kasparaitis).

All that man-downtime takes ice time away from the Rangers’ best forwards. It taxes some members of a defense still trying to develop chemistry. And it keeps Henrik Lundqvist as much on his heels as on his toes.

The new NHL has become a haven for special teams. The Rangers finished eighth on power play last year, 10th on the penalty kill. They resided in the upper echelons of the league stats in both categories most of last season.

Not coincidentally, they finished with 100 points.

THIS TEAM IS TOO SOFT” (10-11-06)

At times, that is true.

But that’s why Ryan Hollweg plays every game. And why rangy Adam Hall was coveted for speedy yet slight Dominic Moore. And why Shanahan’s scoring touch wasn’t the only part of his resume the Rangers desired. And why Aaron Ward signed on the dotted blueline. And why Colton Orr could play more. And why Marcel Hossa is a pet project. And why Kasparaitis is missed a lot more than you would think a mid-30s, offensively-challenged, sometimes undisciplined defenseman could be missed.

Again, folks, it’s been one week. So much can – and will – happen over the next six months. The Rangers believe they addressed their need for some muscle and meanness this summer. We need more than a few games to determination success or failure there ... or anywhere else.

Nevertheless, happy blogging. I’ll be watching.