Team Toughness: The Issue That Can Be Fixed Internally
One of the emerging themes in this current slump for the Rangers is the concept of "team toughness." More specifically, that this team lacks it. Everyone is going to have a different definition of the term, but for me "team toughness" equates the not simply fighting but a general philosophy. It encompasses a number of aspects of the game: sure, sticking up for teammates, but persistences along the boards. Tenacity every shift. The Rangers had all of that going for them last season. They weren't the most skilled team, they may not have good games, but one thing that was certain was that teams were going to have to work hard for a full 60 minutes in order to earn a victory over the 2011-2012 Rangers. As Marty Biron said after the most recent loss in Montreal, the team has to get back to being difficult to play against.
Some people have pointed out the losses of Prust and Dubinsky, and to a lesser extent Rupp and Fedotenko, as the reason why the team isn't showing that same tenacity, toughness, and heart. It's a fair point, as those guys certainly encaptured some or all of those qualities. What needs to be kept in perspective, though, is that Dubinsky and Prust, the more important of the four, became the players they are today (or last season) over time. Sure, both Dubinsky and Prust have always had an edge to their game. In Brandon Prust's case especially. Prust's career was in limbo prior to coming to the Rangers. He had multiple stints with the Flames and Coyotes, neither team willing to play him for more than half of a season. Neither team willing to keep him consistently in the lineup. He came to the Rangers as a filler; the real player the Rangers were after was Olli Jokinen, and Prust was brought in more or less as a warm body. And over the course of multiple years with the Rangers, Prust went from a journeyman AHL call-up without an identity to a regular in the Rangers' lineup to a key figure on a contending team. Of course, some combination of luck and being a late bloomer played its role in Prust's emergence, but it was moreso that John Tortorella pushed the right buttons with Prust, helped build his confidence and role with the team, and of course Prust's own determination was necessary.
Another case study worth looking at is Dan Girardi. It was only a few years ago that this incident occured.
A younger Dan Girardi watched on as Philadelphia Flyers pest and experienced fighter Dan Carcillo more or less had his way with Marian Gaborik. It was the highlight of a season in which a Rangers team was accused of being soft. John Tortorella implied to the media that he called out Girardi and the team in general after the game in the locker room. Rangers fans were infuriated, and many believed - or even wished - that Dan Girardi, a restricted free at the end of the season, would be gone in the offseason. Girardi admitted that he failed to step up because he was "reluctant" and that it was the wrong decision.
The Rangers later met up with the Flyers in the second-to-last game of the season; a game that the Rangers HAD to win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. Another Flyers agitator and overall physical player, Scott Hartnell, threw a big hit on Artem Anisimov. Here is the incident and how Dan Girardi responded this time:
Girardi skated halfway across the ice, challenged the much more experienced fighter, and then proceeded to bloody his face and score a clear victory. Since then and over time, Girardi has earned the reputation from Rangers fans and even throughout the league as one of the most selfless, hardest working players. He is the epitome of "toughness." He blocks an incredible number of shots, then stays to finish his shift despite half of his body hurting. He's missed only three games in his entire career despite how banged up he is for most of them. While he may not be a fighter, he stands up for his teammates and especially goaltender and doesn't get intimidated by anyone. Once maligned by Rangers fans for shying away from protecting the team's star player, nobody would accuse Dan Girardi of being "soft" or lacking "toughness" today.
Which brings us to the current incarnation of the Rangers. It's apparent that they haven't been playing with that same tenacity and heart. That same "toughness." For sure the loss of some players has hurt the Rangers in that department. But the thing about intangibles like those are that they are a skill that can be learned, or matured. No matter how much time Stu Bickel spends practicing, he's never going to have a great wrist-shot. That's something that a player is born with to a degree or is learned at a very early age. But there's no inherent cap or limit on a player's "toughness." That is a "skill" that largely comes down to a player's mentality as well as a leadership that pushes the right buttons. John Tortorella needs to hold the young players accountable on this front, just like he did with a young Dan Girardi. Callahan, Girardi, Staal, and Lundqvist, the veterans of this team who have earned their stature through hard work and the right mentality, need to challenge their teammates to show more passion. We can debate all day about whether the team is no longer "listening" to Tortorella's message, but there is not a single player in the NHL who would not be affected if told by Ryan Callahan or Henrik Lundqvist to pick it up. Brian Boyle, Derek Stepan, Michael Del Zotto, and Carl Hagelin are no longer feeling their way around the league. They need to find it within themselves to be more dedicated to the physical part of the game, to be more consistent every shift, and to not let the team get pushed around.
This team lost some battlers from last season; that is certain. But some of those guys became what they are today over time with the Rangers. It's not as simple as flicking a switch and enjoying success overnight, but this is not a problem that can't be solved internally. It's starts at the top with Tortorella and Sullivan and trickles down to the veterans of this team and ultimately to the younger guys themselves. Who's going to be the guy that follows in Brandon Prust or Dan Girardi's footsteps? Maybe they can't assume that identity right away, but a Michael Del Zotto or Anton Stralman can stand up for a teammate who took a questionable hit. A Derek Stepan, Brian Boyle, or Chris Kreider can put together a string of games where they show hard work every shift. It took the Rangers only a season, season-and-a-half at most to go from an organization that was drafting Dylan McIlrath because of how soft it was to the hardest working, most difficult team to face in the league. This is not a problem that needs to or should be fixed through trades and signings and other Glen Sather wizardry. The components to get the "team toughness" back exist in the locker room right now. It's up to the coaches and players to make it appear.
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You want guys like Stepan, Del Zotto and Hagelin to stand up? Sorry. That's not happening. Not every player is built that way. There is zero team toughness. Slats isn't a wizard. He hasn't replaced Sauer. The toughest D on the team since Beuke. And Asham was a weak filler for Prust. They not only aren't equipped for a run. But they can't do what Tort wants. He's coaching the wrong way. Until he wakes up, it's not gonna change. 1993 all over again.
@NewYorkPuck Totally agree. Last year, their style was dictated by the type of grinders they had on the team. It was the best way to win. This year is more skill. Let's open it up and let them play. Stop with safety, defense first approach. You have the best goaltender in the world; take some chances. Team is caught playing timid and weak; afraid of getting benched.
The team should take a look at Girardi and get some motivation from his toughness! He's a beast!
The team should take a look at Girardi and get some motivation from his toughness! He's a beast!
For the record,I was watching the coaches corner with Don Cherry on Saturday and I was not surprised to hear Cherry say that the Rangers are a very easy team to play against this year.While I agree with Adam's article to a point, it is time to bring up MciIrath to add an intimidating presence to the team and to let other teams know that they just can not run the Rangers skilled players without retaliation from Mc Ilrath.
Please don't tell me that he is not readym because he can not be worse then Bickel . I remember years passed when the Rangers brought in Nicky Fotiu to protect the team. Even though he was not very skillful with he's stick, he'd more then made up for it with hes fists. The Rangers should have re signed John Scott instead bringing in some penzies whos names I will not mention.
I believe that we are in for a long and unpleasant season dough it is only 48 games. We are in need for an inforcer to turn things around.
They MUST get their GYMFACE ON! LETS GO WHERE IS THAT NY ATTITUDE WE SAW LAST SEASON? Im going to post a huge banner behind the rangers bench hopefully the will activate their Gymface! Lets go boys!!!! I know the min I put on my jersey on game day its Beastmode time - no pain no gain!
They MUST get their GYMFACE ON! LETS GO WHERE IS THAT NY ATTITUDE WE SAW LAST SEASON? Im going to post a huge banner behind the rangers bench hopefully the will activate their Gymface! Lets go boys!!!! I know the min I put on my jersey on game day its Beastmode time - no pain no gain!
Great article! Loved reading this on my lunch break. Last year's team went through a lot together. They started the season in Europe, travelling and bonding together. They had HBO following them around for a few months. They played in the Winter Classic. I think these things fortified the team and helped to establish the blue collar attitude and fight that is missing this year. Maybe last year was the anomoly and they only came together because of those things, not in spite of them. I am praying that isn't the case.
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Take the A off Richards jersey, embarrassing that he doesn't stand up for McDonagh, and he is supposed to be a leader?!?!?! Give it to Girardi at least he try's to play the game the right way and plays with heart,
Terrific article. I felt that Prust was the key to the Rangers success because the team knew he had their collective backs. We do not have that this year, especially since Asham is hurt all the time. If I were running the team, we would have McIlrath right now, ready or not. We would have kept John Scott and worked on his skating. Yes, Bickel would get more playing time. Sorry. He's not afraid to drop them and the team needs that. From there, the other guys would gain their confidence, like they did with Prust. I've seen articles in the past suggesting this part of the game has come and gone. Nonsense. Unless you like watching your team run out of the rink by guys like Chara and Lucic. There's the kind of team toughness you're talking about and I agree with the concept. But when it comes to the other type of toughness, the team is very soft.
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The stretch of games next week will be a big test to this teams toughness. Flyers Tuesday then a back to back against the Islanders and the Senators. Three straight games against rivals could be exactly what the Rangers need to bring them together.
Very well written piece.
I too think that this team with all their new parts can assimilate to a tough, more coherent group. You never know how these things turn out. It will take more time, more battles, but I believe the character is there.
I remember looking at Girardi last season and asking myself, "Where did he come from?"
The improvement was remarkable. I hope he evolves as a team leader this season.
@TheNYRBlog 2 things after reading this good article. 1) is it ok to start beating flyers fan in next cubicle? 2) it better not take a year.
Beautifuly written and 100 percent true.. Cant hurt to bring McIlrath up for a bit to spark them.
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@SpazzBrown Appreciate the kind words! I don't think McIlrath could be a downgrade from Bickel or Eminger at all and certainly would put some guys on the opposing team in their place. That being said, big, defensive defenseman take a long time to develop, and the Rangers aren't going to mess with his development as a hope of him being a short-term spark plug.
@TheNYRBlog Messier should be teaching these guys how to get their buttends up when they are being run.Some of those penalties pay off later
@TheNYRBlog Great read Kev. You don't have to be big and strong to be tough either. Just look at that viscous little bastard Briere.
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Again, i honestly think the reason for the lack of toughness is that the players are afraid to make a mistake. Tortorella will bench anyone and no one wants to be humiliated like that, in my opinion the reason for the lack of toughness is the fear the players have of being on the ice the one day and then getting 2 minutes a game (like Stu Bickel for example). The coach has to show consistency, that a dumb fight will not cost the player their ice time, or his respect more importantly.
@slapshot13j Totally agree. And it adds to them playing timid with the puck. Let's open it up. Isn't this the same guy who said "safe is death"?!
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@slapshot13j When has Torts ever benched a player for coming to the aide of a teammate? Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't think that should ever be a mistake. This team should be proud if they get benched for sticking up for their brothers. There is still NO excuse for not stepping in for your boys, regardless of what the coach thinks or says.
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@slapshot13j I completely agree. I think the fear of making a mistake or getting a penalty is really hurting this team. I know it sends a message to bench a player but at the same time you have to let these guys play.
@slapshot13j The only problem with this is that the same John Tortorella was the head coach of the team last year and was benching players just the same. With that constant, I don't really understand how that would be the difference.
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@Herman_NYRBlog that's how I feel. I guess just a new group of guys, that can't handle the pressure, which says a lot about their character. How brad Richards didn't stand up for mcdonagh that A should be taken off his jersey and given to either Girardi or Mcdonagh
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@IcyCup I would rather have no assistants than Richards. If I was McDonagh I would never listen to him again, how do you not stand up for your young elite defenseman?
@TheNYRBlog maybe if torts stopped staal and delz from pinching to minimize odd man rushes .. Geezz i sound like a coach not a FAN
@TheNYRBlog if people like gabby , Richards , stepan thew the body maybe did some grinding . Cally cant do it all
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Great post, Adam. I'm with you. Toughness is more than punching an opponent in the face and there's more than enough holdovers from last year to feel confident that they'll be able to find it.
It is baffling that they could go from the hardest team in the NHL to the softest in such a short period of time. I really didn't think the turnover would take this long to adapt.
@KevinDeLury Lots of new faces, injuries, and shortened training camp. It doesn't 100% account for it but it sure as hell makes a big difference. Unfortunately, that's the hand the Rangers have been dealt and it's up to them to overcome it.
@Herman_NYRBlog @KevinDeLuryI don't think you can stress the impact of the shortened training camp enough, and it's only magnified by the new faces. Torts is teaching his system on the fly to some new guys, and then having to do it again and again for each call up after injuries. Having all the young guys in a real training camp would have allowed them to learn from Torts and then work on the system with Gernander until they got called up. Not having a real camp this year has hurt them physically with a few guys' conditioning, and also mentally, as they don't have the team identity they had last year, which looks like it was probably forged as they work themselves through Camp Torts.
@Herman_NYRBlog @jtf1218 @KevinDeLury great point about training camp. i dont think that the easy schedule has helped them either. all other teams had to play a lot of back to backs right away and travel a lot more and therefore get in game shape faster. that STILL looks like it hasnt happened for the rangers. if true, who knew?
Good work on the article by the way. It's such a shame the lockout happened. If this team had a normal offseason and a normal amount of time to figure everything out the way Girardi did, they'd be right up there with the contenders. I'm not sure the lockout hurt any team as much as it's hurt the Rangers. Richards missing a few days of camp has affected him, but if he was in shape going in he'd have regained form by now. He looks tired, like he was relying on having a full camp with Torts before the season started.
@jtf1218 @KevinDeLury Yup, I don't think some people understand the importance of a legitimate training camp and pre-season. The team has multiple weeks with the entire organization present to go over everything, work on it in practice, and then has multiple pre-season games to put it to the test against real competition over full 60 minute games. Not even close to the same as one week with pretty much only 23-25 players, which is what teams had this year. Then you factor in the fact that a guy like Brad Richards gets the flu and misses most of it, and I'm sure it is part of his slow start to the season.
@KeepingItNashty @Herman_NYRBlog Idk..This #NYR team seems soft.No emotion.No fire.No heart
@MikeBlack40 @KeepingItNashty Which, as I state in the article, is very similar to how Dan Girardi was classified at one point.
@MikeBlack40 @Herman_NYRBlog i completely agree but I do think that can be fixed and I'm trying to be positive about this team ...
@KeepingItNashty @Herman_NYRBlog Yup.Well its guna late quickly this year.So hopefully they find it..Quickly
@MikeBlack40 @Herman_NYRBlog at times? most of the time they do... seem disinterested and passionless.
@KeepingItNashty @Herman_NYRBlog You and me both.They just don't seem to have the same workmans like attitude that last years team did.
Maybe torts should give Mike Woodson a call and get Tyson Chandler to teach them how to stick up for your teammates.
