Ryan McDonagh was previously heralded as the next Brian Leetch, looking like a top American defenseman in the NHL. McDonagh has been a treat for the Rangers since entering the NHL, but New York has consistently affixed an anchor to his back. This must change for McDonagh to play to his capabilities.
The New York Rangers are wasting their top defenseman since Brian Leetch. Ryan McDonagh owns the talent level to compete with the likes of the top defensemen in the NHL. McDonagh’s 14 points nod to being an ultra-talented offensive defenseman. McDonagh’s skating is unlike anything the Rangers have thrown at opponents in years.
Yet, McDonagh’s even strength Corsi For Percentage has not hit even since the 2013-2014 season. The New York Rangers have taken their best defenseman, whom is also their best overall weapon outside of Henrik Lundqvist, and done everything in their power to drain him of his capabilities. Gone is the ability to drive possession play. Away is the ability to play one defensive spot rather than two. Disappeared is the ability to focus on a two-way game without hesitation.
Instead, McDonagh must play two positions simultaneously, covering for his partner.
Ryan McDonagh has 14 points playing with the fifth worst Corsi For Percentage in the NHL. When McDonagh is working on assisting his forward corps, Dan Girardi is helplessly working to exit his own zone, creating situations where McDonagh must cover for him. McDonagh is a babysitter for his defensive partner, tasked with cleaning up his colleagues errors.
Considering the Rangers defense is among the worst in the NHL, the obvious solution is to put the best defenseman on the team in position to succeed. Alain Vigneault must have missed the memo. McDonagh skates alongside a roving possession void, seeing his Corsi For Percentage drop from 53.1% without Girardi to 45.4% with Girardi. McDonagh’s 53.1% against the top players in the NHL would rank him ahead of Victor Hedman, Duncan Keith, and Shea Weber. Instead, McDonagh ranks below Deryk Engelland and Kris Russell.
New York’s struggles have been apparent since the get-go, but Alain Vigneault consistently shuffles his forward lines rather than his defense. Despite the blatant inability to perform by Girardi, Vigneault hooks his worst defenseman to his best defenseman’s side, watching as the pair are held in their own zone.
Nick Holden has improved significantly after a difficult start to the season. Brady Skjei’s development has been a bright spot on a ghastly defense. Even Marc Staal has shown the ability to hold his own against opponents weapons. Yet McDonagh plays with an anchor tied to his waste, talent wasting away one night at a time.
The most striking evidence that McDonagh’s talent is being wasted is a look at his contributions to his teammates. McDonagh owned a sparkling 60.5 Corsi For Percentage when playing with Anton Stralman. With Keith Yandle, McDonagh’s CF% rose to 63.3. When Ryan McDonagh has a competent partner, he is among the best defensemen in the NHL.
As the Rangers losses trickle into the standings, wonders arrive regarding where the changes can be made. Ryan McDonagh must be allowed to play to the best of his abilities. The Rangers have an all-world defenseman sitting on their roster, seeing his talent waste away. Placing McDonagh with Holden, Skjei, or perhaps even Staal allows the defenseman to play the style of hockey he is meant to play.
All in all, McDonagh has time. At the age of 27 he can still be the defenseman he is capable of, and his continued success offensively points towards the ability to carry Girardi around. What remains clear is that McDonagh must not be tasked with paying for the Rangers mistakes. McDonagh is an asset, not a babysitter. McDonagh is the answer, not the problem.
Statistics via Puckalytics
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