New York Rangers Report Card: Goalies & More

Time for our final grades here at Ranger Nation.

We are now going to look at the New York Rangers goaltenders, coaches and GM Glen Sather. Yes, we expect some heat this round as we did with our grades on the centers.

Drum roll please…………..

Henrik Lundqvist: Grade – A+

Decker: Lundqvist is, no doubt, the backbone of this New York Rangers club. In fact, he has been for years. This year finally saw his supporting cast bailing him out instead of the other way around like it’s been for so many years. Hank will eventually lead them to a Cup.

Marty Biron: Grade – B+

Miller: He did exactly what he was brought to NYC to do; simply give Hank some games off while not ruining the Rangers chances to win those contests. For a majority of the season Biron was almost as good as Hank and the Rangers benefitted with some extra early-season wins as a result.

Now, it’s time for the coaches and Glen Sather.

John Tortorella: Grade – A-

Ragus: John Tortorella, with all the haters attached to his coat tails throughout the season, did a phenomenal job helping guide the organization into the Eastern Conference Finals and giving young prospects a chance during some big games and one a very big stage. The reason why he’s not higher than an A- is because he had an entire season to get the power play in order which would have led the Rangers to be the most dominant team in the NHL Playoffs. Unfortunately, the power play turned into the powerless play and stayed that way throughout the season and the playoffs. Although Torts could not get the PP going, he did a phenomenal job in every other aspect of coaching this year and will figure it out for next season.

Mike Sullivan: Grade – B

Schoeller: I’ll be honest, I don’t pay much attention to Sullivan.  But given that he is part of the coaching staff, and the team played uber well this season, he gets a B from me. Although, the PP concerns sit with Sullivan as well. See Torts above.

Glen Sather: Grade – A

Decker: There really isn’t much to complain about these days regarding Rangers’ GM, Glen Sather. He really has righted a ship that looked to have the same destiny of the Titanic just 6-7 years ago. Sather and his upper management staff deserve all of the credit in the world for signing the right UFA’s and young guys as well as pulling off some seemingly immaculate trades.

Ragus: Sather deserves a TON of credit (as does Gordie Clark and others) for the roster that got the Rangers into the NHL Playoffs as long as pushing into the Eastern Conference Finals. What he does this offseason will be the make or break for the NYR next season.

As always, we had a blast with our final grades of the season/playoffs and a great season it was indeed. Unfortunately the Rangers could not get past the ECF but we would like to send out a congratulations to Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings for a very convincing Stanley Cup victory over the Devils. Next season though it will be TOTALLY different.

Related articles

• New York Rangers Report Card: Centers (nyrnation.net)
• New York Rangers Report Card: Left Wingers (nyrnation.net)
• New York Rangers Report Card: Right Wingers (nyrnation.net)
• New York Rangers Report Card: Defensemen (nyrnation.net)