Regarding the Rangers, three points out of last overall, notwithstanding games in hand on fellow bottom-feeders, and on the road to get there.
1. The playoffs are more of a pipe dream than ever following one win in the past seven games (1-2-4) and three in the past 14 (3-6-5), so the debate can cease whether it would be good or bad for the franchise to somehow find a way into the tournament as first-round fodder. Rather, it is time for David Quinn to start coaching toward the trade deadline and build the value of his players, even if that might not align with the short-time objective of winning the next game.
This applies specifically to Kevin Shattenkirk, who likely will return Monday in St. Louis after missing a seventh straight game Saturday in Nashville, and needs to play a prominent role following this latest setback.
Quinn’s sudden love affair with a five-forward power play makes no sense, given that the formation bumps Neal Pionk, the club’s most efficient player on the man-advantage, to the second unit. Replacing Pionk with, in essence, Vladislav Namestnikov, substitutes a half-wall passer for a shooter/passer at the top. Beyond that, if Pionk is bumped to the second unit, what does that mean for Shattenkirk?
Would Quinn — or assistant David Oliver, if he is calling the shots here — go with a pair of righty defensemen on the points on the second power-play unit, or does No. 22 drop out altogether? And what sense would that make?
It is not about whether Shattenkirk — who had been receiving limited second-unit power-play time even before he suffered his shoulder separation in Tampa on Dec. 10 — merits the time over Pionk (clearly, he does not) or merits the time at all. It is about putting Shattenkirk, who will turn 30 before the end of next month and has two years at an annual $6.65 million cap hit remaining on his contract that includes a limited no-trade clause, in the best possible situation to increase — if not, establish — his value on the market. And if not on the market, then to the Rangers.
If Shattenkirk does not get substantial time on the power play — and with the team’s loaded unit that features Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes — then the Rangers have a $6.65 million third-pair defenseman who gets occasional time on the power play even though running the man-advantage unit has been one of his prime assets. It is Keith Yandle on the third pair and second power-play unit. It is Bobby Holik as first-line center. It is Eric Staal at third-line left wing.
Shattenkirk failing to get a first unit assignment upon his return is self-defeating.
2. Mats Zuccarello, who is also on that Power Five Unit, has done nothing to increase his value on the market in the six games he has played since returning from his extended groin-related absence. The Rangers should not wait for an unlikely bidding war to develop for the impending free agent. It does no good for a team to keep a veteran who knows he is out the door any longer than necessary.
To that end, general manager Jeff Gorton, who is scouting the World Juniors in British Columbia, should be aggressive in attempting to jump the market on Zuccarello. If fortunate, the Rangers might be able to get a package equivalent to the one they got last year from the Devils for Michael Grabner (a second-round pick plus a reasonable prospect).
3. Pavel Buchnevich, who has one goal and one assist over his past six games since returning from his five-week absence (broken thumb) and is pointless in his past four, is frustrated by his lack of production. Buchnevich had a glorious opportunity in the final 1:10 of regulation against the Flyers on Sunday, but missed the net from the slot. Philadelphia won in a shootout.
“I can’t find my confidence to get scoring chances,” Buchnevich, who scored on his second shift on Dec. 14 after being sidelined 13 games, told The Post. “I’m trying to play within the system and work hard. I’m trying to figure it out.
“I need to find the right place where to get the puck. I think I’m doing the right things without the puck, but who really cares if I don’t get any points?”
Well, the coach does, for one.
“He doesn’t hide his frustration level well,” Quinn said. “I think that’s part of growing as a player, too, managing your emotions and understanding that there are things you have to do to be a good player and contribute to the team if you’re not scoring.
“I think Butchie has done some good things. He’s been a little more structurally sound and I’ve liked his effort. I think when you’re away as long as he was, there’s that burst out of the gate and a little bit of a dip. That’s what you might be seeing.”
4. The Rangers have held third-period leads in 17 games. They have blown eight of them, going 3-3-2 in those contests, all of the victories via shootout.