Even with the addition of Rick Nash, they have struggled to score. Nash has done his part pacing the team with 23 points (9-14-23) in 22 contests. The only player to average at least a point-per-game on a roster that features Marian Gaborik and former Conn Smythe winner Brad Richards. Nash missed four games with a mystery injury. Coincidentally, they lost all four earning one point in a shootout defeat at Ottawa.

It’s no secret that Gaborik and Richards haven’t done enough. After scoring six goals and nine points in his first 10, Gaborik has just two goals since with eight points. Unlike Richards, he hasn’t missed a game. That hasn’t stopped John Tortorella from benching him due to poor play away from the puck. If he isn’t finishing (1 goal in 13), he’s not living up to his salary. Interestingly, he’s received less than 19 minutes from Tortorella, who has leaned heavily on Nash, Derek Stepan and Ryan Callahan. 

Before Richards tallied in two consecutive games on 3/8 and 3/10, he’d gone without a goal in 15 (1/26). His struggles have been well documented. The expected top center has not been the same this year. Year Two was supposed to be easier. Instead, it’s been the opposite for Richards, who has 15 points (4-11-15) in 24 contests. On a roster devoid of talent, his point total still is tied for third in team scoring with second-year Swede Carl Hagelin (7-8-15). Callahan ranks fifth with 13, including nine markers. Stepan is second behind Nash with 18 points (7-11-18) following a slow start. 

Richards has only two points on the power play. Both assists. The expected power play point man has failed miserably under Tortorella and assistant Mike Sullivan. On a team that ranks in the bottom third on the man-advantage, he’s taken just 55 shots. Too often, he’s passing up opportunities. One of the biggest problems is his passing, which has led to turnovers. There have been too many instances where a blind pass doesn’t connect, allowing opponents to transition the other way. The Rangers aren’t paying him to be Scott Gomez. It’s taken less than a year for fans to get on the Game Five hero of last year’s Conference Semifinal against Washington. This town loses patience quick. If they are to turn it around, it must fall on Richards, who is one of the leaders of this club. 

That isn’t the only issue. It’s no shock that no Ranger ranks in the top 30 among forwards or defensemen in NHL scoring. If you prorated Nash, he makes it. His nine markers are tied with Callahan for tops. Only Callahan has had success on the power play, leading the team with five power play goals. Stepan is next with two while Nash has only one along with Gaborik, Hagelin, Taylor Pyatt, J.T. Miller and injured defenseman Marc Staal. Richards and Mike Del Zotto have the goose egg. At least Del Zotto has four power play assists. Del Zotto has 10 points (2-8-10) thus far, trailing Staal and Ryan McDonagh (2-9-11) by a point. Last year, he had 41 points (10-31-41) placing fifth on the team. He must produce more. 

No one would dispute that Del Zotto isn’t a power play point man. At this stage of his career, he’s still a work in progress. He’s best when he jumps into the rush and is instinctive. Del Zotto still makes poor decisions like passing up a great chance last night with a forced pass to nowhere. The game was tied. You have to shoot when you’re in the slot. He and Richards are the biggest culprits in that area. He’s taken 41 shots, which trail Dan Girardi by 10. McDonagh has 37 and Anton Stralman, who has three goals on 36 is right behind. Your top offensive blueliner should lead in every offensive category. What’s more? Tortorella doesn’t use Stralman enough on the power play. He’s willing to shoot. It’s better than overusing Girardi, who gets almost 25 minutes. 

The Blueshirts’ lack of depth has been duly noted everywhere. After Nash, Callahan, Gaborik, Stepan and Hagelin, no one has more than four goals. That includes Richards, who has the same amount as Pyatt. One of Glen Sather’s good signings. Though Pyatt’s gone ice cold with just one goal over his last 22. On a team that can’t score, Tortorella uses him on the second and third line. With Brian Boyle only with one goal and top penalty killer Darroll Powe without a point in 15 games, there’s not enough support. The best of the bunch is 19-year old rookie J.T. Miller (2-2-4), who remains up due to his play in all three zones. It’s too much to ask him to score more than he has. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of a young Brandon Dubinsky with a higher ceiling. It’s going to take time.

It hasn’t helped that Tortorella refuses to play his bottom six forwards. Powe has been seen as a solid forechecker but receives about the identical amount of ice-time to Mike Rupp, who has three points (1-2-3) since the trade to Minnesota. He also has reduced Jeff Halpern’s role to a bench warmer. The way he’s run the bench is counterproductive. It also speaks volumes. Does he really like the roster he was given? That doesn’t matter. It’s still his job to do the best job he can. There are too many instances where he tinkers lines which aren’t working. Best example is force feeding Richards with Nash and Hagelin after they had chemistry with Stepan. You can’t do that at the expense of winning in a 48-game sprint. 

Then there’s the style they play. This is my biggest issue with Tortorella. A guy who once modeled himself on Safe Is Death winning the Stanley Cup with Richards in Tampa Bay, has become a total bore. The opposite of his lightning-like reactions to the media during press conferences. This insistence on dumping and chasing isn’t working. They’re not the ’11-12 Rangers. That team got after it and wore down opponents with a grinding style. They won by outworking opponents and didn’t rely on one superstar. Scoring by committee. Part of it was Slats subtracting too many key parts (Anisimov, Dubinsky, Fedotenko, Mitchell, Prust). 

Gone is the work ethic. Simply put, they haven’t proven they can play Tortorella’s system. He’s too stubborn to change. If you have offensive minded players such as Gaborik and Richards, then play to your strength. You don’t think Nash would explode? It could only help Hagelin, who can blow by defenders. Stepan and Callahan aren’t great skaters but could benefit. Miller certainly can fly. Why not go for it instead of sitting back? This team doesn’t win enough close games. Henrik Lundqvist remains without a shutout despite solid numbers (2.27 GAA, .920 save percentage). He’s .500. He stormed off the ice Thursday. Frustration is mounting.

Meanwhile, Chris Kreider remains buried in Connecticut. Entering 2013, I felt he needed to be a factor for this team to have success. Instead, Tortorella soured on him. It hasn’t helped that the organization didn’t realize he was hurt. Kreider will probably stay with the Whale and be a late season call up if our team turns it around. The sad aspect is he is a better fit for this roster. Even if he isn’t ready, it can’t hurt to give him another look over the stone hands crew. Arron Asham has been a colossal bust with one goal and hasn’t played since 2/19, suffering from back spasms. They actually miss him. You can’t make it up.

Unless Tortorella comes to his senses, I can’t see this team being more than a seven or eight that gets bounced in the first round. A far cry from last year. Sometimes, it doesn’t always go according to plan. It looks like Sather miscalculated. They lack punch and too often are underwhelming.