Before I get to a long list of candidates, I’m going to give my take of what went wrong in 2013. It’s already been covered from all angles. Let’s start with this. In an abbreviated 48-game schedule, the roster Glen Sather put together never found consistency. With Tortorella emphasizing a good start, they struggled mightily. Chemistry was a problem. Whenever you make changes to a team that made its first appearance in the Conference Finals since ’97, it normally takes time to gel.

A combination of increased expectations along with immense pressure doomed them from the start. Many observers including myself overlooked the departures of Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky, Ruslan Fedotenko, John Mitchell and Brandon Prust. Like it or not, each played a role in the club’s success. Even Dubinsky, who some forgot led our team in scoring in ’10-11. A good chunk have short memories. A look at the lack of forecheck and grit were evidence that it wasn’t going to work. Yet I believed like many a roster featuring Rick Nash, Marian Gaborik and Brad Richards would go a step further. Instead, the trio were never in sync. Nash was all but invisible in the playoffs.

Fair or unfair, Tortorella grew frustrated with Gaborik’s inconsistency. Even having scored 40-or-more twice, he had a tendency to pile them up against inferior competition. Still, he fought through checks to score and was effective in Tortorella’s system. Gabby was an underrated cycler who went to the net occasionally. He played through a bum shoulder and still scored a gigantic goal to beat the Caps in Game Three of last year’s Conference Semis. He was never fully healthy which is why it was the right move by Sather moving him to the Blue Jackets for Derick Brassard, John Moore and Derek Dorsett. He only had a year left and was going to be a cap casualty. Brassard’s emergence along with the underrated play of Moore were instrumental in getting the Rangers into Round Two. Dorsett had a tougher time taking bad penalties. My guess is he was still not 100 percent and will benefit from time off.

Looking at Nash’s year, he did fine. His 21 goals paced the Rangers and his 42 points ranked second behind Derek Stepan. Stepan was their best forward leading in points (44), assists (26), game-winners (6), plus/minus (25), power play points (4-6-10) and shorthanded points (1-3-4). It was his improvement under Tortorella which proved critics wrong. Along with captain Ryan Callahan, Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh, Carl Hagelin and Mats Zuccarello, they became better players. Even whipping boy Brian Boyle, who owes the former coach for his career. It was under Tortorella that Anisimov and Dubinsky matured and eventually had enough value for Sather to parlay Nash. Columbus wanted Stepan but settled on two of our core guys who helped them turn it around. Wait till they switch conferences.

As gifted as Nash is, he leaves me wanting more. The man has immense talent. There are moments when he leaves you breathless. A look at the Nash highlight reel is enough to justify bringing him to Manhattan. He’s an exciting player who should be a lock to score 40. Equally impressive is his play making with a nifty feed setting up Chris Kreider’s OT winner in Game Four that kept our team alive. Nash can do it all. Following our playoff exit, asked to assess his performance he said it was, “Good.” He scored once and totaled five points over 12 games. Very disappointing. Even though three of those five came against stiffer competition, he spent too much time on the perimeter. One element the Rangers pride themselves on is second and third effort. An area that was missing from the Big Easy. For a player who has such size and strength, he doesn’t always utilize it. The lack of edge was on display when Brad Marchand and Milan Lucic abused him. That can’t happen. In order for this club to succeed, Nash must develop a mean streak. Otherwise, fans will turn on him like they did Gaborik and Richards.

By comparison, Callahan played with a torn labrum the entire season and never stopped hitting and sacrificing every body part. He epitomizes what it means to be a New York Ranger. The Rochester native is the classic overachiever that symbolized the ’11-12 team which was much closer to the Stanley Cup than the vanilla roster this year. The effort is always there, which is why he’s the perfect leader. You kind of knew he wasn’t healthy. Not the way he plays. Two-thirds of the top line played hurt. Hagelin also had a torn labrum but it was hard to tell by his performance against Washington. He always brings it. Both Callahan and Hagelin had surgery. They’ll be ready this Fall.

Regardless of who takes over, it’s a big challenge. One of the issues Tortorella had was adjusting to the roster Sather gave him. He likes to tinker and that was one of his drawbacks. Eventually, you have to settle on lines and let them go. Whoever comes in must do a better job along with fixing our power play. To be blunt, it was equally bad under Tom Renney and has been a sore spot for years. Maybe they should ask Brian Leetch to work with players. If anyone can improve the most unwatchable facet of this team, it’s arguably the greatest Ranger of all. Leetch is a superb analyst. I wonder if he’d be open to coaching. In no way shape or form am I suggesting him coach the team. That’s as absurd as bringing in Mark Messier from the press box. Messier has no experience and it’s too risky. I don’t want to see The Captain tarnish his legacy. He seems better suited for management.

Why they haven’t gotten rid of Mike Sullivan I can’t fathom. He ran Tortorella’s power play into the ground. He’s an experienced assistant but was part of the problem. Pack his bags and send him to the airport. I also don’t want to see Wayne Gretzky. He failed miserably with Phoenix. The Great One should be remembered for what he did on the ice just like Messier. More serious candidates are Lindy Ruff and Alain Vigneault. I’m no fan of either. I already have gone on record as saying I don’t want a retread. Sometimes, it’s worked for other teams (’00 Devils Robinson, ’06 Canes Laviolette, ’09 Pens Bylsma). I’m not even sure this is championship roster. There isn’t a true No.1 center on the Rangers. That’s why I wouldn’t amnesty Richards. Didn’t Messier comeback from a bad year around the same age? Richards wasn’t in shape and will have a chip on his shoulder. A top three of Stepan, Brassard and Richards is pretty good, allowing Boyle to center the fourth line. That way they don’t have to rush J.T. Miller. He should be allowed to develop in Connecticut.

One of Tortorella’s downfalls was the mishandling of Kreider. Kreider was the toast of the town last Spring. Much was expected in his rookie year. Despite going back and forth from Connecticut to New York, he still got into 23 games posting two goals and an assist. Tortorella never trusted him. Like many, I wanted to see him play consistently. However, his play away from the puck was an issue. Some conveniently forget that the Rangers have been fascinated with making their players into grinders. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise that the former No.1 pick spent time with the Whale and on the fourth line. When he finally replaced concussed Ryane Clowe in the postseason, Kreider was a better player. A game prior, he was moved up to a line with Brassard and Nash. He played more physical, using his size to finish checks. In much less time, he finished with more hits (22) than Nash (18). It just might be that he benefited from the tumultuous experience, speaking to his maturity.

The Rangers are also considering Dallas Eakins, who’s done a great job with the Toronto Marlies. Most notably the emergence of former No.1 Nazem Kadri. Eakins has necessary experience working with kids and would be a solid hire. I’m also not opposed to Islander assistant Doug Weight, who runs their power play. Weight’s got some history here spending his first two years as a Ranger before being dealt for Esa Tikkanen. He’s been a good complement to Islander coach Jack Capuano. Weight’s often in the face of officials and challenges players. I definitely view him with a bright coaching future. Another potential candidate could be current Montreal assistant J.J. Daigneault. He’s a former Wolf Pack assistant who was part of Ken Gernander’s staff.

Whoever they choose, the Rangers must do their homework. It’s an important time for the franchise. With Henrik Lundqvist entering the final year of his contract with Callahan and Girardi, this is a very important decision that impacts the future. They can’t just toss a dart. Tortorella had success in his stint guiding the team to their first Conference Finals appearance in 15 years. Like the classic saying from the end of Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade:

“Choose wisely.“