When Glen Sather rolled the dice trading captain Ryan Callahan for Martin St. Louis, he hoped the former league MVP would be a difference maker. Adding someone of St. Louis’ skill and stature made sense especially with the Rangers and Callahan unable to reach agreement.

So far, it hasn’t panned out. Following yesterday’s controversial 1-0 home loss to San Jose, the Rangers are 3-3-1 since the trade and St. Louis hasn’t scored a goal. Instead, he has only two assists and hasn’t converted on 19 shots. It hasn’t been for lack of chances. There’s no doubt he’s pressing. Still one of the NHL’s best scorers, he hasn’t clicked yet with anyone. Alain Vigneault is still searching for the right combo. He’s tried Brad Richards and Derek Stepan. Maybe Derick Brassard would be a better fit. He’s a faster skater who can pass and shoot. A Brassard, St. Louis and Mats Zuccarello line is enticing.

While St. Louis hasn’t found chemistry yet, that hasn’t been an issue for Callahan. He’s scored a goal with two assists thus far in five games. The Lightning haven’t fared great either winning their last two after dropping three previous games including two in a shootout for a 2-1-2 mark. Ironically, Callahan was stopped twice in the skill competition. Aside from three points, the ex-Ranger has continued to play a rugged style delivering 19 hits so far. Replacing that energy and intangibles remains a question mark for the Blueshirts. That’s a risk they were willing to take.

The Ranger problems aren’t just focused on St. Louis. Richards is without a goal in seven straight and has only two assists during that span. He remains tied with Stepan for the team scoring lead with 46 points. Stepan has played better totaling 11 points in 10 games since the Olympics. However, his 12 goals aren’t enough for a player considered the club’s number one center. His goal total in 48 games last year was 18 playing with Rick Nash. In his first two seasons, he scored 21 and 17 respectively.

For a majority of the season, Zuccarello’s been their most consistent performer. Since returning from a non-displaced fracture in his left hand, he has two points over six contests. He ranks third in team scoring with 45 points but is without a point in three straight. Zuccarello also hasn’t scored a goal since 1/26 when he tallied twice in a Stadium Series win over New Jersey. That’s 11 straight without a marker. They need him down the stretch.

Speaking of slumping, Brassard is without a point over his last eight. For a while he along with Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot were the team’s best line at even strength. They had great chemistry and were superb on the cycle creating offense. Pouliot hasn’t scored a goal in 10 straight. He has two assists in the last four and continues to be a solid contributor but they need him to finish.

Whether you want to blame Zuccarello’s injury to his shooting hand, the break or the St. Louis trade, the chemistry the Rangers had prior to Sochi isn’t there. They’ve only won four times since posting a 4-5-1 record. The slump has seen them slip outside the top three in the Metro clinging to the final wild card by two over Washington and three up on Detroit with New Jersey five back. With just 13 games left and only five at MSG, they’ll have to do it on the road where they’ve fared better boasting a 20-13-0 record compared to a pedestrian 16-16-4 at home. Starting tomorrow with a visit to Ottawa, their next three are away including a crucial back-to-back Friday at Columbus and Saturday at New Jersey.

One of the real scheduling glitches has them traveling to Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Colorado between March 28 through April 3. That could play a large role in whether they make the playoffs. Three of their final four are at home with the season finale in Montreal 4/10.