New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant did not hold back his disappointment after their Game 7 loss to the New Jersey Devils, which eliminated them from the playoffs. Gallant criticized the team’s lack of cohesion, asserting that their talent alone is not enough. “Talent doesn’t mean a thing… You’ve got to play together and work together… I love to have talent, but you love to have work ethic and more forecheck and stuff like that,” said Gallant.
The Rangers bolstered their already impressive roster during the season, acquiring superstars Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko to complement key players such as Artemi Panarin and goaltender Igor Shesterkin. Despite their lineup and a 2-0 series lead, the Rangers were unable to stop the Devils from rallying back and winning the series 4-3.
Several of the Rangers’ star players failed to make a significant impact during the series. Forward Artemi Panarin recorded only 2 assists in 7 games, without scoring a single goal. Team captain Jacob Trouba finished the series with a -1 rating and zero points. Additionally, Alexis Lafrenière, the first overall pick in the 2020 NHL draft, was held scoreless throughout the series.
Coach Gallant’s comments emphasize the importance of teamwork and a strong work ethic, even when a team boasts exceptional talent. The Rangers will undoubtedly use this disappointing playoff exit as a learning experience, focusing on improving their chemistry and collective effort as they prepare for the next season, and potentially shaking up the line-up to try and focus on chemistry over talent.
