The Interview File: Rick Carpiniello's Thoughts on the 2009-10 Rangers Season

It has been a while since we did our last interview here on the site, mostly because of the Rangers busy and compact schedule this season. Now, with the regular season dwindling down and the Blueshirts currently fighting for their lives in a wild playoff race, Rangers beat writer Rick Carpiniello of the Journal News and Rangers Report was kind enough to take time out of his schedule to answer some of my questions regarding this year's Rangers season and their playoff hopes.

Before that, though, I would just like to thank Rick for doing this. All of the readers of the site, as well as myself, greatly appreciate it. He gave us some great material here. Now, onto the Q and A.


Q: Have the Rangers met, not met, or exceeded your expectations that you had for them heading into the season so far?

A: In the beginning of the season, and throughout, I said that they would be in the same position as last year -- in a large group of mediocre teams fighting for the last two or three playoff berths in the weak Eastern Conference. So I guess they have met my expectations.


Q: There is no question that goal scoring has been a difficulty for the Blueshirts this year, even with Marian Gaborik on the roster. Do you feel that the coach should be at fault for this problem, or is it the personnel that is incapable of consistently scoring? Or maybe even a combination of both?

A: The problem is a lack of overall skill. The Rangers have a star in goal, one first-line players, one first-pair defenseman. The rest are second (at best) and third liners and second (at best) and third pair defensemen. That said, I think the coach tried to play a system that required more skill, when perhaps it should have been playing a more cautious style given the lack thereof.


Q: Did you agree with GM Glen Sather’s move to trade away forwards Christopher Higgins and Ales Kotalik? And in your mind, were they players that needed to be moved?

A: Yes. From all I'd heard about Higgins, I thought he would be a solid 20-goal scorer; and I originally liked the Kotalik deal (though it was for too much money). The Rangers rarely get those second-tier free agents that seem to thrive with other teams. But both were busts, especially Higgins, who couldn't hit the side of a barn with a handful of rice. Getting Jokinen and Prust for those guys was a steal, even if Jokinen is not re-signed this summer. As one of my readers said, it would have been a good trade even if it was Higgins and Kotalik for no Higgins and no Kotalik.


Q: With 70 plus games now in the rear view mirror, you have had the opportunity to watch star winger Marian Gaborik work his magic for about five months now. In your opinion, is he in a league with talents such as Sidney Crosby, Alexander Ovechkin, and Ilya Kovalchuk?

A: I think Gaborik is at the next level down from those guys. He's surely talented, and an absolute sniper. But sometimes he seems distracted, though I don't want to use the word lazy. Those other guys, Crosby and Ovechkin especially, are absolute superstars who do other things besides score, and are factors in every game they play. Gaborik is almost that. Still, he might be the best free agent the Rangers have signed since Adam Graves.


Q: Vinny Prospal has been a pleasant surprise for the Rangers this season. Do you think that Glen Sather should consider re-signing him and will Vinny’s age play a major role in that decision?

A: I don't think Prospal's age will be as big a factor as how much money he wants. He played at a discount this year because he was bought out by Tampa Bay, and therefore getting big bucks from the Lightning. If he wants to come back for another discount, he should be back. But how often do free agentsin any sport actually sign for less money? Don't count on it.


Q: Youngsters Brandon Dubinsky and Ryan Callahan are currently fourth and fifth on the team in scoring. Did you expect more out of these players this season, or are they producing at the rate you felt they would?

A: Yes, I expected more from both, and in the second half I think both gave more. Dubinsky, despite his broken hand, is closing on his first 20-goal season. I think that has to be a minimum for him in the future. And Callahan won't come close to matching his offense from last season. He needs to do that. These guys need to produce as legit second-liners. Or as first-liners if the Rangers can't find legit first-liners over the summer.


Q: At the moment, Captain Chris Drury has 30 points on the season, but has contributed to this team in many other ways. Do you feel that Chris has felt the pressure of wearing the “C”? If so, has he responded to it in a negative or a positive way?

A: I don't think it's the C as much as it is the $. Drury's contract brings unrealistic expectations. But he also failed to reach even acceptable offensive numbers for most of the season. He's a very good player who does a lot of things away from the puck, but at that price the Rangers can't have him having numbers like he's had. And I don't think he's a bad captain at all. I believe his teammates truly respect and look up to him as a captain and a leader.


Q: Rookie defenseman Michael Del Zotto, overall, has had a tremendous freshman year. What generally are a rookie’s goals when playing their first season in the NHL, and when they perform at an above average level like Michael has, how do they go about approaching their sophomore year?

A: I think rookie defensemen are different than rookie forwards. They have to take some lumps their first year (and in many cases their second and third and fourth -- D-men tend to mature and hit their primes later than forwards). They have to deal with hitting the wall late in the season, because they've never played 82 games at his pace before. Most important is that when they take those lumps, when they mess up, that they learn. And that the coach is patient and accepting of the mistakes. That is one areawhere I think John Tortorella has done very well this season.


Q: Matt Gilroy, also a rookie on the blue line, has been ineffective according to head coach John Tortorella. What do you think Torts will look to improve in the former Hobey Baker Award Winner’s game for next season?

A: I don't think Tortorella has been surprised by Gilroy's first season. It's just that this stretch is so crucial, and Gilroy is struggling pretty badly, and maybe at this stage it's better for him to watch a little bit than to cost the team a playoff spot. Remember, Gilroy didn't play defense before college, so he's still learning the position. Learning it at the NHL level is really difficult. I think he's done pretty well.


Q: In your opinion, what do you think Glen Sather’s approach will be this offseason? Will he be more focused on staying the course, or will he blow up the roster once again like we have seen in prior years?

A: I can't even guess what's going on behind Sather's doors. But if it were me, I'd stay the course, go for some lower level free agents or trades over the summer, and accept another season or two of lowered expectations until some of those huge contracts expire or can be traded or otherwise dumped. Until they get those off the books, I can't see the Rangers filling the top-level holes they have. Even if they got a Kovalchuk, for example, they would have to fill their second, third and fourth lines with low-paid guys again, and barely have enough cap space to have 20 NHL-caliber players. That has been the case at several points this season.


Q: Based on what you have seen from this team this season, do you think they have what it takes to make the playoffs? And if so, can they go further than the first round?

A: I think they can make it. I do not see them going beyond the first round unless Lundqvist is spectacular (and the opponent's goalie is not).


Q: I know this next question has been the cause for much debate among Ranger fans, so I would like to hear your take on it. How would you rate coach John Tortorella’s performance this season and do you still believe he is the right man for the job?

A: I think he's the right man for the job, but that the job is impossible for any coach right now. I don't think he's had a great first full season. Some players have regressed, obviously. I wonder how much influence he had, for example, on the Brashear signing. He's been a bit of a bully, and he has disrespected people in the press, and people from the team's own network, and though he thinks he doesn't need allies in the media, that will come back to bite him eventually. As I said earlier, I think the system he tried to shove into place didn't fit the talent he had. He failed to get sufficient rest for his goalie, who now has to play every night. On the other hand, he was at least partly responsible for the acquisitions of Prospal and Gilroy. He's handled the three rookies well, especially Anisimov. Basically, though, it's unrealistic to judge his performance given the roster he has. He should get the first half of next year at the very least, playoffs or not.