Are The New York Rangers actually good?

“When I wake up in the morning and I know there’s a New York Rangers game, I’m happy.”

Ron Duguay has been around hockey for a long time. After playing 12 years in the NHL, he is now involved in hockey broadcasting and has won two Emmys during his time behind the mic.

On Monday’s The Rod Pedersen Show, Duguay stopped by to break down the New York Rangers and their 6-3-3 start to the season.

“When you look at the team, I think they have good balance, and they have skill guys like Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad,” said Duguay. “And then on defense, you have a Norris trophy winner in Adam Fox, and you throw him on the power play, and he’s averaging a point a game.”

For a team Rod Pedersen thought was going to be not very good coming into the year, the Rangers have held their own this year and currently sit in second place in the metropolitan division. In large part, thanks to some key pieces of the team that were brought in over the last few years, starting with Ryan Reeves.

“I don’t know why Vegas let him go,” said Duguay. “Every time on the ice he’s looking to hit someone, but it’s what he does off the ice. He’s a very likeable guy, and he creates an atmosphere of ‘go play hard and don’t worry about it I got your back.’ I loved him immediately.”

For Duguay, one of the most important pieces of the Rangers has been head coach Gerard Gallant. Coming off a huge 6-0 loss against the Calgary Flames, Duguay expects Gallant to have the team ready to go for a battle against the Florida Panthers

“They are going back to the Garden embarrassed right now, and if I know anything about Gerard Gallant, he’s going to walk into that dressing room with his game face on and his players are going to play hard,” said Duguay.

Gallant has created a physical team in the New York, and is one of the reasons the team has been as successful as they have this season.

“Coach Gerard has made it very clear that if you don’t play hard, play physical, if you’re not engaged, you will not play,” said Duguay.

“So I’ve seen a few guys kick it up a notch, and that creates energy in the dressing room. The weaker guys get tougher, and then they step on the ice and they play harder and more physical.”

Where the Rangers need help according to Duguay, is at the goaltending position.

“I’m not a big fan of Alexandar Georgiev,” said Duguay. “I think that he is a very good minor league goaltender, but I don’t think he is a guy that you can count on to  play against guys like Connor McDavid or even just a quality shot.”

Tonight, the Rangers take on the Florida Panthers in what should be a very competitive game against one of the top teams in the league.  With any hockey game, Duguay said it will come down to one or two bounces that will decide the outcome.

“I think it’s going to be a 3-2 hockey game that could go either way.”