The Problem with the Rangers

In the NHL -- the land of the disposable coach -- when teams struggle, the ax must fall.

That's why there has been some speculation about the immediate future of Rangers coach Tom Renney.

Now, I'm not ready to confuse Renney with Scotty Bowman, but I think Renney has actually overachieved with this roster. That's right: I think Renney's 29-20-5 record is pretty good when you consider his team.

Renney doesn't have a No.1 center or a No. 1 defenseman. He doesn't have a reliable scorer on the wing. And his most dependable defender is just a sophomore. No, the 2008-09 Rangers aren't exactly an All-Star group.

Of course, Renney isn't without fault. I haven't always agreed with his lineup decisions or in-game moves, and he's got to find a way to make that power-play unit at least a little better.

Still, Renney shouldn't be the fall guy.

The real problem is Renney's boss, Rangers president and GM Glen Sather. If anyone is going to get canned, it should be Sather.

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