Rangers In Tailspin

Rangers roster

Now, three and a half months later the Rangers are five games under .500 with league-high 12 ties. Except for a three-game winning streak in mid-November, the team hasn't won two games in a row.

Out of 19 home games the Rangers have only managed to win five. That doesn't go well with New York's notoriously demanding hockey fans.

The team seems to be without any direction and lacks any one player to assume leadership. Are they missing Mess?

Another reason for the Rangers' troubles is the lackluster performance of Brian Leetch and Mike Richter. Before these two players start playing on their usual level, the team has no hope.

Smith blames players
GM Neil Smith is putting the blame on the players not coach Colin Campbell for the teams woes.

"He is the coach of the team, and I have no intention of making a coaching change," Smith said. "I don't feel that coaching is at all the problem with this team. I think execution is the problem with this team. If the players don't get it, then we're forced into changing players, whether with trades or call-ups."