NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The evolution of Ryan McDonagh has been an interesting case in young leadership, and how, above all else, the Rangers captain is narrowly focused on winning.
Because just before leaving for his first All-Star Game this weekend, the 26-year-old defenseman hardly could think about his own game outside of the context of this current team, and their troubling inconsistencies in going 27-17-5 through the first 49 games.
The franchise-best start of 16-3-2 quickly became an afterthought following a 3-9-2 stretch in December, settling them into second place in the Metropolitan Division — yet just four points clear of the second wild-card spot in the East.
The wild, 6-3 victory notched over the lowly Sabres on Monday at the Garden before the break was a good note to end on, and enabled everyone — coach Alain Vigneault included — to kind of laugh off the 3-0 “stinker” loss, as Vigneault put it, against the Senators in Ottawa on Sunday. The win over Buffalo put McDonagh in a frame of mind that his team and himself are beginning to find their game yet again.
“Every year is a new team and you try to get everybody on the same page and playing up to par as fast as you can,” McDonagh said. “We had a great win streak there and it was because maybe a handful of guys carrying us. But at the same time, we’re all in it together. We went in a little slump there, but it taught us a good lesson in what it takes every night to win games. We’ve really been competing hard, battling hard, coming up with loose pucks on the wall, winning those battles, and that helps everybody.
“For myself, I can anticipate when a guy is going to win a battle a little bit more, find some open ice and create some offensive chances there. I think everybody can say that their game is coming along and to where each of us wants to be.”
That means that McDonagh got to live out his childhood dream in being the Rangers sole representative at this best-of-the-best competition. He participated in Saturday’s skills competition, and was going to be part of the Metropolitan Division’s 3-on-3 team playing in a small tournament Sunday.
“I’m really excited,” McDonagh said. “It’s going to be a lot more enjoyable coming off [the win over the Sabres], knowing the fact that our team is starting to play a little more consistent here, and understanding what our strengths are. Certainly, that’s my main goal is what’s going on with the Rangers.
“But I get a great opportunity here because my teammates and coaches helping me to participate in All-Star weekend. I’m going to be soaking it all in and enjoying every moment.”
Since McDonagh had the ‘C’ stitched to his Broadway Blueshirt before the 2014-15 season, it was clear he took the appointment seriously. Already somewhat stoic, he became even more so. His personality has been subdued to the point where that smiley kid from St. Paul, Minn., rarely is seen now. Instead, it’s the business-like, buttoned-up captain of the Rangers.
But there hasn’t been a ton to smile about with the Rangers recently, and neither for McDonagh. This might have been a small respite for him, but his focus still lies squarely with the task at hand when he returns home to his team, still searching for that first Stanley Cup since 1994.
And McDonagh knows that search can’t begin in earnest without him at the top of his game.
“I know and I hope that the guys understand that I’m a big, impact player here,” McDonagh said. “I know that. I play in a lot of situations, and I need to step up in a lot of different roles. And it feels good to have that recognition. But it would only happen with the help of my teammates and coaches, playing in those situations and having the confidence of the coaching staff and my teammates helping me, and this team play the way we need to play.”