Vigneault On WFAN: Powerhouse Rangers Are Ready For The Next Challenge

NEW YORK (WFAN) -- When the Rangers were eliminated in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final last spring there were serious concerns about whether they could realistically take the next step this season.

Free agency and a tight salary cap situation appeared to take a toll on the Blueshirts.

But yet, due in part to moves made by general manager Glen Sather and stellar coaching by Alain Vigneault, the Rangers blasted through the regular season to the tune of 53 wins and 113 points and are now considered the consensus pick to advance out of the Eastern Conference playoffs.

With his team set to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday in their playoff opener, Vigneault told WFAN's Mike Francesa on Wednesday that nothing short of a team effort from everyone involved would have gotten the job done.

"Our goal coming into this year, even though we knew we would be a different team, was to have an opportunity again to challenge for the cup," Vigneault said.

"Our group is battle-tested. They are a real confident group and we are going to embrace the challenge," he added.

The Rangers parted ways with several key players during the offseason, including veteran forwards Brad Richards, Brian Boyle, Dan Carcillo, Benoit Pouliot and Derek Dorsett, plus top four defenseman Anton Stralman. Sather then set out to infuse some youth and veteran know-how into the equation, and did so by signing 22-year-old forward Kevin Hayes (17 goals, 45 points) and veteran defenseman Dan Boyle. Throw in the maturation of young forwards J.T. Miller and Jesper Fast and the trade deadline acquisition of coveted defenseman Keith Yandle and the Blueshirts have morphed into a younger and faster version of their 2014 selves.

"It's a different team. Quickness and speed is definitely an element," Vigneault said. "It plays a strong game, a strong defensive game when we don't have the puck, but our ability to go from defense to offense is real good. It's done real quickly. I think that's where we were able to catch and exploit a few teams this year."

He said the Rangers' big moment of pause came when goaltender Henrik Lundqvist went down with a neck injury at the beginning of February, a potentially devastating turn of events. However, the Blueshirts responded in a big way, seizing control of the East with rookie Cam Talbot growing into a legitimate No. 1 goalie seemingly overnight.

"I'd be lying if I said when Hank went down we weren't concerned," Vigneault said. "It was also an opportunity for our team to go out and prove that we're not a one-man team. We went something like 24-4, so, obviously, we played real well as a team."

Now with Lundqvist back, rested and playing at close to the same level he displayed prior to the injury, the Rangers look formidable. Vigneault said the nearly two months off will likely energize the former Vezina Trophy winner, who in addition to playing 25 games in last year's postseason had also played a full Olympic schedule in Sochi for his native Sweden.

"Hank being gone almost two months, at the end of the day, might end up being a blessing in disguise," he said. "It gave him a chance to work on his technique."

Game 2 will be on Saturday at Madison Square Garden before the series shifts to Pittsburgh for Games 3 and 4 on Monday and Wednesday, respectively.

To hear Vigneault's complete interview with Francesa, please click on the audio link below.