Shanahan Leading On and Off the Ice

In today's Daily News, John Dellapina reports on how Brendan Shanahan's efforts in the locker room have been invaluable...

"...On Nov. 21 in Tampa, sensing that Henrik Lundqvist was about to blow a gasket over losing a shutout with 16.7 seconds left, partly because coach Tom Renney's end-game personnel choices weren't defensive-minded, Shanahan pulled the goaltender aside for a private chat before he could address reporters.

Later that evening, worried that Jaromir Jagr was slipping into a funk over his lack of production, Shanahan huddled with the Rangers' captain for 20 minutes by the side of the team's bus as it waited to depart for the airport.

Last Sunday afternoon, having scored a goal and engaged in a fight with Dallas toughie Steve Ott, Shanahan completed what should be now be known as a Shanahan Hat Trick. Having overheard Lundqvist discussing the Rangers' lack of scoring with reporters, Shanahan pulled the 25-year-old goalie into the players' lounge for another, sterner heart-to-heart. The topic this time: You worry about stopping the puck (which Lundqvist did only 15 of 18 times in that 3-2 loss) and stop publicly lamenting the lack of scoring by your teammates (who happen to include two 600-goal-scorers who already have wall space cleared for plaques in the Hall of Fame).

Oh yeah, and this past Thursday, with emotions running high as the Rangers attempted to beat the Islanders for the first time in four tries this season, Shanahan sidled down the bench to make sure none of his off-ice teammates drew a penalty for getting involved in a three-on-one dust-up around Colton Orr.

Asked a couple of days later about his Sunday conversation with Shanahan, a smiling Lundqvist said: 'That's between me and Brendan. But the things he says make sense. He always makes sense.'..."

...wow, if you didn't think Shanahan's presence in the locker room has had a positive effect on the team, you do now.

...I didn't realize Lundqvist has been so upset with the team. Great job by Shanahan defusing that situation. Could you imagine how toxic that could have gotten if Lundqvist would have ripped into his teamates? The media would have jumped all over it. You saw a similar situation with the New York Football Giants this week when their GM Reese called Eli Manning skittish.

...and all this time I've been giving Straka credit for revitalizing Jagr, when it was Shanahan all along.