What the New York Rangers are doing so far this season, sitting with one of the best records in the NHL through their first 26 games, is a little surprising.

They brought in Peter Laviolette, who didn't exactly wring a lot out of an aging Washington Capitals team the last few years, to coach a club with some obvious roster deficiencies but enough clear strengths at almost every position on the ice to remain highly competitive most nights. Few would have picked the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup coming into the season, but they have at least earned the right to be considered in that mix through the first third or so of the season.

It must be said, however, that the way Laviolette is finding success here is not that difficult to explain. While he obviously has different systems from Gerard Gal