New York Rangers: Will The Kids Stay Hot?
Knowing what a grind the Stanley Cup Playoffs are, many factors are critical. One will be whether the New York Rangers kids stay hot throughout.
We are only a few short hours away from the start of the postseason for the New York Rangers.
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The postseason paint is on the garden ice, the streets of the city are electric, and the Rangers are the proverbial favorite to win it all after last seasons heartbreaking defeat. In order for the Rangers to “change the ending,” they will need their kids- Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller, and Jesper Fast– to stay hot.
When you have a lineup that features big names like Henrik Lundqvist, Rick Nash, Martin St. Louis, and Ryan McDonagh, it is inevitable that some names will get lost in the shuffle. However, the main reason, once again, the Rangers are a favorite is because of their depth.
They are a faster team overall than last year, and that is because of the development of the young players.
Hayes, who was signed as a free-agent this summer, has had a phenomenal rookie season. He ended the year on a tear, scoring 28 points in his last 35 games played, giving him a total of 45 points on the season.
They are a faster team overall than last year, and that is because of the development of the young players.
His big body and puck-protecting ability are “Jagr-esque,” but it is Hayes’ calmness with the puck that is so rare to see for a rookie. He knows when and where he can and can’t hold onto the puck, knows where his teammates are at all times, and has the ability to thread ridiculous needles to get pucks through.
Miller has had a tough time gaining Alain Vigneault’s trust, but the former first-round pick seems to have finally cracked the code to Vigneault’s trust-box. He is playing a top-six role right now, and his puck-possesion prowess has given a much needed boost to the Stepan-Kreider combo. Over Miller’s final 13 games, he had three goals and five assists for eight points, and he has been all over the ice making plays.
Fast is one of the most underrated players on the team. He has brought some offense to a fourth line that desperately needs some. He is a scrappy two-way player, but he has skill to chip in offensively. Fast is also one of Vigneault’s most trusted penalty killers. He isn’t going to light the lamp often, but don’t be surprised if he has a big playoff goal this year.
All three off these players have something in common, though. They are all untested in Stanley Cup Playoff hockey. Miller and Fast have played in four and three playoff games, respectively, while Hayes has yet to appear in a playoff game. The playoffs are such a different animal, as the referees tend to swallow their whistles and clutch-and-grab becomes the norm.
The Penguins are a team that has depth problems, especially on defense. The Rangers can roll out three lines that are capable of scoring, so they clearly have the advantage on paper. But, as we have seen before, you throw everything out once you get to the playoffs. The Rangers need their kids to step up and play big if they want any chance this postseason.
Next: Rangers X-Factors In Round 1
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