There will be a lot of obstacles that will stand in the way of the New York Rangers path to success this season. Will they be able to overcome them?
The start of the 2016-2017 season–the New York Rangers 90th season–has a different feeling to it. Since the Rangers 2014 run for the Stanley Cup, it has felt as if the team is trying to strip what they have down to the core and figure out how to get a Cup.
It is not necessarily that they have made an effort to rebuild – in fact, it seems that they have done the opposite (take the decision to trade Anthony Duclair for an aging defenseman that the Rangers decided to trade after he had a 47 point season) – but they are trying to create a team that can grow together toward the ultimate goal.
Despite the changes to the roster, the Rangers need to absolutely face every challenge they face head on.
Challenge 1: Veteran players need to step up
First and foremost, there is a question lingering on the offensive end of the ice: who is going to step up and put pucks in the net? One of the biggest issues for the Rangers last season was their veterans inability to create chances on the offense. This season, forwards like Derek Stepan, Rick Nash, Chris Kreider and Mats Zuccarello have to show up every single game and lead the team by generating opportunities. These are the players that are going to determine the Rangers’ success this season.
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On top of this, J.T. Miller has to produce coming off of his breakout season. Assuming he will be centering the third line, he could add some serious depth to a bottom six that struggled at times last season.
Jesper Fast and Kevin Hayes both have a lot to prove this season as well. Both have had ups and downs with head coach Alain Vigneault. The responsibility lies on both of the players (to perform well enough to fit the identity of the offense) and on their coach (to trust that his players will produce and not punish them for every mistake).
The responsibility lies on both of the players (to perform well enough to fit the identity of the offense) and on their coach (to trust that his players will produce and not punish them for every mistake).
Finally, Oscar Lindberg will return from his a hip injury that caused him to miss the second half of last season. Lindberg seems to be ahead of where he was expected to be at this point. He has participated in full-contact practices throughout the last few days. Lindberg is a talented player who was overshadowed by Tanner Glass last season. He will need to come back strong to earn himself a spot on the packed offensive roster.
Challenge 2: Create chemistry on offense
Beyond the eight forwards who were a part of the Rangers offense last year, the rest of the group is new.
Trading Derick Brassard has left a hole where there used to be a very reliable center, but from the heads-up type hockey Mika Zibanejad has played on the ice thus far, he could be a very worthy replacement and a great addition on either the Rangers first or second line. Already he has shown that he can make an impact and help the Rangers get back to a fast game. His ability to determine when to pass and when to shoot will be a huge asset to an offense that has struggled.
While there are many other additions to the Rangers roster that have experience in the NHL, perhaps the most exciting additions are the rookies.
Harvard graduate Jimmy Vesey has been the subject of much talk after signing with the Rangers this offseason. Vesey could potentially earn himself a second line position. He is a great stick handler and has a great hockey sense. However, it is likely that he will start out in the bottom six and move his way up assuming that he continues to produce.
Pavel Buchnevich is another young rookie that has garnered a substantial amount of excitement since being picked up. The 21-year-old was drafted in 2013 and is known for his speed and ability to put the puck on net.
The 21-year-old was drafted in 2013 and is known for his speed and ability to put the puck on net.
Ultimately, chemistry will be the key.
Regardless of how much or how little NHL experience, every single player needs to come out and play to make an impact every game. Finding the right balance will require leadership from the returning Rangers, prowess from the new faces and ultimately finding the players who bring the best out in one another when it comes to establishing line combinations.
Challenge 3: Boosting success on the power play
The Rangers made some moves during the offseason to add to the depth of their special teams, but, for the most part, the success of the Rangers power play and penalty kill will come naturally as chemistry is created between players.
It will be interesting to see how the first two units shake out with all of the change.
Mats Zuccarello, Keith Yandle, and Derick Brassard were vital to the Rangers’ power play last season. Brassard and Yandle were first and second on the team in power play points. Brassard’s eight power play goals were the most scored by a Ranger in a season since Martin St. Louis scored nine in 2013-14. And Yandle’s 12 assists on the power play were the most by a Ranger since Michael Del Zotto’s 12 in 2009-10.
While Zibanejad has the potential to fill Brassard’s former role, the chemistry won’t come easy (refer to Challenge 2).
It will be very hard to find someone who will be a blueline presence like Yandle was on the power play last season.
Yandle had more power play assists (36) than any other NHL defensemen in the last three seasons. The Ranger who has the second most power play assists is Ryan McDonagh… who has only notched six.
The pickup of Nick Holden was likely made in effort to aid this. Holden has the potential to perform well offensively and could blossom if used on a special teams position.
This has been one of the Rangers weakest aspects of their game for the last decade but is nothing compared to their struggles with the penalty kill – which leads us to our final challenge.
Challenge 4: Defense
Plain and simple.
Last season the defense was without a doubt the Rangers’ weakest unit on the ice. Dan Girardi and Marc Staal who used to offer a sense of a security and confidence have played so uncharacteristically poorly that those sentiments have altogether vanished.
McDonagh still remains a rock in the defense – a calm, consistently well-positioned player who handles the puck well. Other players like Klein and Skjei have shown they are reliable defensemen; McIlrath also has good potential and a great shot. His problem is he doesn’t haven’t the best track record when it comes to making smart decisions; Holden is a great addition to the defense. He seems to have great defensive sense and positioning. However, it all comes down to Vigneault making good decisions to ensure he has paired the right players.
Add to the already weak defense the fact that Rangers are running an defense with only seven players. Not only are there holes in the play of some of the defensive pairs but there is also a missing player in the defensive roster.
While having Henrik Lundqvist in the net always will instill some kind of confidence on the defensive end of the ice, it is impossible to rely on your goaltender to stop every puck that comes his way.
The Rangers need to make moves throughout the season to improve their defensive situation. For the time being, though, each player needs to make the biggest impact possible on the ice.
Bottom Line: Teamwork makes the dream work
If the Rangers players successfully step up, leading to the creation of chemistry, it will boost their play on special teams… and hopefully, management can figure something out with the defense.
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Ultimately, they absolutely need to put all of these things together and get as close to perfect on every level to overcome these challenges and even fathom having another Stanley Cup run.