Since the New York Rangers drafted Brady Skjei 28th overall in the 2012 Entry Draft, comparisons have been made between him and veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh.
This season especially, McDonagh and Skjei have been vital not just to the Rangers defense (being perhaps the two most reliable defensemen on the team) but they have also contributed offensively to the pace 108 goals scored on the opposite end of the ice.
Skjei is early enough in his career where it is hard to tell what his future will hold. But in what is really only his first full season in the league, he has shown that he has the potential to step up and be as important a player as Ryan McDonagh is for the Rangers.
Why the Comparison?
McDonagh and Skjei are often associated because of their similar playing styles as solid two-way defensemen. Both have the ability to generate offense coming out of the offensive end, but also play a shut down game in their own zone. They are similar in their size, skating ability, stickhandling, and blue line play. The result of means that they can both make subtle moves that make a huge impact on the ice.
Ironically, some of their background is similar as well.
Both of them are Minnesota-born, played their collegiate careers a state away from one another (Skjei in his home state at the University of Minnesota and McDonagh at the University of Wisconsin) and were drafted into the NHL in the first round.
Comparing Careers
Looking back at how McDonagh and Skjei played in college, McDonagh was the stronger of the two. In his three seasons at Wisconsin, he played 119 games and notched 46 points (14 goals, 32 assists). Skjei played 109 games for Minnesota and put up only 27 points (eight goals, 19 assists).
Both Skjei and McDonagh represented the United States at the IHF World Junior Championship as a part of their respective U-18 teams. McDonagh won a silver medal with his team in 2007 and Skjei won gold with his team in 2012.
Though McDonagh had a more successful collegiate career offensively, Skjei blossomed in his play with the Hartford Wolf Pack. In his first 32 games in the AHL, Skjei tallied nine points (two goals, seven assists) compared to McDonagh’s five (one goal, four assists).
McDonagh was called up only 38 games into his season at Hartford, but Skjei almost played a full year before coming to the Rangers to play seven games during the 2015-16 postseason.
Though it would be premature to compare McDonagh’s career to Skjei’s — since he skated in his 40th game in the NHL against Nashville last night – it is impressive the amount of poise that the 22-year-old has been playing with. Because of this, some have compared Skjei to his veteran counterpart due to the confidence and skill he has shown this season.
Beyond what kind of trends Skjei’s points show in relation to McDonagh’s more important is to look at what the future holds for these two players and how they can work together.
Looking Ahead
McDonagh is on track to have one of his best, if not his best, season in his career, and as of now, Skjei seems like he has the potential to meet that. Just 32 games into the season, McDonagh sits at 17 points (one goal, 16 assists). He is on pace to have 43 points on the season if he continues to put up points.
And Skjei isn’t too far behind. He already has 14 points on the season so far, a total that ties him with big defensive names like Torey Krug, Keith Yandle, and John Klingberg. This isn’t to say that Skjei has reached the same level of defensive skill as McDonagh, but his exceptional start should give the Rangers something to be excited about looking ahead to the future.
In his first season, Skjei can be a source of comfort – and it goes beyond just what is seen on the stat sheet. Based on how Skjei has been performing, he provides aid to a Rangers team that for the past few years has had somewhat of a shaky defensive core.
There is always a chance things could change, but for now the Rangers have two defensemen who play similar but strong two-way games, which has seemed to quell the biggest area of concern for now.
Next: Rangers Report Card Part 3- The Defense
The addition of Skjei’s steadiness on the defense can help the Rangers build a solid structure beneath McDonagh who has been so reliable for the Rangers throughout his career.