New York Rangers are Looking Younger and Younger
We all know that the New York Rangers need help on their blue line. Next to their inability to produce almost any traffic in front of the net and their lack of special teams success, this may have been their biggest flaw throughout the 2015-2016 season.
Seemingly everyone who follows the Rangers would enjoy seeing their defense fortified, with one contingency: age. It has been well documented that fans, beat writers and bloggers all urge the Rangers to obtain youth this offseason. Well, the New York Rangers seemed to have taken our advice.
The New York Rangers could look wise beyond their years next season. Buchnevich, McIlrath, Hayes, Miller, Kreider, Fast, Lindberg, Jensen and Skjei are all under 25 years of age. Buchnevich and Jensen also have a real shot at logging serious NHL ice time in 2016-2017, while other young players like Stromwall, who signed an entry-level contract this past month, and Hrivik will be fighting for a chance to play with the Blueshirts during training camp.
Besides these young bucks, the Rangers also have a handful of players under 30 years of age. These players include McDonagh, Staal, Stepan, Zuccarello and Brassard.
It is reality that some names listed above will most likely return to the NHL next season wearing different sweaters. However, the push to focus on becoming a younger team seems to have taken flight and with that I offer up this idea.
Kyle Quincey Brings Experience, Size and a Nice Playoff Beard
Kyle Quincey is by no means an old man. However, he is 30 years old and will turn 31 this summer. He is a veteran blue liner that the Red Wings seem okay with kicking to the curb and that may be putting it lightly. As reported on by the Detroit Free Press and NBC Sports,
"GM Ken Holland told the Detroit Free Press that he told “Brad Richards and Kyle Quincey that I definitely won’t sign them before July 1, if at all.”"
Quincey did not play much hockey this season. He was sidelined due to nagging bone spurs in his right ankle, which were chiseled off in surgery. This injury and surgery limited Quincey to just 47 games during the 2015-2016 season. Throughout those 47 games, he produced 11 points on four goals and seven assists.
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During the 2014-2015 season, when Quincey was healthy, he played in 73 games and recorded 18 points on 15 assists and three goals. Although those numbers don’t jump off the page, during that same season he recorded 104 hits, 82 blocks and a +/- of 10.
Quincey is an defenseman that can move the puck, record assists, block shots and make impactful hits ( Quincey is 6′ 2”, 216 lbs).
He is older than McIlrath, Skjei, McDonagh and Staal, but that may not be a terrible thing. Skjei has not proved that he can maintain a high caliber of play over an entire season and neither has McIlrath (not entirely his fault). Quincey could join the Blueshirts this offseason and become a great asset to the team.
When Skjei or McIlrath fall into a rut, Quincey can come on to play in their spots, as we all know Alain Vigneault enjoys scratching young players. McDonagh also was injured a lot last season, and when the Rangers were forced to call up players, like Skjei, to fill the captain’s position, their lack of depth was exposed.
Next: New York Rangers Prospect Nicklas Jensen Turning Heads
Quincey’s 2- year $8.5 million dollar contract has ran up and he will become an unrestricted free agent this July. The New York Rangers have done well to bring young talent onto the squad. Now, it may be time to start thinking about an insurance package, incase young players don’t pan out as expected, or god forbid, long-term injuries occur.
Perhaps the most important asset the Rangers would gain from signing Quincey is his dominating facial hair. I mean look at that thing. Words cannot depict how excited I would be to see a beard of that stature skating around MSG. Plus, the Blueshirts would only benefit from a beard like that come playoff time, San Jose has.