New York Rangers 2016 Player Preview: Kevin Klein

After his second full season on Broadway, veteran defenseman Kevin Klein has proven to be a consistent presence on the New York Rangers’ blueline.

He has been on the team for parts of 3 seasons now, and people are just starting to give Kevin Klein credit. Even though Klein will probably never completely rid himself of the trade rumors he always finds himself engulfed in, I don’t think it would be in the New York Rangers’ best interest to move him.

2015-2016 Season Traditional Stats

Games Played: 69

Goals: 9

Assists: 17

Points: 25

+/-: +16

PPP: 1

TOI: 20:23

Previous Role: Top 4 Defenseman

Season in Review:

For better or worse, Kevin Klein was one of–if not the most–consistent defenseman on the New York Rangers blueline in 2015-2016. Klein posted 9 goals and 17 assists last season in 69 games; the same goals and assists totals he posted in 2014-2015 that most people deemed a fluke. Klein was very consistent with his defensive performance last year although he suffered multiple injuries to his right thumb. These injuries forced the veteran defender to sit for 13 games.

When looking at Klein’s “fancy stats” thanks to Own The Puck’s HERO Chart–which wouldn’t load for some reason in the article, so here is the link–with the exception of his FirstA/60 which takes into account a player’s primary assists per 60 minutes of ice time which gives you a bit more perspective and a level playing field when evaluating different players, Klein improved in every other stat on the chart.

2016-2017 Projected Stats

Age Entering Season: 31 (will turn 32 in December)

Games Played: 73

Goals: 8

Assists: 23

Points: 31

+/-: +9

PPP: 6

TOI: 21:40

Expected Role: Top 4 Defenseman

Reasoning: First things first. I fully expect Klein to see a lot of time on the Rangers’ top pairing with Ryan McDonagh, but I am apprehensive to put him as the definite number 2 defenseman due to what he has been in his past. I also still think the Rangers may try to trade for another defenseman like a Kevin Shattenkirk, who would move on to that top pairing.

Klein played the best hockey of his career last season. I think he can continue to grow, and I think with Keith Yandle and Dan Boyle out of the mix, I think the team will give him some powerplay time, which is why i gave him the uptick in powerplay points and assist and points overall. Since he will be going up against tougher competition, I think his +/- will go down a bit, and due to how high his shooting percentage was last season, I think it is due for a regression, but that is what we said going into last season and he ended up raising it.

Of course, you could still make the case for trading Klein. He will be 32 in December, and we have seen in the past that defenseman who aren’t the greatest skaters in the world don’t age well in a speed-influxed league. Klein’s shooting percentage has been ridiculously high over the past two years, eclipsing all of his other shooting percentages from over the years by a lot. His trade value is at it’s highest, and since he will most likely be forced to remain unprotected in next year’s expansion draft, he will likely be drafted, leaving the Rangers with no assets in return.

While all of that makes sense, Klein’s value to the Rangers would probably not be fully realized until he is no longer on the team. Klein does not play a sexy game, but he does get the job done, and he brings his heart every single night. Unless the Rangers get a Shattenkirk-like player, I wouldn’t move Klein, because you have no idea what you are gonna get out of Dan Girardi and Marc Staal and Klein has a contract that is very team friendly and cost efficient for someone giving you top 4 production.

Next: Ryan McDonagh is Hungry to Win

Klein is most likely here to stay, at least for the 2016-2017 season, and the Rangers should be okay with that.

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