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New York Rangers Report Cards Round Two: The New Forwards

By Garrett Gartino

Dec 29, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Rangers left wing Matt Puempel (12) celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game for a hat trick during the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 29, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; New York Rangers left wing Matt Puempel (12) celebrates after scoring his third goal of the game for a hat trick during the third period against the Arizona Coyotes at Gila River Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports /
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Nov 12, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; New York Rangers right wing Brandon Pirri (73) skates against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. New York Rangers won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 12, 2016; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; New York Rangers right wing Brandon Pirri (73) skates against the Calgary Flames during the third period at Scotiabank Saddledome. New York Rangers won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

Brandon Pirri

Previous Grade: B

The Brandon Pirri experiment has failed, the honeymoon period is over. What started as a beautiful mirage of Jeff Gorton’s offseason expertise has become one of the Rangers’ least valuable players on the roster.

It’s not as though Pirri lost his shot, it’s that he hasn’t been close enough to the puck to shoot it. For long stretches over the last 20 or so games Pirri has been invisible, and when his name does surface it has been in a negative light.

Pirri has seen his ice-time dwindle since peaking in mid-November, averaging around 11 minutes per game. Head coach Alain Vigneault has opted to sit the sharp-shooter as well, allowing him another view of the game from the press box.

Jeff Gorton could choose to make use of Pirri’s value and trade him away for draft picks leading up to the expansion draft. If not, the Rangers hope his presence on the power play and bottom-6 returns to his early season form.

New Grade: D

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