New York Rangers: Predicting changes on defense

The New York Rangers’ defense was horrendous last season. What will it look like after this offseason?

The 2016-17 New York Rangers possessed the offense and the goaltending to make a trip to the Stanley Cup Final. However, the defense was so bad that it managed to outweigh the teams’ strengths and effectively eliminate themselves.

Dan Girardi, Nick Holden, Kevin Klein, and Marc Staal all served as some of the worst defensemen in the entire National Hockey League. On the other hand, Ryan McDonagh was his usual phenomenal self, Brady Skjei developed into a budding star, and Brendan Smith fit in perfectly after arriving from the Detroit Red Wings.

This offseason, Jeff Gorton must figure out how to optimize New York’s defense to avoid wasting another year of Henrik Lundqvist’s prime. So what will he do? The Blue Line Station team answers that question in this week’s roundtable.

*Please note this is what we THINK will happen, not what we WANT to happen*

Brandon Cohen-

Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Shattenkirk

Brady Skjei-Brendan Smith

Marc Staal-Neal Pionk

Alexei Bereglazov

Look, nothing would make me happier than to remove Marc Staal from the group, but I cannot see the Rangers ridding themselves of Dan Girardi and Marc Staal in one offseason.

Dan Girardi will be bought out, Kevin Shattenkirk will be signed to a far too lucrative deal (though we will rightfully celebrate at the time anyway) and Neal Pionk will start the season as the sixth defenseman.

I’m going out on a limb here and saying the Las Vegas Golden Knights select Nick Holden with zero bribery involved.

Nick Holden is a horrendous defenseman, but other organizations do not know that. The Golden Knights will need defensemen far more than goaltending, and the prediction here is the Rangers find a way to protect Michael Grabner. That leaves Oscar Lindberg and Nick Holden, and I do not trust NHL General Managers to recognize future talent vs. present talent. Thus, Holden goes to Vegas, the Rangers need a defenseman, Smith is brought back.

Oh, and Kevin Klein is buried in the AHL or traded for popcorn to another team. I don’t believe Alain Vigneault knows who Adam Clendening is.

Do I have confidence in these picks? As much confidence as I have in Marc Staal to have a bounce back season.

Dan Carrozzi-

Ryan McDonagh – Kevin Shattenkirk

Brendan Smith – Brady Skjei

Alexei Bereglazov – Kevin Klein

Steven Kampfer

Starting with the easy stuff, Captain Ryan McDonagh and Brady Skjei are locks. Brendan Smith signs with the Rangers in the neighborhood of $4-4.5MM for four years. The Rangers sign coveted Unrestricted Free Agent Kevin Shattenkirk to a seven year deal in the ballpark of $6.5-7MM.

However, then things get tricky. In my (dream) scenario, the Rangers bribe the Vegas Golden Knights to select Nick Holden. Depending on how valuable the Golden Knights view Holden, the cost to do this may vary from a later round draft pick to a prospect to a bottom-six roster player such as Jesper Fast.

Dan Girardi (instead of Marc Staal) is traded to the Dallas Stars in exchange for Kari Lehtonen. This is because Girardi will have a limited no-trade clause come July 1st. The Rangers will then buyout Lehtonen and to wrap things up, also buyout Staal.

Neal Pionk will need at least a year in the AHL to season, as will Sean Day. Adam Clendening will be allowed to walk, as Alain Vigneault does not see him fitting into the team. Ryan Graves does not impress in training camp and Vigneault sticks to his veterans.

Alexei Bereglazov makes the team partially due to his KHL out-clause. Kevin Klein remains and rounds out the top-six. Re-signed Steven Kampfer remains as the team’s seventh defenseman.

John Cavanagh-

Ryan McDonagh – Kevin Shattenkirk

Brady Skjei – Brendan Smith

Nick Holden – Ryan Graves

For the Rangers to be successful next season, they need to fix their biggest weakness. It’s no secret the Rangers defense was a catastrophic flaw that sealed their fate in the playoffs. General manager Jeff Gorton knows this, and will make the defense younger and faster.

Additionally, this means the team will look to get rid of Dan Girardi and Marc Staal as soon as possible, while also likely trading Kevin Klein.

This gives the Rangers enough cap space to re-sign Brendan Smith, and even land the coveted free agent Kevin Shattenkirk. The only other new addition will be Ryan Graves from Hartford.

Logan Clements-

Ryan McDonagh – Kevin Shattenkirk

Brady Skjei – Brendan Smith

Alexei Bereglazov –Paul Postma

Steven Kampfer

I believe that the Rangers are ready to part ways with Girardi and Staal, and will do anything from buyouts to bribing Vegas to move them. This will open several spots in the Rangers’ top four and will free up cap space.

I think that the Rangers will go big on Kevin Shattenkirk during the offseason, especially since Shattenkirk has been linked to the Rangers for as long as I can remember. Shattenkirk would be a perfect fit as he is a top pairing and right-handed defenseman.

Considering the Rangers paid a high price for Brendan Smith, I believe that they will re-sign him at some point after the expansion draft, instead of letting him walk in free agency.

Bereglazov has an out clause in his contract if he is sent to the AHL, which probably means that he will be on the opening night roster.

Paul Postma is someone that I threw in there as he would be a smart bargain bin addition. However, this is probably the biggest reach here. Whether the Rangers sign him or not, the sixth defenseman spot will likely be determined during the preseason.

Kampfer was extended for two years before the season ended, which means he likely will end up as the Rangers’ seventh defenseman going forward.

Tim Haggerty-

Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Shattenkirk

Brady Skjei-Brendan Smith

Marc Staal-Kevin Klein

First thought, I think the Rangers will doing something about Girardi.

Trading him or taking him in the expansion draft seems unreasonable from the perspective of the buyer. Buying him out will likely be the route.

Shattenkirk will sign on a deal in the $6.0 million range over five years. Smith will sign for $3.5 million over three years to round out the group.

Alain Vigneault will likely hold Clendening and other younger defenseman out of the regular lineup, unfortunately.

This core could get shoken up at the trade deadline if sellers emerge. Like last year, this defense will be the focus of improvement throughout the year. It will be interesting to watch it unfold throughout the year.

George Ruggiero-

Ryan McDonagh – Kevin Shattenkirk

Brendan Smith – Brady Skjei

Marc Staal – Steven Kampfer

While this may be a little hopeful, I fully believe general manager Jeff Gorton can piece together a more than serviceable defense corps like this. Putting together something like this will take a little bit of finagling, however.

As I stated in our previous roundtable, I believe Gorton will bribe Vegas to pick Dan Girardi in the expansion draft. His cap hit will be replaced by, plus some, by Shattenkirk’s. Shattenkirk has stated his interest in playing for the Rangers, and he proves to be a much better option for the top pairing than anything in house.

Brendan Smith is the only other unsigned defenseman in that group, and he too could command a hefty cap charge. So to work on keeping him, I see Gorton moving either Nick Holden or Kevin Klein as well as a forward.

After this past season’s disastrous finish, I’m hoping Gorton works on the defense to be as close to this as possible. Considering that, coach Alain Vigneault needs to learn from his mistakes, and that’s where I’m not holding my breath.

Alexandra Russo-

Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Shattenkirk

Brady Skjei- Dan Girardi

Brendan Smith- Kevin Klein/ Adam Clendening

Going into the 2017-2018 season, I think the Rangers’ defensive lineup will look a lot different than what everyone is used to. Especially in the last few seasons, the defense isn’t where it needs to be, and that’s why change is almost inevitable at this point.

Over this offseason, I think there’s a high likelihood that the Rangers will sign highly-coveted, right-handed defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk.

However, more probable than that, the team will buyout at least one of Girardi’s or Staal’s contracts. Personally, I think Staal is the better option to buy out considering that Girardi wasn’t half-bad in the 2017 Playoffs. Still, Staal, on the other hand, remained his usual self all season long and didn’t prove that he deserved a spot in New York

Lou Venditti-

Ryan McDonagh-Kevin Shattenkirk

Brendan Smith-Brady Skjei

Marc Staal-Neal Pionk/Alexei Bereglazov/Ryan Graves

When it comes to the Rangers defense, there are a ton of questions to be answered coming into the offseason. First, re-signing Brendan Smith should be an immediate priority. Smith flourished with the Rangers, especially paired with Brady Skjei, and he deserves at least a three year deal from the Rangers.

Dan Girardi will be bought out, but Marc Staal will remain with the team. Staal has shown himself to be more salvageable than Girardi in recent years, so it’s fine to keep him on board in a limited role. Nick Holden will go to Vegas in the expansion draft.

Additionally, Kevin Shattenkirk will get to come home to Westchester and play with the Rangers. The 6th defenseman very well may be a rotating door, though. With that, Neal Pionk, Alexei Bereglazov, and Ryan Graves are all wildcard options for the 6th spot.

Still, if Pionk or Betrglazov are ready out of camp, it’d be hard to pass up. Graves is more of a long shot, but he could take Staal’s place in the future on the left side.

Ben Whitney-

Ryan McDonagh  – Alexei Bereglazov

Brady Skjei – Brendan Smith

Nick Holden – Steven Kampfer

Extras: Neal Pionk, Kevin Klein

This might be wishful thinking, but the offseason is for dreaming. The defensive group needs to be revamped with an infusion of youth, so I’m going with the unrealistic three rookies in my group of eight.

Dan Girardi and Marc Staal have been warriors, but their value has crumbled. It will be hard to buy them both out, with dead money counting against the cap until 2025, but it’s time for them to go.

I don’t think they’ll be able to bring in a big fish like Kevin Shattenkirk, but will find room to bring back Brendan Smith. Nick Holden’s reasonable contract will keep him around and Klein will play out his last year.

Alexei Bereglazov is big, strong in his own zone, and he can skate and contribute offensively. Though he’s a lefty, he can play on both sides. Still, he has a chance to make the squad if he can adjust to the NHL game.

Next: Potential in-division trades for the Rangers to make

Steven Kampfer fits in as a depth guy and could find himself with a spot on the third pair. Look for Ryan Graves to get a shot with the big club after a solid year at Hartford. Additionally, the offensive-minded Neal Pionk is an intriguing player out of UMD.

While I know Vigneault is unlikely to trust three rookies and they may not all be ready to make the jump. But they need some youth and some skill back there to fit their system.