Drew McCaffrey
Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Mats Zuccarello
Jimmy Vesey-Derek Stepan-Rick Nash
Pavel Buchnevich-Kevin Hayes-J.T. Miller
Michael Grabner-Oscar Lindberg-Jesper Fast
Matt Puempel/Boo Nieves
The New York Rangers have a bevy of forward talent at their disposal heading into the summer. With Tanner Glass coming off the books (finally) and the Rangers rumored to be sweetening the pot for Vegas to select Nick Holden in the expansion draft, they should once again field a dangerous crew.
While I might earnestly wish for the Kreider/Zibanejad/Buchnevich trio to be reunited, I’m expecting Alain Vigneault to start Buchnevich down the lineup. The Kreider/Zibanejad duo has had good results, and Mats Zuccarello played well with them in the playoffs.
Nash, Stepan, and Vesey were a potent combination at times. Hayes and Miller seem to be attached at the hip in Vigneault’s eyes, and the Grabner-Lindberg-Fast group could form the best fourth line in the NHL next season.
Boo Nieves played well in last year’s camp and impressed in his one call-up, while Matt Puempel showed flashes of his potential. They’ll stick with the big club.