New York Rangers: Comparing the future 17-18 team to the 13-14 team
The New York Rangers have not advanced to the Stanley Cup Final since 2014, where they were defeated by the Los Angeles Kings. Since then, the Rangers’ roster has undergone massive changes.
The 2013-2014 New York Rangers hold a special place in every New York Rangers fans’ heart. The 2014 New York Rangers were underdogs heading into the playoffs, which made the story even more rememberable.
The Rangers had to battle adversity after adversity during the 2014 post season. No Rangers’ fan can forget the raw emotions after Martin St. Louis scored on Mother’s Day just days after he lost his mother as he helped his team come back from a three to one series deficit.
The 13-14 Rangers were an extremely memorable team with plenty of cherished memories. However, most of the players who made up the 2014 Rangers no longer play on Broadway. Gone are the likes of Derick Brassard, Anton Stralman, and plenty more who were big parts of the 2014 team.
The overhaul of the roster over the last few seasons begs the question, how does the 2017-18 New York Rangers compare to the 2014 Rangers?
Centers
13-14: Brad Richards, Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Dom Moore
The 13-14 New York Rangers had tremendous center depth. They had at least six players capable of playing center on the roster during the playoffs.
Richards, Stepan, Brassard and Moore made up a deadly center core. Richards was a number one center. Stepan and Brassard grew into becoming 1A, 1B type centers. There were very few, if any, teams that boasted that much depth down the middle.
17-18: Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller (for now unless another center is signed or traded for), David Desharnais
The 2017-18 New York Rangers have one of the thinnest forward groups in the league when it comes to depth. Their center depth is likely going to be the team’s biggest weakness going forward. It is reasonable to believe that Mika Zibanejad can become a top line center, but after him, there are serious question marks.
If the Rangers were to acquire a top six center, they could easily jump up to a top tiered center core, but that won’t be an easy task. As it stands right now, the 13-14 New York Rangers had a far better center core.
Advantage: 2014 New York Rangers
Wingers
13-14: LW: Rich Nash, Carl Hagelin, Benoit Pouliot, Brian Boyle
RW: Martin St. Louis, Chris Kreider, Mats Zuccarello, Derek Dorsett
The New York Rangers were able to get production out of their top line and depth players in 2014. It was one of the things that helped them reach the cup finals.
The Rangers had a dominant third line that featured Mats Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot on the wings. Other teams were not able to keep up with them and it created a mismatch that the Rangers exploited.
17-18: LW: Chris Kreider, Rick Nash, Jimmy Vesey, Michael Grabner
RW: Mats Zuccarello, Pavel Buchnevich, J.T. Miller (if a center is acquired), Jesper Fast
The 17-18 Rangers will have tremendous depth on the wings. Chris Kreider is starting to put it all together and become an elite forward. Mats Zuccarello has become a player you can count on to provide close to or more than 60 points.
In 2016-17, the New York Rangers had only one winger who played over 40 games score less than 20 points (Brandon Pirri). The Rangers have tremendous scoring depth on the wings, as they were able to keep all of their wingers from last season, save for Pirri.
The Rangers also have several young wingers, like Buchnevich and Vesey, who could very well break out and light up the box score.
Advantage: 17-18 New York Rangers
Defense
13-14: Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Anton Stralman, Marc Staal, John Moore, Kevin Klein, Raphael Diaz
In 2014, the Rangers had a solid defensive core. Ryan McDonagh had his best career season in 2014. He finished fifth in regular season points and led the team in post season points. He and Dan Girardi made an effective duo on the Rangers’ top pairing.
Anton Stralman played shut down defense all season long at an elite level alongside Marc Staal on the second pairing. They were able to help protect leads late in games.
Kevin Klein and John Moore formed a solid bottom pairing. They were incredibly effective in the playoffs and a big part of the Rangers’ success.
17-18: Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei, Brendan Smith, Marc Staal, Anthony DeAngelo, Nick Holden
Ryan McDonagh has become one of the top defensemen in the league. He has been anchored for the last few seasons by Dan Girardi, who has become one of the worst defensemen in the league.
With an elite offensive defenseman like Kevin Shattenkirk on McDonagh’s right, the Rangers might boast one of the top defensive pairings, if not the best, in the NHL.
The Rangers’ second pairing of Skjei and Smith was effective in the 2017 playoffs. Skjei and Smith both have the ability to move the puck and Brendan Smith is one of the better shot suppressing and blueline defending defensemen in the league.
The Rangers’ bottom pairing is pretty ‘meh’ as it stands. DeAngelo has high offensive potential but still needs to improve defensively. Marc Staal has become pretty awful, just like Girardi, and is a liability on the ice.
Even with a so-so bottom pairing, the 17-18 Rangers will have an elite top four which gives them the edge here.
Advantage: 17-18 New York Rangers
Goaltending
13-14: Henrik Lundqvist, Cam Talbot
In 2014, Henrik Lundqvist turned in one of the more impressive goaltending performances in recent postseason history. He was an absolute brick wall for the New York Rangers in net.
Lundqvist had a .920 SV% in the regular season and improved on that with a .927 SV% in the postseason. He simply was spectacular for the Rangers.
Cam Talbot played well as the backup for the Rangers. He provided great value in net when called upon. He started 21 games that season and was more than exceptional.
17-18: Henrik Lundqvist, Ondrej Pavelec
2016 saw Henrik Lundqvist have his worst season in the NHL. Lundqvist had a very un-Lundqvist like season. The Rangers had an extremely poor defense which is likely a big part of why Lundqvist’s performance was subpar. With all of the defensive changes that have been made, it seems fair to believe that Lundqvist will be much better this upcoming season.
With all of the defensive changes that have been made, it seems fair to believe that Lundqvist will be much better this upcoming season. But there are still going to be questions about whether he is still able to play at an elite level, despite his past success.
Pavelec remains an unknown for the Rangers, which makes this hard to comment on. The hope is that their goaltender guru/whisperer Benoit Allaire is able to shape him into a solid backup like he has with countless goaltenders, but the jury is still out on him.
Advantage: New York Rangers since they have Henrik Lundqvist (tie)
Final Tally
Here is how the 13-14 New York Rangers are projected to rank up against the 17-18 New York Rangers:
-Centers: 2014 New York Rangers
-Wingers: 2017 New York Rangers
-Defense: 2017 New York Rangers
-Goaltending: Tie
Next: Is Kyle Turris a possible trade target?
Ultimately, the 17-18 Rangers should be a very solid team that has the potential to go deep in the playoffs this season. If they can add a center to strengthen their top six, they will be serious cup contenders.