New York Rangers: Ranking the age 25 and under forwards
#6: Jimmy Vesey
Jimmy Vesey being last on this list says a lot about the New York Rangers forwards 25 and under.
Vesey signed with the Rangers last summer out of Harvard University. Vesey was the the 2016 Hobey Baker award winner, awarded to college’s best player.
After graduating, he chose to not sign with the Buffalo Sabres, who held his draft rights, and instead hit the free agent market. That decision has played out nicely for Vesey.
His rookie season was quite impressive considering this was his first taste of professional hockey. Vesey had 16 goals and 11 assists through 80 regular season games.
Vesey elevated his game in the playoffs too. He had one goals and four assists in the Rangers’ 12 playoff games.
There is a lot to like in Vesey going forward. He has a high ceiling and could be a top six forward one day.
#5: Jesper Fast
Fast is one of the Rangers best two way forwards and it helps him stand out amongst the 25 and under forwards. Fast is 25 now and turns 26 soon, but he fits the criteria as 25 and under.
He made is debut with the Rangers in 2013-2014 playing just 11 games. He has grown a lot since then and has blossomed into a great forward.
Offensively, Fast isn’t much of a juggernaut. He had 21 points this year through 68 games, and 30 points through 79 games last year.
Defensively, Fast is one of the better forwards for the Rangers. He was a +6 last year and has gone as high as +9.
Fast is another forward who really elevated his game in the playoffs. Fast had three goals and three assists in the 12 playoff games this year.
Going forward, Fast doesn’t have as high of a ceiling, but it’s safe to say he should stay consistent.
#4: Pavel Buchnevich
Buchnevich broke onto the scene last season playing half of the regular season and five playoff games.
Buchnevich is just 22 now. When he was 21 last year, he had eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in the regular season. He even added an assist in the playoffs.
At times, Buchnevich was outstanding. He scored in flurries and often had great stretches of games. With that being said, there were some dead zones in his tenure with the Rangers that hindered his playing time. He also battled injury for part of the season.
His defense wasn’t too bad either. He had a +6 for the year and posted a respectable 50.1% CF.
I expect Buchnevich to have a big year. He has excellent raw talent that you don’t see in many 22 year olds. It will be tough to play him anywhere other than the NHL this year. You never know with Alain Vigneault’s roster choices though.
#3: Kevin Hayes
Hayes barely cracks this list as he is 25 now. But he has shined as a New York Rangers forward and has earned his spot on this list.
Last year was Hayes’ third year in the NHL with the Rangers. He had 49 points and played in 76 games.
Hayes has done a great job staying healthy in his career. Last year’s 76 games were a career low for him in games played. The Rangers have struggled to find centers for this season so health will be crucial among the centers they have like Hayes.
This year will be bigger for Hayes as the Rangers lost Stepan and failed to find another top center. They will need Hayes to continue to grow and be the creative forward he has been.
There is certainly a lot of upside left in Hayes’ game that I think we will see this year.
#2: J.T. Miller
J.T. Miller is one of those forwards where you ask yourself, “How is Miller under the age of 25?” That’s right, he really is only 24 years old.
Miller made his Rangers debut in 2012-2013, playing in just 26 games while averaging 13:31 ice time. He was just 19 that year.
Flash forward four seasons and Miller has developed into a significant force for the Rangers. Last year was a career high for Miller in a lot of categories. He peaked in points (56), assists (34), plus/minus (+17), and tied peaks in goals (22) and games played (82).
He also did all of that while he was only 23 years old.
Miller will be 24 this year and will be taking on a bigger role like Hayes. With Stepan leaving, the lines will shift a bit and the better players will float to the top. That will certainly include Miller.
If trends mean anything to J.T. Miller, he is poised for a huge season where he will gain a lot more attention around the league.
#1: Mika Zibanejad
Zibanejad was acquired from the Ottawa Senators last summer in exchange for Derrick Brassard in an effort to make the Rangers younger.
Zibanejad was 23 at the time, and had an excellent season following the trade. He posted 14 goals and 23 assists for 37 points last year. However, due to a freak leg injury, Zibanejad only played in 56 games.
This year, barring any other freak injury, Zibanejad will play a full season and his numbers should sky rocket. He has gotten better every year he has been in the NHL and he is surrounded by a lot of talent this year.
Zibanejad will also be the top center next year if the Rangers don’t make any late trades for a player like Matt Duchene. This means he will see his ice time increase and he will play in the bigger situations.
Next: The best offseason moves in the Henrik Lundqvist era
It’s a perfect year for Zibanejad to explode from the already high pedestal he stands on. All eyes are on him to improve as he has established himself as the New York Rangers top forward 25 and under.