New York Rangers: Ranking the Rangers in value (pt. 2)
How do the Rangers rank?
Each of the past two seasons, I ranked the New York Rangers in terms of value. This includes (but not only) age, contract, statistics, and future considerations. For example, a player under contract for five years has more value than a player only under contract for one year, as the Rangers will have to address that one year contract soon enough. There is value to the known compared to the unknown.
For this project, I will be ranking the following 22 players: Henrik Lundqvist, Ondrej Pavelec, Pavel Buchnevich, David Desharnais, Jesper Fast, Michael Grabner, Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, Rick Nash, Boo Nieves, Matt Puempel, Jimmy Vesey, Mika Zibanejad, Mats Zuccarello, Anthony DeAngelo, Nick Holden, Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei, Brendan Smith, and Marc Staal.
I will not be ranking Lias Andersson, Alexei Bereglazov, or Neal Pionk, due to none of the trio playing an NHL game yet.
This is part two of two. You can find last year’s rankings here, and part one here. And remember, this is about the present and the future.
#10: Kevin Hayes (PR: 6 out of 22)
Kevin Hayes is one of the first players to drop in the rankings, and it’s not entirely his fault that he’s done so. First of all, the Rangers added plenty of talent. Second, Alain Vigneault used Hayes terribly all of last season. However, Hayes still needs to improve. The forward isn’t getting any younger, and will be playing in his most important role this season.
Considering his next contract should determine his future in the organization, there’s plenty of unknown here. Will he reach his potential?
#9: J.T. Miller (PR: 7 of 22)
J.T. Miller always seems to get lumped in with Hayes, as the two signed bridge deals at the same time. All of the questions asked about Hayes apply to Miller too, only Miller appears to be the better player for now. Miller should cost a pretty penny on his next contract, detracting from his value in this exercise.
Miller’s next contract will go a long way towards determining his value in the organization, but he must improve his possession game as well. His ranking here is a product of the Rangers’ terrific depth.
#8: Henrik Lundqvist (PR: 2 of 22)
Henrik Lundqvist is the most polarizing player on the New York Rangers. Some will say he deserves to be 22nd on this list. Others will say he deserves to be #1. However, the reality is he belongs somewhere between the two. Lundqvist remains an all-world goaltender, and playing behind a superior defense should improve his overall game.
At the same time, Lundqvist is aging with each passing year (as we all do!) and it’s not unrealistic to believe he will enter a decline. Once he enters that decline, his contract could become an issue.
For now, all of the uncertainty ranks him eighth, just in the right spot to appreciate how good he is, but to be aware of the possible decline that could come.
#7: Mats Zuccarello (PR: 3 of 22)
Mats Zuccarello is on one of the most team-friendly contracts in the NHL. On most teams, he would be in the top three. On plenty of teams, he would be in the top two. I could think of a few teams he would be #1 on. However, the Rangers have plenty of players on team-friendly contracts. That’s the only thing working against Zuccarello here, who has only two years remaining on his contract.
Make no mistake about it, though. Zuccarello is an immensely valuable player.
#6: Ryan McDonagh (PR: 1 of 22)
Ryan McDonagh is Mats Zuccarello, but on defense! Not in the style he plays, but in the concept of this exercise. His contract is a steal, he is a phenomenal player, but his contract runs out after two more seasons of play. That puts him behind the longer-term players. Fear of the unknown, and that next contract should be massive.
#5: Kevin Shattenkirk (PR: not in organization)
Kevin Shattenkirk joins the list at #5. He is on one of the most team-friendly contracts in hockey for the next four seasons, placing him ahead of Zuccarello and McDonagh, who only have two years of terms. It’s wonderful to see Shattenkirk joining on for such a bargain deal, but there are other players who will be here for the longer term and on cheaper deals.
Regardless, Shattenkirk is one of the most valuable defensemen in the NHL. That he ranks #5 is a testament to the Rangers’ work on the books.
#4: Mika Zibanejad (PR: 8 of 22)
Mika Zibanejad signed a long-term extension this offseason, and it immediately catapulted him up this list. For the next five seasons, Zibanejad will be playing for under $5.5 Million. For a player that’s expected to fill the top line center role and could hit the 65 point mark as soon as this season, that’s a tremendous deal. Don’t forget, Zibanejad is only 24 years old.
#3: Pavel Buchnevich (PR: 4 of 22)
Pavel Buchnevich’s rookie statistics were on par with the likes of Evgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko. If that doesn’t speak to his potential, watch him play. Buchnevich is an offensive weapon already, weaving his way through opposing defenses like a veteran.
The real question lies in if he can reach his full potential, which is a superstar in today’s NHL. The hope here is that Alain Vigneault gives him the opportunity to do so, and Buchnevich rolls with that right away.
#2: Brady Skjei (PR: unranked due to not knowing if he would make the opening roster)
Brady Skjei was almost placed behind Buchnevich, but Skjei had such a good rookie season that he has to check in at #2. Skjei performed at the level of the likes of Brent Burns when it came to setting up his teammates at even strength. Brent Burns! Additionally, Skjei appeared to only get better as the season progressed.
Skjei and Ryan McDonagh will be the future of the Rangers blue-line, something Rangers fans should be thrilled about. Skjei’s potential is enormous, and it will be fascinating to see how he follows his tremendous rookie performance.
#1: Chris Kreider (PR: 5 of 22)
Chris Kreider tops the list of Rangers thanks to his team-friendly contract. Sure, Kreider only has three years remaining on his deal, but at $4.6 Million, it’s a total steal. Consider what Kreider brings to the table. He is a top line forward that should score 30 goals in the upcoming season. His speed is a consistent nightmare for opposing teams to match up with, and somehow he is still developing his overall game.
It must be terrifying for opposing teams to think about the player Kreider could become over the remainder of his contract. As the Rangers look to win a championship in the Henrik Lundqvist era, Kreider will be one of the pieces that makes or breaks the opportunity.
Next: Ranking the Rangers pt. 1
While Pavel Buchnevich and Brady Skjei have bright futures, Chris Kreider is already a star, manages to be a possession positive in toxic possession environments, and still has plenty left in the tank. He is the most valuable player.