New York Rangers: Five players who may not last the season on Broadway

Nick Holden

Nick Holden had a roller coaster of a season in 2016-17. From an on-paper great regular season, Holden quickly became a scapegoat for the Rangers’ early exit from the playoffs. Holden’s roster spot should be up for grabs should any suitor come calling or a young defenseman gets off to a hot start.

Holden had a strong regular season in his first year with the Rangers. Through 80 games, Holden produced a career high 11 goals and 24 assists for 35 points. However, his underlying possession stats would foreshadow his drop off in play during the playoffs.

Simply put, Holden was atrocious in the playoffs. He didn’t produce nearly as much as he did in the regular season, and his defensive play didn’t cut it when it mattered most. Both he and his defense partner, Marc Staal, became some of the most scrutinized players in New York after defensive gaffes led to multi-goal comebacks and eventual losses on more than one occasion.