New York Rangers: Top five players that could be 2018 All-Stars
The changes to the New York Rangers roster this offseason gives many players on the roster a higher chance of being a 2018 All-Star selection.
Like all All-Star games across all sports, it is not so much a means to get players together in order to simulate actual play, but to show off their skill. Despite this, it is a way to honor players for their hard work throughout the season.
The players that the league select from season-to-season tend to be performing at a very high level. Often, these players are playing some of the best hockey of their careers.
When it comes to the Rangers, the support they received on the defensive end in the offseason will impact both the offense and the defense. With some players seeing increased opportunities, to others having bolstered support, there is a good chance that the Rangers could potentially have more than one player attending the event this season.
Here are some of the top candidates on the New York Rangers roster.
5. Mika Zibanejad
Mika Zibanejad has the potential to be an All-Star selection this season because of his expanded role on the roster. With the trade of Derek Stepan to the Arizona Coyotes it is looking like Zibanejad will be his replacement.
Zibanejad had 14 points and 23 assists for 37 points in the 56 games he played in 2016-17. Last season, he proved that he fits the New York Rangers and that he is a more-than-suitable replacement for Derick Brassard.
This is new role a great opportunity for the 24-year-old to step up. Zibanejad had a solid first season with the Rangers, but a broken fibula knocked him out of the lineup for 25 games. This season, Zibanejad will be in a role where he can get comfortable and find consistency with whomever he plays with on the Rangers top line.
Stepping up to be the number one center is a challenge that will boost his production and will give him a shot at a trip to the All-Star game.
4. Mats Zuccarello
There are all kinds of reasons to love Mats Zuccarello.
His dedication to the game alongside his character make him a fun player to watch but they are the same characteristics that could lead the 30-year-old (as of September 1 — happy belated birthday, Zucc) to an All-Star appearance.
Zuccarello is consistent in terms of his statistics over the last four years he has played for the Rangers — recording 59, 49, 61 and 59 points, respectively. Because of the way he plays the game he has been named the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner three times in the last four years.
This consistency that could propel him to All-Stardom this year. With linemates (most likely Zibanejad and Chris Kreider) who help foster his offensive ability and have good chemistry, he could make the cut this year.
Zuccarello has been on the cusp of breaking out, and this is the year he could get a bid.
3. Henrik Lundqvist
Lundqvist is one of the most consistent goaltenders in the NHL and is due for another trip to the All-Star tournament.
Boasting a career .920 save percentage and a 2.32 goals against average, Lundqvist never wavers far off his game. He has won more than 30 games in 11 out of the 12 seasons he has been a part of the New York Rangers and has led his team to the Stanley Cup playoffs for seven straight season.
He has appeared in the two All-Star games in 2009 and 2011 and with the change to the roster in front of him, will have another great opportunity for another appearance. Though he had a rocky season last year, it is likely this alongside the preparation put in this offseason will help him bounce back.
With a strong defense in front of him this season, the pucks he will see will be good shots, and knowing Henrik, he’ll put in his best effort to stop them.
So long he is on his game, stop them he will.
2. Ryan McDonagh
The NHL ranked Ryan McDonagh number 17 on the the list of the Top 20 defensemen in the NHL. Last season, McDonagh was selected as the New York Rangers lone All-Star to appear at the 2017 event.
McDonagh has been a consistent shutdown defenseman with a clear offensive upside in his tenure with the Rangers. In 2016-17 McDonagh registered six goals and 36 assists for 42 points (just one point off his career-high 43 points in 2013-14).
Despite playing with rather inconsistent linemates at times, he has remained a steady driving force on the Rangers defensive end.
HERO Charts record the performance of the top skaters over the last three NHL seasons. These statistics show some of the most important figures in the game today. McDonagh has high, consistent numbers across all categories (see his comparison to Kevin Shattenkirk here).
This makes him one of the best defensemen in the league and an invaluable piece to the success of the Rangers. Based on the consistency seen from him in the past, he is a great candidate for another All-Star appearance in 2018.
1. Kevin Shattenkirk
Like McDonagh, the NHL named Kevin Shattenkirk as one of the top 20 defensemen in the NHL, coming in just above his new team captain at 15th.
Shattenkirk is solid defensively and makes an equal impact on the offensive end. The 28-year-old had 13 goals and 43 assists as a part of the St. Louis Blues and Washington Capitals rosters last season.
In his 19 games with the Capitals during the regular season, he had two goals and 12 assists for 14 points. This carried over into the postseason where he registered a goal and six assists in 13 games.
This year will be a homecoming for Shattenkirk, who grew up just north of Manhattan in Westchester, NY. He had the best season of his career last year despite playing on two separate teams.
Perhaps best of all, he plays a game very reliant on generating offense out of the defensive end. This is something that will cause him to thrive in New York.
Next: New defensive mindset will prove to be for the best
Shattenkirk having the ability to grow alongside another defenseman who plays a similar style as he does on a team that does best when they play a dump-and-chase game means that he could be even better this year.
If he is, there is no doubt he’ll headed to Tampa Bay.