New York Rangers: Why doesn’t Andrew Desjardins fit?
The New York Rangers signed center Andrew Desjardins to a professional tryout contract Wednesday. Here are some reasons why he doesn’t fit in New York
Andrew Desjardins has been offered a chance with a spot with the Rangers with a pro tryout contract. Desjardins, an NHL veteran of eight seasons, spent time with both the San Jose Sharks as well as the Chicago Blackhawks. Once held in high regards as a solid 4th line center known for his defensive, physical game.
In his NHL career, Desjardins has fought 30 times, showcasing his physical nature. Despite putting up solid physical numbers, Desjardins offensive skill leaves something to be desired. Having career highs peaking at 17 points, he sits below what former fourth line pivots have provided. Both Dominic Moore and Oscar Lindberg produced near 30 point seasons for the Rangers, while being on the plus side of things defensively. Desjardins, has been a minus the past 2 seasons, despite limited ice time. Along with the somewhat misleading minus, the Ontario native also has only produced 16 points in his last three seasons. In those three seasons, Desjardins had played 136 minutes with the Chicago Blackhawks.
Stats don’t lie
According to Hockeyviz.com, Desjardins spent good time with second and third liners. Desjardins spent much of his time against third and fourth liners.
With Desjardins on the ice, his team suffered a lack of goal scoring, averaging a goal per hour. On that same note, Desjardins did not spend time preventing goals, as his team allowed approximately 2.3 goals per hour while he was on the ice. Now where this is an improvement, is that Chicago allowed more when he was off the ice (these stats are based on Desjardins last NHL season). If you were to compare Desjardins to any player from recent memory for the Rangers, Tanner Glass comes to mind.
Glass posted scarily similar numbers in the single year comparison and over the course of the past three seasons. Glass produced little to no offense, while contributing negatively to the scoreline. The only positive standout point that Desjardins presents for New York is his minuscule increase in shot creation/suppression. Over the course of the past three seasons, Desjardins and his on ice teammates created approximately 52 shots. Him and his line mates allowed 55. Glass and his line mates allowed 58 and took approximately 46.
What really is his role?
Desjardins fits a shockingly similar profile to the player that was often considered the single biggest anchor on the ice. Even then, Glass doubled the hit totals of Desjardins, actually bringing a physical number to his game. Desjardins is not exactly an elite faceoff center either, with his faceoff percentage sitting at 52.8% career. For comparison, Dom Moore and his five seasons as a Ranger sit around a 55% for faceoffs. Moore had taken about 2500 faceoffs compared to Desjardins 1600.
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In an offensive system like Alain Vigneault’s, a defensive transition is absolutely key to the teams game, and Andrew Desjardins is not the man for that. Tanner Glass could not succeed in a system built around every skill he did not have, and neither will Andrew Desjardins. The highly physical, non offensive role will be a thing of the past. Due to this, if he earns a spot on the roster, it will likely be in the press box.