New York Rangers: Where is the offense coming from?

When the Rangers acquired Kevin Shattenkirk on July 1st, many believed that the team became perennial contenders. However, with the trade of Derek Stepan the question is, is the Rangers offense good enough to get to June?

The expectations are high for this New York Rangers team. Having a legitimate top four defense is something that the Rangers have lacked for a long time. With the defensive problem finally solved, many believe that no more work needs to happen on this team.

However, the Rangers are now missing a crucial piece to the puzzle. That piece is a number one center. If General Manager Jeff Gorton does not fix this problem, this Rangers team, despite the big offseason acquisition, will see another early exit from the playoffs.

Where did it go?

Jeff Gorton made it clear that this off-season would involve significant re-tooling. The first move that indicated that was the trade of Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta to Arizona, for the 7th overall pick and Anthony DeAngelo.

The trade itself is not the problem. The deal benefits the Rangers in the long term. However, with the move, a massive hole was created within the lineup. This weak point, the number one center has yet to be fixed despite numerous rumors going around that say otherwise.

Combine a big gap in the lineup with an already mediocre offense, and you will quickly notice that the Rangers have more problems than many already thought.

The highlight of the Rangers scoring last season was Michael Grabner. While his production was a pleasant surprise to many fans, it became concerning that he was leading the offense as opposed to players like Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello. Now if you take away Stepan who contributed 55 points to the team and played 81 games and now there is a problem.

The Solution

The obvious answer that would resolve a lot of problems is to get a good center. The Rangers are in desperate need for a center. By just adding a dynamic forward to work with the wingers around him, the games of declining players like Rick Nash could improve significantly.

The cost of getting a center may be too steep for the Rangers. The Rangers newest group of prospects is most certainly off-limits. So that leaves a limited bunch. Sure, Gorton could trade Nash, but he would be a player that would benefit from a new center. This leaves the Rangers with a few options. Some of which are more welcoming ideas than others. This list of players includes controversial defenseman Marc Staal, all the way to potential trade bait Kevin Hayes.

What the Future Holds

This team can go in so many directions this year. Make no mistake about it; the defense will likely be the most consistent part of this group. With the biggest questions coming from the guys up front, rough times could be ahead. If the big time players who usually score don’t find the back of the net as much as they should, a move may happen unexpectedly.

Next: New York Rangers: How Alain Vigneault could jeopardize the season

The window is closing for Lundqvist rapidly. At age 35, he might not have much left in his tank to continue being the backbone. If the flaws on this team are exposed at any point, Jeff Gorton and his team must act immediately and get Lundqvist and the Rangers the help they need.

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