Aside from Henrik Lundqvist, no one should enjoy the improved New York Rangers’ blue line more than captain Ryan McDonagh. He has an elite new partner in Kevin Shattenkirk. Just as important, however, is what the Rangers won’t need from him anymore.
As last season began, Ryan McDonagh headlined one of the worst defenses in the NHL. Aging veterans Dan Girardi, Marc Staal, and Kevin Klein rounded out the team’s top four. Furthermore, the team had no powerplay quarterback after losing Keith Yandle to free agency.
Since nobody knew what to expect from rookie Brady Skjei or Colorado castoff Nick Holden, the Rangers made McDonagh responsible for leading the blue line in all situations. He was the primary puck mover. He had to run the powerplay.
Skjei’s breakout and Jeff Gorton’s trade for Brendan Smith took a little weight off McDonagh’s shoulders by season’s end. That said, the captain still had to carry a declining Girardi all season and through the playoffs.
Fast forward to present day, the Rangers have so many appealing young options that a full 10 defensemen made it through the entire preseason schedule.
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Get a move on
McDonagh spent much of last year tasked with carrying New York’s transition game on his back. He played Samwise Gamgee to Girardi’s Frodo Baggins with the puck starring as the one ring.
Corsi (CF%) is the percentage of shot attempts a team averages. We can use it to measure just how much covering for Girardi held McDonagh back last season.
New York’s captain played roughly 1,015 five on five minutes in 16-17. He spent 779 of those minutes with Girardi and posted a 43.4 CF% during that time. In the remaining 236 five on five minutes McDonagh played away from Girardi, his CF% jumped to 55.0.
McDonagh’s new partner Kevin Shattenkirk boasts a career five on five CF% of 53.7.
McDonagh’s pairing won’t be solely responsible for keying the Rangers’ transition game this season either. With Girardi and Klein off the roster and neither Staal nor Holden locks for starting jobs, the Rangers can dress six puck moving defensemen at once if they want.
Alain Vigneault’s fondness for veterans is the only thing standing between Staal, Holden, and the press box. Young talents Tony DeAngelo, Neal Pionk, and Ryan Graves have demonstrably outplayed them this preseason.
Even if Staal and Holden manage to cling to the third pairing to begin the year, they’ll play limited minutes. Skjei and Smith have supplanted them. Sooner or later, some combination of DeAngelo, Pionk, and Graves will too.
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Special teams galore
Ryan McDonagh played 238 powerplay minutes in 16-17. No other Ranger defenseman totaled more than 110. Kevin Shattenkirk’s arrival means McDonagh won’t spend nearly as much time on the man advantage in 17-18.
That’s good news for McDonagh, even if his point totals drop. Allowing Shattenkirk to take over as the primary powerplay quarterback helps keep McDonagh much fresher for the rest of the game. A stronger, more energized McDonagh should make opposing stars shudder.
McDonagh lead Ranger defensemen in even strength, powerplay, and penalty killing minutes in 16-17. That’s a lot to ask from one player over 82 games plus playoffs. An aging blue line forced New York’s hands last year, but it’s not the case this season.
In addition to Shattenkirk, DeAngelo and Pionk have potential as powerplay weapons. Vigneault and company could opt to give Skjei more powerplay minutes as well. Meanwhile, Smith should make an excellent complement for McDonagh on the penalty kill.
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McDonagh is obviously still a key piece of the Rangers’ blue line attack, but he might score a bigger portion of his points at even strength in 17-18. With Shattenkirk replacing Girardi, McDonagh should get used to spending five on five shifts attacking instead of defending.