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New York Rangers: Thoughts on the Kevin Weekes interview

By John Williams

NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 30: (L-R) NHL Network commentators Kevin Weekes and Mike Rupp speak during the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skill Competition as part of the 2016 NHL All-Star Weekend at Bridgestone Arena on January 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - JANUARY 30: (L-R) NHL Network commentators Kevin Weekes and Mike Rupp speak during the 2016 Honda NHL All-Star Skill Competition as part of the 2016 NHL All-Star Weekend at Bridgestone Arena on January 30, 2016 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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Earlier today, we released our exclusive interview with former New York Ranger and current NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes. Here is what we learned.

  • Firstly, I just want to thank Kevin Weekes and the NHL Network for cooperating with us for the interview. It was a fun experience and I’m hoping we can collaborate again in the future.
  • Weekes gave us a lot of food for thought in the interview about the New York Rangers and there were a lot of reoccurring themes that really stood out to me.
  • It seems as if Weekes is very high on Mika Zibanejad, and it sounds like the whole Rangers organization feels this way too.
  • Of the many glowing things he had to say about the Rangers’ 23-year-old center, this quote pretty much summed it up;

"For me, he has all the ability. He shoots a heavy puck. He played well in the playoffs which should give him some confidence post-injury, knowing that he can deliver and that he can play on Broadway. I think him being the number one center, that’s a big opportunity. I’m interested in seeing what that looks like for the Rangers."

  • It also sounded like he was pretty high on rookie Filip Chytil too. He noted how much the team and the organization was impressed by his skill in training camp. Jeff Gorton told him that his performance in camp pushed his resume over the top for the third line center job.
  • Weekes mentioned that 20 goals may be a realistic expectation for the rookie, depending on his usage. Understanding this helps us to see one more reason he expects the Rangers to be better than last year, even though the team lost Derek Stepan.
  • I left this interview with two impressions about the Rangers and Nick Holden.

Must read: Five thoughts before the season begins

  • Firstly, Holden has value on this trade market based on his goal and point total last season.
  • Secondly, there also may be a chance that he ends up splitting time with Tony DeAngelo on the third pair.
  • It also sounds like the Rangers would be hesitant to trade away their depth on defense.
  • With all that said, for the first time in months, I don’t think that Holden is going anywhere any time soon.
  • On the goalie side of things, Weekes thinks his former teammate Henrik Lundqvist will bounce back, but it is also important to note how he spoke about Ondrej Pavelec.
  • From the way he sounded, it seems as if Ondrej Pavelec’s role with the team will be just as big as Cam Talbot and Antti Raanta’s former roles.
  • Some have speculated that Lundqvist would have to shoulder a larger role, but it sounds like that may not be true. He mentioned that if anybody could help Pavelec, who appears to be in pretty good shape, it is Benoit Allaire.

Next: Exclusive Q&A with Kevin Weekes

  • Weekes mentioned that he expects the Rangers to make the playoffs. He said that anything less than a conference finals berth, or at least a really good second round series, was a bust. I think that echoes the organizations expectations pretty well too.
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