New York Rangers: Five things impressing us through the first four games
The New York Rangers have not been too impressive to start the season. But, there are aspects of the first four games that have stood out positively.
The New York Rangers have started off the 2017-18 season in less than desirable fashion, going 1-3-0. The team hasn’t shown much offense outside of the top line, and the defense has looked extremely suspect at times, lacking structure and cohesion. Alain Vigneault has begun his usual tinkering with the lineup, taking Kevin Shattenkirk off the top pairing, replacing him with Marc Staal, and playing Nick Holden and Steven Kampfer over Brendan Smith and Anthony DeAngelo.
While all this may seem like nothing is going right, and that there isn’t any reason to be excited, that is far from true. The Rangers have had a select few players step up and shine, and other aspects of their game that looked pedestrian in recent years have looked lethal so far.
Mika Zibanejad
Back in the summer of 2016, Jeff Gorton acquired Mika Zibanejad and a 2nd round draft pick from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for fan favorite Derick Brassard and a 7th rounder. Gorton wanted to make the team younger, which he did in trading for Zibanejad, who was 23 at the time. He was also only set to make $2.625 million, which helped the Rangers shed some cap space.
Zibanejad got off to a good start, posting eight points in his first nine games, and 15 in his first 19. Then, he suffered a broken leg in a game against the Florida Panthers and missed almost two months of action. But, he picked up right where he left off, scoring two goals in his first game back. He struggled with inconsistency for the rest of the season, but still managed to put up 37 points in 56 games, and then scored nine points in 12 postseason games, leading the team.
This past offseason, the Rangers dealt Derek Stepan, their de facto number one center, to the Arizona Coyotes. This meant that Zibanejad would have to step up and be the new number one. The Rangers showed their belief in him by signing him to a 5 year, $26.75 million contract.
So far, Zibanejad has not disappointed. Through the first four games of the season, he has scored five goals, good for the team lead. He has looked dominant as the top line center, flanked by Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich. Zibanejad has absolutely looked like a top center to start the season, and it looks as though his contract may be a steal for the Rangers in the near future.
Pavel Buchnevich
Pavel Buchnevich is another young player that the Rangers needed to take a big step forward. Drafted in the 3rd round of the 2013 NHL Draft, the Cherepovets native spent four years playing in the KHL, first for Severstal Cherepovets, and then briefly for SKA Saint Petersburg. After the 2015-16 KHL season ended, Buchnevich signed his entry level contract with the Rangers.
Buchnevich started off the 2016-17 season hot, putting up four points in his first four games, and eight in his first 10, including a goal in four straight games. After this, however, a back injury kept him out of the lineup until mid-January. When he came back, Vigneault either kept him down on the fourth line or scratched him in favor of Tanner Glass. Buchnevich managed a respectable 20 points in 41 games, but his incredible talent and sky high potential was evident.
This year, Vigneault surprised some people by putting Buchnevich on the top line, a move which has paid off in spades. Buchnevich has played like a man possessed to start the season, looking like the Rangers best forward so far. He has three assists in four games, and hasn’t scored, although he has come close several times. His passing has been incredible, and he has looked quick and strong. Buchnevich is a franchise building block, and someone who will be a skilled member of this Ranger core for, hopefully, a long time.
The power play
In years past, the New York Rangers’ power play has been a weakness, rather than a strength. They had lacked a true power play quarterback since the days of Brian Leetch. Keith Yandle would have fulfilled that role, had Alain Vigneault properly utilized him.
Last season, New York’s power play in the regular season was actually good. It operated at a rate of 20.2%, good for 11th in the league, with the recently departed Derek Stepan leading the team with 18 power play points. However, once the playoffs rolled around, their power play was downright awful.
The Rangers’ front office came into this past offseason knowing that they needed to address the struggling power play. To do this, they brought in top free agent Kevin Shattenkirk, one of the premier power play quarterbacks in the league. They also acquired young defenseman Anthony DeAngelo.
So far, these moves have greatly paid off. The power play has looked absolutely lethal, with Shattenkirk looking like the power play quarterback the Rangers have so desperately coveted. Mika Zibanejad and Pavel Buchnevich have also looked fantastic. Zibanejad leads the NHL in power play goals, with four. Buchevich has been an excellent distributor on the power play.
Mats Zuccarello
Mats Zuccarello has been a constant for the New York Rangers since 2013-14. The diminutive Norwegian winger wears his heart on his sleeve, and constantly gives his all every night. Zuccarello was rewarded for his play and leadership by being named an alternate captain. Many fans thought this was an accolade that was long overdue.
Zuccarello started the season on a line with Rick Nash and Filip Chytil. In the second game of the season, against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Zuccarello went off, scoring a goal and adding three helpers, for a total of four points. He is tied for the team lead in points and assists.
Zuccarello almost never has an off night, and it’s really nice to be able to count on that kind of consistency from a player. Zuccarello is a beloved player in New York, and he is having yet another impressive start to the season.
Kevin Shattenkirk
Kevin Shattenkirk is a fantastic story for Ranger fans. The New Rochelle native, who grew up a massive Ranger fan, inked a four year, $26.6 million deal, leaving money and a lot longer term on the table in order to come home. He was brought in as a bona fide top pairing defenseman, expected to add a new dynamic to the power play and the team itself.
Four games in, Shattenkirk has delivered. He has made the previously pedestrian power play look like a lethal unit. He has a goal and three assists, all on the power play.
Shattenkirk is the top pairing offensive defenseman that the New York Rangers have needed since Brian Leetch. He has been extremely impressive to start the season, transforming the power play into one of the best in the league. But, Alain Vigneault is up to his usual tricks, taking Shattenkirk off the top pairing, first placing him with Brady Skjei, and then with Marc Staal *insert eye roll*. Hopefully he learns from his mistakes (this never happens), and he places him back with McDonagh.
Next: Situations where trading Rick Nash makes sense
All in all, the Rangers haven’t been very impressive to start the season. But, they’ve only played four games out of 82, so there is still time to turn things around. Let’s hope they do. Until then, at least we can take solace in Zibanejad, Buchnevich, Zuccarello, Shattenkirk, and the power play.