New York Rangers: Five thoughts through 15 games

Offensive Decisions

Kinda crazy how the New York Rangers’ offense took off once Alain Vigneault reunited the Chris Kreider-Mike Zibanejad-Mats Zuccarello line, huh? Let me say this as clearly as I possibly can.

Pavel Buchnevich belongs in the top six of any successful NHL team. Placing him on the fourth line is a ludicrous decision begging to hurt the team.

OK! Now that we have that out of the way, there’s some reason for confidence moving forward. Alain Vigneault broke up the “KZB” line, and the team struggled offensively. That’s what we like to call “not a coincidence!” Now, Pavel Buchnevich appears to be back for the long-haul, and the Rangers’ top line is set.

On the rest of the lines, Vigneault is starting to see what can be done. Placing Rick Nash with Kevin Hayes and Mats Zuccarello was a brilliant decision (that I have been asking for all season) and David Desharnais has performed well as the third line center.

Of course, Vigneault may not allow this to last (i.e. attempting to scratch Desharnais) but for now, the Rangers are a team that can throw their forward corps out there with the best of them. That’s important.