New York Rangers: The simple way to align the defense
The New York Rangers have struggled to put together consistent defensive pairings this season. Let’s fix that!
Alain Vigneault somehow managed to turn a New York Rangers defense that finally looked golden into a mish-mosh of struggling defensemen. Kevin Shattenkirk signed with the Rangers to play with Ryan McDonagh, and now each of the defensemen have had their turn with just about every defenseman. I’m pretty sure McDonagh played with Tom Poti at one point this season.
However, not all hope is lost. Brady Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk seemed to have found a home together. Marc Staal is playing his best hockey in years, entrenched into the third defensive pair. New York has some semblance of an idea of how to organize their defensemen.
Let’s finish the job.
First Pair: Ryan McDonagh-Brendan Smith
Look, I am well aware of the fact that Brendan Smith has struggled this season. Smith has not been himself, looking weak on defense, and continuing to play an average at best offensive game.
But the Rangers committed to four seasons of Brendan Smith, a defenseman who as recently as last season showed he can be an excellent shutdown defenseman. So, the Rangers should use Brendan Smith.
Considering the alternatives are Nick Holden or Steven Kampfer, Brendan Smith is the best player to slot in with Ryan McDonagh. The pair has poor possession numbers while together (43.18 CF%), but those numbers can go up with more familiarity and with Alain Vigneault not making them the only shutdown pairing.
Smith’s defensive game should allow McDonagh to break out his offensive game some more as well.
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Second Pair: Brady Skjei-Kevin Shattenkirk
Let me preface this section by stating that if the Rangers were to place Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Shattenkirk together, reuniting Brady Skjei with Brendan Smith as well, that would be swell. This is not me advocating for Skjei-Shattenkirk over those pairs in any major way.
However, I do believe right now Brady Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk look great together. Though their possession numbers are not too impressive (50.75 CF%), each looks incredibly comfortable playing with the other. And where I start to be won over on the idea of Skjei with Shattenkirk is when I think about Brady Skjei’s role here.
Not only is Skjei developing his defensive game more, but he has an excellent view of Kevin Shattenkirk’s offensive game. Skjei no longer has to provide all of the offense, but he can chip in when needed. His defensive game must grow alongside Shattenkirk, but Shattenkirk is a solid enough defenseman where it can happen naturally.
The pair look like they belong together, and it is a combo that works out for both sides. The top four can be swapped around when necessary, but these must be the top four defensemen.
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Third Pair: Marc Staal-Rangers Prospect
Nick Holden and Steven Kampfer are objectively terrible. Neither belong on an NHL roster, and the Rangers are diminishing their chances of winning games every time they take the ice. Not only are the Rangers slowing down the development paths of their youngsters by playing Holden and/or Kampfer, but they are also wasting Marc Staal’s improvements made this season.
So, the Rangers should do the following: Nick Holden becomes the 7th defenseman, Steven Kampfer is scratched, and one of Anthony DeAngelo, Ryan Graves, or Neal Pionk becomes the sixth defenseman.
Marc Staal’s new-found steady (??!!) defensive game will allow the youngster to play sheltered, simple minutes and get used to the NHL. Be it DeAngelo (power-play) or Pionk (penalty-kill) the youngster can be eased into specialty teams minutes as well.
Next: Five thoughts through 15 games
Thus, the Rangers get better, their youth develops, and we can appreciate Marc Staal’s season. Doesn’t that sound nice?