New York Rangers: What happens if center depth gets even thinner?
The Rangers center depth is already a major cause for concern. If Mika Zibanejad or Kevin Hayes were to suffer a long-term injury, it’d be a disaster.
Head Coach Alain Vigneault thought the Rangers center depth was so poor it was preferable to run 11 forwards and seven defenseman. For a week and a half, three centers were preferable to four. The three centers the team does have, Mika Zibanejad, Kevin Hayes and David Desharnais, are all solid hockey players.
The Depth:
Zibenejad, through 18 games has been the Rangers best player. The 24-year old is playing at a point a game pace and driving a revitalized power play. He has also taken winger Pavel Buchnevich under his wing, and their rapport on the ice shows. In Tuesday night’s game, the chemistry fueled a furious four-goal third period to come from behind and win.
Kevin Hayes is slowly beginning to find his game although he has been misused. The center has trudged through a large amount of defensive zone starts even if his game isn’t conducive to it. Hayes has seven points in 18 games, with no power play time at all. Hayes has shown the ability to play well on the man advantage in the past.
David Desharnais is nothing flashy, he is a dependable veteran forward who is competent in the offensive zone. The center is already more halfway to his point total from last season, with eight points through 18 games. Desharnais has been as advertised, and on a one year, one million dollar contract has been worth every penny.
The Problem
The Rangers trade of Derek Stepan left the team with a void in the lineup. Stepan was able to be rolled out in any situation in any zone and hold his own.
The players the Rangers currently have are being asked to play above their means. Zibenejad has never played at a point a game pace in his six-year career. Kevin Hayes is being forced into being a penalty killer and a defensive zone specialist.
Through 13 games the Rangers have either scored in bunches or not at all. The team will be in a horrific situation if Hayes or Zibenejad misses time. If an injury were to strike the thin lineup, the Rangers wouldn’t have a chance.
Filip Chytil could fill in for either with a few lineup tweaks. Chytil wouldn’t kill penalties and could play on the power play if needed. The 18-year-old isn’t one of Vigneault’s favorites, so he’d need to prove himself quickly. There is also center Vinni Letteri, who showed flashes during training camp and the preseason.
The promotion from within is preferable to an external move because it won’t cost anything. What the Rangers shouldn’t do is sign a veteran off the street like they did Daniel Paille in 2016. There is always the possibility of a trade, but that means giving up assets. There are trade candidates out there like Matt Duchene and Alex Galchenyuk, but neither will come cheap.
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Unless the Rangers are willing to fundamentally reorganize their team, they won’t be trading for a big name center. The Rangers will have to hold out hope for a healthy season, which is pretty much impossible in the NHL. If Hayes or Zibenejad gets injured, things will get ugly fast.