New York Rangers: The team’s Christmas List

The Russian winger is a little more than a third of the way through his breakout season.

Pavel Buchnevich is blossoming into the elite goal scorer that he showed in spurts last season. Thankfully, this year, Buchnevich has not mired in the bottom six or even worse the press box. The winger has 24 points in 35 games, four more than he had all of last season in fewer games. The consistent power play time and good linemates have paid off tenfold.

Putting Buchnevich with fellow possession drivers Chris Kreider and Mika Zibenajad has kept the Rangers offense afloat. The three have combined for 26 points on the power play as the top unit for the team. Kreider and Buchnevich have developed a special rapport that made David Desharnais passable in Zibanejad’s absence.

However, Buchnevich still gets lost on the bench late in the game. Buchnevich averages 14th for the Rangers in terms of average ice time per game. He checks in at 14:43, just ahead of Jesper Fast and Michael Grabner. This is an easy fix, Buchnevich already plays on the power play, don’t separate him from his linemates late in the game.

Giving Buchnevich ice time when the game hangs in the balance has two benefits. First, he’s a good offensive player, the more ice time he gets, the more chances he has to use his wicked shot. He also gets to learn and for a young player like Buchnevich, learning is the most important thing he can do.