New York Rangers roundtable: Our Blueshirt Valentines
The New York Rangers have a lot of likable players. Our team at Blue Line Station wrote about our personal favorites on this Valentine’s Day.
Part of being a fan of any sport is having favorite players. As it pertains to hockey, these are players that emulate exactly what you would want in your prototypical player. You feel a certain attachment to them as if they are someone you know and care about deeply.
And what a better time to celebrate that then on Valentine’s Day, a day specifically for celebrating a relationship with somebody who you care about deeply.
Here at Blue Line Station, many of our writers got together to discuss their favorite player; their Rangers’ Valentine, if you will. If you really loved us, you would read on.
John Williams- Mats Zuccarello
How can you not fall in love with a player like Mats Zuccarello? He is the smallest guy on the ice most nights. According to NHL.com, the Norwegian stands in at 5-foot-8 but is almost undoubtedly shorter. He also weighs about 180 lbs soaking wet. Yet, he still goes out of his way to stand up to opposing players twice his size.
Not only does he represent the team’s heart and sole, but the alternate captain has also tallied at least 59 points in three of his last four seasons entering 2017-18. The little man does it all and it is infectious.
But on this Valentines Day, my relationship with Zuccarello, as well as many other Rangers fan’s relationship with him, is a bit in flux. With all of the trade rumors surrounding him, it almost seems like this relationship is doomed to end at some point in the near future.
It’s a complicated situation, but if and when it ends, I won’t be sad that it’s over, I’ll just be happy that it happened.
Nick Zararis- Mika Zibanejad
The Rangers trade of Derick Brassard for Mika Zibanejad back in 2016 is looking better every single day.
The six-year NHL veteran plays the minutes eating center that every successful NHL team features. In his two years in New York, he’s been far and away the team’s best center. If it were not for injuries in each season, his numbers would be even better.
What separates him from other centers the Rangers have had in the past is his willingness to shoot without hesitation. Zibanejad drives possession for the team, which makes his teammates much better.
Nowhere does his talent shine more than as the trigger man on the first power play unit. Next year, on a healthy unit, a 70 point season would not be too difficult.
Zibanejad is my Valentine for being an exciting forward that is fun to watch. Seeing the center rip a shot from the circle and celebrate below the goal line have been some of the most fun moments of this entire season. He also gives Mats Zuccarello the best hugs, if that doesn’t get you in the
mood for Valentine’s day, I don’t know what will.
Victoria Ranieri-Henrik Lundqvist
When it comes to my beloved Rangers, Henrik Lundqvist is at the top of the list.
What’s not to love about King Henrik? For over a decade he has poured his heart and soul into this team. He was virtually a nobody when he first played with the Rangers in 2005. Lundqvist was drafted in the seventh round with the 205th overall pick and nothing was really expected of him. Then, in his rookie season, stole the starting job from veteran Kevin Weeks and went 30-12-9 in 53 games played. That year, he cemented himself as a favorite in the hearts of Ranger fans everywhere.
What Henrik Lundqvist has done is straight out of a fairy tale. It is because of him that the Rangers have been as successful as they are over the last 12 years. Only once in his career have the Rangers missed the playoffs. He has had 30 wins or more in all but one season he has played in, with the exception of the lockout-shortened season where he only started 43 games. He has led the team to two Eastern Conference Finals and a Stanley Cup Final. Most importantly, Henrik Lundqvist has always believed in this team and has loved being a New York Ranger.
I can’t imagine the Rangers without Henrik Lundqvist. He has been the face of the franchise for so long it’s hard to imagine a time without him. Even at almost 36 years old, he is playing at the top of his game. He recently stated that he will stick with New York through a rebuild, possibly ending his career without the Stanley Cup that he covets so deeply.
Lundqvist is truly a remarkable man and goaltender, and will forever be one of my favorites for what he has done on and off the ice.
George Ruggiero-Kevin Hayes
We all know that professional athletes are best known for their play. While one of my favorite players is a great player, he’s just as well-known for his antics and personality off the ice. Kevin P. Hayes is a budding star on the ice and a goofball off it.
Hayes has quickly turned into a solid two-way center for the Rangers. In being forced into his current role, Hayes has adapted his game to suit the situations that he has been put in by the coaching staff. The downside is his lowered production and ice time; this season, Hayes is on track to regress from his success last year.
However, it’s Hayes’ off-ice personality that has made him so endearing. He is always seen online, be that on Twitter or Instagram or as a star on the Rangers’ social media videos. His relationships with fellow young players Brady Skjei and Jimmy Vesey lead to some comical moments that make Hayes one of my favorite Rangers.
Daniel Carrozzi- The Letter
It is never easy to look up and read the writing on the wall, even when you know what it says. If you have not yet read “The Letter”, please direct a moment of your time here.
Delivered to Rangers fans worldwide on February 8th, 2018, “The Letter” announced the organization’s intention to be sellers at the upcoming NHL trade deadline. As rumored throughout the media, it affirmed to the fanbase and the rest of the league that the Rangers were indeed open for business.
For an organization that is notorious for keeping its plans close to the vest, “The Letter” was a breath of fresh air. It assuaged the fears forming over the team’s direction following several key injuries.
Must read: Making sense of the Brendan Smith situation
Despite those injuries and the continued deterioration of the play on the ice, the Rangers remain within striking distance of a playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division. Given the actions of Rangers’ front office’s past, it was not unreasonable to expect another ill-conceived purchase at the deadline in the hopes of keeping the Rangers’ (and Henrik Lundqvist’s) championship window open.
You never want to root for your team to lose. I would love nothing more than if the Rangers went 98-0 to parade Lord Stanley down the Canyon of Heroes. However, I realize there are times where it is more beneficial in the long run to endure inferior lineups in the meantime, no matter how painful the product on ice is to watch.
However, the honeymoon phase won’t last forever and the team needs to fulfill their end of the bargain. This type of promise only works if you can deliver on it and the Rangers front office owe it to their players, and their fans to reward their faith in the vision for the future.
Sam Prevot- Brady Skjei
Anyone who knows me is not surprised to see that Brady Skjei is my Rangers Valentine this year. His talent on the ice and his kindness off the ice make him the perfect choice.
This season, he has been one of the strongest players on a depleted, struggling Rangers defense. This comes after a breakout rookie season that essentially put him on the map and cemented his place on the Rangers roster.
Off the ice, he rapidly became a fan favorite and remains humble in one of the largest sports markets in the U.S. Before and after games, you can find him stopping to sign autographs and take pictures with fans. The same goes for fan events, where the staff often pulls him away as he tries to talk to as many fans as possible. During pregame warmups, he shows his appreciation for fans that bring signs for him or wear his jersey by throwing pucks to them.
Brady Skjei is one of the brightest young stars in the Rangers future. As the team goes forward with its rebuild, Skjei should definitely be a part of the foundation. Hopefully we will see him in a Rangers’ uniform for many years to come, and I am very happy to say he is my Rangers Valentine this year.
Drew McCaffrey- Chris Kreider
My Valentine for the New York Rangers this year is left wing Chris Kreider. He’s, shockingly,
underappreciated. I don’t think he gets the credit he deserves for what he does as a top player on the Rangers.
Kreider’s speed and strength are absolutely top-tier, but there are other elements to his game
that fly under the radar. For one thing, he drives play better than almost anyone else on the
team. Over his career, he has a 51.82% Corsi and 3.95% Corsi For relative to his teammates.
But perhaps the thing I love the most about him is his shot. Kreider has a sneaky hard shot and
a deceptive release reminiscent of Marian Gaborik. His ability to shoot while mid-stride is rare,
and often catches opponents off guard.
Jen Moglia- Jesper Fast
Need to make a fast choice for your valentine this year? Look no further than number seventeen. The New York Rangers player I love is Jesper Fast! Though he doesn’t always show up on the scoresheet, he is always making a positive impact.
It’s rare that you will catch the Swede taking a penalty or out of position. In addition, there have been many instances when teammates and members of the front office have expressed how much they trust him, and how thankful they are for him.
After a great first portion of the season with 16 points (seven goals and nine assists) before December 21st, the 26-year-old unfortunately went down with a quadriceps strain. The expected timetable for his return was two to three weeks, but he returned just ten days later to appear in the Winter Classic.
It was as if distance made the heart grow fonder…or, uh, the player get better. In Fast’s return, he got the primary assist on Paul Carey’s game-opening goal. Since then, he has quietly picked up just one more point, but his game is still solid.
In addition to his normal, sound play, Fast recorded his first multi-goal game this year, with two tallies against the Carolina Hurricanes on November 22nd. The forward is just four points away from passing last year’s total for points and has already surpassed his goal total from last year, needing two more to tie his career high.
As far as assists go, five more get him tied with his total from 2016-2017, and ten more get him tied with his career high. But, whether he reaches these milestones or not, this right-wing will always have a special place in the hearts of Rangers’ fans everywhere, especially on Valentine’s Day.
Pavel Buchnevich
BLS loves Pavel Buchnevich not just for his talent, but also, and maybe even more so, for all he has overcome in his first two seasons in the league.
Buchnevich is currently out of the lineup after suffering a concussion against Toronto on February 1st. However, he started the season on the top line and immediately made an impact on the roster.
Though he was consistently putting up points, Buchnevich was bounced around from top line to the fourth line to every line in between. Despite this, he was able to still maintain his production, and, even though he’s missed games, still holds the third most points and fourth most goals and assists on the team.
Buchnevich is an asset whose talent makes the players around him better. He can make things happen on the ice. He’s a good skater who is made better by his stick handling ability. He can pass as well as he can shoot, and even more important he’s not afraid to put the puck on net.
Heck, look at what he did with Rick Nash! Pop him on a line with Buchnevich and suddenly he’s out of his scoring slump.
Next: Potential trade targets on Tampa Bay
We are loud about our appreciation of Pavel Buchnevich because he is a player that his coach has taken for granted. We see how much he has to offer and we like to see it used on the ice.