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New York Rangers: Ranking the top five rookies who could make the team

By William Borowski

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 26: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2018 in New York City. The Capitals defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 26: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2018 in New York City. The Capitals defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 26: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2018 in New York City. The Capitals defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 26: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers skates against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2018 in New York City. The Capitals defeated the Rangers 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The New York Rangers don’t have a ton of expectations going into the season. However, the possibility of a few rookies making the team out of camp should be plenty to be excited about come September.

It’s no secret that the New York Rangers aren’t planning on contending this upcoming season.

With the trading of Captain Ryan McDonagh and key players in J.T. Miller, Rick Nash and Michael Grabner, they were able to receive many assets to their future. But this doesn’t mean that they should give up on the season.

There are many young players in the organization that may get a shot at playing in the NHL sooner rather than later and if that doesn’t excite every Blueshirts fan I don’t know what will.

It seems that the Rangers top-six is set in stone and their bottom-six are up in the air. The first line consists of Mika Zibanejad centering Chris Kreider and Pavel Buchnevich. The second line looks like it could be Kevin Hayes centering Vladislav Namestnikov and Mats Zuccarello. The rest is up in the air.

Ryan Spooner is a versatile forward that can play both the center position and on the wing so he can go anywhere on the third line. You would hope that Jimmy Vesey would have a larger role under head coach David Quinn but nothing is guaranteed. Jesper Fast is more likely to play on the wing with more of a fill-in role under Quinn on that third line as well. Leaving the fourth line open for business.

It’s just a matter of how the Rangers plan on using 34-year-old grinder Cody McLeod and if they would rather fill the fourth line with young players.

The Rangers’ defensive depth possesses a very similar structure to their offensive depth. Their first pairing is strong with Brady Skjei and Kevin Shattenkirk who is coming off of surgery on his left knee for a torn meniscus back in January. Their second pairing is Marc Staal and possibly Brendan Smith or Neal Pionk being the other defenseman on the second pairing. Which makes the third pairing uncertain.

Related Story. What is the team's identity moving forward?. light

The Rangers prospect pool is sneakily packed with talent. Though it isn’t the best in the league, it’s filled with role players and scorers which they have needed for quite some time. They acquired a couple of highly touted prospects in the past 2 years that have a shot at making the roster at some point this season.

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