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New York Rangers: Centers for the opening night lineup

By Danny Jones

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first NHL goal with teammates on the bench in the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 30, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 30: Filip Chytil #72 of the New York Rangers celebrates his first NHL goal with teammates on the bench in the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 30, 2018 at Madison Square Garden in New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 07: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 7, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers went on to defeat the Rangers 5-0. With today’s win, the Flyers clinched a spot in the 2018 NHL playoffs. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 07: Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck against the Philadelphia Flyers on April 7, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Flyers went on to defeat the Rangers 5-0. With today’s win, the Flyers clinched a spot in the 2018 NHL playoffs. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images) /

The New York Rangers are clearly a rebuilding team and want to see what their young-guns can do, but Head Coach David Quinn has made it very clear he plans on starting the players that give him the best chance to win each night.

Pre-season has started, players are fighting for that final spot, and we’re officially underway with the 2018-19 season. For years the center position has been a glaring weakness for the New York Rangers. To start the 2017 season, New York had Mike Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes as their two solidified centers. After that, it was a game time decision who would fill the third and fourth roles.

J.T. Miller was a natural center but utilized too often as a winger. Paul Carey and David Desharnais showed that they can chip in at center once in a while, but their departure was an indication that it wasn’t enough to earn a spot with the rebuilding Rangers.

This season proves to be different. For the first time in a while there’s a logjam down the middle, a good problem to have. 

Centers Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil picked 7th and 21st overall in the 2017 draft, respectively, were the first two pieces picked for the new era of Rangers.

At the trade deadline last year, New York acquired established center Vladislav Namestnikov and prospect center Brett Howden from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

In addition they picked up the versatile Ryan Spooner in a trade involving Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins. Not counting the center prospects they already have (Boo Nieves, Vinni Lettieri, Steven Fogarty, Daniel Catenacci) they now have five new toys to play with.

Related Story. Mika Zibanejad and the dangers of training camp. light

But it’s no easy decision. Is it smart to go with two out of the four centers as rookies? Call up a veteran like Peter Holland from last year? Move one of the centers over to wing to make room? Here’s what I think the New York Rangers opening night roster should look like down the middle.

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