The New York Rangers have a tough issue on their hands. When a certain role on a hockey club becomes so saturated, players often have to jostle for a permanent role.
In this particular case, the New York Rangers have two above average defensemen. Both Neal Pionk and Anthony DeAngelo played last season and demonstrated some impressive qualities. Arguments have arisen surrounding both players, focusing on why they should not play. Despite both players having a considerable amount of talent between them, it seems there will only be room for one of them this season on the roster.
In five games, Pionk has been scratched for games four and five. DeAngelo has played games three and four. On October 24th, both defensemen will be 23 by the end of the 2018 calendar year.
Pionk was signed in May of 2017 as a college free agent. DeAngelo was acquired in a trade with the Arizona Coyotes along with a 7th overall pick(Lias Andersson) for Antti Raanta and Derek Stepan.
Both defensemen are currently caught in the team’s defensive logjam and in direct competition with each other for a lineup spot.
Why DeAngelo?
The highlights of DeAngelo’s game are purely offensive in nature. You would be hard pressed to argue that he is the defensive masterpiece we need to tie down our defensive loose ends. Despite the criticisms he collects for his alleged defensive inadequacies, DeAngelo boasts some of the best skating ability on the New York Rangers roster. In addition to his highly efficient skating, DeAngelo possesses an extreme talent for breakout passes.
There have been arguments presented for DeAngelo to be moved to a more offensive role, such as winger. However, a move like this risks a great deal. Development is often hindered in a position change like that, and DeAngelo may not have the skill to keep possession in tighter spaces with less time as a forward.
DeAngelo certainly can make it this season, but it is imperative for him to clean up his game defensively.
Why Pionk?
Neal Pionk was one of the most sought-after college defensemen in the spring of 2017. Despite being only 5-foot-11, Pionk has demonstrated progression for every major team he has had multiple seasons with since high school. He plays like a well composed, offensively minded backend player. He has demonstrated some wonderful ability to protect the puck and make some great passes. However, Pionk tends to survive the eye test just a bit better than DeAngelo, looking a bit better.
Despite seeming a bit better on the ice as a defenseman, Pionk has received criticisms for his absolutely horrific advanced statistics. In 31 NHL games, Pionk has played a little under 600 minutes. In that time he has a corsi% rating of 41.5. Corsi% is a measure of how many shots are generated by your team while you are on the ice versus shots generated by the opposing players while you are on the ice. A corsi% at 50% would indicate 100 shots against while on the ice and 100 shots for while on the ice.
Fortunately for Pionk, as of right now, he has played much of his time with aging defenseman Marc Staal. Whether this has anything to do with his criminally bad corsi% is yet to be seen.
Pionk needs to be deployed elsewhere to see what his fate will be. His time with Staal is not entirely fair to judge.
With both of these young defensemen in situations where ice time is key, it is certainly a tough situation for coach David Quinn. However, DeAngelo needs to clean up his defensive game, and Pionk needs to assure to the staff that he can perform under different circumstances.