With the New York Rangers just a hair past the quarter mark of the season with 25 games played, they’re a bit closer to when they need to decide whether or not they should embrace the tank.
At the time of writing, the New York Rangers sit third in the Metropolitan division, a feat that has perhaps surprised more than just the fans. While in a playoff position, the Rangers certainly have a few players who would be considered the “most important piece”. However, you cannot say for sure which side of the fence the Rangers currently stand on. In the case that the Rangers bottom out and play sub .500% hockey until January 1st, you could say they are no longer a contender. In the case that the team continues to play competitive hockey until the new year, then perhaps they continue to play that way.
How the rest of 2018 plays out is a massive factor in deciding what the Rangers will do. Not only will the prime goal of the team change, going from making some playoff noise to drafting high, the players who are at the forefront of the team will also change.
Keeping the wins coming
In the case that the Rangers continue to play consistent hockey and keep pace with the other teams in the Metropolitan, they can certainly be a contender. They have demonstrated that they can play a really high intensity, exciting game. Players like Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, and Kevin Hayes are all having very solid years statistically. Kreider, on pace for a 40 goal season; Zibanejad’s projections look to have him breaching the 60 point mark for the first time in his career; and Kevin Hayes also looking to hit the 60 point plateau amidst rumors that his time in New York may be ending.
Here is why none of those three would be the headliner.
Henrik Lundqvist. The franchise goaltender, played two of the worst seasons of his career from 2016 to April of this past season. Many had considered him tapped out, merely a shell of his former self. Certainly, Lundqvist is not the annual Vezina candidate that he was in his prime. Despite that, Lundqvist is playing a very solid game this season compared to the last two years.
As the team continues to welcome an influx of youth including Lias Andersson, Filip Chytil, Neal Pionk, and Tony DeAngelo, they still need a veteran leader with a pedigree like Lundqvist.
Off to an excellent start, Lundqvist is 9-7 with a .921 save percentage. You would be hard pressed to find a New York Ranger more devoted to winning than Lundqvist.
Embrace the tank
If the Rangers lose a little bit of footing, or perhaps the youth just gets beaten down and cannot perform like they have been for the opening 20+ games this season, they could absolutely change how they will play for the rest of the year. They could start by devoting a little more ice time to the inexperienced players like Chytil and Andersson. The Rangers could also make the smart move and ship off some assets like Kevin Hayes, who is in a contract year after signing a one year deal last summer, or moving Mats Zuccarello to a team looking to add quality scoring depth.
Of course, with the focal points of the team being shaken up, it raises an important question; Who becomes the player to pay attention to? The answer boils down to the youth. Regardless of whether it is Andersson, Chytil, Pionk, or maybe even Alexandar Georgiev, they are the future. The New York Rangers would be foolish to play games with these young players in a losing season.
The season has yet to be decided for the New York Rangers, and it may not be decided for a considerable amount of time. However, the players who will become the most important on the roster are ones that you may expect, and others you may not.