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It’s clear, this is not David Quinn’s New York Rangers team

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Head coach David Quinn of the New York Rangers gives instructions to his players on the bench during the game against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2019 in New York City. The New York Islanders won 4-3. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 10: Head coach David Quinn of the New York Rangers gives instructions to his players on the bench during the game against the New York Islanders at Madison Square Garden on January 10, 2019 in New York City. The New York Islanders won 4-3. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 20: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates with the puck against Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 20: Artemi Panarin #9 of the Columbus Blue Jackets skates with the puck against Mats Zuccarello #36 of the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on March 20, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /

How do they get there?

The Artemi Panarin conversation keeps growing as the Russian forward nears free agency.  Signing a player like Panarin makes sense for the Rangers only if they can surround him with players who can win those battles and get him the puck.

The biggest problem for the Rangers is that the type of player that Quinn wants are not easy to get.  If you can grow them in your system starting with the draft, you have a good shot at developing the kind of roster.  Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the kind of player the Rangers have success drafting in the past (see Hugh Jessimen and Dylan McIlrath).

Interestingly enough, Lias Andersson was drafted as a character player and seems to be the prototype of the Quinn player. He’s in the AHL, but that’s so he can get a lot of playing time.  He’ll be back.

In his latest ranking of top NHL prospects, Corey Pronman of “The Athletic” (paywall) ranked Vitali Kravtov 11th overall (up from 17th pre-season).    Here’s his assessment:

"Kravtsov has been very impressive over the past 12 months in the KHL and international play. Kravtsov’s point totals haven’t been amazing this season in the KHL, but Chelyabinsk has a weak team. His game is defined by his skill. When Kravtsov has the puck, he’s looking to make something happen. He makes the flashy skill plays seem routine. His playmaking has also consistently impressed me this season. I wasn’t 100 percent on that aspect of his game going into the draft, but I think his vision is high-end now. His pace at times could be better, but he can skate fine when he gets going. The main thing with Kravtsov is improving his compete level. He can get lost on the perimeter and taken out of games physically."

It’s the last two sentences that are a concern when it comes to being coached by David Quinn because it sounds an awful lot like Pavel Buchnevich.

K’Andre Miller (#47) and Igor Shestyorkin (#1 goalie) and Olof Lindbom (#20 goalie)  are the only other Ranger prospects on Pronman’s list.  Obviously Nils Lundkvist, Nico Gross, Yegor Rykov and the prospects in Hartford have not made an impression.

On Monday, the Rangers called Ryan Lindgren up from Hartford as it appears Fredrik Claesson will be out for a while.  Lindgren was acquired from Boston in the Rick Nash deal.  This is what Dobber Prospects had to say about him at the time:  “A strong defenseman with a stay-at-home mentality. Good skater, relentless with puck battles, but not likely to light up the scoreboard.” That sure sounds like a Quinn player. It’s assumed that Lindgren will play versus Carolina.  Consider it an audition.

What to watch for

The Lindgren call-up is a signal.  Who he replaces in the lineup (Brendan Smith or Tony DeAngel)  will tell us a lot about Quinn’s feelings about the current defense corps. Once past the All-Star break, there may be more such moves.

The trade deadline will be the proof of Jeff Gorton’s commitment to David Quinn.  All of the speculation has been about the pending UFA’s (Hayes, Zuccarello & McQuaid).  Based on Quinn’s comments, I believe that the pool of trade-able players is much larger.   It will be the fastest way to get to the kind of roster that he thinks he can win with.

Next. What the Rangers need to fix the defense. dark

Any prospects in the AHL this season will have to be protected in the expansion draft in two years.  Any contending  team with a loaded NHL roster maybe willing to let a top minor league prospect , who fits the Quinn model,  go in a deadline deal.  Let the speculation begin.

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