DETROIT, MI - MARCH 07: Pavel Buchnevich #89 of the New York Rangers pounds gloves with teammates on the bench following his first period goal during an NHL game against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on March 7, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 07: Neal Pionk #44 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck along the boards followed by Christoffer Ehn #70 of the Detroit Red Wings during an NHL game at Little Caesars Arena on March 7, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Dave Reginek/NHLI via Getty Images)
Notes on the Detroit game
We didn’t do a full recap of the game versus the Red Wings so here are some thoughts. It was notable as a comeback game for Henrik Lundqvist and a continuation of the revival of Pavel Buchnevich.
There is something going on with Chris Kreider. He played barely 14 minutes and was benched for extended periods in the last two periods. He has scored only two goals in his last fifteen games and has one assist in his last five games. At a time when a veteran player would be expected to rise to a leadership role, he has basically vanished. It’s disappointing and considering his contractual status, it’s even more perplexing. If he is hurt, that could explain it, but it it appears he is not. David Quinn basically said that others were playing better.
if he is willing to take a hometown “discount” it is the effect his departure has had on the Rangers’ top line. Zibanejad is an exceptional talent, but surrounded by mediocrity, he is reduced to trying to do too much. He played much of the last two periods with
. With only one goal in his last nine games (eight without Zuccarello), his season is crashing to a halt and you could see the frustration in his postgame interview.
You want another argument for re-signing Mats Zuccarello? The power play has been god awful, scoreless in their last 16 chances. While an inept power play helps their lottery hopes, this is getting ridiculous.
As bad as the power play has been, the penalty kill has excelled. They have killed off their last 16 penalties and have allowed only two power play goals in their last seven games.
Neal Pionk had another tough game and he could find himself a trade chip this summer. With the resurgence of Tony DeAngelo and the positive debuts of Libor Hajek and Ryan Lindgren, the team will find itself with a surplus of defensemen next season. DeAngelo has issues that make him a doubtful trade target and there is little or no chance of dealing Shattenkirk, Smith or Staal. Pionk may be Jeff Gorton’s best option as he looks to improve this team by trade.
There’s been a lot of discussion on this site about the future of Ranger goaltending. With the possibility of three NHL quality goalies in the organization next season (Lundqvist, Alexandar Georgiev and Igor Shestyorkin), what are the odds that one will be moved? The good news is that the Rangers don’t have to have the answers before the season starts. In all likelihood, the team will wait and see if Shestyorkin is ready and will probably give him his North American start in the AHL. if he lives up to the hype, the team will probably look to deal Georgiev. As good as the young Bulgarian is, back-up goaltenders in the NHL are not hard to find and a Lundqvist/Shestyorkin combo is what we will see for the next two years. And no, Lundqvist is not going to waive his no movement clause or terminate his contract and we shouldn’t criticize him for not doing so.
Pavel Buchnevich has already set a career high in goals scored with 15, but he is well off his career average in assists. In fact, this could be the first season in his professional career (KHL and NHL) that he has more goals than assists. A RFA after this season, he has a lot to play for over the last 15 games of the season.
Brendan Lemieux had a two assist game and is looking to be one of the steals of the trade deadline. He has a goal and two assists, same as Kevin Hayes.
Ponder this. The Colorado Avalanche are out of the playoffs right now, meaning that they could very possibly end up with the top two picks in the NHL Entry Draft if the ping pong balls fall their way.
Ponder this too. The Columbus Blue Jackets rolled the dice and went all in for the playoffs this season. They are two points out of a wild card spot and they could end up missing the playoffs and losing Artemi Panarin, Sergei Bobrovsky, Matt Duchene, Ryan Dzingel and Adam McQuaid to free agency along with the Anthony Duclair, Julius Bergman, Vitaly Abramov and Jonathan Davidsson as well as the first, fourth and seventh 2019 draft picks as well as their second round picks in 2020 and 2021, all given up in trades. Yikes.
So, what is more important? Is it a handful of wins to finish up the season and restore some self esteem to a battered bunch of Blueshirts or is it a top five pick who will be an NHL-ready impact player in less than a year? Don’t forget that in 2017 the difference between the 5th and 7th picks in the draft was Elias Pettersson and Lias Andersson.
