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New York Rangers: Playing for a job next season

By Steve Paulus

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 06: The New York Rangers celebrate after defeating the Boston Bruins 4-3 in the shootout at Madison Square Garden on February 6, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 06: The New York Rangers celebrate after defeating the Boston Bruins 4-3 in the shootout at Madison Square Garden on February 6, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: New York Rangers Goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) makes a save off the stick of Montreal Canadiens Center Max Domi (13) during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers on March 1, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – MARCH 01: New York Rangers Goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) makes a save off the stick of Montreal Canadiens Center Max Domi (13) during the second period of the National Hockey League game between the Montreal Canadiens and the New York Rangers on March 1, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by Joshua Sarner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Sure things

There are a few players who are guaranteed to be on on the Rangers roster come September.   Of course, if someone makes Gorton an offer he can’t refuse, anyone can be traded (except Henrik Lundqvist).

Goalies

  • Henrik Lundqvist – With two more years left on his deal and a full No Movement Clause, the King is not going anywhere.  You can be sure his workload will be reduced as he gets older, but his competitiveness will not wane.

Forwards

  • Mika Zibanejad – He’s under a longterm contract and is the best player on the team.  He stays. Hey, who doesn’t want to see him dishing passes to Artemi Panarin?
  • Brendan Lemieux – Lemieux is the prototype of the Quinn type of player.  He’s a great teammate and an agitator.  He makes the Rangers a tougher team to play against. He’s a RFA and the question is what kind of deal he will command.
  • Jesper Fast – The versatile forward is a free agent after next season.  He’s perfect to keep as a role model for the younger players, but could be gone at the trade deadline.
  • Filip Chytil – It’s clear that the team is committed to Chytil and considering he will be on ly 20 years old next season, he will be given time to grow.  Look for Quinn to ride him  hard over the next three weeks and give him a lot of minutes.
  • Brett Howden – Although Howden just cannot score lately, his ability to win faceoffs and his overall game warrants a long tenure on Broadway. It’s looks like management loves his leadership and grit so he is a keeper.
  • Lias Andersson – This could be a make or break season for Andersson.  While the Rangers are fully committed to him, if he continues to be nothing more than a fourth line center,  Gorton may look to deal him to get the memory of a wasted pick out of the system.  The question remains, if the Rangers had known that they would be getting Brett Howden from Tampa, would they have taken Andersson in the draft as a character pick?
  • Pavel Buchnevich – The revival of Pavel continues.  He’s smiling and shooting more and seems to have found a home in Quinn’s system.  The key question moving forward is  what the RFA deserves contractually.  If he continues to play this way for the rest of the season, the team may try to lock him on a longterm deal.  If not, a bridge deal is a certainty.
  • Ryan Strome –  Strome has another year on a favorable contract ($3.1 million) before he becomes a RFA in 2020.   He’s taken his play to another level as a second line center and could have a long future in New York.  There’s no reason not to keep him.

Defense

  • Kevin Shattenkirk – The veteran isn’t going anywhere.  He has two more years on his contract and a modified no trade clause.   Although they would love to unload his contract, his reputation as a defensive liability  won’t help in finding a taker. If he can revive his game next season, they may seek to deal him at the deadline and eat some of the contract.
  • Brendan Smith – With two more years at $4.35 million per year, he isn’t going anywhere.  That said, Quinn loves his versatility and team spirit.  He will be an expensive back-up on defense.
  • Marc Staal – Staal has two more years at $5.7 million per on his deal with a no movement clause.  He’s a candidate for a buyout, but would cost the Rangers $1.2 million in cap space for four years.  It’s much more likely he will be bought out after next season.  He’s another big contract they would like to move, but probably won’t be able to.
  • Tony DeAngelo – As good as DeAngelo has been this season, I don’t believe that anyone would be willing to trade for him.  His reputation is still dicey and unless the Rangers are willing to give him away, he will remain a Blueshirt.   At any rate, he’s become an asset on the power play and he has steadied h is defense.  Gorton will want to keep him for no other reason than to show a positive return on the Stepan deal.  He’s another RFA so the length of his new contract will be a sure indicator of how highly the Rangers think of him.
  • Brady Skjei – For all of his faults and issues, Skjei has been better this season and considering he is signed through 2024, he is not going anywhere.
  • Libor Hayek – The young Czech has proven that he can play in the NHL.  The only question is how long it will take for him to become a top pair defenseman.
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