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New York Rangers: The post lockout march madness bracket building block region

By Nicholas Zararis

NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 19: Brett Howden #21, Vladislav Namestnikov #90 and Vinni Lettieri #95 of the New York Rangers talk during a break in the action against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on March 19, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - MARCH 19: Brett Howden #21, Vladislav Namestnikov #90 and Vinni Lettieri #95 of the New York Rangers talk during a break in the action against the Detroit Red Wings at Madison Square Garden on March 19, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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CALGARY, AB – MARCH 15: New York Rangers Center Mika Zibanejad (93) is waived out of the face-off by a linesman during the second period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the New York Rangers on March 15, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – MARCH 15: New York Rangers Center Mika Zibanejad (93) is waived out of the face-off by a linesman during the second period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the New York Rangers on March 15, 2019, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Number 2 seed Mika Zibanejad VS number 15 seed Carl Hagelin

Even though Mika Zibanejad was originally a draft pick of the Ottawa Senator’s organization, the Swede has emerged as a building block for the Rangers of the future. The former number six overall pick is on pace for the first 70 point season from a New York player since the 2011-2012 season. Zibanejad may be the best pure talent the team has had since Jaromir Jagr left for the KHL in 2008

On the other end of the spectrum is two time Stanley Cup champion and depth forward Carl Hagelin. Although New York was priced out of the Michigan product’s services following the 2014-2015 season, Hagelin had a series of important moments with the team during its playoff runs. The speedster was famously suspended during the 2012 postseason for a hit against the Ottawa Senators that really shouldn’t have been a suspendable hit.

While Hagelin was a part of the teams that went deeper into the playoffs, Zibanejad is a key building block of the team going forward.

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