It’s been 640 days since “The Letter” was sent out by Jeff Gorton and Glen Sather notifying New York Rangers fans of the end of an unsuccessful era. “We ask you to remain by our side as we undertake this exciting new chapter filled with promise and change”. Now, how will the lineup pan out in the future years?
The pieces are nearly set, large in part to the commitment of the front office in realizing realize the New York Rangers of this past decade did not have what it takes to hoist Lord Stanley’s cup.
Players like Adam Fox, Nils Lundkvist, Zac Jones, and K’Andre Miller have been talked about to be the leaders of the blue line in the next decade, but we must take a deeper dive into the future of the attackers.
What is clear is that the Rangers have holes to fill up front, and because of that, do not expect the Blueshirts to be nearing the top until the 2022-2023 season.
The centers
Forward lines revolve around the centers, so let’s talk about them first.
Assuming Mika Zibanejad is given the mega extension he deserves, the Swedish superstar will be one of the cornerstones of these new Blueshirts. It’s also more than likely that Zibanejad will be named the 28th captain in New York’s history.
Here’s where things get interesting. After Zibanejad, the center depth is really unknown. I can only use my best judgement here so keep it light on the comments.
Ryan Strome is only 26 years old, right on the cusp of entering his prime. He is on pace to set career highs this season and his point production is comparable to Islanders superstar Matt Barzal so far this season. The main question is does Jeff Gorton and company feel he is part of the future, or should they sell him high and relieve some of the salary cap stress.
Filip Chytil is a special talent. It’s plain and simple. The 20-year-old Czech is key to the future of the Blueshirts. Similar to Strome, he’s having a great year for his age and has a real chance to eclipse the 20 goal mark in just his second season while playing on the second/third line. Chytil is a sure keeper.
Brett Howden is a giant question mark. Coming to New York in the blockbuster Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller trade, people became excited over Howden’s potential. Well, so far he hasn’t played up to expectations. He’s been really solid on the penalty kill of late, but his role as a bottom six forward has been an utter disaster. Advanced analytics put him at one of the least productive skaters in the NHL, but let’s not forgot that playing with the likes of a natural defenseman and a journeyman enforcer doesn’t really help your play. Due to his special teams effectiveness, I see him staying on the roster for a couple of years.