Blue Line Station
Fansided

Halfway into the Rangers’ season, the real story

By Steve Paulus

CALGARY, AB - JANUARY 02: New York Rangers Center Mika Zibanejad (93) warms up before an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the New York Rangers on January 2, 2020, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB - JANUARY 02: New York Rangers Center Mika Zibanejad (93) warms up before an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the New York Rangers on January 2, 2020, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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CALGARY, AB – JANUARY 02: New York Rangers Right Wing Kaapo Kakko (24) signals to the bench for a line change during the second period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the New York Rangers on January 2, 2020, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CALGARY, AB – JANUARY 02: New York Rangers Right Wing Kaapo Kakko (24) signals to the bench for a line change during the second period of an NHL game where the Calgary Flames hosted the New York Rangers on January 2, 2020, at the Scotiabank Saddledome in Calgary, AB. (Photo by Brett Holmes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Intangibles

So, where are the New York Rangers headed in the second half of 2019-20?  The rebuild continues and there will be a wholesale sell off of talent at the trade deadline.  Chris Kreider and Jesper Fast will both be gone.  They question marks are Alexandar Georgiev and Tony DeAngelo.  Ryan Strome appears to have solidified a role as Panarin’s sidekick, but if someone overwhelms Jeff Gorton with an offer for the RFA, you can be sure he is expendable.

Will the improved numbers we have seen in the first half of the season continue if there is a trade deadline sell off? There are reasons to be optimistic.   The “kid line” of Chytil, Kakko and Howden has shown a chemistry that will only grow if they are allowed to play together and get some meaningful ice time.  A Kreider trade will hurt the Zibanejad line, but will provide an opportunity for players from Hartford. Will Vitali Kravtsov show some NHL ability if given the chance?

One thing is sure, that Jeff Gorton will not be satisfied with just draft picks this year.  You can be sure that he will be looking for a grade A forward prospect in return for Chris Kreider.  With Panarin, Zibanejad and Trouba in their prime, the team has accelerated the rebuild and they cannot be content to draft a first rounder who will become an impact player in four years.

While the Rangers can talk about the playoffs, it appears that like last season, it will take 98 points to snatch a wild card spot. That means the Blueshirts will need to win 28 of their last 41 games.   That’s exactly what the St. Louis Blues did last season, but that was a once in a generation comeback.

The key is to see improvement in the number of shots the team gives up and a lower goals against average.  That, combined with growth from their young players and Ranger fans will have something to look forward to in 2020-21.

More. A heartbreaking loss on a late goal. light

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