How the New York Rangers should internally replace Jesper Fast
With the New York Rangers looking to play meaningful hockey–whenever playing resumes–for the foreseeable future, management has some tough decisions for the sake of the club’s present and future.
The New York Rangers, in a weird way, went all-in at the deadline. By not trading Chris Kreider at the deadline for what would have been a bounty, management declared they’re thinking now about the short-term instead of the long-term. Blue Line Station’s Daniel Blanda argues that it was a mistake:
So, here’s the primary reason the New York Rangers a hundred percent choked this trade deadline: they should have thought with their heads and not their hearts and traded Chris Kreider away. The value for Kreider will never be that high again. Simply put – it was bad business. –Daniel Blanda
While this article isn’t about Kreider and the Rangers’ deadline decision per se, it is about asset management and how it’s critical in the salary-cap NHL.
And that’s why the Rangers have to let Jesper Fast walk at the end of the season.
Jesper Fast’s coaches haven’t utilized him how they should have.
Fast was a sixth-round pick (157th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. With this in mind, he’s had himself a fine career so far: 55 goals, 92 assists, and 147 points is nothing to scoff at. He’s won the New York Rangers’ Players’ Player Award four consecutive seasons in a row starting in the 2015-2016 season. Additionally, he’s defensively reliable and possesses those intangibles that coaches and general managers love.
And that’s the problem–Jesper Fast has truly been misused.
This season he’s predominantly played on the second line–yes, you’re reading that correctly–with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome. Panarin is one of the elite playmakers in the game, and Strome is almost a point-per-game player this season (59 points in 70 games, though how much of this success is because of Panarin is a conversation for another day).
David Quinn’s questionable-at-best decision to continually employ Fast on the second line isn’t unique. In fact, Jesper Fast has been moved up and down the lineup more times throughout his tenure with the New York Rangers than someone playing Chutes & Ladders.
And that’s the problem. Fast is an amazing fourth line wing, and a very good third line one. But you cannot call yourself a serious Stanley Cup Contender with a second-line right winger who only buries the puck in the back of the net nine times on average per season.
So, it’s time to let him walk after this season, whenever that may be. In the short-term, you may be slightly worse off defensively as a team, but you won’t overpay for a bottom six forward whose best offensive year was 33 points.
Fortunately, the Rangers have several options to replace him.
Kaapo Kakko is the clear choice to replace Fast in the top six.
Kaapo Kakko will be in the Rangers’ top six next season, and he will most certainly replace Fast. Of course, with the whims of David Quinn, the lineup could be tinkered on any given shift, but on paper, Kakko and Panarin will flank the second-line center. (Will Strome be the center?)
Yet, Kakko replacing Fast in the lineup doesn’t replace Fast’s role on the team as a defensively responsible forward who can kill penalties.
There is an intriguing option.
Julien Gauthier could provide some offense on the penalty kill.
Julien Gauthier, along with Vitali Kravtsov, seemed destined to be the Rangers third-line wingers for the 2020-2021 season. While Gauthier hasn’t shown to be as defensively sound as Fast by a long shot, an intriguing strategy would be using Gauthier on the penalty kill as Fast’s replacement.
With Gauthier’s long reach and speed, the Rangers could have a penalty killer that’s an offensive threat a la Michael Grabner.
Plus, it would give the youngster and 21st-overall pick more ice time, and the chance to unlock the scoring capability he touted in the AHL this season for the Charlotte Checkers (27 goals in 75 games).
The Rangers could turn Lias Andersson into the next Manny Malhotra.
Lias Andersson. Yes, Lias Andersson. As much a victim of Quinn’s irrational love affair with Brett Howden as he is his own sins, Andersson fell out of favor with the organization and fans throughout the season.
But, his game seems to have resurrected. In 15 games in the SHL, he’s scored seven goals and has 12 points. Plus, he’s always been considered a strong defensive center.
Why he should be considered is because of asset management. As of right now, the Rangers completely bungled the pick when they drafted Andersson at seventh overall, regardless of where the blame lies.
And let’s face it–they’re not trading Andersson for any asset of real value. (Remember the Dylan McIlrath trade? The Rangers trade a10th-overall pick for Steven Kampfer, a journeyman defenseman, and a conditional seventh-round pick.)
So, the best bet is to make use of the pick. If that means turning him into a career third- or fourth-liner a la Manny Malhotra, then so be it. (Let’s also put into perspective that almost 1,000 career NHL games is nothing to scoff at.)
The Rangers cannot have Andersson be a complete bust. Couple this with the slight concern over Kravtsov’s pedestrian year in Hartford, and you’d have to back-to-back years of top-10 draft picks that didn’t hit. That’s a fireable offense for a GM.
Ultimately, Jesper Fast’s tenure should end at the end of this season. It’s up to Gorton to make sure he’s replacing Fast in both his position in the lineup and his role on the team.
More. Blue Line Station moving forward. light