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The New York Rangers next “Core Four”?

By Scott Esposito

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: New York Rangers center Filip Chytil (72) celebrates goal as New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) congratulates him during the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers NHL game on October 29, 2019, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 29: New York Rangers center Filip Chytil (72) celebrates goal as New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) congratulates him during the Tampa Bay Lightning and New York Rangers NHL game on October 29, 2019, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by John Crouch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Mika Zibanejad #93 of the New York Rangers . (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The next “Core Four”?

To be clear, the Rangers’ front office has not placed the burden of becoming a franchise pillar upon Mike Zibanejad, Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, or Kaapo Kakko.

Mika Zibanejad seems well on his way, though, having become one of the NHL’s most dangerous forwards since being acquired from Ottawa in July 2016 in exchange for Derick Brassard.

The Rangers would love for Zibanejad, Shesterkin, Fox and Kakko to form the foundation of a championship-caliber team. And they might — in time — so long as Zibanejad doesn’t slip and the kids develop into impact players.

Think ahead to three or four years from now. If it all pans out, Zibanejad becomes the next Messier, Fox the next Leetch, Kakko the next Graves and Shesterkin the next Richter.

Far fetched?

Maybe, but consider:

  • Messier was 30 years old when he was traded to the Rangers in 1991, and 33 when they won the Stanley Cup. In three years, Zibanejad will be 30.
  • Graves scored just seven goals in 78 games with Detroit and 16 in 139 matches for Edmonton. After signing with the Rangers in September 1991, he potted 26 in 80 matches the following season, and was 25 in 1994. Kakko will turn 22 in three years.
  • Leetch was 25 and in his sixth NHL season when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. He was 20 in his first full season on Broadway in 1988-89, posting 23 goals and 48 assists for 71 points in 68 games and winning the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie.
  • Richter was 27 when he hoisted hockey’s Holy Grail in the Canyon of Heroes.

With that, let’s take a closer look at “The Next Core Four”.

Players are listed by name, position, age, height and weight.

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