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Armchair GM New York Rangers roster review: Part 2 – Left wingers

By Jason Katinas

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 27: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers (C) celebrates his goal with teammates Artemi Panarin #10 (L) and Chris Kreider #20 (R) against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the Bell Centre on February 27, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. The New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 27: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers (C) celebrates his goal with teammates Artemi Panarin #10 (L) and Chris Kreider #20 (R) against the Montreal Canadiens during the third period at the Bell Centre on February 27, 2020 in Montreal, Canada. The New York Rangers defeated the Montreal Canadiens 5-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Artemi Panarin #10 (L) and Chris Kreider #20 (R) (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

New York Rangers, a different left wing look?

Now that the New York Rangers’ season is officially over, it is time to look ahead from the position of armchair GM.  In a five part series we will review each of the team’s players, by position.  In part one of our series we analyzed the crucial center position. Now we turn our attention to the Rangers most exciting and prolific position this season, left wing.

Part one of the series can be found here:

New York Rangers Armchair GM: Part 1 – Centers

Most hockey experts would tell you that of the five skaters on the ice, the center position is the most important. It is hard to argue that fact when eight of the top ten point scorers in NHL history are centers. Though that is not how the New York Rangers of the Cap Era have been built.

Until the emergence of Mika Zibanejad the Blueshirts had been without a star center since Gretzky’s second season, when he posted 90 points including a league leading 67 assists. The team would also acquire Scott Gomez, Chris Drury and Brad Richards, each of whom were effective to varying degrees, but none was the top flight center the team was seeking. The Rangers also had Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Brandon Dubinsky and Kevin Hayes, all good centers, but none of the group would be considered great.

The Rangers have instead, starting with the acquisition of Jaromir Jagr from the Washington Capitals in 2004, been a team built on the strength of their wings. A season after Jagr’s departure to Europe following the 2007-08 season, the team would sign Marian Gaborik as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) to lead the team in the summer of 2009. The Rangers would then trade for Rick Nash in the summer of 2012 before trading away Gaborik in a 2013 deadline that brought Derick Brassard to New York.  Finally, the Rangers would sign Artemi Panarin as a free agent this past summer.

So, perhaps it is fate, karma, kismet, the hockey gods or some unknown cosmic and universal power at work that the Rangers are set to draft Alexis Lafreniere with the first overall pick in the upcoming draft. He certainly fits the New York Rangers mold of the past nearly two decades. Which brings us to the more pressing matter of where Mr. Lafreniere fits in on this team, currently, and where the remaining wingers on the roster do as well.

That said, let’s dive in to part two of the Armchair GM Roster Review with a look at the New York Rangers left wingers.

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