Expectations of the New York Rangers young guns
Third year players
1,307 players of the original 1,708 who debuted in the NHL between the 2007-08 and 2019-20 seasons, reached a third season. 1,090 of those players (83.3%) appeared in a minimum of 10 games, an increase of only 8 players. The average of each statistical category continued to gain improvement.
Third Year Forwards -723 players:
Age GP G A PTS +/- TOI FO% HIT BLK Tk Gv
23.57 55.57 10.31 13.70 24.01 -0.19 783.19 47.26 66.98 23.99 23.31 19.27
Third Year Defensemen – 367 Players:
Age GP G A PTS +/- TOI HIT BLK Tk Gv
23.93 53.10 3.54 11.99 15.54 +0.13 988.63 70.69 67.84 15.73 29.65
After what many thought to be an impressive training camp, Lias Andresson’s season quickly fizzled out. The 21 year old Andersson played in only 17 games before being demoted to the AHL. During his limited game action he scored zero goals, notched only one assist and was a -8 over 162 minutes TOI, all far below the average of his peers.
Although the centers season was cut short, he won 46.6% of his faceoffs, registered more takeaways than giveaways and was pacing the average for hits, all positives. Andersson is currently on loan to HV71 in the SHL, where recently he scored five points in an exhibition game.
Filip Chytil played his entire third season as a 20 year old, three and a half years younger than the average third year player. Following a brief assignment in Hartford to start the season, Chytil skated in 60 games for the Rangers in 2019-20. He would go on to score 14 goals, nine assists and 23 points. While his goals are up and his assists down on the average, his points production was just one short of the overall average.
Chytil was a -7 on the season where his peers where near even. He had far fewer hits, but more blocks than his peers and was dead even with his takeaways & giveaways (33 each). His weakest showing however was in the face-off circle. Chytil won only 38.4% of his draws, tied for tenth worst of any third year player who took a minimum of 100 face-offs dating back to 2007-08.
Brendan Lemieux was nearly the exact average age for third year players, having turned 24 as the season came to its premature COVID-19 close in March. He played in 59 games and received 759 TOI, both hovering near the overall averages. While his 111 penalty minutes ranked him in the top 30 of all third year players over the last thirteen seasons.
Lemieux’s production numbers of six goals, 12 assists, 18 points and -14 were all below the average, but he excelled with the physical game. His 52 blocks and 164 hits are more than double his peer average. Lemieux ranked second on the Rangers behind Jacob Trouba in hits, good for are 27th overall in hits per game (2.78) among all third year players since 2007-08.