Blue Line Station
Fansided

With no more moves likely, here’s the depth chart

By Steve Paulus

Jan 7, 2020; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) greets goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) after the Rangers' 5-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden. This was Shesterkin's NHL debut. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2020; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) greets goaltender Igor Shesterkin (31) after the Rangers' 5-3 win against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden. This was Shesterkin's NHL debut. Mandatory Credit: Sarah Stier-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba (8) and New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports /

Defense

The team’s biggest off-season need was a partner for Jacob Trouba and they didn’t find one.    Ryan Lindgren and Tony DeAngelo will get tryouts on the left side of Trouba with Brendan Smith the fallback.   This is Libor Hajek’s greatest opportunity to live up to the hype. If not, he could be Seattle bound in the expansion draft.

Meanwhile, Jack Johnson will kill penalties and play on the third line.   Don’t be surprised if he gets top pairing minutes if he meshes with Trouba.  Anthony Bitetto is a gritty player who will get a full opportunity to win a job and K’Andre Miller wowed the coaches in the Qualifier camp so he can’t be counted out.

Yegor Rykov will probably finish the KHL season with  CSKA, but Tarmo Reuanen is tearing up the Mestis League in Finland and will get a long look.  The selection of Matthew Robertson for Team Canada’s WJC team rules him out as a Blueshirt.

Sure things:

Jacob Trouba
Adam Fox
Tony DeAngelo
Ryan Lindgren
Jack Johnson
Brendan Smith

Contenders:
LIbor Hajek
Anthony Bitetto
K’Andre Miller

Dark horse candidates:
Yegor Rykov
Tarmo Reunanen
Matthew Robertson

Home/Analysis