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It’s Christmas! Some gifts the Rangers could be wishing for

By Jake Mozarsky

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Pavel Buchnevich #89 (l) of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers and is joined by Chris Kreider #20 (c) and Mika Zibanejad #93 (r) at Madison Square Garden on October 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Pavel Buchnevich #89 (l) of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers and is joined by Chris Kreider #20 (c) and Mika Zibanejad #93 (r) at Madison Square Garden on October 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Here are some Christmas wishes for the 2021 New  York Rangers

All fans of the New York Rangers got  their Christmas presents a few days ago when the NHL announced that the season will indeed be starting in January.   Let’s take a  look at what the team that will take the ice next moth might be wishing for.

The top line

Let’s start off with the projected first line at the start of the season, and unless there is a drastic change in training camp this will be New York’s starting line when they take the ice on January 14 to play the Islanders. Here’s what each player should wish for.

Chris Kreider: A consistent scoring touch

Last year, the Rangers signed Kreider to a seven year contract worth $6.5M AAV. The team clearly believes Kreider is a fundamental asset to the team for the next few years, and when looking at Kreider, what he needs most is consistency. For the first half of last season, Kreider did not play his best, but when the trade deadline approached he started finding his scoring touch and showed the front office why they should invest in his talent. The speed, the power and the shot that Kreider possesses makes him lethal.

For Kreider to prove his worth, he needs to have this consistent scoring form for the entire shortened season. This first line will be much more deadly if he can score over 25 goals and be a threat whenever he is on the ice. New York cannot have him look like an average Joe.

Mika Zibanejad: A full season

Every Ranger fan knows what Zibanejad brings to the table whenever he is on the ice. He has proved his worth in almost every aspect on the ice: The power play, penalty kill and even strength, Mika has seen it all. Zibanejad finished last season with 75 points (41 G, 34 A) and emerged as one of the league’s best scorers late in the season. But, New York needs him to stay healthy.

Zibanejad missed 13 games last season with an upper body injury and still was able to put up his extraordinary stats, leaving many fans wondering what his statline would look like if he was healthy the entire year. With this upcoming season being shorter and the Rangers playing tough opponents, they will need a fully healthy, goal scoring Zibanejad in order to contend for a playoff spot.

Pavel Buchnevich: David Quinn’s love

Some critics are all over Buchnevich. They say he is inconsistent, sometimes lazy and has not proved his worth on the first line. And, with first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere penciled in on the third line currently, if he plays like a rookie of the year candidate, David Quinn will have no problem shifting Lafrenière to the second line alongside Kreider and Zibanejad in order to maximize his potential. That would mean a demotion for Buchnevich.

Lafrenière will hopefully bloom and Quinn will have to give him more ice time with the best players. Depending on how Quinn utilizes Buchnevich when the season begins can affect his ice time and how much he plays with his best friends.

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