You have to love the ebbs and flows of the typical NHL season. For New York Rangers fans, the ebbs and flows of the 2021 season have been a constant focus of conversation. Now, with only 14 games left to play, it looks like the tide is finally rising to a high as that conversation has turned to the play of the Ranger’s youngsters.
It was just about two weeks ago when it seemed frustration had reached a boiling point for many Ranger fans. Not that the team was losing badly, rather they were treading water, ping-ponging wins and loses for a few weeks. But it wasn’t the wins and loses that were the issue, it was the way they were winning and losing that caused so much frustration.
Game after game we watched as the team leaned more and more heavily on the veterans to make the difference in every game. It seemed like players like Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil and especially number one overall pick Alexis Lafrenière were given a smaller and smaller role to play. And when the veterans couldn’t come through with the game changing play, fans wondered why the kids weren’t given the chance to make a difference.
Now here we are, a few weeks later, and what players are making the difference game after game? The Kids!
And let me just say, Ranger games have been so much more fun to watch.
What is better than the Rangers playing meaningful games down the stretch of the regular season? I’ll tell you what; the Rangers playing meaningful games with the future of the team on full display and at times imposing their will on the opposition. THIS IS FUN!
Kaapo Kakko has found another level. His play along the boards in the offensive zone is becoming a real problem for defenders.
Filip Chytil, possibly the best center the Rangers had early in the season, looks like he is finally getting back into form after his injury.
Alexis Lafrenière has been bounced around on just about every line imaginable during his rookie season but now he has certainly found a home with Kakko and Chytil.
What could be better? Honestly, what could be better?
Right now as the third line continues to grow and get more playing time, the combination is causing major match-up problems for coaches in the Eastern Division….sorry, Mass Mutual Eastern Division…and David Quinn is taking full advantage of that.
Rolling this line on a regular basis is not only helping the Rangers win games now, but imagine what it will be doing in the future. This is what Ranger fans wanted and expected out of a rebuild. Loses would come, but as long as development came along with it, that was an acceptable part of the deal.
The cherry on top of this youth sundae is the arrival of Vitali Kravtsov. The kid is as good as advertised.
There have not been many shifts, if any, where Kravtsov has looked out of place. Whether he is playing along side Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome on one of the top lines or skating on whatever fourth line is out there, he seems very comfortable in either role.
His arrival has given David Quinn a new option/weapon. He can interchange Colin Blackwell and Kravtsov as needed to give the team a slightly different look at any time. Quinn has done this very effectively since Kravtsov’s arrival. But what’s better is that having the young Russian available to fill either role allows the coach to keep that “Kid Line” together and that’s what is making every Ranger game so much fun to watch right now.
The Rangers are in a heated battle to make the playoff, that in itself makes the season more fun. And if they should fail to make the playoffs, certainly the experience of being in the hunt will reap benefits in the years to come.
Either way, Rangers fan should just enjoy the show.
We are watching the birth of a new generation. Hockey gods willing, in a few short years, fans will be talking about how they saw it coming, watched it blossom and turned into the ultimate success.
Our Kids are growing up right in front of our eyes, and it’s beautiful to watch.