Expectations for all of the players at training camp

The sure things

We aren’t going to spend a lot of time talking about these guys.  We know who they are and we know what they are capable of.

FORWARDS (12)

• Sammy Blais (RW): A 25-year-old physical forwards whose mission is to prove that the Pavel Buchnevich deal wasn’t as one-sided as everyone thinks. A bottom six forward who needs to earn his ice time.
• Filip Chytil (C):  This is the year for the 22-year-old Czech. Chris Drury sees him as a center. Others disagree.
• Barclay Goodrow (LW): The Rangers are paying Goodrow, 28, a lot of money to replicate what he brought to the Lightning.  Whether he is top or bottom six is the big question.
• Kaapo Kakko (RW):  Still only 20 years old, this is the year for Kakko to break out and live up to his draft status.  He showed signs last season and with the path cleared for him to play top six minutes, it’s all up to him.
• Vitali Kravtsov (RW):  He’s still a rookie, but is getting no love from hockey observers. Of all the question marks up front, he has the biggest opportunity to surprise.  Don’t forget, he’s till only 21 years old.
• Chris Kreider (LW):  Can Gerard Gallant be the coach who gets Kreider to play a full 82 games with the same intensity each night?  If he is, look for a breakout season from the longest tenured Ranger.
• Alexis Lafrenière (LW):  No one should be disappointed by Lafrenière ‘s rookie season.  He developed nicely and is poised to become an NHL star.
• Artemi Panarin (LW): The Breadman is one of the best players in the NHL. The only question is who will be his linemates.
• Ryan Reaves (RW):  The 34-year-old tough guy may have lost a step, but he is still the most feared player in the NHL and for that reason, he will be in the lineup a lot.  He may not play a lot of minutes as a fourth liner, but his presence on the bench will make the Rangers a better team.
• Kevin Rooney (C):  Of all the incumbents, Rooney will be facing the most competition.  The Rangers protected him instead of Colin Blackwell in the expansion draft and they had their reasons.
• Ryan Strome (C): It’s Ryan Strome’s walk year and how he plays will determine if he is still a Ranger after the trade deadline.  Immensely popular in the locker room, a good season will price him out of New York.
• Mika Zibanejad (C):  Sign him?  Trade him?  That will be the topic of conversation regarding Mika Zibanejad all season until a resolution is reached.  Watching how Jack Eichel does with Buffalo this season will be a major determining factor when it comes to the Swedes future with the Rangers.

That’s a list of 12 forwards and  this could be the list of the starting four lines.  Of this group, while most are guaranteed to be in the lineup every night, there are still some questions when it comes to Blais, Kravtsov, Reaves and Rooney.  They have jobs, but they will have to earn playing time.

DEFENSE (5)

• Adam Fox  (RD): A Norris Trophy winner who eats minutes, quarterbacks the power play and plays against the top opposition players every game.  What more could anyone want?
• Ryan Lindgren (LD):  This should be the one line that is set in stone.  Fox and his partner in crime are perfect for each other and could be a defense pairing for the next decade.
• K’Andre Miller (LD):  The biggest surprise of 2020-21, Miller is set to take the next step as an NHL defenseman.  He needs to use his big body more and stick check less, but for a 21-year-old defenseman to play the way he did last season is just remarkable.
• Patrick Nemeth (LD): The Rangers ostensibly signed the Swede to mentor Nils Lundkvist.  Nemeth is a solid defensive defenseman who should play most games, but will get some competition from Libor Hajek, Zac Jones and Braden Schneider.
• Jacob Trouba (RD):  A potential pick for captain, Trouba made strides as a team leader and physical presence.  He was sorely missed against the Islanders and Capitals,but he still needs to live up to those big dollars he is earning.

It’s on the blueline where there is the most potential for a surprise.  This group of five defensemen are going to be on the NHL roster and in the lineup most games.  Of them all, Nemeth could possibly sit out some games to make room for prospects.  Miller is guaranteed a starting job unless he falls victim to the sophomore jinx.

GOALIES (2)

• Igor Shesterkin: He is getting paid to be the number one goalie and the future of the Rangers squarely rests on his shoulders.  He needs to prove that he is sturdy enough to handle a 50-60 game workload.
• Alexandar Georgiev: Consistency is Georgiev’s bugaboo, but he has proven that he can be a solid number two.   He gets in trouble  when overused, but is perfectly suited for this role. It will take a disastrous training camp or start to the season to see Keith Kinkaid taking his job away.

This is pretty much set in stone though Coach Gallant talked about having three goalies in his remarks on Wednesday.  Could Georgiev lose his job as backup to Keith Kinkaid?  With a $2.4 million cap hit and a need to clear waivers, that’s pretty unlikely.

Next up, the players who will be challenging the incumbents for starting jobs.