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Three bounce back candidates for the New York Rangers

By Conor Power

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers (C) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens along with Barclay Goodrow #21 (L) and Patrik Nemeth #12 (R) at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2022 in New York City The Canadiens defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 27: Ryan Strome #16 of the New York Rangers (C) celebrates his goal against the Montreal Canadiens along with Barclay Goodrow #21 (L) and Patrik Nemeth #12 (R) at Madison Square Garden on April 27, 2022 in New York City The Canadiens defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – NOVEMBER 2: Sammy Blais #91 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on November 2, 2021, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – NOVEMBER 2: Sammy Blais #91 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck during NHL action against the Vancouver Canucks on November 2, 2021, at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /

Sammy Blais

This is a really cheap place to start considering Sammy Blais only played in 14 games last year before his ACL decided it wasn’t up for the challenge anymore. Blais needs to come up and do what he did in St Louis for the Rangers this year if the organization is going to topple the beast that is Tampa Bay in the playoffs this year and get back to the finals for the first time since 2014.

Blais’ physicality is going to need to be a big part of the Rangers taking that next step. It is unfair to put much pressure on the Montmagny, Quebec native, but considering what the Rangers had to give up to get him, there’s a lot of pressure on the 26-year-old to hit the ground running this year. New York isn’t deep enough up front to have passengers. Everyone will need to do their part.

Blais doesn’t need to shoot the lights out. That is not what the Rangers got a 6’2, 205 lbs man for. While Sammy Blais did have four points (all assists) last year in the games he did play, he is here to try and give opponents a front-row seat to the game as he smashes them through the glass and into the crowd. Not exactly flashy, but boy is it sure entertaining. Blais is here to wear down opponents.

If Sammy can get back to smacking people around, picking fights with guys half his size, and maybe 20 points this year, that would be a very successful season for him, and it is exactly what the New York Rangers need from their big winger. He’s not the most deadly guy in the world from a scoring perspective, but he is sure nice to have in a seven-game series when you have to grind down an opponent.

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