What we learned about the Rangers after the first 4 preseason games

The top 3 lines are set (sort of)

There is no doubt who will be playing on the top three lines, it’s just a matter of where they will be playing.  Going into camp, the top line had been envisioned to be Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, and Sammy Blais.  The trio saw action in one game and the results were just okay.  For Blais, it was his first game in 11 months and it showed.

The second line was expected to be Vincent Trocheck, Artemi Panarin, and Vitali Kravtsov.  Panarin had already taken Kravtsov under his wing, but we never got to see the trio play together as Trocheck was dogged by an illness in the one game they were scheduled to play as a unit.

The “Kid Line” played together once, on Thursday versus the Devils and Coach Gerard Gallant admitted that they were the best line on the team. They picked up where they left off in the playoffs and made an excellent case to remain a set line.

What wasn’t resolved was the option of playing Alexis Lafreniere on the right side on one of the top two lines, certainly an option if Blais doesn’t click with Zibanejad and Kreider.  Be prepared to see Barclay Goodrow on the top line against Boston, probably not the best deployment for their so-called Swiss Army Knife. And there remains the enigmatic Russian…

Where should Kravtsov play?

Vitali Kravtsov didn’t do anything to rule him out as a top-nine forward.  With his waiver status, cheap contract, and high draft position, it’s pretty much a guarantee that he will be in the top nine unless he is an absolute bust and there is no indication that he will be one.

Kravtsov will be 23 in December, so he is not a teenager, but is still adjusting to North American hockey.  He got a secondary assist on Artemi Panarin’s goal against the Devils and has played well.  When asked, Gallant returned to the need for Kravtsov to be defensively responsible, but he also had nothing bad to say about him.

At any rate, Kravtsov will get a full look playing with Trocheck and Panarin in the last two games.  It’s his job to lose.  At worst, he will flip with Kaapo Kakko or Alexis Lafreniere and move to the third line. The fact is that he is not exempt from waivers and that means he will stick around.

The fourth line

This is where the competition is.  Either Goodrow or Blais will definitely occupy one slot, so that means there are two forward positions along with one spare forward to pick from Jonny Brodzinski, Ryan Carpenter, Julien Gauthier, Dryden Hunt, Ryan Reaves, Gustav Rydahl, and Jimmy Vesey.  That’s seven players vying for three jobs.

Based on his play in three preseason games, veteran Jimmy Vesey has made good on his Professional Tryout.  He’s played outstanding defense, killed penalties, and has chipped in unexpectedly with some offense.  He didn’t hurt his chance with this defensive play against the Devils.

If he doesn’t get a contract out of this, that would be a huge surprise.  That’s one job.

Ryan Reaves will make the team.  While some may feel he doesn’t deserve to (especially those in the analytics crowd), the intangibles he brings to the team are appreciated by his teammates and coaches  Okay, that’s two jobs.

That means it will be a catfight for the last slot between Brodzinski, Carpenter, Gauthier, Hunt, and Rydahl. The odds are that Brodzinski and Rydahl will find their way to the AHL leaving three players.  Who will Gallant pick among Carpenter, Hunt, and Gauthier?

Gauthier has shown the most in the preseason games so far.  He has crashed the net, been among the team leader in hits, and has generated good scoring chances every time he has played.  However, his bugaboo is that he is not able to finish.   Gallant said that Gauthier has had a “great camp,” but added that he was one of the guys in the mix.

Hunt has been, well, Dryden Hunt.  He plays hard, throws the body, and contributes.  He won’t break any scoring records and is a favorite of the coach.

Ryan Carpenter has not been a standout, but of the three he is the only center.  He has been an NHL regular for five straight seasons and played for Gallant in Vegas.  He’s a veteran who is decent on faceoffs and can contribute offensively.

What this means is that how these guys play in the last two preseason games will determine their future.  It’s worth noting that all three of these players need to clear waivers to go to Hartford.

Next, is the defense.