Alright, it’s time for everyone in the NY Rangers lineup to up their games, and I’m not just talking about one player in particular. That said, there are some impact players who, if they want to make that postseason run this Blueshirts team is still capable of, must play like they’re contending for some season-end awards.
No, that doesn’t mean those I’m about to discuss below will be in contention to win those awards. But, at midseason, you just never know. Should they bring a pristine game to the forefront during the second half of this trying 2024-25 season, then it’s not over yet for the Rangers.
Igor Shesterkin
Igor Shesterkin’s been banged up lately in case you haven’t heard, but unless something changes, it doesn’t look like he’ll be out long. Once he’s ready to roll again, it means he’s got to be the focal point of this Blueshirts team.
But as one of the league’s best netminders, I got more than enough confidence that Shesterkin will do just that. So far, it’s been a struggle, with a 0.906 save percentage, one shutout, and a 3.10 GAA. Through all of it, he’s still rocking a 0.630 quality starts percentage, indicating this isn’t exactly a down season.
Plus, one year ago, we saw similar play from Shesterkin through the first half of 2023-24. Then, he came out early in the 2024 calendar year and looked like the Vezina contender he’s always been.
Adam Fox
I’m so used to seeing Adam Fox putting up not just forward-like numbers but averaging close to or at a point per game. This season, he’s got 30 points in 39 games but just a single measly goal one year after he put 17 into the net.
We need to see more from a perennial Norris Trophy contender, and if Fox was scoring at a 12.4 shooting percentage that we saw him hit last season, he’d have eight goals and 38 points at midseason if everything else held equal, based on the 64 shots on goal he currently has.
That would be the kind of Adam Fox we’ll need to see again if the Rangers plan on at least making a serious run at the wild card. Well, that, and it would be great if he wasn’t on the ice at even strength for so many goals allowed.
Vincent Trocheck
It’s important to point out that this article isn’t a knock on anyone from the Rangers playing bad hockey. It’s more that we can get greater productivity out of them, and Vincent Trocheck is one of those players.
Overall, he’s having another outstanding year in many categories, with 11 goals, an 11.0 shooting percentage, 21:32 of average total ice time, 456 faceoff wins, and a whopping 60.2 faceoff win percentage. Oh, and he’s also got 122 hits.
Yeah, Trocheck’s looking like a man on a mission, but wow, 24 points and 13 assists? That’s it? This is a player who’s been brimming with a playmaker mentality ever since he first joined the Blueshirts.
I want to see more assists and, therefore, more points, but the other players have got to finish for that to happen. Still, it’s up to Trocheck to put them into a good position.