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Hotstove: Metro Division Bold Predictions |
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Follow me on Twitter @ToddCordell
Todd Cordell
The New York Rangers will miss the playoffs.
I'm not overly confident in this pick but the idea is to be bold and I definitely have some concerns with the Rangers. I really like their forward core - there is high-end talent and depth - but I have pretty much no faith in their blue line even with Brady Skjei, who I really like, set to take on a larger role this season.
Dan Girardi has been a disaster over the last couple years. Marc Staal hasn't exactly been good, either, yet Girardi still averaged more than 20 minutes a night and Staal was just behind him.
In large part due to the overuse of those two, who posted terrible on-ice results, the Rangers were out shot and out chanced more often than not last season. Henrik Lundqvist was able to bail them out but if the Rangers try their luck again this season I'm not sure it'll work out as well for them.
Adam French
Ryan McDonagh breaks out offensively. McDonagh's best offensive season came in 2013 where he scored 14 goals and 43 points. He has never been known for his offense, but it's always been there which has made him one of the top-tier of true "two-way" defenders. He always had a player that was the "offensive defenseman" on the squad while he has been on the Rangers...except for his best statistical season. Be it Del Zotto, Boyle (lol) or Yandle. In his best season he was the main focal point on offense from the blue line.
This year he enters the season as the de facto best offensive defenseman on the team and there are no excuses to not use him as much as possible in an offensive capacity. Cyclops Staal and Last Legged Warrior Girardi can't be used in that situation. McIlrath if he makes the team and plays on the bottom pairing is, again, a defensive player at his core. Klein has a little offense, but it's marginal. Lastly Skjei the rookie, who is more two-way player than offensive threat.
I think McDonagh will end up scoring 50 points. A career high and a major jump. It seems only logical that his offensive usage will go up because there are no other options. None that make sense anyways. The Rangers look like a mixed bag this year and their defense on paper looks like a dumpster fire. However I like the young forward core coming up and McDonagh's chances at really playing to his full potential.
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