Blog parameters:
Each person covered will be given a rating. Factoring into that rating will of course be his performance but another input is going to be performance versus expectation coming into the season. Much of the background I likely covered in my tear down blogs, so don't expect massive chapter and verse but possibly some quick hitting information if not already covered in those blogs. In addition, to create some parameters, a player will have had to play 20 games to get a grade. Anything less means there isn't a representative sample for which to make a decision, so Brady Skjei and Marek Hrivik, to name two, will not get grades.
Here is where it gets really funky and interactive. I want you the reader to comment on the blog as to the rating. But not just hey I think you are right on or you are crazy but to provide your own rating and rationale for it. So if you agree with what I wrote, great, say that. But if the belief is the rating should be higher or lower, then you have to provide the rationale accordingly. Plus and minus grades are allowed to enable a broader opinion. Before the next blog, we will see if the blog comments consensus rating mirrors mine.
In addition, to shake it up, I will jump around a bit, so not all the players of the same rating are listed in a row, same with positions. So in the immortal words of Forrest Gump, you never know what you're going to get.
As requested, to get the ball rolling on possible line combinations, moving forward, as i give a grade, I will note on which line that player could slide in during 2016-17.
Covered in this blog:
Jesper Fast
This is what I wrote on Part IV of my Rangers tear down and post-mortem blogs.
Jesper Fast signed a two year deal last offseason. He had one year left at $950k and then an RFA. Fast showed he can be moved up and down the lineup, bringing a strong defensive mindset while contributing occasional offense. He is miscast as a top-six forward and fits best in the bottom six. Fast's best spot is on the fourth line, but he can be moved up and down in a pinch, but his offensive limitations get exposed with too much time towards the top of the lineup.
Overall Grade:
B.
Quickie earned coach Alain Vigneault's trust during the season, which played out as he was used in key situations down the stretch. He is miscast as top-six forward but is perfectly suited to the third or fourth line. The problem last year, and not that it was his fault, is that Fast was used in those top-two rather than bottom-two lines.
Fast played 79 games and finished with 10 goals, including three-game-winners, and 20 assists. All of those numbers set career highs. The one true negative, if there was one, was that Fast struggled on the penalty kill after a very solid year the prior season. Maybe it was the combinations or the system or both, but whatever the reason, Fast was the same dominant force he has been in 2015-16.
Possible Line Placement:
As noted above, Fast is a perfect third or fourth line player. With Kevin Hayes and Pavel Buchnevich likely two-thirds of the third line, Michael Grabner or Oscar Lindberg, when he returns, may get the first shot at third line right wing. Fast wouldn't be a bad fit there, though, he is likely to land on the fourth line with Josh Jooris and either Nathan Gerbe, Nicklas Jensen or Marek Hrivik. If Jimmy Vesey does sign with New York, he will play on the second - moving J.T. Miller to the third - or third line himself.
For comparison purposes, here is Fast vs. Dominic Moore last year:
Players covered in prior blogs,
My grade,
Consensus Grade
Dominic Moore C-/C-
Ryan McDonagh - C+/C+
Derek Stepan C+/B-
Eric Staal D/D
Antti Raanta B+/B+
Kevin Hayes D/D
Viktor Stalberg C+/B-
Chris Kreider C+/C
Mats Zuccarello B+/B+
Kevin Klein C+/C+
Tanner Glass C/D
Rick Nash C-/C
Assistant Coaches C/C
Dan Girardi D+/C or C-
Derick Brassard, B/ B+
To date:
I have now covered 12 F, 3D, 1G, leaving J.T. Miller, Oscar Lindberg, Marc Staal, Dan Boyle (not posting a grade for him as somewhat pointless) Dylan McIlrath, Henrik Lundqvist and Alain Vigneault.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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