Part I of my post-mortem and tear down blogs was
posted Monday . Part 2,
posted Tuesday , covers defensemen, save for Dan Boyle, who I wrote about in Part I. Part 3,
posted Thursday covers some of the forwards, consisting of Nash, Stepan, Brassard, Zuccarello, Miller and Kreider. Hayes, to keep some intrigue, and the remainder of the forwards are here in Part IV.
Kevin Hayes, the other half of the K (reider) and K boys, million dollar arm and ten cent head? Sophomore slump? A combination of the two? Whatever it was, after a extremely promising rookie season capped by an even better playoffs, he regressed dramatically this season, impacted by a less than stellar work ethic. That drop off resulted in Hayes getting scratched from several contests as a way to try and get him back to center. It worked occasionally but then he would revert back to prior form. Hayes ended up a healthy scratch the last two games of the playoffs making his future in NY questionable.
AV tried to put those rumors to rest on his post-season meeting with the media. When asked if Hayes, who had 14 goals and 22 assists this season, was still in the team’s plans, Vigneault quickly answered, “Yes, yes, without a doubt. I mean, there’s so much potential there. But I’ve seen … there are tons of guys who have potential. Not all of them figure it out.” That dangerous word potential. We saw in 2014-15 snippets of that potential. The size and puck handling ability along with capacity to create offset by slow foot speed, a lack of hockey awareness and an inability to win draws. This year, we saw potential unfulfilled as his flaws were more prominent.
Hayes, an RFA, made 900k this past season. The bonuses he earned after his fine rookie campaign did not kick in against this year. That should make his qualifying offer cheaper, making it easier to decide to keep him but also more attractive to others. Hayes was bounced between wing and center, which might have retarded his development. But his struggles were largely due to what's between his eyes and a poor work ethic. If one of Kreider/Miller/Hayes is to go, my bet is on Hayes.
Eric Staal, who was brought for a pair of second rounders and Aleksei Saarela, which might have been spurred on by the team's 13-4-1 mark before the trade deadline, is likely gone. After struggling in his 20 games in New York, putting up three goals and three assists, three of those points coming in one game, he was was even worse against Pittsburgh. Staal was on the ice for 10 goals by the Penguins (four at even strength, two into an empty net, three on the penalty kill and one on the power play) and none by the Rangers.
Staal, other than to say that his goal coming to New York was just to fit in, didn't make excuses on breakup day. “I don’t think they saw the best I can be. I’m not going to make any excuses. I need to find a way to be better and to produce more. But for whatever reason it didn’t work out and it wasn’t how I envisioned. But as a group, as a team, we didn’t play well enough, didn’t do enough, to warrant a longer run than we had.”
Staal, in the final season of his seven-year, $57.75 million deal he signed with Carolina, was almost exclusively used on the third line. He typically shifted to left wing with Kevin Hayes in the middle until Hayes was scratched the last two games of the Pittsburgh series. AV never could seem to find the right fit for him. His best run came while centering Viktor Stalberg and Oscar Lindberg for three straight games. But AV never reassembled that trio, neither in the final 15 games of the regular season nor the five in the playoffs. Unless something extremely radical occurs in NY, which could mean several players jettisoned, I can't see Staal returning. That is the case even if his contract demands wouldn't make it untenable for him to be back.
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.
Lindberg was the surprise offensive star the first month of the season, helping to carry the attack. He returned back to normal, finishing the year with xx goals. Lindberg ended up a healthy scratch down the stretch when Staal was brought on board but did see some time during the playoffs. Lindberg has one year left at 650k and then will be a RFA. To me, I still think he can be fine on the third line, either with Hayes or even if Hayes is moved. If not, he could move back to center and fill Dominic Moore's role with a bit more offense thrown in. Hopefully he gets the chance and implements whatever he learned this year to remain active.
Stalberg was one of the better signings this offseason by GM Jeff Gorton. He showed he can be effective in either of the bottom two lines by using his speed and strong forecheck, tallying nine goals and 11 assists in 75 games. Stalberg, 30, counted $1.1 million against the cap and you sort of wish Gorton had given him more than one year. But coming off his buyout from Nashville, you can understand why Gorton only gave him one year. Hopefully he can lock him up for a reasonable price like he did with Antti Raanta, who re-signed for two years at $1.1 million.
Dominic Moore, who just finished the final year of his two year deal, will be gone. He was excellent his first year in New York, providing solid play as a fourth line center who could kill penalties and win draws. In addition, when needed, he could move to a top-six role. The past two seasons has seen his play drop off, especially this year, though part of that was due to who he was on a line with most of the season. Because of that last point, I will say there is a very outside shot he is back.
Tanner Glass, the whipping boy of the New York fanbase, has one year left of the three-year, $4.5 million he signed two years ago. His salary and poor advanced metrics made him easy to hate. Glass wasn't the reason why the Rangers struggled at times this season. Granted, his puck possession numbers are astonishingly bad, but he did what you want out of a fourth line. Play with energy and a willingness to take the body. Glass maybe an AV favorite, which could protect him, but if NY does send him down, only about 500k stays on the cap. So I wouldn't be surprised if that's the route the team employs as it looks to remake the bottom six.
Marek Hrivik shows some flashes of being a decent third or fourth line player on his brief action in New York. He may get a chance T earning a spot in training camp, but that will depend on other moves made. Hrivik likely ends up back at Hartford but sees some time during the year.
Pavel Buchnevich, drafted in the third round of the 2013 draft along with Anthony Duclair and Adam Tambellini, saw his contract with SKA of the KHL expire over the weekend. He is now a free agent and able to sign with the Rangers. However, bringing him may not be that easy. The 21-year old may still wants guarantees that he won't start the year at Hartford but instead with the parent club in front of the bright lights of Broadway in a top-six role.
Not to put too much pressure on Buchnevich, but he is the team's brightest offensive prospect by far and one counted on to provide a jumpstart to what at times has been an uneven offense. There is no questioning Buchnevich's offensive skill level, as he is a fast skater blessed with tremendous instincts and a powerful shot. There is no way to say that he will
Immediately step in and seamlessly adjust to the NHL, but New York most certainly would like to find that out. If he comes over and plays well in the preseason, a top-nine role at a minimum awaits.
Gorton needs to get the done ASAP. First to show the fanbase that the page has been flipped from this war. Second, to inject some excitement and offense. Third, to avoid all the talk and speculation of Buchnevich staying in Russia and earning free agent status in 2017. Sign him to an ELC now and remove any possible drama.
One additional possibly is North Dakota forward
Drake Caggiula, as the Rangers are rumored to be one of eight or nine teams interest. Caggiula, 21, is 5-10, 185, and had 25 goals and 29 assists in 39 games this season after notching 18 and 18 in 42 games the prior year. Adam Herman wrote for Blueshirt Banter that Caggiula is a legitimate NHL prospect. He has top-six upside and could challenge for an NHL spot in training camp next September. Caggiula has a ton of offensive skill and instincts. He skates well, has a good shot, and reads the ice well. Of course with help from two great linemates, Brock Boeser and Nick Schmaltz, had many shifts of dominant puck possession. It's likely a longshot, but if NY can add Caggiula and convince Buchnevich to come over, all of a sudden your offensive depth has grown tremendously, adding to the options AV has up front and Gorton has in terms of deal making.
I would be remiss if I didn't that Mats Zuccarello is a finalist for the Bill Masterton Memorial Award, which is awarded "to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey." Zucc, who is a finalist along with Jaromir Jagr and Pascal Dupuis, recovered from his scary head injury suffered in Game 5 of the 2015 first round series against the Penguins to score 26 goals and add 35 assists. He is the heart-and-soul of the Rangers, playing much much bigger than his size.
More to come...
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