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Where the Rangers sit now and what should they do moving forward |
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The Rangers have an extra day off between games, as they face Carolina on the road Wednesday. Sunday’s win over Ottawa further tightened the Metro division, with the eight teams separated by seven points, led by New Jersey - no, you read correctly - with 27 points. The Rangers’ six-game winning streak got them back in the race, which may change their mindset moving forward, though lots of time remains to the trade deadline.
Beyond the victory, to me, the two most important and nice pieces to see was the partial return to form of Brendan Smith and continued solid play by Nick Holden. The former isn’t that surprising while the latter has been. Smith returned to action Friday after sitting for six games due to his poor early play and need for better conditioning. If what we saw Sunday can be replicated and slightly improved, New York will have the d-man who was very good after coming over at the deadline last year and what we saw down the stretch and in the playoffs. That balances and lengthens the blueline, enabling GM Jeff Gorton and coach Alain Vigneault to play their focus elsewhere.
That also holds true if Holden continues to play as he has lately. Last year, Holden was good the first half of the season, partially driven by his offensive contributions. That production dried up the second half of the season and in the playoffs, when his play cratered. Coming into this season, Holden might have been public enemy number one to the fan base and the first player everyone wanted voted off the island. But something strange happened on the way to that happening, Holden has played well. That may have been lost in everything else that has gone on with this team, but Holden deserves his spot on the lineup for each game. The liability we saw the second half of the year has not reappeared the first quarter-plus of this season. If he continues to play well and Marc Staal has games like he did Sunday, the blue line shouldn’t be a concern. If that changes, as Larry Brooks noted, Neal Pionk is likely the next man up. Pionk would get the nod because Tony DeAngelo has yet to show much in Hartford and has not earned his way back to New York.
Up front, the need for a 3C still exist. I say 3C because Mika Zibanejad with 10 goals and assists have settled in nicely to the top center role. Maybe he isn’t elite but he sure has been good enough to remain in that spot. Kevin Hayes has found his form, more defensively than offensively. Let that sink it. Hayes has taken to the role of shutdown center nicely. We saw it against Connor McDavid and also this past Sunday when matched up against Derick Brassard or Matt Duchene. I expect Hayes’ offense to pick up, which we have signs of recently, including Sunday when he ripped the first tally of the game. If Hayes can find consistent line mates, that might go a long way to aiding his production.
Boo Nieves has been fine as the fourth center, despite AV shortening the bench in certain games. Paul Carey is a plug-and-play option who will be slotted in and out of the lineup. The same can also be said about David Desharnais, who was a healthy scratch Sunday. If one is in the lineup, fine, two, possibly, but three is too many. This is why New York needs a third center. J.T. Miller is getting another chance to fill that role, but as I have said before, I much prefer him on wing because it optimizes the lineup when he is outside rather than in the middle.
One name to keep in mind for the role is Filip Chytil. New York prospect notes spell out just how good Chytil has been since his demotion. “The Rangers’ first round pick (21st overall) in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft has tallied 11 points (five goals, six assists) in nine games with Hartford this season. Chytil ranks second among AHL rookies in points per game (1.22) and is tied for ninth among AHL rookies in points thus far this season. Chytil is also tied for second on the Wolf Pack in goals in 2017-18.” I wouldn’t call Chytil up right now, but if he continues to play as he has of late and works on his 200-foot game, as call up around the New York wouldn’t shock me. If it’s not Chytil, the Vinny Lettieri, who also has been scoring recently at Hartford and who we know likes to play physical, is likely next in line. If it’s neither, then New York will look to make a deal.
Making a trade is predicated on how well the team is playing and where they are in the standings. Before the win streak, dealing expiring contracts, such as Rick Nash and Michael Grabner, might have made more sense. With three months to the deadline, no decision in either direction is forthcoming any time soon, nor should it. Those who believe that this team can’t contend and need to break it up, how is that decision occurring 21 games into a season? Are the struggles we have seen any different that what other teams are going through and what happens at times during the course of a season? If Henrik Lundqvist plays as he has the last five to eight games, can New York not beat anyone in the conference? Especially if the D continues to improve. Offensively, 5v5 is a concern, which is another reason why I expect a forward, center or maybe even a wing, to be brought on board to lengthen and deepen the lineup. Now, if the play and record start to go south and no turnaround is in site, then by all means deal pieces to improve the team for the future. But in lieu of that, stay the course, especially if what we have seen the last 10 games - and you know I view the year in blocks of five, 10 and 20 games - repeats in the next block of games.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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