NHL.com is running their 31 teams in 31 days, preparing the masses for the hopeful upcoming season. Saturday, they turned their focus to the Rangers. Their coverage included an overall season outlook, top-three questions for the team, top prospects and a fantasy outlook. In addition, AJ Castiglia posted his 2020-21 season intro preview video.
Rangers season preview:
Today @NHLdotcom's #31in31 is about all things @NYRangers and what the future holds for them. https://t.co/lHIaRhxmU9
— NHL (@NHL) December 5, 2020
Top-three questions on the Rangers:
We're providing in-depth analysis for each of the 31 NHL teams from Nov. 16-Dec. 16. Today, three important questions facing the @NYRangers.https://t.co/4yV8AjLIwU
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) December 5, 2020
In the preview, Dan Rosen projects Kaapo Kakko to move up to the second line right wing spot, replacing Jesper Fast. He has Alexis Lafreniere penciled in as the third line left winger. That may be the case, though it wouldn't shock me if Laf moves up and Chris Kreider slides down from the KZB trio to the third line. With Laf, we found out this past week - confirming what we thought might be the case, he will not suit up for Team Canada in the WJC.
Rosen in the column provided some insight as to how long Laf has been in the New York area and where he is staying. "Lafreniere arrived in the New York area from his home in Saint-Eustache, Quebec, in November and is training and living with a billet family in Connecticut." As Laf trains and gets indoctrinated into the Rangers' culture, he gets to prepare at his own pace for the start of his rookie season.
The more interesting piece of the column was another item we had previously discussed, who plays with Jacob Trouba. As seen in what Rosen wrote, opens exist. Training camp will decide how this plays out. "Quinn said the Rangers could move a right-handed defenseman (Trouba, Tony DeAngelo or Adam Fox) to the left side. DeAngelo, who led New York defensemen with 53 points (15 goals, 38 assists) last season, is the most likely candidate, but Quinn said he knows Fox would be comfortable too. It's unlikely they ask Trouba to switch. K'Andre Miller and/or Tarmo Reunanen, two of New York's top defenseman prospects and each a left-handed shot, could play well enough in training camp to win a job and remove the need to move a righty to the left side."
Rangers' top-five prospects
Headlined by Alexis Lafreniere (@Alexlaff13), the @NYRangers prospect pool is looking real good. 👀
— NHL (@NHL) December 5, 2020
More #31in31 content via @NHLdotcom: https://t.co/idV3VVIGZK pic.twitter.com/xtOJ5TlN7H
Lafreniere at #1 was pretty much a given, same with Igor Shesterkin at #2, though, you could swap the two as I have seen elsewhere. Miller and Nils Lundqvist at 3 and 4 is fairly standard. Same with Kravtsov at #5, but I could see moving Vitali up to third, with the two blueliners directly behind him. Depends on your preference and view of Kravtsov's upside.
Rangers fantasy preview by NHL.com
As part of @NHLdotcom's 31 in 31 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from the @NYRangers.https://t.co/3gN2yhq2H3
— NHL.com (@NHLdotcom) December 5, 2020
Artemi Panarin and Mike Zibanajed in top-20, check, Shesterkin in top-40 and the sixth ranked fantasy goalie, good starting point. If the Czar is as good as we think he is, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him moved up during the year. Chris Kreider at 88 might be a smidge high, especially even if he slides down to the third line, though he should rack up power play points. Laf at 94 is a reasonable kicking off point, good value and not too much pressure for him to carry your fantasy team. DeAngelo at 114 seems a smidge low, but if Fox, who is at 154, eats into his PP TOI, then the ranking makes sense, but Fox might end up low if his PP usage increases.
2020-21 Season Intro - "New Beginnings" - by AJ Castiglia:
“New Beginnings… 🔴⚪ï¸ðŸ”µ @NYRangers 2020-21 Season Intro https://t.co/Zl2hQzw7c6@TonyDee07 @strome18 @blemieux22
— AJ Castiglia (@ajcastigliaa) December 6, 2020