I guess we now have another name for the play-in round, Stanley Cup Qualifiers. The NHL Public Relations department released a stats and information pack for the Rangers-Hurricanes series. Only the initial infogram on the website relates to the four games played between the two teams while the Rangers component includes a few bullets on the match up, but the majority of the column are facts and figures for each team.
2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers: @Canes vs. @NYRangers #NHLStats Pack: https://t.co/GpRzhtBCZB pic.twitter.com/mKljeACCuq
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 17, 2020
One of the stats provided for the Rangers is: Artemi Panarin collected a career-high 95 points in 2019-20 (32-63—95 in 69 GP) Only two undrafted players who debuted in 1963-64 or later and were eligible for the NHL Draft have recorded a higher playoffs points-per-game pace than Panarin (min. 20 GP). Looking at this graphic, you see just how good Peter Stastny was but drafting for Communist Bloc countries was a much different experience than after the late-80s. Plus given the recent news on Mark Pavelich, nice to see prior positive information.
First-year @NYRangers forward @artemiypanarin sits tied for the third-highest points per game played in the postseason among undrafted players in #StanleyCup Playoffs history (min. 20 GP).
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 17, 2020
More #NHLStats: https://t.co/9A5ZEpogiU pic.twitter.com/aPQYo1YWmC
Two other stats resonated with me: - The Rangers finished the 2019-20 season with 234 goals for (including shootout-deciding goals), the fifth-highest total among all teams behind the Lightning (245), Capitals (240), Maple Leafs (238) and Avalanche (237). Panarin and Mika Zibanejad were the two big lamplighters, notching 73 regulation and overtime tallies. But Chris Kreider, Ryan Strome, Pavel Buchnevich,Tony DeAngelo, Filip Chytil, Jesper Fast and Kakko Kappo all finished in double figures. Plus, Brett Howden had nine goals and Adam Fox, eight
- The Rangers’ roster is the youngest of any resuming team with an average age of 26.2, slightly younger than the Blackhawks (26.3), Blue Jackets (26.4) and Maple Leafs (26.8). This shouldn't come as a surprise and further evidence that the "rebuild" accelerated faster than expected. Henrik Lundqvist, Marc Staal, Brendan Smith, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin and Jesper Fast were the only veterans 28 and over when play stopped. As you can tell, the majority of the team is relatively young with the core potentially lined up for further future success. Follow @airjan23