The Rangers to practice after sweeping their weekend back-to-back pair of games. The two victories moved New York into the first Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference with the Metro bunches up and all eight teams separated by eight points. None of the teams are showing any signs of slippage, so despite the two wins and the uplift since the 3-7-2 start, New York will have to remain hot to make the playoffs.
It’s that challenge that make many believe New York should sell. As I have said before, I am not at that point, but understand the view. That’s especially so due to the challenges the Rangers have had and continue to had in their own zone. Those challenges weee on display again this weekend during the course of the two wins. What I will say is unless or until the issues on the back end or cleaned, New York won’t go far. The two caveats to that, one more important to the other, are if Henrik Lundqvist carries the team as In years past and/or the offense makes up for the problems on the back line.
One potential area of remediation is down the middle. The hopeful return of Mika Zibanejad on Tuesday after missing eight games with a concussion will help fix one problem. David Desharnais will shift back to the bench due to the play of Boo Nieves on the fourth line. J.T. Miller has been relatively okay as the third line pivotman but as I have said before, I think he is better suited to staying on the wing. Keeping Miller on the wing also lengthens the lineup and strengthens that aspect of the forwards crew.
One suggested option to fill that third center role has been Derrick Brassard, as Ottawa looks to be in sell mode. As pointed out, in his last two seasons in New York, he averaged .74 points per game. The last season and a half, he is averaging about .52 points per game for the Senators, though that team is not as good offensively as the ones he had in New York. In addition, Brassard was a proven playoff performer, with 55 points in 78 playoff games. Both of the above are selling points for a potential reunion.
The counter though is that Brassard is making $5 million this year and next. As I said yesterday, please explain to me how you are re-signing Hayes, Miller, Skjei and Vesey even with Nash's salary gone? Even if you give bridge deals to Vesey and maybe Skjei, which would be a huge mistake, as he needs to be locked up long-term, that still is $5 million in salary and cap room used, unless Ottawa is willing to eat cash to move him. In addition, I am not right now moving on from Milller or Hayes, unless it’s to bring in a big-time scorer or center next year. Plus, if I had a choice, give me a re-signed Grabner over Brassard.
With Zib and Hayes there, New York should be okay if not solid on their first two lines the balance of the season. At best, Hayes has shown enough to possibly be a second line center or if not, a third liner, with a better second pivotman. I prefer giving Chytil a shot at the third line center this year - and maybe more in the future - or acquiring someone else via trade this season. Same next season in free agency, unless as I said, Ottawa eats salary to make a Brassard reunion more palatable. I love Brass when he was in New York, but to me, this isn’t a move I would make.