The Rangers face the Sabres on the road Thursday. New York comes in off a 3-2 comeback win over the Hurricanes on Tuesday. On the same day, Buffalo welcomed back their prodigal son, Jack Eichel, who had been sidelined since training camp with a high-ankle sprain. Eichel paid immediate dividends, notching a goal and an assist to key a Sabres victory.
The Rangers are in the midst of another heavy patch of games, as they will face Carolina again Saturday followed by the Islanders on Tuesday. Contests against Winnipeg and Chicago are on December 8-9, New Jersey on the 11th and then Chicago again on the 13th. It doesn't get any easier after that, as Dallas on the 15th, Nashville on the 17th, New Jersey on the 18th and Pittsburgh on the 20th are next on the docket.
Why do I point out the schedule? First, New York will likely be without Pavel Buchnevich for that stretch, as he will still be strengthening his core during that time. We also know that Mika Zibanejad will be sidelined recovering from a non-displaced fractured left fibula. So the 12 forwards used along with Josh Jooris is who will be in the lineup. The configurations may change but the population of who is utilized likely won't.
Second, what about the blue line. On October 31, AV said we should expect to see Adam Clendening more due to the heavy schedule in November, including stretches of five games in seven days and five in eight days. What did we get? One game from Clendening. Larry Brooks made several good points and brought up a few key questions in his Thursday column (http://nypost.com/2016/11/30/how-rangers-could-answer-the-big-question-about-their-defense/). To me, the three below are the key ones:
Two overriding questions about the Rangers, not yet answered: 1) Are they big enough and tough enough up front to win enough battles and get to the front in these grinding, tight-quarters, chip-it-in games that are contested along the boards and in the corners; 2) Can they consistently move the puck out of their own end under duress with a defense that includes three slower throw-backs in Dan Girardi, Kevin Klein and Marc Staal?And this leads to Question Three: Aren’t we at the stage, more than a quarter into the season and with the Blueshirts facing a succession of clogged middles and neutral zones, where it would be beneficial to see whether Clendening makes a difference in clearing the zone, transporting the puck and beating the trap?
The answers to the first two questions will help determine just how good this team will and can be. They are questions though that may very well not be answered until March, April and beyond. Question one may depend on just how good Chris Kreider is. His skill set checks off all of the boxes in that question. Add in Jimmy Vesey, Rick Nash, J.T. Miller as well as Mats Zuccarello and the Blueshirts have players who seem to check several of those boxes, but adding a forward with a bit of grit and sandpaper who can chip in a bit offensively should be a trade day target.
Question two is one that we debate daily. Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skjei and to an extent, Nick Holden, can move the puck out of their own end under duress. Staal has shown that he can make the little pass in the defensive zone to relieve some pressure, though the breakout pass and shift ability in his own zone is not a major strength. G, despite the criticism, has been better this year. Issues with his play still exist and he is better suited to a second or third pairing placement, but he has not been the major liability of the past few seasons. Klein though has regressed again. If a blue liner is and/or should be replaced, it's him. Names such as Kevin Shattenkik, T.J. Brodie, Dougie Hamilton and Michael Stone will continue to be brought up until and likely past the trade deadline until a move is made.
Klein's deficiencies provide a clear answer to question #3. That answer is a resounding yes. Play Clendening and sit Klein. As Brooks notes and we had discussed, how ironic is it that last year the physical d-man that was needed sat while this year, its the needed puckmoving d-man who sits? In order to determine if Clendening can fill the gap that exists and also to avoid thrusting him into a situation where he is needed but rusty, he has to play. I know I sound like a broken record and I apologize, but it's amazing how crystal clear that is to us and all save for AV.
Clendening can fit with Holden. Use Skjei either with McD or Staal. By inserting Clendening in the lineup and sitting Klein, the blue line overall should be improved. If not, then the need to fill that top four d-man gains additional clarity rather than just projecting one is needed. Clendening is not the end all and be all and has failed to stick in other spots. That doesn't mean he is or isn't a fit but it's worth finding out. Similar may be said or occur with Ryan Graves or John Gilmour. But I will ask it this way, would you prefer to see Klein out there knowing what you will get and mistakes we continually see or find out if Clendening can fill a hole?
Update 11am: well, we got our wish. Klein will be a healthy scratch along with Josh Jooris. Clendening is in the lineup paired with Brady Skjei. Happy he is getting a shot but I would have paired Skjei with Staal and Clendening with Holden or moved Skjei up to play with McD, Clendening with Staal and G with Holden.
Clendening is also getting a look on the power play, as the Rangers need a RH shot from the point. Clendening on point on a PP unit with 61, 26, 13, 76 while the other unit has: 27, 20, 21, 36, 73. In essence AV keeps the lines together with a shift at point.