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NYR-WPG, Rangers kick off 2019-20 season at home, season preview/prediction |
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The 82-game grind known as the NHL regular season gets underway for the New York Rangers tonight at MSG as they take on the Winnipeg Jets. After two years, at least one and a half of it, in a clear rebuilding mode, hopes are high on Broadway for the Blueshirts. The additions of Jacob Trouba, Adam Fox, Kaapo Kakko and Artemi Panarin for this season along with the pipeline of prospects not seen in these parts for years has the Garden faithful with visions of a Cup championship potentially in the not too distant future. Work remains, but the future is clearly very bright with coach David Quinn having establishment accountability as a hallmark of this team.
A
pump up video to get you ready for the season. Congrats to AJ Castiglia, who is now creating videos for the Rangers. Same to We Bleed Blue NYC, whose apparel is at MSG.
There’s one way we play. #PlayLikeANewYorker pic.twitter.com/2dqxS4UhH3
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 3, 2019
Projected Lines:
Panarin-Zibanejad-Buchnevich
Kreider-Strome-Kakko
Namestnikov-Howden-Fast
Lemieux-Andersson-Smith
I provided my view of the roster construction in yesterday’s blog. The top line is one most of us wanted to see, though we somewhat expected Kakko to fill the right wing spot. Buch gets the chance to show his close to the season was no fluke. If he can continue that level of play, we know already what to expect from Zib and Panarin, even though t’s just his first year as a Ranger, making that trio dangerous. Strome is a placeholder for now, but as jimbo pointed out, as a righty, he may have gotten this spot so that he can easily feed Kreider and Kakko. CK20 is playing for a new deal, either to remain in New York – less likely – or elsewhere. If the team gets first half of 2018-19 season Kreider, the top-six should be fine. Strome’s numbers were inflated due to his shooting percentage, but he may be more facilitator than shooter given his linemates. Kakko showed this pre-season he is ready for this level and should be in the Calder Trophy mix.
The bottom two lines will be mix and match. Howden, despite a so-so camp, earned a roster spot. As I have mentioned lately, I think he should be the fourth line center with Andersson, who remade his body, aiding his game, the third line center. If Andersson plays as he did in the pre-season, look for him to move up the ladder. Namestnikov, like Strome and Kreider, is in the last year of his deal. New York has few ties to him, so he will need to produce to remain on the team this season, let alone in the lineup. We know what the team will get from Fast. Lemieux brings an edge, which Quinn loves, and he too could be moved up. Smith will shift between the fourth line, defense and press box and he too brings a physical presence. Greg McKegg, off a solid camp, is the extra skater. Filip Chytil and Vitali Kravtsov are biding their time in the minors. When ready, look for them to be up and possibly at worst, two-thirds of the third line with Andersson.
Skjei-Trouba
Staal-DeAngelo
Hajek-Fox
The blue line should be better than the past few years but is still a work in progress. If Skjei and his best buddy Trouba can fill the top pairing, the trickle-down impact is huge. Staal then can remain on the second pair and allow ADA, who took strides forward last year and might have been the best ranger this pre-season after Andersson, to utilize his offensive talent and instincts. Skjei has been a disappointment since signing his long-term deal but he may not have his best chance to succeed playing alongside Trouba, who brings a combination of physical presence and offensive skill. Fox, one of the crown jewels added this offseason. Has tremendous offensive talent, but growing pains in his own zone is expected. Hajek, good in limited use last season, barely beat out Ryan Lindgren for this spot. If he falters, Lindgren looks ready, but I think we all like the upside Hajek brings, At a minimum, the defense should move the puck quicker and faster than the past few seasons, creating offense from defense.
Lundqvist
Georgiev
Hank is in the twilight of his career. Signed through next season, the torch has started to pass to Georgiev and Igor Shesterkin, the probably heir apparent. Lundqvist is a proud athlete. In addition, Lundqvist would love nothing better than to win a Cup in New York. Quinn and Benoit Allaire will manage Lundqvist’s workload, so I expect about a 60-40% split with Georgiev to try and make sure Hank doesn’t wear down. We saw what Georgiev could do last season and he too has something for which to play, as he will need to hold off Shesterkin to be the back up and maybe have a shot at the #1 role down the road.
Power play combinations:
PP1: Pavel Buchnevich-Artemi Panarin-Chris Kreider-Jacob Trouba-Mike Zibanejad
PP2: Brendan Lemieux-Ryan Strome-Kaapo Kakko-Adam Fox, and either Tony DeAngelo or Brady Skjei
The top line power play clicked in the preseason, showing tremendous puck movement and skill. The top five has skill with Kreider in front of the net and Panarin, rather than Zib, from the left dot. Buch was a let addition, replacing Kakko on that top unit. On the second grouping, look for Lemieux to fill the Kreider role with Kakko in the Panarin spot. I think ADA gets the nod as the second unit, second power play point. Look for Andersson to see some time on the unit, replacing Strome, at some point.
The penalty kill is a work-in-progress. We should see Zib-Andersson as a duo and maybe the same with Fast-Namestnikov. Trouba and Staal will each be on the PK, though likely on separate units. Their pair mates are to be determined, but we could see the regular line mates remain, so Trouba-Skjei and Staal-ADA but I expect Smith to be on the PK when he is in the lineup.
Overall prediction:
Expectations are high, maybe too high. The rebuild was accelerated by getting the #2 draft slot, which likely led to trading for Trouba and Fox and signing Panarin. Holes still remain, especially at the 2c and maybe down the middle, though if Andersson plays well, that will go a long way to helping answer that question. In addition, if Chytil grabs the top center role in Hartford and runs with it, he will get a shot to fill the second-line center role in New York. The Rangers, thanks to the upgraded talent should score, especially if all the new faces mesh quickly.
The defense is also unsettled. More talent exists, but one main question is if this system is right for the talent and are the issues Ruff, Quinn, player or system related. If Skjei-Trouba can be that top pairing lacking since McD-G filled that role, then the rest of the back line will be better. If not, you can fill in the rest. In addition, can Lundqvist turn back the clock, not even to five years ago but to his hot stretch from last season and maintain close to that level of play. If yes, then the team could contend for a playoff spot, if not, the transition will start a year or two early.
With three games in the first 14 days, New York may get off to a slow start until the pieces mesh. The additional practice time afforded by that light schedule should help the squad coalesce hopefully fairly quickly. Look for lots of ups-and-downs this season, especially as new players – Chytil, Kravtsov, Lindgren – are incorporated in the mix. Like last year, building for the future outweighs the short-term benefit, as such Strome, Namestnikov and Kreider could be on the move at the trade deadline. I think the Rangers will be in striking distance of a Wild Card spot as we hit the home stretch, which could make the trade deadline very interesting for GM Jeff Gorton and President John Davidson. But New York finishes fifth in the division just out of a spot, though their strong finish bodes well for a true breakthrough campaign next season. The team will head into the off-season with high expectations, albeit with potentially not that much cap room to spend, barring an uptick in the current cap, which they will utilize on augmenting the current roster, especially down the middle and maybe on the blue line. Though if K’Andre Miller is ready, the same with Nils Lundkvist, blue line might not be a focus.
New York Rangers Blogger • 
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