The Rangers return to practice knowing they will be without a defenseman for a period of time. Kevin Shattenkirk, who injured his shoulder on a hit from J.T. Miller on Monday, will be sidelined for likely several weeks. The best case is probably 3-4 weeks while worst case may be season ending surgery, if labrum damages is discovered. New York is awaiting the results on ‘Kirk’s shoulder.
Shattenkirk took a discount to sign with the Rangers on July 1, 2017, inning a four-year, $26.6 million. At best, you can say that the signing has been a bad one or ill-fated. At worse, the term abject disaster comes to mind. What was expected from Kirk, despite his defensive woes, was puck possession, strong skating and a power play point man. None of those three have come to fruition.
I admit I was all on the ‘Kirk bandwagon. Drafted him in my keeper league when he was selected by Colorado and followed him to St. Louis, then to Washington. Cracks in the armor started late in his Blues tenure, yet Tampa wanted him and he ended up in Washington. But the regression in the latter location has gone to a whole new level. Larry Brooks spells it out well in his column today:
Shattenkirk has the rhythm of Elaine Benes (only Brooks would write this). He has essentially become a sheltered third-pair D, second-unit power-play guy. He hasn’t been on for a power-play goal since Nov. 9 in Detroit, one of his season total of three. He can be exploited in the D-zone because his quick twitch skills have been so sorely damaged.
Thing is, it is not his fault. He cares. He works hard. He wants to win. He is a charitable-minded fellow. He wanted/wants so badly to thrive playing in front of his friends and family. This is not what Shattenkirk, who turns 30 in January, signed up for when he took the Blueshirts’ four-year offer of $6.65 million per season that seemingly so-long-ago day when No. 22 seemed primed to become Ryan McDonagh’s first-pair partner. Uh, not so fast. Literally and figuratively.
But the Rangers do miss the Shattenkirk they signed. His defensive deficiencies were known, but this was a proven possession driver throughout his career. This was a big-time power-play righty. This was a New Yorker choosing to come home, and yes, for less than he would/could have gotten elsewhere. And then he got hurt in training camp, tried to play through it because, a) well, he’s a hockey player; and, b) he’s human and did not want to let his family, friends, teammates and organization down. It was a poor decision, but made for the right reason. Thus, excusable.
If Shattenkirk is lost for the season, New York’s decision on what to do with him after the year becomes tougher. Do you buy him out, knowing you also have Brendan Smith and Marc Staal, more the former and less the latter, olus maybe even Brady Skjei, though New York isn’t punting on bum just get, on contacts that be worth jettisoning? Do you hope the last two years are aberration, as least to the extent of just how bad it hasn’t been, and he can still be a useful piece? On a side note, someone posted on twitter yesterday that maybe the Blueshirts shouldn’t offer a d-man more than $3 mil annually given their history, starting to think that person may not be that wrong.
With Kirk out, Nee York does have options - some better than otters - on then blue line. First and foremost, Smith might be ready to return from his injury. Adam McQuaid, sidelined long term, is inching closer and he could be ready to play in the near term, though possibly not Friday against Arizona. The others range from a pair who saw action last season in New York to a possible bottom pair d-man and then the two biggest blue line prospects closest to the majors.
John Gilmour and Rob O’Gara, who both finished last season with the Rangers, could get a look see. Colin Stephenson noted in Newsday: “Gilmour, 25, is third in scoring at Hartford, with six goals and 11 assists (17 points). O’Gara, 25, played well in the preseason and has two goals and two assists in 24 games. Asked to add meanness to his game, he is second on the team with 32 penalty minutes.” I thought Gilmour showed some offensive ability last season but needed work defensively while O’Gara might end up a 6/7 stay at home fill in defenseman. Also on the list is Brandon Crawley, 21, a fourth-round draft pick in 2017, who has three goals and six assists in 20 games, with 31 penalty minutes. If looking at upside and someone that the team should look at to see if his game translates at the upper level, I could see Crawley getting a shot.
Libor Hajek, who came over with Brett Howden from Tampa in the Ryan McDonah and Miller deal, and Ryan Lindgren, each 20, are rookies at AHL Hartford. Hajek has played in all 26 games this season, and has three assists and 20 penalty minutes. Lindgren has played in 23 games, and has two assists and 22 penalty minutes. Those two are probable future top-four blueliners. Both are expected to be up at some point this year and each could likely use more development time. One reason to keep them down is the future expansion draft in 2021-22. I believe that if both don’t trigger their ELC this year, then when each are likely in the lineup next year, 2019-20 becomes the first year of that contract. Meaning that 2020-21 is year 2 and as such, they would not need to be protected in the expansion draft. This may be a huge factor, presuming I am correct, in determining who gets a look see.
This is what I wrote last week in the expansion draft and Rangers regarding the blueline:
On the blueline, Shattenkirk, Smith and Staal all will not need to be protected. Skjei remaining on that list may very well be determined by how well he plays over the next two-plus years, despite his long-term contract. Pionk and DeAngelo both are probable to be Rangers at that time, but if putting odds, my bet is on Pionk before ADA. Don’t rule out Fredrik Claesson signing for a few years, of New York can get him on a reasonable deal. If that happens, Claesson is a possibility to be protected, but I could very easily see him as one of the veterans exposed in line with the expansion rules.
With New York likely to go 7-3-1 as their expansion draft keeper list, keeping some names off as required keepers makes sense. That’s why I don’t expect Hajek or Lindgren now. If the draft was 2020-21, then by all means call each or one up and play both or that person now. But with the future specter of the draft already looming, smart decisions - even in regards to call ups - in a rebuilding year take on even a higher priority.
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