Blog Archives
Revisiting the Rangers third line possibilities: Stack the size?
Bobby Bevilacqua
Kevin Hayes would certainly be a great top-six winger, but shoulg Vigneault opt to keep him as a center and create a very big, physical, and potentially effective line? Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
The Rangers do not have many questions surrounding them for next season. There is no goalie controversy, the defensive pairings are set, all of the key players are signed through the next season, and we know where most of the players will end up.
But the one real question that the Rangers have is how they should organize their last two lines. With the additions of Viktor Stalberg, Jarret Stoll, Emerson Etem, and the one way deal given to Oscar Lindberg, there are potentially a lot of moving parts for Vigneault when it comes to his bottom six. AV likes to be able to roll four lines effectively, so his choices will be very important in determining the team’s success and effectiveness.
There is no real general consensus when it comes to other writers and other fans. Personally, I’ve heard some people saying that Stoll should get the spot because of his experience and faceoff abilities, other people want Kevin Hayes to develop as a center, and then others believe that it’s time for Oscar Lindberg to start in the NHL. Read the rest of this entry
The Rangers future is bright, and the Stanley Cup window is NOT yet closed
Bobby Bevilacqua
Despite falling short in recent playoff runs, the Rangers future is very bright, and their chances at winning a Cup are far from done. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Everyone mentions the “window” that the Rangers and Henrik Lundqvist have in order to raise another championship banner in MSG within the next few years. A lot of people claim that in order to win, the Rangers have only a year or two before it all falls apart.
This past season marked the fifth consecutive year that the Rangers have made the playoffs, with at least one series win in the last four years. They’ve made it to the Eastern Conference Finals three times since 2012, as well as advancing to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in 20 years in 2014. Read the rest of this entry
Which Rangers are primed for a breakout season?
Bobby Bevilacqua
Chris Kreider and Derek Stepan are just two of the young players in the Rangers roster. But which one will have a breakout season? Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Although many fans of rival teams will say that the Rangers’ roster is full of aging players and no youth, that statement is totally false. In fact, the Rangers went from having a very thin farm system, to being loaded with goaltending talent, and having guys like Anthony Duclair, Brady Skjei and Pavel Buchnevich suddenly become well known prospects.
On top of that, the lineup for next season should be mostly fueled by youth, especially with the forwards. Young players like Chris Kreider, Jesper Fast and Kevin Hayes populate the four forward lines, with tons of potential amongst all of them.
Realistically, many of the Rangers young players can all have breakout seasons. Most of them have gotten invaluable experience during the team’s lengthy playoff runs, and for players like Emerson Etem and Oscar Lindberg, who are just joining the big club, there is no shortage of skilled players in the lineup for them to link up with. Read the rest of this entry
What the Rangers lineup should look like in 2015
Bobby Bevilacqua
Mats Zuccarello and Derick Brassard are two players that should remain together for the upcoming season. Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Since the 2011-12 season, when the Rangers began to consistently make long runs in the playoffs, there has been a lot of roster turnover. Every year, different players are shown the door, whether it be through trades or free agency, and new people are brought in to replace them.
Despite the constant change, the Rangers have managed to stay competitive, consistent, and retain a very strong, young core group of guys. This year was no different, with the forward group set to almost completely change for the upcoming season.
If assembled right, and if some of the young talent pans out, then this year’s team has the chance to be even better than last year’s Eastern Conference Finalist team. With a great balance of veteran leadership, star power, and youth, we could see big things in New York for the 2015-16 NHL season. Read the rest of this entry
Quick Hits: My thoughts after the Derek Stepan signing
My thoughts on Derek Stepan’s new contract, Jeff Gorton, and the team’s future. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
Bobby Bevilacqua
Yesterday, we saw Derek Stepan finally re-sign with the Rangers, opting to stay in New York for the next six years. The deal will pay him an average of $6.5 million until he turns 31, which means that he will be an integral part of the Rangers for years to come.
Of course, with every signing or update, I usually have some thoughts and opinions on things. This is a new “series” of articles I will be doing, usually shorter in length, where I’ll discuss my thoughts on the Rangers and what is going on around the league.
If you guys like this type of article, leave feedback in the comments section here, on Twitter (@The_RangerZone), or on The Ranger Zone Facebook page. Read the rest of this entry
therangerzone.com 