Blog Archives
What to expect: Projecting the Rangers scoring for 2015-16
The Rangers were a strong offensive team last year. Can they score at the same pace in 2015-16? Photo courtesy of Getty Images.
Last season, the Rangers were one of the highest scoring teams in the NHL, scoring a total of 248 goals, behind only the Dallas Stars (257) and the Tampa Bay Lightning (259). Carried by a prolific top line and some strong depth forwards, Alain Vigneault created a potent offensive team.
But like every other season, there is always change, this year coming mostly among the depth forwards Martin St. Louis, Carl Hagelin, James Sheppard and others. With all of the new faces coming into the lineup, that brings uncertainty.
It’s fair to expect that the remaining members of last year’s top six (Rick Nash, Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan) will post similar numbers. Players like Kreider and Stepan may even see some improvement. 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
Fixing the Rangers fourth line problems
Bobby Bevilacqua
The Rangers need to get creative and go with a different look on the fourth line. Photo courtesy of MSG Photos.
All of the glory and attention goes to the top lines in the NHL. On the Rangers, the likes of Rick Nash, Chris Kreider and Derick Brassard get the fans talking, because of their exciting ability to create offense and score goals.
The importance of the fourth line is often brushed aside, with many people not realize how important a team’s bottom six depth can be when making a long run in the playoffs. Having a great fourth line can be the difference between an early exit and a Stanley Cup Championship.
Looking back at the 2013-14 season, when the Rangers made it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time since 1994, the bottom six was tremendous. Benoit Pouliot, Derick Brassard and Mats Zuccarello were probably the team’s best offensive line for large parts of the season and playoffs. Read the rest of this entry
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