New York Rangers Team Breakdown
The New York Rangers are currently standing facing the New Jersey Devils in round one of the playoffs and already stole game one on the road. One of the deepest teams in hockey; let’s break down why.
Top Six
The New York Rangers have one of the best top-six forward groups in the NHL, with perennial all-stars, Artemi Panarin, Patrick Kane, Mika Zibenjadi, and Vladimir Tarasenko. With all of this offensive power their style of play is built for overs in games like this.
The Rangers also have had tremendous chemistry as of late, as it took them a while to find the right pairing with the new additions of Kane and Tarasenko. The Rangers have scored four or more goals in six of their last eight games.
The Rangers also have had one of the best power plays in the league this year, and that could prove to be valuable if they see time on the power play in this week’s series.
Bottom Six
The New York Rangers’ third line is one of the best third lines in the league when they are on; the issue is they are streaky. With two former top 3 picks in Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko, they have plenty of talent to be the factor that decides the game.
Filip Chytil offers toughness and defense that rounds out the balance of Lafreniere’s and Kakko’s games. The fourth line is also very capable of playing in key minutes and might be top 5 in the year.
They have great speed in Tyler Motte, and Jimmy Vesy, while also playing the grit and grind style that a team needs from their fourth line. Barclay Goodrow rounds out this very overlooked line, but they have the ability to be an X-Factor.
Defense
The New York Rangers have one of the best defensemen in the NHL Adam Fox. He absolutely dominates the ice with puck control and possession, as well as driving offense from the back end.
Fox also is a solid defender and paired with Ryan Lindgren; they compliment each other’s games better than almost any defensive pairing in the NHL. K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba are the second pairing, and with the Captain on this pairing, it is more than serviceable.
Trouba is a human wrecking ball, and his hitting sets the tone for this team and how far they will go in the playoffs. Trouba can also drive scoring making this one of the best well-rounded defensive groups in the league.
Goaltending
Not much to be said; the New York Rangers have one of the best goalies in the world in Igor Shesterkin, and after a dominating game one, he looks ready to become the X-Factor to push this team over the top.
Prediction
With arguably the best top six in the league, an elite top two pair of defensemen, and a goalie who is one of the best in the league, I have the New York Rangers making the Stanley Cup Finals.
Yes you read that right; not the Bruins, but the New York Rangers will make the Stanley Cup Finals and win the eastern conference.
