As we sit here at basically the quarter-season mark for our New York Rangers, it’s hard to gauge exactly where this team stands.
They currently reside in a wildcard playoff spot while possessing the same solid core and goaltending that drove the Blueshirts to the Eastern Conference Finals last year.
Clearly though, something is a bit off, especially offensively. Whether using the eye test or any advanced stat you wish (I try to adopt a balance of both), the Rangers are basically in the middle of the pack when it comes to generating goals.
That might secure a team a playoff spot, and with great goaltending, it might even lead to some playoff success. Yet, for the Rangers to be genuine Cup contenders, the middle of the pack is not good enough, especially with the caliber of forwards in their arsenal.
So, that is a long preamble before even truly addressing the headline of this article. (For full disclosure, I am and will be guilty of trying to think of a clever, pun-filled, possibly make-you-roll-your-eyes header before I even write my posts. I apologize now and in advance.)
However, there is a method to my madness. Simply put, I believe the deployment and usage of the players on the so-called Kid Line will determine the breadth of the Rangers’ offensive success and how well our season goes.
There are two schools of thought on this, and honestly, there are merits to both.
Keep the Kid Line Together
It’s no secret that their chemistry sparked last year’s postseason, with all three players seeming to thrive, especially Chytil. It makes sense to try replicating that for an entire season to get the most out of each player. Even if they are labeled as the “3rd line”, that can create matchup problems for an opposing coach whenever they take the ice. He, rightfully so, would want to put his first pair and/or top lines against the Panarins and Mikas of the world. This consistently leaves mismatches against these talented young forwards that they have been able to exploit in the past. Break Them Up For Top 6 Roles.
This was supposed to be the plan; ideally, it creates the most balanced, well-rounded lineup. It’s great that these three have chemistry, but deploying them as a 3rd line severely limits their ice time. More importantly, our lack of RW depth forces Gallant to put a Vesey or Goodrow in the top 6. They always give max effort and are valuable players, but their highest value lies with them in the bottom 6. It’s one thing if the Kid Line is scoring consistently, but when they don’t (and they haven’t), it’s not tough to see why we’ve been subpar at 5×5 offensively as a whole.
So what’s the answer? I don’t know if there’s a true “right” one. The debate will rage on, but here’s my opinion.
Break it up, but only slightly.
The Rangers should start by putting Kakko back up on the first line and keeping Laf in his natural LW spot with Chytil. This one move could have a positive ripple effect.
Kakko hasn’t broken out yet, but you would be giving him the best opportunity to do so (he’s had a stretch of success there before.) Plus, you’re putting a much more talented winger with Kreider and Mika that could mutually benefit them. Now you have more flexibility and can slot in a Goodrow/Vesey on the 3rd line giving Laf/Chytil a veteran grinder to do the dirty work.
After that, this might seem crazy, but I would still try Kravtsov on the 2nd line. Admittedly, it’s hard to pencil him into a top-6 role when he can’t even stay on the ice, so perhaps they’ll still go with a vet, but in theory, he provides more potential offensive skill. (Apologies to Goodrow and his McDavid-Esque goal the other night.)
So with everything out on the table, this would be my ideal lineup at the moment:
Kreider-Mika-Kakko
Panarin-Trocheck-Kravtsov
Laf-Chytil-Goodrow
Blais/Vesey-Carpenter-Gauthier
There are other discussions to be had about both Kravtsov (his story can be a whole other article) and whether Blais has earned a spot, but we can get to those another day.
Right now, this team needs to find its scoring mojo. Surely, our top forwards, such as Mika and Panarin, need to start lighting the lamp more, but we’ll only shine brightest if these young first-round draft picks, wherever they slot in, grow up before our eyes and provide the offense we desperately need.
Someone at NYR needs to hire this writer ASAP. This is the best article I’ve read about the Rangers this season. Now I can finally go to a game at MSG and scream until my throat is sore “Hack the bone, hack the bone!” Well done Marc!
Thank you, Matt! If only i had this writing outlet when i was a lad………oh well. (Destroys my seat with a crowbar)