2013/2014 Results vs. Blue Jackets
Game 1: Thurs Nov 7 Nationwide Arena NYR 4 – 2 CBJ
Game 2: Thurs Dec 12 @Madison Square Gardens CBJ 4 – 2 NYR
Game 3: Mon Jan 6 @ Madison Square Gardens CBJ 4 – 3 NYR, SO
Game 4: Fri Mar 21 Nationwide Arena NYR 3 – 1 CBJ
2014/2015 Schedule vs. Blue Jackets
Game 1: Sat Oct 11 Nationwide Arena
Game 2: Fri Jan 16 Nationwide Arena
Game 3: Sun Feb 22 @Madison Square Gardens
Game 4: Mon Apr 6 @Madison Square Gardens
After making a Stanley Cup Final appearance last season, needless to say expectations are very high for the Rangers this season. But, with a lot of off-season moves is this Rangers team improved? Let’s look at some of the players they have lost and acquired:
Roster Changes
Lost:
Brian Boyle
Anton Stralman
Benoit Pouliot
Brad Richards
***Derek Stepan (fractured left fibula out 4-6 weeks)
Yikes! Those look like some big holes. Anton Stralman could be considered their best possession defenseman the last two seasons. Brad Richards never seemed to fit in, but was still a positive possession player with 51 points last season albeit in sheltered minutes. That’s not easy to replace. Benoit Pouliot, declared a “bust” in terms of point production after being drafted 4th overall in 2005, has been a positive possession player since the 2009-10 season. Brian Boyle isn’t known for his scoring, but has played some very tough minutes with over 70% D zone starts in the last two full seasons. Derek Stepan is the teams #1 center and is an unfortunate blow to an already heavy roster swing. The four players lost/removed in the offseason will not be easily replaced, all representing an important role in one way or another.
Acquired:
Dan Boyle
Steven Kampfer
Mike Kostka
Chris Bourque
Tanner Glass
Matthew Lombardi
Matt Hunwick
Nick Tarnasky
Chris Mueller
Kevin Hayes
Cedric Desjardins
Ryan Malone
I have marked the players I think could see NHL time or that are noteworthy in bold. Dan Boyle has had a great NHL career, but I fear he is on borrowed time as far as his ability to be effective. I will admit I am curious to see how he does and how he is used though. Tanner Glass is a joke and a terrible signing that I think shows a misguided idea for what this team needs to be successful. He has been a negative possession player (and very negative relative to his teams) who can’t score or put up points his entire career. Chris Mueller, Matthew Lombardi, and Ryan Malone can all be filed under “worth a shot”. I would wager one might pan out and have a decent season, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. Kevin Hayes was the premier NCAA signing of the summer and could help down the line, but I highly doubt he sees significant NHL time this season.
Projected Lines
Forwards via Rangers Unlimited What a Stepan-less lineup might look like article
Top 6
Mats Zuccarello – Derek Brassard – Martin St. Louis
Chris Krieder – J.T. Miller – Rick Nash
Bottom 6
Hagelin – Dominic Moore – Lee Stempniak
Tanner Glass – Matthew Lombardi – Ryan Malone
(4th line is a guess based on article/player depth)
Defense
Ryan McDonagh – Dan Giarardi
Marc Staal – Dan Boyle
John Moore – Kevin Klein
Goalies
Henrik Lundqvist
Cam Talbot
My Thoughts
At the end of the day, with what I think is excellent coaching from Vigneault, this roster will come together with enough skill and puck possession ability to be back in the post season. I think they have the best goalie this league has seen since Dominik Hasek and the numbers tend to agree. That alone will have them in the mix. I think the players lost to either buyout or free agency are a big hole to fill, which is why I don’t see them repeating last year’s success. But, as they say with the playoffs you just have to get in and you have a chance.
Buckeye State Hockey Staff Prediction
We have the Rangers third in the Metro behind Pittsburgh and Columbus (biased much?*). While we still see the Rangers as a definite playoff team, we do not see them making the necessary jump ahead of Pittsburgh and Columbus. Don’t think Columbus will finish second? Fine. But, I think one of NJ/NYI/CBJ will definitely have a good enough season to put the Rangers 3rd in the division.
NYR Blogs and people to follow
(list is from @RegressedPDO’s Stats Focused Writers Guide)
*I also had Columbus second
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