By : Mike Rifkin
The New York Rangers set a franchise record with 55 wins and 114 points and won the franchises first Presidents’ Trophy since 2014-15. The Rangers swept the Washington Capitals in the first round, dispatched of the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, before losing to the Florida Panthers in six games in the Eastern Conference Final. For the Rangers it’s the second time in three seasons that they lost in the Eastern Conference Final.
For the last number of years we have discussed the Rangers high end talent and until the series against the Panthers, they had showed up.
Points ( By Series)
Mika Zibanejad : ( VS CAPS : 1 G/7PTS, VS CAR : 2 G/ 7PTS, VS FLA : 0G/2PTS)
Artemi Panarin: (VS CAPS : 2 G/3PTS, VS CAR : 2G/8PTS, VS FLA : 1 G/4PTS)
Chris Kreider : (VS CAPS : 2G/3PTS, VS CAR : 5G/7PTS. VS FLA : 1 G/1PT)
Now while these three players struggled during the Panthers series, a new threat emerged in Alexis Lafreniere. The former first overall pick had a career high 28 goals and 57 points in the regular season. His play carried over to the postseason where he had eight goals and 14 points in 16 games played. The other forward who was consistent most of the season was Vincent Trocheck, who had a career high 77 points on the season. In the Playoffs Trocheck was awesome with eight goals and 20 points to lead the team, but as important as the points were Trocheck was very good in the faceoff circle, winning 59 percent of faceoffs during the regular season.
Onto the Rangers best player during the playoffs, Igor Shesterkin was simply phenomenal in the playoffs posting a 2.34 GAA and .927 save percentage. In the Eastern Conference Final Shesterkin had a .935 save percentage and by his own teammates account the Rangers aren’t in this position without their goalie. After the All – Star break coach Peter Laviolette gave Shesterkin a mental reset, and ever since Shesterkin looked like the guy who won the Vezina Trophy a few seasons ago. Shesterkin has one year left on his contract at 5.66 million dollars, so a top priority for Chris Drury will have to be an extension for his franchise goalie.
KEY FREE AGENTS (WITH REG SEASON POINT TOTAL)
RESTRICTED : KAPPO KAKKO ( 13 G/19 PTS), RYAN LINDGREN (3 G/17 PTS), BRADEN SCHNEIDER (5 G/19 PTS)
UNRESTRICTED : JACK ROSLOVIC (3 G/8 PTS IN 19 GP), ALEX WENNBERG (1 G/5 PTS IN 19 GP), ERIK GUSTAFSSON (6 G/31 PTS), BLAKE WHEELER (9 G/21 PTS).
If I’m Chris Drury the only guys i’m keeping out of this group are Braden Schneider and Ryan Lindgren. Schneider progress this season was something I didn’t see coming and him pairing with K’Andre Miller was something that worked really well. Lindgren is a warrior, plays through injuries and has been a great partner for Adam Fox. The only question I would have is do the Rangers give Schneider a bridge deal, or do they try to lock him up long term with a shorter AAV? Lindgren would probably get a 2-3 yr deal.
So, in the Restricted free agents that leaves Kappo Kakko. Kakko a former second overall pick in 2019. Now there have been obstacles for Kakko obviously Covid was impactful on a European player coming to the US. Kakko had a breakout season in 2022-23 with 18 goals and 40 points, and most fans were hoping it was the beginning of something big. Unfortunately Kakko had a knee injury that kept him out for a while during the season. Unfortunately most people associate a player’s production with their statistics and Kakko hasn’t quite had the numbers for a second overall pick. As much as I like Kakko, if there’s a really good trade offer out there Drury has to listen on it.
As for the unrestricted free agents I’d let them all go. Roslovic and Wennberg were thought to be good additions at the deadline, but outside of Wennberg’s game winning goal in game 3 of the Conference Final, he didn’t produce offensively. Roslovic, was given an opportunity to play with Zibanejad and Kreider and it just didn’t work. His inconsistent play has been his kryptonite throughout his career. Wheeler, worked his way back from a knee injury to play in game four against the Panthers. At 38 you have to wonder if he played his last game in the league? Gustafsson, had a nice season, especially when he filled in for Adam Fox when he was hurt. But after that his play dipped, and maybe it was the rotation of partners he had, but Drury can find a replacement there.
So, what’s going to be the massive change for the Rangers this summer? With the emergence of Schneider ( as mentioned above) and Zac Jones, who played well when called upon the Rangers should trade Jacob Trouba. Now this is an interesting move because Trouba is the most physical player on the team and a very polarizing player around the league. But with two years at eight million dollars AAV, Trouba could be moved during the draft or prior to his no trade kicking in.
So If I’m Chris Drury here’s how I approach the summer.
- Extensions for Igor Shesterkin, K’Andre Miller and Alexis Lafreniere
- Trade Kaapo Kakko’s rights plus to Calgary for Andrew Mangiapane or Winnipeg for NIikolaj Ehlers
- Sign Matt Dumba or Justin Schultz (1 yr)
- Trade Trouba ( have to think one of the following would be interested) Anaheim, Utah, Vancouver ( if they lose Zadorov)
- Give Brennan Othmann every chance to make this team.
PIPE DREAM IDEAS : Brady Tkachuk, Clayton Keller,
Potential Ranger lineup
Kreider-Zibanejad-Mangiapane or Ehlers
Panarin – Trocheck- Lafreniere
Othmann- Chytil – Cuylle
Brodzinski – Goodrow – Vesey
Lindgren – Fox
Miller – Schneider
Jones – Dumba
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