Homegrown Options

By Mike Rifkin

For the second time in three seasons the New York Rangers lost in the Eastern Conference Finals. So how does a team that has lost in the Eastern Conference Finals ger better? Most Ranger fans wanted GM Chris Drury to grab a top line Right Winger to play with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Players available through free agency included Jake Guentzel, Jonathan Marchessault, Tyler Toffoli, Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko amongst others. 

Did Chris Drury sign any of these players? Well the answer to that is no he didn’t. But Drury did add a winger as he acquired Reilly Smith from the Penguins in exchange for draft picks. Smith should add some depth to the top nine, but this doesn’t mean he’s playing with Kreider and Zibanejad, so if not Smith who is? Could Drury still look for outside help on the top line, sure, but I don’t think that’s necessarily going to happen unless it’s a need again at the trade deadline. So, who is going to get the opportunity to play with Kreider and Zibanejad when training camp opens in September? In my opinion there are three options to get the opportunity in house. 

Let’s start with Kaapo Kakko, the former second overall pick is still only 23 years old and if you read social media, people are willing to give up on him. Kakko in 2022-23 had career highs in goals (18) and points (40) in 82 games played. Entering this season fans and the organization had high expectations for Kakko, and well they didn’t get met. Part of that was due to an injury Kakko suffered, so he ended the year with 13 goals and 19 points in 61 games. Kakko has played with Zibanejad and Kreider in the past, so maybe he gets the first crack in training camp.

Did someone say young players who broke out in 2022-23? Well, that was Filip Chytil, who had 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games played. Chytil was limited to 10 regular season games with an upper body injury. He had six assists in those 10 games, Chytil did return during the playoffs and even played some Right Wing with Zibanejad and Kreider. If the Rangers liked what they saw they can try that unit again in camp. But the organization might want to put Chytil back at his natural Center position. 

The other option is Brennan Othmann. Othmann had a cup of coffee with the Rangers this season, but should get a massive opportunity to make the roster in training camp. The 2021 first round pick had a really solid season in Hartford posting 21 goals and 49 points in 67 games. Othmann is guy who plays with high energy and finishes his checks, so maybe he gets a crack at the top line as well. 

If the right side on the top line is a void at the deadline I would expect Drury to go after someone. But for now I think entering training camp the Rangers will look at all the options above, unless a deal falls into their lap.