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Broadway 2014-15 Preview!

Another rough season for the Blueshirts?

The 2014-15 season looks to be another rebuilding campaign on Broadway. Even with the emergence of some young stars, and the continued development of a horde of recent draft picks, at this writing there just doesn\'t seem to be enough talent on this team to carry them into the playoffs. We would love to be proven wrong, however...

Having said that, let\'s take a look at the 2014-15 New York Rangers; who\'s hot, who\'s not, and who is just happy to be here.

LEFT WING
Patrik Elias 2013-14 stats: 10-4-3-7 with Washington
Signed late in camp to help offset the departure of Tom Kuehnhackl, Elias looks to bring a steady veteran presence to a roster that includes a slew of players 22 or younger. He should anchor the first line, but don\'t be surprised if the Rangers are well out of it by January if trade rumors start to bubble up.

Anton Slepyshev 2013-14 stats: 57-5-9-14, 39 PIM (plus 15 games in HFD)
The 2012 1st rounder finally appears ready to take a regular slot on a top line this year. Although he still has some filling out to do, Slepyshev hits like a truck and boasts a developing offensive game. He needs to tighten up his checking game, however.

David Elsner 2013-14 stats: 69-25-26-51 with VAN and NYR
Should be a regular back on his natural left side this year. He plays a strong two-way game, and can be a presence on an offensive line or a checking line. Doesn\'t stand out in any one area, but is the kind of player who makes others around him better.

Johan Larsson 2013-14 stats: 82-4-3-7 with Detroit
Will compete with several others for spots on the 3rd and 4th lines each night, given the situation. Has more of an offensive game than his 13-14 stats suggest, and plays a consistent, trouble-free game. Not much physical presence, which costs him time in the lineup, and not strong enough offensively to be a regular on the top lines either. Can play both wings.

Ryan Martindale 2013-14 stats: 19-1-2-3
Another \'tweener, with some capabilities as a two-way player, but doesn\'t stand out enough to star at either end. Has a nice enough shot to maybe see some PP time, and is much more physical than Larsson. Limited to LW only due to average faceoff ability.


CENTER
Corey Perry 2013-14 stats: 82-30-33-63
Perry will continue to anchor that attack from the first line. Like the rest of the offense, he struggled last year, and failed to duplicate his previous point-per-game pace with the Rangers. He is also one of the league\'s best in the faceoff circle.

Adam Gilmour 2013-14 stats: 82-18-30-48
Gilmour is one of those non-flashy guys who is adept in both an offensive or a defensive role. He can grind it out on a hitting line, or pick up the pace on a scoring line. He is defensively responsible as well, and is just good enough at faceoffs to hold down a place on the second line.

Slava Osnovin 2013-14 stats: 80-20-24-44
Something of a tweener; he is capable enough on offense to play a role on a top line if needed, and is also savvy enough on the backcheck to not give his coach gray hairs. But he doesn\'t stand out in either role, and often finds himself shifting from LW to C and on any of the four lines. Could find his niche this year as an offensive spark on a checking line.

Jim Slater 2013-14 stats: 67-5-6-11
Purely a 3rd/4th line checker and faceoff guy. Adds some life to the penalty kill with a bit of offensive capability, but even that role was called into question last year during a disastrous season of team penalty killing. Depending on how quickly certain players develop in Hartford, could find himself dealt away sooner than later.


RIGHT WING
Pierre-Marc Bouchard 2013-14 stats: 61-23-20-43
Needs a serious bounce-back season after an injury-filled and overall very disappointing 2013-14. Still one of the premier playmakers in the EHEC, but his lack of effort in his own zone means he needs defensively responsible linemates. We\'ll see if Elias can bring him out of his funk this year. If not, and if MacKinnon makes big strides early in the season, PMB could be on the fast track out of town.

Nate MacKinnon 2013-14 stats: 36-4-9-13 (plus 39 games in HFD)
Last year\'s number 4 overall draft pick, MacK saw enough time with the big club to lose his rookie status. His development has not been as fast as hoped, hampered somewhat by his thin frame and need to put on more muscle. But when it all clicks he will be an offensive dynamo, with enough two-way play to keep him on the ice in all situations.

Viktor Tikhonov 2013-14 stats: 82-5-10-15 with Phoenix
Another latecomer to the team, acquired just before the start of the regular season. Tikhonov is expected to help out with the Rangers woeful penalty kill. Can play center in a pinch as well. Acquisition addressed a need for EHEC-ready right wings on a club that has a plethora of LW/C.

Dane Byers 2013-14 stats: 54-7-6-13
Tough-guy winger who has upped his game, primarily by staying out of the penalty box. Talented checker and hitter, but his inconsistency and mediocre skating keep his on the bottom lines. May see more of a role as a penalty killer, especially if things in that area get off to another bad start.

Jordan Martinook 2013-14 stats: 61-8-9-17 with Vancouver
Decent two-way winger, at a fill-in level right now. Has a strong shot, but needs to be a better skater and to get stronger to compete at the highest level. His team-friendly contract keeps him in the \'E\' for now.


DEFENSE
Ryan McDonagh 2013-14 stats: 60-4-24-30
Team defensive sparkplug and a guy who comes to play every night. Has a top-notch shot, but doesn\'t use it enough. Was somehow a +6 on a bad team last year. Regularly plays on the top line, draws big PP minutes, and sees PK action as well. Might be used less in the latter role in order to save his legs for late-game situations, however.

Seth Jones 2013-14 stats: 55-3-9-12 (plus 27 games in HFD)
The number five overall pick last year, he has already become a stalwart on the Rangers blueline. Can get stronger, and his offense can get better. Once that happens, he\'ll be a top-two defenseman for certain. Still working on making smart decisions with the puck, and cutting down his turnovers.

Mark Streit 2013-14 stats: 82-14-40-54
Can still deliver big offensive numbers, even when the team is burning down around him. Has become a liability in his own end, though, which could see him moved to RW or moved out altogether. Is 36 now, but hasn\'t declined yet. In the last year of his contract, and is a question mark regarding his return next season.

Dan Girardi 2013-14 stats: 81-7-23-30
Always steady, and usually overlooked. Not a big hitter, not a flashy player by any means, but gets the job done. Is a quality puck-mover, and often makes the guys around him look better. Now in his third go-round with the team.

Paul Martin 2013-14 stats: 50-1-14-15 with Dallas and Edmonton
Brought in during the summer for veteran stability and defensive capability. Also has nice offensive skills. Not a top-gear two-way defenseman, but not far off from that level. Should be a big help on the penalty kill. Contract and age could mean his time on Broadway will be brief.

Jonas Brodin 2013-14 stats: 82-3-30-33
Sort of a Girardi-lite, without the physicality. Smart and consistent. Helps make the power play go, but struggled on the penalty kill last season.

Daniel Gunnarsson 2013-14 stats: 81-1-17-18 with Pittsburgh and Montréal
Brought in to address the need for better defensive blueline play and (much) better penalty killing. Not an embarrassment on offense, but he won\'t be called on to deliver in that area. The addition of Gunnarsson and Martin should make the back end much better this season.


GOALTENDER
Henrik Lundqvist 2013-14 stats: 3.11, .878, 19-36-9, 3 shutouts
Statistically underwhelming last year, but King Henrik kept the Blueshirts in most games every night. Has the tools to be one of the best in the league, and hopefully will play like that this coming season. Still should have a few good years left in him; let\'s see if the team can rebuild fast enough to make any of them count.

Liam Liston 2013-14 stats: 3.46, .866, 6-9-1, 0 shutouts
Capable, consistent, and cheap. All the best qualities in a backup goalie. May get pushed this year if McAdam develops quickly in Hartford.



OVERALL
Can the Ragners contend for the playoffs? Sure, anything\'s possible, and pigs could fly tomorrow. But with the top three spots likely already taken by the Penguins, Hurricanes, and Capitals, automatic entry to the playoffs looks highly unlikely. Strong teams in New Jersey and Columbus, and rebuilding teams in Philly and on the Island, could mean slim pickings come April. Off-season moves and some youth development should bring improvements in the overall quality of both the forward and defensive units, but real improvement will only come if the team tightens up its goals allowed and gets much better on the penalty kill. The Rangers gave up too many easy goals last year, and bad play on the PK doomed them on too many nights where they were otherwise in contention for points, if not outright wins. Henrik Lundqvist must also play better.

Despite gray clouds overhead, there are peeks of sunlight. The top picks from 2013 -- MacKinnon and Jones -- are already full-time contributors at the EHEC level. The Rangers should start the season with 12 players aged 22 or younger. And a number of players starting off in Hartford should be regular contributors soon, maybe even this season: Shea Theodore, Hampus Lindholm, and Eric Roy on defense; Curtis Valk, Michael Dal Colle, Elias Lindholm, Saku Salminen, Nicholas Paul, and Max Le Sieur at forward; and Eamon McAdam in net. Plus more in the juniors and college pipeline. There is talent out there, it will just take some time to cook thoroughly.


New York Rangers
Posted: 2014/10/20

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