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The Rangers have had a relatively light week which gives us some time to reflect on the Rangers’ play this year including some statistical insight. No fancy stats, just numbers.

Reflecting on players’ performances to this point in the season, how many Rangers have justified their cap hit this season? Rick Nash, Martin St Louis, Derick Brassard and Derick Stepan have all justified their deals to this point. Brassard and Nash in particular have been good if not great while St Louis has torn it up the past couple weeks to cast aside the indifferent games he had as a center.

After that? Carl Hagelin represents good value, Lee Stempniak could flirt with 15-20 goals if he stays in the line-up, Dom Moore has been as advertised (reliable) and Matt Hunwick – the occasional gaffe aside – has certainly been worth a 600k commitment. Kevin Klein’s contract has become more and more acceptable as his game has improved. That makes nine for those counting.

Would you include Anthony Duclair and Kevin Hayes as players that have justified their cap hits?

The Rangers have five players on blueline currently earning $2.9m or more, yet the Rangers are 19th in goals against per game with an unsightly 2.91/game. In the 2013/14 season the Rangers finished 4th overall in goals against with 2.32/game. In the 2012/13 season they finished 4th with 2.25/game. In 2011/12 they finished third overall with a 2.22 goals against average. The unit has gradually become more expensive, yet the performances have gradually gotten worse.

When was the last time you could remember a Rangers MVP discussion not including Henrik Lundqvist? A quarter of the season in and Nash has run away with the award, with Marty St Louis and Derick Brassard the next in line.

Only Calgary and Buffalo are worse than the Rangers in the faceoff circle. You look at the bottom ten in that statistical category and the Rangers aside, only Columbus and Colorado were also playoff teams last season. Coincidence? The Rangers really need to address a huge area of need, something they have ignored for far too long.

Among the top 25 point scorers in the NHL this season, only Filip Forsberg and Tyler Johnson average less ice time than Rick Nash. Should Alain Vigneault find ways to get him on the ice more? The Penguins certainly are not shy in putting Crosby on the ice as much as possible nor are Tampa with Stamkos or Philly with Giroux.

Thought for the day: At what point does Vigneault’s insistence on rolling four lines as evenly as possible negatively impact results?

Dan Girardi, Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Klein have combined to have a turnover differential of -36.

The ‘big four’ up front (Nash, St Louis, Stepan and Brassard) have a turnover differential of + 9.

Question Time:

  • Would you trade Chris Kreider?
  • Its contract talk time: what do you expect Marty St Louis to receive?
  • What is the Rangers biggest area of need?
  • As it stands, would you retain John Moore?

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