It's just an ear, he has two of them.

It’s just an ear, he has two of them.

It’s been a dead two weeks in Rangerland lately. The schedule is the reason behind this, as the Rangers played games on 11/29 and 12/1, followed by four days off. They then repeated the Saturday/Monday games with another four days off. Four games over a span of two weeks means significant rest. Considering how banged up the Rangers have been all season, this was a good time to get that rest.

You guys know me, I’m a fan of my bullet points for musings, so here we go.

  • Despite dealing with major injuries throughout the start of the year, the Rangers have emerged as one of the top-four teams in the Metropolitan Division. I expect them to finish in the top-three, behind the Penguins and the Islanders (who are for real). Washington has actually started to play defense for the first time in recent memory, so they could be a surprise. After that, the Devils have the same old issues as last year: Can’t score, despite fantastic possession numbers.

  • How about that Kevin Klein? Just 25 games into the season, he’s set a new career high in goals and is well on his way to breaking his career high in points (21). He’s not going to continue at this pace (20 goals, 33 points), but it’s going to be a fun ride while it lasts. He’s shooting at an absurd 21.4%, which is a whopping 16% above his career average.
  • One thing about hockey players: They are tough as nails. Klein lost part of his ear, had it stitched back on, then scored the game-winner against the Pens. Reminds me of “it’s just pain.”
  • Considering Klein is the hot hand at the moment, why not try him on the powerplay? He can’t be any worse than Dan Giradi, who has had his struggles with the man advantage throughout his career. Girardi’s issues come from being unable to carry a rush up the ice, and staying way too high and far off into the boards to make a difference. Klein’s been getting to the high slot and putting rubber on net, can’t hurt to try.
  • Speaking of hot hands, Rick Nash sure is making a statement this season. Another guy due for regression (shooting 20%, 7.4% over his career average), Nash has been an absolute force this season. Without him, the Rangers are bottom-feeding. Too bad he isn’t producing on the powerplay, something he’s struggled with through the last five or so seasons.
  • Apart from Nash, the only guys doing the heavy lifting offensively are Martin St. Louis, Derick Brassard, and Derek Stepan. That quartet represents the only Rangers over 20 points –in Stepan’s case, he has 13 points in 14 games. If he played a full season, he’d be at 20 points at a bare minimum– and the only four Rangers pulling their weight.
  • Of those under performing, Chris Kreider (4-9-13) and Mats Zuccarello (4-7-11) are the two glaring concerns. Both are top-six forwards who are counted on for secondary scoring, and both are playing inconsistent hockey at best. Since both have their own issues in the defensive zone, scoring is their primary reason for being in the lineup. Both are on the right side of the possession arrow and both are shooting 3% below their career averages, so there’s hope this corrects itself.
  • The defense is a mess at the moment though. I’ve spent way too much time harping on the Anton Stralman departure, but that is a significant reason for the decline in effectiveness. Injuries played a part, but the biggest issue is that Klein has been one of New York’s best defensemen. Ryan McDonagh has been getting it together, but Girardi and Marc Staal have been tire fires.
  • Perhaps the Stanley Cup Finals showed teams how vulnerable Girardi can be when you approach him with speed, and now teams are exploiting him. The #fancystats were never kind to Girardi either, and we are seeing it play out on the ice now. Don’t get me wrong, he’s still a serviceable defensemen, but he may be miscast as a top pairing guy.
  • As for Staal, if he wants Girardi money, the smart move is to trade him. It’s never fun to deal with significant roster turnover, especially when so many locker room guys have been traded, bought out, or signed elsewhere, but this is a move that will improve the team. Staal has significant trade value, and the perception that no one can take his minutes is a bit overblown. He hasn’t been effective thus far, but it is true that John Moore and Conor Allen aren’t the answers for top-four minutes. A second trade would need to be made (Martin Marincin?) to get someone who can eat those minute.
  • Sending Anthony Duclair to play for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships was the right move. Kid wasn’t playing here, this gives him a chance to get those legs moving again.
  • Question time:
    • Do you think the right move is to re-up or trade Staal?
    • Who are you more concerned about: Zucc or Kreider?
    • Is Dom Moore the most undervalued Ranger this year? If not, who is?

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