50 goal season?
What a difference a week makes. The Rangers went to Western Canada unsure of themselves and came back on a roll, with a double header against a weak opponent on tap. It’s the festive season and the Rangers can really make some ground up to close out the year. A week to go before Christmas, let’s muse.
The cliché was always that power forwards take several years to maximise their potential. Could it really be that Rick Nash has only just begun to fulfil his potential? Yes he has been an elite power forward for several years and a consistent goal scorer but it’s a fair argument that he’s never maxed his undoubted skill set and upside. Until now.
Nash is definitely having the best patch of his career. Consistent, a beast at both ends all the while he’s finishing at an unprecedented rate. He’s a game changing force every single game. It’s early, but people have started to whisper the words Hart Trophy candidate with regard to Nash. Absolutely deserves to be in the mix.
Should we be worried about Dan Boyle? Or glad that he’s a sort of afterthought because of the improved play of the Rangers ‘big three’ on the blueline?
The Jesper Fast appreciation society. Fast has surely, finally established himself as a regular in the Rangers line-up. He does the fundamentals well, is defensively sound, makes good decisions and with more ice time has the offensive ability to be a productive player as well. Fast has been excellent in recent weeks and his 5 points in 17 games don’t do his offensive game justice.
The Marc Staal dilemma: His play has improved massively (as has the form of several players) in the past week or so to the point where people are saying keeping him is a must. I still think for the money he is demanding his form is too reliant on the condition of the team rather than his form influencing the team. He’s not a game changing player but market rate is market rate. If a compromise can be reached sure, keep Staal but he still shouldn’t be kept at all costs.
The Rangers (presumptive) top four defensemen shooting percentages: Ryan McDonagh: 2.8%, Dan Boyle: 9.6%, Dan Girardi: 4.3% Marc Staal 2.8%. If those numbers (as a collective) improve, the team should be more dangerous offensively.
Mats Zuccarello: points in three of four and playing much better offensively. The Rangers are moving along quite nicely at the moment but if they can get Zuccarello and Kreider producing on a consistent basis the team will really be back in a strong place in the conference. Depth wins in the cap era NHL.
The Rangers group of centers have been much better recently, to the point where the position is no longer a main concern. With Kevin Hayes’ continued development, Stepan’s return and Derick Brassard’s emergence as a consistent threat the Rangers aren’t in a bad position however the group still don’t score goals. With Brassard out of the line-up the Rangers group of centers (including Dom Moore and Chris Mueller’s contribution) the unit have a combined 8 goals. Not enough.
Henrik Lundqvist is averaging a shutout every 4.6 games played. His career average is 10.8 games per shutout. If Lundqvist can maintain the consistency he’s rediscovered he could beat his career high of 11 shutouts. Despite the rocky start to his season, if the Rangers can have a consistent second half, don’t rule out a Vezina contending campaign just yet.
Question Time:
• (Form allowing) where does the Rangers defensive unit rank league wide?
• What is an acceptable record to expect from the Rangers’ final 6 games of this year?
• Where does JT Miller fit when then team are fully healthy?
• How many more starts should Cam Talbot get this season?
• Will Rick Nash have his first 50 goal season?
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