keith yandle
Yandle

If you want to explain to someone what Keith Yandle is all about, ask them to watch the Carl Hagelin breakaway goal from game three of the Rangers Pens playoff series, on Monday. Yandle’s pass to set up the goal was pin-point, crisp and defense splitting. Yandle’s pass was perfectly placed allowing Hagelin to race through on to Marc Andre Fleury and open the scoring. That’s what Yandle does and that’s what he has been doing increasingly as a Ranger, ever since Glen Sather made the bold trade to acquire the highly talented offensive defenseman.

Yandle has fit in well with the Rangers even if there was an initial adjustment period. Yandle started relatively slowly when he arrived in New York but that was to be expected. Coming from the hockey outpost that is Arizona and playing in a much different (and less speed orientated) system even the most talented players take time to adjust but adjust Yandle has.

After scoring just one point in his first nine games as a Ranger, Yandle finished the regular season strongly with ten points in his final twelve games. Yandle, while never to be confused with a Norris trophy calibre defensive defenseman, also proved he can play in his own zone and he hasn’t been afraid to play physically.

Many people were worried about Yandle’s play in his own zone and many thought he’d be a one dimensional player but Yandle has handled himself well in every situation he’s been in, proving that some of the ugly numbers from his Arizona days (such as the horrific +/- of -55 over the past season and a half) were mainly because of the poor team he found himself on.

Since being a Ranger, Yandle’s play has gotten better as the season has gone on and he has added a dynamic to the Rangers somewhat lacking recently. Given the disappointing at best up and down play of Dan Boyle, the Rangers lacked a true, top tier puck carrier from the blueline. While Dan Girardi and Marc Staal are primarily stout defenders and Ryan McDonagh can do everything to a high level, Yandle handles the offensive side of things that much better.

It’s certainly early to draw overall conclusions and, given the high cost to acquire him, Yandle may well be judged by the Rangers’ playoff performances over the next eighteen months but his start is nothing if not promising. Yandle has clearly been an upgrade to an already strong defensive club and he offers the Rangers another offensive weapon to turn to.

Yandle is also a rarity. Year after year, teams chase overpriced veterans at trade deadlines to improve their chances at a cup run but often the teams paying the high prices are left disappointed. This season has been no different. While Chicago may well go on a deep run, Antoine Vermette cost the Hawks a lot yet his impact has been minimal, even including time as a healthy scratch. James Wisniewski cost the Ducks a high draft pick, a roster player and a solid prospect yet he also opened the playoffs as a healthy scratch. Clearly his play didn’t warrant ice time.

Unlike players such as Vermette, Keith Yandle may have been the best pick-up of the trade deadline period even if the cost was high. Ultimately, cost is relative to success and so far Yandle has been a solid player for the Rangers, with upside for more. The Rangers acquired a difference maker, an elite offensive weapon that made their team better.

In several years fans may lament the loss of Anthony Duclair or the countless draft picks Sather has given up to acquire all the recent big names that he has brought to New York but if Yandle continues to produce the way he has so far, the Rangers have a lot to be excited about.

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