Forward depth a clear strength for the Rangers

On Tuesday night, the Rangers scratched Dominic Moore so that Emerson Etem could get into the lineup again. There was a certain level of surprise at the move, as Moore has been one of the Rangers best and most consistent forwards for the past few years. It wasn’t a question about getting Etem into the lineup, it was about scratching Moore.

But the fourth line played a strong game, generating scoring chances and giving Rangers extra punch in the lineup. Etem was a machine, going to corners, driving to the net. It was capped by his very subtle tip pass off the boards to Jesper Fast for the first goal of the game. Etem made some mistakes as his hockey IQ isn’t optimal yet, but overall it was hard to not be impressed.

Since Etem is playing well, Moore is steadily consistent, Fast isn’t (shouldn’t) be coming out of the lineup, and Jarret Stoll is playing well, the Rangers are left with a problem of who to scratch on the fourth line. It’s a very nice problem to have, especially since no one on the top-nine is coming out of the lineup, barring injuring.

This gives the Rangers opportunities to rest guys like Moore and Stoll, who aren’t exactly young anymore. It also gives the Rangers serious depth when dealing with injuries when they come. And they will come. Everyone in the lineup is capable of putting a puck in the back of the net, and only a handful are questionable in their own end*.

*-Excluding the start to this season, where it seems the Rangers are playing hot potato with the puck in their own end.

When talking about depth, it’s not just about inserting bodies into the lineup. The Blueshirts have a number of fungible players that can play up and down the lineup. Jesper Fast is primarily a fourth line player, but can hold his own in a pinch in the top-six. Oscar Lindberg is a third line player on this team, but can play center or wing anywhere in the lineup. Those are just two examples, but they apply to many players.

It’s not just at the NHL level where the Rangers have options either. They have a bunch of forwards in the AHL that can serve as emergency replacements. Former NHLers like Jayson Megna, Brian Gibbons, and Tanner Glass can be called up at minimal cost. Ryan Bourque, who many –including myself– believe is NHL ready, can be a call up.

The Rangers have a loaded forward group that has talent up and down the lineup. This is probably the deepest and most talented group of forwards we’ve ever seen on Broadway. It gives the Rangers options for matchups and injury depth if/when the injury bug comes crawling. It’s certainly a fun group to watch when they have the puck.