Photo: USATSI
We’re at the halfway point of the 2015-16 season and one thing that’s been readily apparent about the Rangers so far is that their often vaunted defensive game has struggled. Although the team has improved considerably in the recent weeks, it’s no secret that their defense corp is not what it once was, with injuries catching up to Marc Staal and Dan Girardi. Even Ryan McDonagh has struglged at times. One bright spot along the Rangers blue line however has been Kevin Klein, who not only has improved since last season but has stood out among his peers and helped to stabilize the Rangers’ defensive play.
Klein’s play has improved considerably this season in almost every area, with the stats to show it. Last season he posted a high-danger scoring chance against rate of 11.7 per 60 minutes, a scoring chances against rate of 24.3 per 60 minutes, and a Corsi against rate of 56.2 per 60 minutes, all of which have improved to 9.9, 23.3, and 51.5, respectively. Although he doesn’t have quite the same point production that he had last season, the scoring streak he went on last year was driven mostly by an unsustainable shooting percentage, so tightening up his game defensively is noteworthy. While the improvements may be in some respects modest, it’s plainly evident in his positioning and decision making that he’s operating at a higher level this season than last.
It’s also worth noting that his improved defensive play has helped out this team no matter what role he’s playing, whether it’s further down the depth chat or on the Rangers top pairing with McDonagh. His with-or-without-you’s (WOWYs) for this season paint a pretty picture for both him and McDonagh, with the two of them posting a 52.7% CF% in their 152:46 minutes on ice together so far this season. This is an improvement for both defensemen, with Klein posting a 49% CF% when they’re apart and McDonagh putting up a 44.6% CF% in the 544:23 minutes he’s played with other defense partners.
Speaking of McDonagh’s defense partners, it’s been plainly obvious this season that Girardi’s struggled, and although his play has improved as of late it’s clear to see based on the amount of time he spends in his own end that he struggles with shot suppression. Below is Klein’s hextally, which shows where shots on the ice are coming from when he’s on the ice.
Comparatively, here’s Girardi’s:
These charts, taken together with the WOWY statistics mentioned above would seem to indicate that Klein is better suited to the top pairing alongside McDonagh than Girardi. Even if you’re of the opinion that Dan Girardi is still a perfectly capable defenseman, it seems fairly clear based on the evidence that a change of pace, with Klein on the top pairing and Girardi further down the depth chart, would serve to help get the best out of Klein, McDonagh, and Girardi.
While Klein is by no means a premier shutdown defensemen he’s a positive possession player alongside the captain and his game provides stability enough for McDonagh to excel. Given the collective struggle of the Rangers’ blue line this season, it’s definitely nice the way in which Klein’s game has improved and helped stabilize the defensive group.
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