Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images

It’s been a few games since the trade with the Carolina Hurricanes that brought Eric Staal to Broadway and reunited him with his brother Marc, and so we’ve begun to see what AV’s lines are going to look like from here on out for the season. While Rick Nash remains out with injury and is sure to change things substantially, here are some quick thoughts on the lineup as it currently stands and as it might be improved.

Right now the Rangers top line consists of Chris Kreider, Derek Stepan, and Jesper Fast, the second line is one of either Kevin Hayes or JT Miller (depending on who’s drawn the ire of AV), Derick Brassard, and Mats Zuccarello, the third line is Eric Staal between the two ‘Bergs, and the fourth line is whichever one of Hayes/Miller isn’t on the second line, Dominic Moore, and Tanner Glass.

While certainly not a bad lineup, it’s suboptimal for its usage of JT Miller, Kevin Hayes, and Jesper Fast. Although he scored a nice goal in the game against Buffalo and has grown in his game substantially over the course of the past two seasons, Jesper Fast’s considerable defensive aptitude and lack of real offensive gravitas make him a better fit for the fourth line. Similarly, playing either Kevin Hayes or JT Miller, both players who have shown the ability to produce offense at top-line rates, on the fourth line is simply burying your talent. Shifting things around a bit and you’d wind up with these lines: Kreider/Stepan/Miller, Hayes/Brass/Zuc, two ‘Bergs centered by Eric Staal, and then Fast/Moore/Glass.

Some fans might take issue however with the fact that the Rangers gave up considerable assets to acquire Eric Staal and yet he’s playing the role of third line center. While I can see the logic of playing him down the middle, it’s certainly a valid critique considering that Kevin Hayes has demonstrated particular strength at 3C these past two seasons. In this scenario you’d have a top line of Kreider/Stepan/Staal, Miller/Brassard/Zuc, Hayes between the Lindberg and Stalberg, and then Fast/Moore/Glass.

All of this changes of course when Rick Nash returns, which should hopefully add some stability and sensibility to the Rangers’ four lines. In the former scenario, with Staal playing center and Hayes playing wing, an ideal four lines might look something like this: Nash/Brass/Zuc, Kreider/Stepan/Miller, Hayes/Staal/Lindbeg, and then Stalberg/Moore/Fast. This would be a pretty optimal situation in which the Rangers could roll four effective lines, get the most of their talented center depth, and unchain Dominic Moore from the possession black hole that is Tanner Glass.

In the alternate scenario, with Staal playing wing, the Rangers lines might look a bit more like this: Nash/Brass/Zuc, Kreider/Stepan/Staal, Miller/Hayes/Lindberg, Stalberg/Moore/Fast. In both of these scenarios I put Stalberg down on the fourth line with Moore and Fast due to his exceptional speed and forechecking ability, while attempting to spread the wealth up top but still account for chemistry. All of this assumes of course that Tanner Glass would be the one sitting upon Nash’s return, which more jaded fans might doubt. It can’t hurt to hope right? Anyways, these were just some scattered thoughts I had regarding the Rangers’ four lines – what’re your thoughts?

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