I was partaking in a Twitter discussion with Michael Gleich of Bleeding All Blue (and here at BSB), and George Ays of Tracking The Rangers (and at Blueshirt Banter) about who sits when the Rangers become healthy. The general conversation was that it’s going to be a game-by-game decision, but that one set of line combinations will definitely be given their fair share of time together to see if they click. Some may not like the lines below, especially with the absence of Sean Avery, but bear in mind we aren’t the coaches of the team.

Vinny Prospal-Erik Christensen-Marian Gaborik
Brandon Dubinsky-Artem Anisimov-Ryan Callahan
Wojtek Wolski-Derek Stepan-Mats Zuccarello
Ruslan Fedotenko-Brian Boyle-Brandon Prust

The bottom three lines really showcase the Rangers depth at forward. Their fourth line would be on pace for 40 goals this season. However, that top line really shows that the Rangers are an incomplete team. At the risk of beating the proverbial dead horse, Erik Christensen is not a top line center. However, he is thrust into that role because of perceived chemistry that has yet to be found this year. This is nothing against Christensen, and he would be a fine third line center. However, he simply does not have the consistency to play top line minutes.

The players left off these lines (Avery, Chris Drury) do not fill the need of top line center either. So for this year, the Rangers are mixing and matching trying to get a slumping star going, and they are doing it primarily with a player that has been a bit of a journeyman his career. Even with Prospal centering the top line, and shifting the left wings around (lines below), it still puts a lot of reliance on a guy who one month ago didn’t know if he would play hockey again.

Wolski-Prospal-Gaborik
Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan
Avery-Stepan-Zuccarello
Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust

Both sets of lines showcase the Rangers depth and ability to get offense from the bottom three lines. However, that top line production, which has been missing all year, is still an issue. It’s an issue that likely does not have a solution this season without drastic overpayment of core players. In the end, it doesn’t look like the Rangers have the current roster structure to compete this year. But they are oh-so-close to getting there. One Brad Richards solves this problem (and the powerplay quarterback problem). That’s not for this year though.

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