For those that have been here a while, you know Rangers Fan in Boston from the comments. RFiB emailed me the other day, asking about specific players (Brady Skjei, Chris Kreider, Pavel Buchnevich, Mika Zibanejad) and if they will be a part of the next Rangers core. I was going to include it in the next mailbag, but it got me thinking. The thoughts have led to this post, independent of the next mailbag.
The next core is very hard to predict. We know more moves are coming. We know that the team is being transitioned to the next group of Blueshirts. However we don’t know who that will include. That’s where the anxiety, and to be honest, some of the fun lies. There’s cautious optimism regarding the next moves to come. However there’s a set of nerves that comes with it, since we like a bunch of guys that may be sent packing.
In regards to the above four, three stand out as probably sticking around for a while. Buch is probably going to be here a while, especially if a new coach comes along. Skjei is another kid who’s going to be here a while. If anything, the fact they are cost controlled means they will be here a while.
Zibanejad is interesting. He’s young (24) and has four more years left on his recently signed deal. It pays him $5.35 million a year for 1C production, which he puts up. Given his age, production, role, and cost, it’s safe to assume he will be here a while.
Kreider is an interesting case. I don’t think he goes anywhere in the immediate future. The team will need guys who have “been there before.” They also need his speed and strength, which are relatively unmatched throughout the NHL. The chemistry with Zibanejad and Buchnevich helps as well. The trio forms a solid top line. With two more years at $4.625 million remaining, I can’t imagine him going anywhere yet.
That said, Kreider is the only guy from this list I can see leaving either next deadline or 2019 draft day. Kreider’s next contract is going to be massive, and like Ryan McDonagh, it’s nothing I want a part of. But I digress.
To answer the immediate question, I think it depends on what you define as the core of the team. Does it mean the next group of guys counted upon as the go-to leadership group? Or does it mean the next wave of youth expected to carry the team? If it’s the former, then perhaps this is the next core of the Rangers. If it’s the latter, then perhaps it means Filip Chytil, Lias Andersson, and perhaps Buchnevich and/or Skjei.
We are certainly in a transition period or the Blueshirts. The team has already begun identifying that next group of core Rangers. It’s going to be interesting to see who survives the cut. But perhaps more interesting is how long they last as the core.
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