As the quest for center depth and left defense continues, one area that is often overlooked is the NY Rangers need for a dependable fourth line. The fourth line was a problem area for the Rangers all last season, with some combination of Brendan Lemieux, Brett Howden, Greg McKegg taking up the majority of the time on that line.
The NHL is a different league than it was a decade ago, when the fourth line was there to give the top players a breather. Teams need a true fourth line that is good in all three zones to truly compete. When the Rangers were competing for Stanley Cups 5-6 years ago, they had a fourth line that had Brian Boyle, Dominic Moore, Derek Dorsett, and Dan Carcillo. All four were solid hockey players that were dependable.
Moving away from Howden
One of two things needs to happen next season. Either Howden needs to improve dramatically, or the Rangers need to end the experiment. Howden is young, but he hasn’t progressed or shown any form of improvement. If he’s still with the club next season, then he will need to take that next step and show he can play without the puck.
Morgan Barron could be that ideal 4C. He’s going to compete for a spot on next year’s roster. Lias Andersson’s name should still be in the mix, even if his future with the Rangers is in question.
Cheap Depth That Can Play
As for the wings, Brendan Lemieux is a player that could find a home on the fourth line. He’s a player that may not have the sexiest numbers, but he has one of the best penalty differentials in the league. That has value, especially when Lemieux’s next contract is going to be cheap.
That’s the critical piece here, not overpaying for the fourth line. The Islanders are paying about $10 million for their fourth line, and now may have to make a choice between Mat Barzal and Ryan Pulock. In a flat cap situation, paying the top players takes precedence over paying the grit guys.
That, unfortunately, is why the Rangers may soon be parting ways with Jesper Fast. Fast, as much as we all love him, is due $3 million on a multi year deal, and he will be on the fourth line behind Pavel Buchnevich, Kaapo Kakko, and eventually (likely) Julien Gauthier and/or Vitali Kravtsov. At that price, Fast is a luxury, not a necessity.
Maybe Phil Di Giuseppe can fill out the fourth line. Or perhaps one of the undrafted free agents can slide in and fill that role. The key is that they can play and they are cheap.
Actual Playing Time
This is the wild card. David Quinn has not had a history of giving his fourth line legitimate minutes the past two seasons. Quinn will need to trust the line to play, and the line will need to perform and produce with that time. It’s certainly a give-and-take.
The fourth lines of the past two years neither performed nor produced. That will need to change, and Quinn will need to give them the leash to do so. The fourth line may not be a sexy fix, but it is a needed fix for the NY Rangers.
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