In case you missed it the last two weeks, I decided I’m piggybacking off Elliotte Friedman and our own Brandon Cohen. This is a weekly thought post on Wednesdays going forward. I’d usually do these ad-hoc, but I like the idea of a mid-week thoughts post. This week is one day late because of the Tim Peel drama. Let’s focus on the Rangers defense, and how it’s gone from a weakness to a strength.
1. When someone tells you that an assistant coach doesn’t matter, point to the Rangers. Lindy Ruff was replaced by Jacques Martin, and the Rangers did a complete-180 defensively. While there is a legitimate case that the personnel got better, this is a team that trotted out Libor Hajek, Jack Johnson, and Anthony Bitetto for significant minutes throughout the season. This is a team getting full buy-in from the forwards on the back check, and from the defense on their positioning. That’s on Martin, and he’s the biggest reason the Rangers defense is a strength.
2. The top-four have been stabilized. Adam Fox is Adam Fox, and should be a Norris candidate. Ryan Lindgren has emerged as a legitimate top-four option with top-pair upside. K’Andre Miller has had some bumps, but will be fine in the long haul. Say what you want about Jacob Trouba, but he’s been fine at playing the actual position.
The points aren’t there yet, but it makes you wonder if being paired with Lindgren, as were the practice pairs yesterday, will help get him going. There’s a case for Lindgren-Trouba and Miller-Fox as the top-four going forward. Hopefully we get that first look tonight.
3. Don’t discount how the forwards have completely changed how they approach defensive zone play. With the defense staying low, never venturing higher than the faceoff dots, and at least one staying in the slot regularly, the forwards have had an easier job. F1, usually the center, has been taking care of the high slot and forcing chances to the outside, around the tops of the circles. F2 and F3 have been good at applying pressure and forcing those chances even further outside. Everyone has a role, and they’ve all bought in.
4. Imagine where this club would be if they had a normal third pair. As much as we want to credit Hajek, Johnson, and Bitetto for giving us flashes of good play, the overall product from the trio wasn’t good. Help is coming next year though, in the form of Nils Lundkvist, Matthew Robertson, and potentially Braden Schneider. Both Lundkvist (if he signs) and Robertson (if not returned for an overage WHL season), if not traded, will be in the mix for the bottom pair. Schneider doesn’t need to be rushed. All three picks are highly regarded in the organization.
5. Given the glut of prospects –the list above doesn’t even include Tarmo Reunanen, Yegor Rykov, Zac Jones or Hunter Skinner– it makes you wonder what the long term plan is. There aren’t enough roster spots for all of them. It’s unlikely they all hit, but the trio of close-to-NHL-ready prospects are Lundkvist, Robertson, and Schneider are on the cusp. The Rangers can kick the can down the road on Schneider, but by this time next year they will have one too many defensemen than there are roster spots. This doesn’t account for injury depth either. They can’t keep everyone. At least the Rangers defense prospects will keep the position an area of strength for a while.
6. Usually this is where we start talking about trades. Coming into the season, there was a need for a true 1LD. Now, not so much. The top-four are basically set, and the Rangers will be blessed with six top-four –or top-four potential– defensemen. Acquiring a top pair defenseman, specifically an expensive one, isn’t a need anymore. So what’s next? Do the Rangers look to move them in packages for a center? Do they look to recoup assets as contracts expire? We may see some of their plans as soon as this summer.
7. One last thing about the defense – the Rangers have a spare protection spot for the upcoming expansion draft. Only Trouba and Lindgren need protection. Fox, Reunanen, and Rykov are exempt. Smith and Johnson are UFAs. They are buying out Tony DeAngelo. So who do they protect? Hajek? Who else is there? Makes you wonder if a trade is in the works, since they can get a little creative and rent that extra spot for a draft pick or two.
Share:
More About:Musings