The two part Rangers rebuild isn't a hot topic, but it should be.

With the Ryan Reaves trade, the Rangers opened up oodles of cap space and options at the trade deadline. It’s easy to point to rumors and the next shiny toy the Rangers can acquire, but is that really necessary? Big Rangers trades at the deadline seem to be the default talking point, but until they know what they have and where the holes are, they aren’t necessarily needed. Yet.

The Rangers have struggled to score, notably on the powerplay. If there is a need to add, it’s most likely a shoot-first forward. But before the Rangers get there, they do need to figure themselves out. First and foremost is seeing if Vitali Kravtsov can fill some of that offensive need. He may. He may not. But eliminating Kravtsov as a variable is a key step.

The other big factor for the Rangers is getting back to basics. Much like on the powerplay, the Rangers are predictable and easy to defend at even strength. Last year it was all about rush chances and capitalizing on their one-and-done high percentage chances. This year, teams have been content to be more conservative against the Rangers, knowing their counterattacking strength. That means the Blueshirts need to generate offense off the forecheck.

Last night was a good start for the Rangers, as they generated a few goals off the forecheck. In theory, the more they generate off the forecheck, the less opponents can play a conservative game. That opens up counterattacking opportunities. In the NHL, teams can’t be one trick ponies. Tampa is a good example, capable of a counter attack rush while also generating multiple chances off the forecheck.

Talking big Rangers trades and who they can target is fun, and we will get there at some point. Best guess right now is the Rangers need a pure shooter, someone like Timo Meier, but things could change between now and late February. For now, Gerard Gallant is likely still in tinkering mode to see where the true need lies.

Share: 

More About: