Early season Rangers takeaways

The season is still very young but that doesn’t mean it’s too early to start taking away some early season Rangers takeaways. The Rangers have a new look this season, with a steadier second line and a third line that can actually drive offense and score. The blueline has two rookies–ok, 1.5 rookies–that have certainly looked fine in their first three games. They are driving offense, but defense has had its lapses early on.

A Jacob Trouba turnaround has been a sight for sore eyes to start the year. Through three games, he’s toned down the physicality and hasn’t tried being Nick Lidstrom in his own zone. As a result, his play has seen a sharp upswing. Being healthy helps too. He’ll never live up to the contract he signed, but that’s not the Trouba’s fault. He was misevaluated by the Rangers front office but he’s still showing that he can contribute at a meaningful level if he remains healthy.

The Rangers second line is going to be a huge issue and not in a good way. Even with an evolving role, Chris Drury has been searching for a right winger for Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider since he foolishly traded away Pavel Buchnevich and I fear he’s still going to need to be on the lookout. Reilly Smith can help this team, but it’s not in the clubs top six. Smith’s best days are clearly behind him and he doesn’t have the foot speed to be able to contribute in a meaningful manner.

Kreider has burst into the year and has looked fantastic, especially at even strength, and the Blueshirts will need that to continue throughout the year and into the playoffs if the Rangers will have any chance at winning a Cup. The biggest issue on this line is with its center.

Zibanejad has had a woeful start to the year, especially defensively which is a big concern, because for this team to succeed they’re going to need to rely on Zibanejad. Unfortunately he has shown that when the moment gets bigger he begins to get smaller especially after last years Eastern Conference Final showing. Zibanejad needs to do a better job to fight for his ice but so far he looks completely lost. It’s early though.

Victor Mancini might be helping Ryan Lindgren pack his bags out of New York. Mancini had to earn his way onto the roster and he’s opened up eyes all around, showing poise in his own end moving the puck and being able to play some competent defense. Lindgren is one of the best “blood and guts” type of players you’ll see but it’s clear his body is already beginning to breakdown on him just because of his style of play.

Drury has already shown he’s afraid of any potential long term extension with Lindgren by opting to sign him for only a year this past summer and having a cheap in house replacement may help Drury to possibly move on from Lindgren at the deadline. While many might think this is crazy, it might give them the ability to use Lindgren in a package where they can land a top six wing or center. This could wind up being an overreaction, but one thing’s for sure: The Rangers will need to find a future replacement for that spot next to Adam Fox.

Regardless of what Stan Fischler says or thinks (seriously, someone needs to take away his social media), Igor Shesterkin will become the highest paid goaltender in NHL history and it’s well worth it. Rangers fans need to make peace with the fact that the Rangers will be making Shesterkin the highest paid goalie in the league for years to come.

This team is built from the net out and Shesterkin is this club’s best player. They don’t have a Nathan MacKinnon or Connor McDavid on this roster, their McDavid hangs out between the pipes and he should be paid as such.

This isn’t similar to when the club paid Henrik Lundqvist, even though that contract was totally fine as well. The issue that will hold the Rangers back from winning a Cup will be whether or not their other stars show up in the playoffs.

Rightfully, the Rangers never should’ve made it out of round two last year if it wasn’t for Shesterkin. Analytics will always say that you shouldn’t pay for goaltending due to the volatility of the position but with all due respect, Shesterkin isn’t an average goalie. He’s an elite netminder and rewarding him for his consistency won’t hold this franchise back from being able to win a Championship.