Another game, another dominant performance from the New York Rangers. Now 5-0-1 to start the year, they have set the tone for what is looking like a fun season to follow. Igor Sheterkin answered when called upon, every line contributed to the offense, Artemi Panarin continued his point streak, Filip Chytil had a 2 goal game, and the bottom six as a whole is looking like one of the best bottom sixes in the entirety of the NHL. Don’t let the 7-2 score fool you either, the Rangers hit 6 posts as well. This could have gotten ugly fast(er).
I alluded to it before, but this bottom six needs all the love it can get. They’re fast, crisp with their passes, effectively score, bully the opponent, and possess the puck for what seems like an eternity. This is everything we could possibly want out of the depth in the Rangers lineup. Filip Chytil has been the catalyst as both Kaapo Kakko and Will Cuylle grind away. This line is a key reason for the 5-0-1 start.
In fact, there are very few holes in the forward group of the 2024-2025 New York Rangers. If one line seems to be struggling, the other three can carry the load instead. This is the kind of depth that bodes well in the latter stages of the season and beyond. Assuming health, of course.
Artemi Panarin is on a mission to show he is one of the most important players on the Rangers and a top 5 forward in the league. Through 6 games, he has 6 goals and 13 points. It’s no secret when Panarin is at his current level of play, the Rangers are an incredibly tough team to play against.
Under Peter Laviolette, Panarin has shown great growth and adaptability, accepting his role as a shooting threat. Those years of deferring to teammates are long gone. The added shot volume, which has not come with a spike in his SH%, has resulted in him becoming a real dual threat on offense with the goal scoring and his vision to play make.
Braden Schneider is another name flying under the radar. Scoring his second goal on the season, Schneider has grown into what the Rangers moved up for in 2020 as a strong two-way defenseman. He’s got a little bit of development to go, but his emergence–plus Victor Mancini and Zac Jones–accelerates the Rangers timeline to potentially make moves on the defensive side of the puck.
Does this make a Ryan Lindgren expendable as his injury resume racks up? Is this truly the final year of Jacob Trouba? All of these questions seemingly have in-house answers and even more draft/prospect assets at Chris Drury’s disposal if he needs to go that route. The defense is primed to be solid for years to come with the personnel, giving the Rangers options to plug holes at the deadline.
If you were down on the Rangers in the offseason, then the last six games have shown they are still a true Cup contender.
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