Here’s a sentence you didn’t expect to read today: the New York Rangers are too good. Before you jump into the comments and call me crazy (which I am, to be fair, just not regarding this specific take), I am not saying in general. Instead, the New York Rangers are too good to properly develop their young players. Save for last year, of course.

This is a tricky take because I am very devoted to the concept that youth should be prioritized over vets. If I were an NHL GM or coach, you wouldn’t ever see a fourth liner on my team over the age of 27 years old. So maybe I am a bit biased or a bit too interested in prospect development, but there is a point!

For the past few seasons, the Rangers have been a team with some strong and highly touted young talent that has been stuck behind currently valuable and experienced veterans. For example, Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere had been stuck behind Vincent Trocheck, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, etc for the power play. Not only that, but it took a long time for Alexis Lafreniere to be guaranteed a spot in the top six. Kakko is now thriving (and injured) with Seattle.

Alexis Lafreniere has had an up and down career, admittedly not playing up to expectations when finally given a strong opportunity last season. But how much of the up and down has been because of his inconsistent minutes and non-existent powerplay time? Two years ago when the Rangers powerplay was clicking, it made sense. But last year? Nope.

Braden Schneider could even fall into this group. Schneider has certainly been trusted more than Lafreniere or Kakko, but he still has switched off between the second and third pairings. Schneider’s career has been mostly a success in New York, but it’s hard not to wonder how much more success he could have had by now with more opportunity. This is a big year from him to show he can hold down second pair minutes.

What’s more is the group the Rangers have had the youth stuck behind, While Vincent Trocheck is an excellent player, he should never be the reason the #1 overall pick isn’t on the first power-play unit. Braden Schneider is still finding it difficult to surpass Will Borgen, either by coach’s decision or other reasons. Will Borgen!

So there’s definitely a misconception among the Rangers organization about how to properly develop the youth, unless the strategy is essentially to put them behind players they think are better and just hope it works out. That’s just not how players develop in the NHL. The Rangers are too good to focus on developing youth, which can be a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless!

So maybe the Rangers are too good for the young players to get their chances. If so, players like Lafreniere, Scott Morrow, and Gabe Perreault are more likely to exceed in their next locations rather than on Broadway. Because how can you allow Gabe Perreault to get top six time when Conor Sheary needs a roster spot? The Rangers are just too good to fit him in.

More About: