Over the next few weeks, we will be offering you a detailed analysis of the 31 NHL clubs: the work of the general manager, the draft, the trades, the free agents, the outlook for the future. Today, the New York Rangers.
Posted on April 16, 2020 at 11:59 a.m.
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CURRENT SITUATION
The reconstruction announced two years ago will be shorter than expected in New York, thanks to the genius of Jeff Gorton, the most underrated GM of the National Hockey League. His first two centers, Mika Zibanejad, 75 points in 57 games, and Ryan Strome, 59 points in 70 games? The first obtained for Derick Brassard, the second for Ryan Spooner. Three young defenders, Anthony DeAngelo, Adam Fox and Jacob Trouba, including the first two on their way to seasons of more than 50 points and the third of 35 points? Obtained in exchanges also.
Add to that core Artemi Panarin, acquired in the free agent market, and you have a club that was struggling for a playoff spot at the time of the hiatus in the NHL. Gorton pulled off the feat – after taking over from Glen Sather in 2015 – even though the team didn’t enjoy a first-round pick for four consecutive years between 2013 and 2016 due to sacrifices for short-term results.
The succession of goaltender Henrik Lundqvist also looks secure, with the presence of 24-year-old goaltender Igor Shesterkin, a team’s fourth-round pick in 2014. With six first-round picks in the past three years, the Rangers have also young people to join the team. The second overall pick in 2019, Kaapo Kakko, is already there. He’s got just 23 points in 66 games (a lower performance than Kotkaniemi in his first year), but his future is bright.
DRAFT (2009-2019)
The Rangers would be even better if they draft better. Gordie Clark has been the boss on board since 2007. He obviously has the excuse of not having had a first round pick between 2013 and 2016, but when he did, the results are very mixed. Clark and his team found three solid NHL players in the first round in 2009, 2011 and 2012 with Chris Kreider, JT Miller and Brady Skjei. But Dylan McIlrath, tenth overall pick in 2010, was a huge flop.
Of the 20 players drafted between 2014 and 2016, only one became an NHL player, goaltender Shesterkin. The task is more complex without a first round pick, but you still have to be able to find a few players in the subsequent rounds. New York had three first-round picks in 2017. It’s early for the record. But seventh overall pick Lias Andersson returned home to Sweden awaiting a trade after atrocious performances in North America. The 21e Total pick that year, Filip Chytil, clings to the National League. He has 23 points in 60 games this season.
We will have to monitor the performance of the three first-round picks in 2018. Vitali Kravtsov, ninth overall, has 15 points in 39 games in the American League. It is an ordinary yield despite its young age. Defenseman K’Andre Miller, 22e in total, Cole Caufield’s teammate in Wisconsin, has just signed a professional contract despite a lackluster season. The 28e first-round pick defenseman Nils Lundqvist had a strong offense in Swedish Premier League SHL with 31 points in 45 games.
Best shot
Igor Shesterkin, goaltender, fourth round, 118e in total in 2014.
Already the number one goalie for the Rangers. Twelve goalies were selected before this late fourth round pick. He is the only one to reach the NHL with Elvis Merzlikins and Thatcher Demko (auxiliary in Vancouver). Ilya Sorokin is expected to follow shortly.
Worst shot
Lias Andersson, forward, seventh overall in 2017.
He’s already in the trading market. Andersson was preferred over Nick Suzuki, Martin Necas and Robert Thomas, among others.
Best hope
Despite being the third pick in the first round in 2017, 5-10 right-handed defenseman Nils Lundqvist is considered the Rangers’ best prospect.
TRADES
Jeff Gorton manages to turn limestone into gold. He’s managed to amass four first-round picks and three second-round picks since arriving in 2015. Most were rental players, including Rick Nash, Kevin Hayes, Mats Zuccarello and Michael Grabner. It took courage for him to detonate the core, but his trades paid dividends. The transaction for Mika Zibanejad, now an elite center in the League, required daring. He was underproductive in Ottawa and Derick Brassard had had a big playoff a year earlier and was a very popular player.
Derek Stepan was also an important center, but Gorton managed to get his best offensive defenseman Tony DeAngelo and a first-round pick for him and goaltender Antti Raanta. Ryan Strome for Ryan Spooner is a steal from the Oilers’ Peter Chiarelli. Spooner has played only 25 games in Edmonton and is continuing his career in Switzerland. Strome, 26, was on track for a 70-point season this year.
Gorton is not perfect. Defenseman Ryan Graves has become a mainstay in Colorado. He got in return Chris Bigras, an American League defenseman. The Rangers GM also arguably could have gotten more for Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller in that big deal with the Lightning two years ago. The youngsters obtained in return didn’t have a big impact, but Gorton at least recovered a first (Lundqvist) and second round pick.
Best shot
Mika Zibanejad returning from Derick Brassard on July 18, 2016. Zibanejad was on his way to a 100-point season and more had it not been for his injury and the disruption of activities.
Worst shot
Ryan Graves for Chris Bigras. Never a good trade when you part with a potential top three defenseman for a defenseman in the American League.
AUTONOMOUS PLAYERS
CEOs usually make their worst decisions on the 1is July. Gorton was right with Artemi Panarin, despite the size of his contract of $ 87 million for seven years. Panarin, 28, had 95 points in 69 games this season, third in NHL scoring behind Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid (on a par with David Pastrnak). Panarin transformed the team’s attack, needless to say. Otherwise Gorton was wiser than his predecessor Glen Sather, in addition to this four-year contract for 26 million offered to Kevin Shattenkirk in 2017, a contract bought two years later. Sather, he stopped his follies in 2011, after the contract of $ 58 million for nine years offered to Brad Richards.
Best shot
Artemi Panarin, the new big star in New York.
Worst shot
Brad Richards played three seasons in New York before seeing the last six years of his contract bought out in 2014. He was given $ 20 million to release him.
Ten seasons (nine rounds won, two exclusions)
2010-2011 : 44-33-5, 8e East, first round loss.
2011-2012 : 51-24-7, 1is East, association final.
2012-2013 : 26-18-4, 6e East, second round.
2013-2014 : 45-31-6, 5e East, Stanley Cup Final.
2014-2015 : 53-22-7, 1is East, association final.
2015-2016 : 46-27-9, 4e East, first round loss.
2016-2017 : 48-26-6, 5e East, second round.
2017-2018 : 34-39-9, 12is East, OUT.
2018-2019 : 32-36-14, 12e East, OUT.
2019-2020 : 37-28-5, 10e East, (two points from the last place giving access to the series).
(Tomorrow: Ottawa Senators)
TO READ
Geoff Molson is not against the idea of playing games behind closed doors at the Bell Center. The explanations by Richard Labbé.
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