The 2020-21 season is expected to kick off in mid-January. With training camps set to begin shortly, NHL.com is looking at three key factors, in addition to analyzing the roster of each of the 31 NHL teams. Today, the New York Rangers, who will play in the East section:
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Coach : David Quinn (third season)
Last season : 37-28-5 (percentage points of .564); 11th place in the Eastern Association; eliminated by the Carolina Hurricanes in the Stanley Cup qualifying round
THREE KEY FACTORS
1. A wave of youth
The Rangers hope to be entitled to a significant contribution from their young players, especially from Kaapo Kakko, who was the second pick in the 2019 Draft, and Alexis Lafrenière, selected number one last October. The two 19-year-olds are expected to end up in the team’s top-9. The Rangers could have at least nine players who are 23 or under when they start the season against the New York Islanders on Jan. 14 at Madison Square Garden.
2. A change of guard in front of the net
Igor Shesterkin and Alexandar Georgiev will be Rangers’ two goalies this season, while Keith Kinkaid should get the third position. This will be the first time since 2005 that the team will not have Henrik Lundqvist as the number one goalie. The Rangers have redeemed the final year of the Swedish goaltender’s contract, as Shesterkin convinced them of his talent in his 12 games last year. The Russian goalkeeper, who turned 25 on Wednesday, was 10-2-0 with a 2.52 goals-against average and .932 save percentage. Georgiev (17-14-2, 3.04 mba, .913 save percentage) should get his share of playing time.
Video: SJS @ NYR: Shesterkin steals Kane on the breakaway
3. Panarin and Zibanejad, take II
Rangers had one of the best attacking duos in the NHL last year thanks to the left winger Artemi Panarin (95 points) and the center player Mika Zibanejad (75 points). Only the Edmonton Oilers (Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid) and the Boston Bruins (David Pastrnak and Brad Marchand) had a more productive team-mating duo than Panarin and Zibanejad. With an average of 1.38 points per game for Panarin – third in the NHL – and 1.32 for Zibanejad – seventh – is it too much to ask to hope to see them repeat their exploits?
TRAINING ANALYSIS
Positions at stake
There should be a fight for the position of fourth center between Brett Howden, Kevin Rooney and the recruit Morgan Barron. One of those players could end up on the wing.
The identity of the defenders who will end up on the third pair remains to be determined. Libor Hajek seems ahead for this role, but recruits K’Andre Miller and Tarmo Reunanen could also get a post after training camp. The Rangers also have veterans in their training Brendan Smith, Jack Johnson and Anthony Bitetto.
Most intriguing addition
It’s hard to find more intriguing than the first pick in the draft. Lafrenière has been training since November with several Rangers players, including Chris Kreider, Connecticut. With his exploits at the junior level, he looks set to have a great career, but as the pandemic has forced the cancellation of development camps, hopeful tournaments, and training camp will be shortened and without pre-season matches, he is will not be entitled to an acclimatization period as is usually the case. Rangers could protect him early in the season by placing him on the third line behind Panarin and Kreider.
Biggest potential surprise
The Rangers are heartened by K’Andre Miller’s potential, and they were impressed with how he fared at training camp in July when it resumed activities. Miller was ineligible to play in the qualifying round having signed his rookie contract on March 16, after the season hiatus, but he did enough to get Assistant General Manager Chris Drury to say that he wouldn’t be surprised if the 6-foot-5, 210-pound defenseman made his mark this year.
Ready to hatch
With 23 points in 66 games in his rookie season last year, Kakko did not live up to expectations. However, Quinn said he was happy with the Finn’s progress during the Rangers camp in July, and that he saw a player and a different person. He added that this is a prelude to what we will be able to see this season. Kakko, who will be 20 on February 13, should logically move into the top-6, potentially to the right of Panarin’s trio.
TRAINING PLANNED
Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad – Pavel Buchnevich
Artemi Panarin – Ryan Strome – Kaapo Kakko
Alexis Lafreniere — Filip Chytil — Julien gauthier
Brendan Lemieux — Morgan Barron — Brett Howden
Tony DeAngelo — Jacob Trouba
Ryan Lindgren — Adam Fox
Libor Hajek — Brendan Smith
Igor Shesterkin
Alexandar Georgiev
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