Heading into the third consecutive trade deadline, the Rangers are awaiting the arrival of new forward options along with frontline mainstays Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.
Blueshirt standout Frank Vatrano reportedly once played that role, helping the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals as a sharp-shooting rental player two seasons ago.
Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane played in that spot last year on their way out of the Rangers’ first-round game against the Devils.
It’s now shaping up to be perhaps the most important opening ahead of Friday’s 3pm deadline.
The season-long dominance of the Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Alexis Lafrenière unit will need to be maintained, as Kreider and Zibanejad will be challenged to work well with whoever slots in on the right wing in the playoffs. It means that.
“Not at this point,” head coach Peter Laviolette said when asked if he expected Kreider and Zibanejad to be split up amid recent offensive struggles.
“At this point, we’ve had chemistry with them in the past,” Laviolette said of his top line. “The Trocheck line has been very strong throughout her year and we believe we have the right people.”
Laviolette has shuffled his lines as little as possible and has remained steadfast in keeping his second unit together since Nov. 4. That makes sense considering this line is a driving force in play, can score a ton of goals, and seems to create more chemistry each game.
On Saturday night in Toronto, Panarin, Trocheck and Lafreniere had three goals and four assists to force overtime before the Maple Leafs won in a penalty shootout. The Rangers needed more players from the rest of the lineup, especially Top Gun, to win this competition in regulation.
If Kaapo Kakko wants to keep his top-line job and the ice time that comes with it, the Finnish wing can’t be held without a shot on goal like he was Saturday night. Kreider and Zibanejad have combined for two shots on goal in their first two games since returning, but that won’t be enough.
Kreider and Zibanejad have contributed in other situations, including on the power play, shorthanded, 4-on-4 and overtime, but have been hampered by their inability to consistently perform in 5-on-5 play.
The Rangers’ No. 1 center ranks 11th on the team in 5-on-5 goals, behind K’Andre Miller (six goals), Adam Fox (six goals) and Blake Wheeler (six goals). He was placed on long-term injured reserve from February 16th. During this time, he averaged 12 minutes and 58 seconds of 5-on-5 ice time per game.
You can’t underestimate how valuable Zibanejad’s game is at 200 feet, but this is a results-oriented league.
Kreider and Zibanejad have played at least one game with five different right wingers this season, including Kakko, Jimmy Vesey, Wheeler, Johnny Brodzinski and Will Quill. Of the first three who logged the most ice time with these two, Kakko gave this line the best numbers.
In 205 minutes, 16 seconds of ice time, Kreider, Zibanejad and Kakko were on the ice for the Rangers’ five goals and two goals, according to Natural Stat Trick. They held an 86-75 edge in scoring chances and a 43-31 advantage in dangerous chances.
Vesey and Wheeler, the two longest-tenured Rangers, missed out.
The revolving door on right wing is nothing new for Kreider and Zibanejad, and in fact we’ve seen some continuity under Laviolette this season. New people will be joining us soon.
The Rangers will only go as far as their capable forwards will take them.
“Now that I’m talking to Mika about his lines, I think it makes me want to do more,” Laviolette said. “So, that’s what we’re working on. We watch video, we talk, we try to come up with a game plan. I think when it comes to great players, I don’t know if they’ve worked their way up. I am confident that you will find it.”
