Player ratings for 2022-2023 Regular Season

[Fitzy]

Had a bit of a free window of time at work while the wifi was down to boringly slop together my list of ratings for the Rangers this season, relative to salary, expectations, fit, etc.

Zibanejad-A+
Chytil A+
Fox A
Trocheck A
Lindgren A-
Vesey A-
Miller A-
Shesterkin B+
Kreider B+
Panarin B+
Trouba B
Kakko B
Halak B
Lafreniere B-
Goodrow B-
Schneider C
Harpur D+

Off roster

Gauthier B+
Hajek C-
Jones C-
Kravtsov F
Blais F-
Carpenter D+
Lesh D-


Additions

Motte A+
Tarasenko A
Kane (Not enough info)
Mikkola B+

I dinged Goodrow and Trouba for salary purposes, Halak for streakiness, and Panarin for poor judgement.

Click to read more...

 

[mas0764]

Ranked in total time on ice by positional group, grades versus expectation unless the performance was so bad even in the face of expectation that a failing grade was warranted.

C would mean basically "just met expectations," with a tinge of disappointment that they didn't exceed them.

B would mean "met expectations with circumstances that lead you to feel good about meeting them."

A would mean either surpassed expectations or met them in a way that you feel very, very good about the player.

D would mean the player was underwhelming or failed expectations leaving you wildly unsatisfied.

F is for situations so catastrophic that in every grade I gave, the player has actually already been moved since management realized how bad the situation was.

Offense

Zibanejad - A-. Fell a little short of 40 which probably would have earned him a solid A in my book.
Panarin - A. Salvaged this from being a B or C earlier in the year with a very hot end. Has to keep up.
Trocheck - B+. Wasn't expecting #1 center, didn't need #1 center, and didn't get #1 center, but a solid second liner through and through.
Kreider - B-. It wasn't reasonable to expect another 50 or even 40 goal season, but only 36 and 54 pts after a 50 goal season feels like regression to the mean.
Kakko - B-. 40 points is a nice step in the right direction, but this is a second overall pick and the improvements need to keep happening.
Lafreniere - B-. See above.
Goodrow - C-. Maybe it was his relegation to 4th line with the importing of better players but not sure I saw the impact for his near $4m salary and he should be on the chop block this offseason for the minutes he gets.
Vesey - A. Pleasantly surprised with this reclamation project, but at the end of the day he's still a 4th liner.
Chytil - B+. He was on pace at one point to be an A+ but he cooled off substantially. Like the other kids, a step in the right direction and looks like he might be a poor man's Mika someday.
Tarasenko - B. Has shown flashes but only produced like a second line forward, really, not a star. Needs to play like a star in the playoffs.
Blais - F. Worst trade in franchise history. Goes to St. Louis and stops sandbagging. Good riddance.
Gauthier - D. Just wasn't gonna work here, we can barely get our talented kids to produce, this guy is a one trick pony, maybe Ottawa has better luck.
Kane - D. Has run up some points, but looks lost, low energy. Serious buyers remorse giving up a first if this is all we get from this guy.
Kravtsov - F. No need to rehash this situation, all parties failed.
Motte - C+. The hype train is off the tracks with this guy. He's a decent fourth liner. Has chipped in a few nice goals. I like the player ok but I'd much rather younger kids like Cuylle get looks here.
Carpenter - D - Fine for AHL fodder, not sure why he was ever on the active roster over Rydahl, who at least deserved a look.
Brodzinski - C - Fine for an AHL/NHL tweener who gets a game now and then.
Leschyshyn - D - AHLer. Don't want on active roster.
Reaves - F - overpriced for how he plays in today's game. A fighter who barely fought. Can't skate. Nice guy but glad we cleared him out.
Cuylle - incomplete
Hunt - F. Don't bring him back.

Defense

Fox - A-. Almost gave a B+. His advanced stats are amazing, though. But I feel like he's seemed gassed and his production has seemed to suffer too. Is it his size? Overuse? Feels like something needs to change going forward.
Trouba - C-. Would have been a D except he has improved in recent weeks a little. Terribly overrated due to hits and terribly overpaid. He's just an ok second pair defender.
Miller - C. Did not develop as expected this year, but still has bright future (I hope). Needs to take the next step to legt first pair defender next year, or even better, starting this weekend.
Schneider - C. See above. Has his moments. Still young. Still has promise to be a good second pair defender. Needs to get better, fast.
Lindgren - A. His grade exceeding Fox's is reflective of this guy not being the better player but he leaves it all on the ice. What more can you ask for besides giving us a friendly hometown deal next contract?
Harpur - D. Our expectations of this guy not being a trainwreck have led to some warm feelings but he's really not good. Would be better buried in the AHL and only called up as a 7th D in emergencies.
Mikkola - B-. Same as above, we have expectations due to experience that our 6th Ds will be awful and Mikkola is not awful. But he's still just a bottom pairing defender.
Jones - incomplete.
Hajek - F. Can't get a foothold. Waived and sent to Hartford.

Goalies

Shesterkin - B+. Has gotten hot lately but struggled plenty relative to expectations earlier in the season.
Halak - B-. Also has had some hot streaks but had stretches where he was uninspiring. Worth bringing back as long as it's cheap enough to be affordable, but that could be tough.

 

[Rangerfan4life90]

Miller - C. Did not develop as expected this year, but still has bright future (I hope). Needs to take the next step to legt first pair defender next year, or even better, starting this weekend.

Lol, what? Miller shouldn't get a grade below B/B+. His offense improved a lot this year from last (20 points to 43 points) while being a steady presence on defense. Not sure how you can say he didn't develop as expected this year. The sky's still the limit for him, especially given how he was a forward for most of his teen years, so he's still learning the position in actuality. No way I agree with a C rating for him.

He's not the first pair because Lindgren has long-time chemistry with Fox.

I agree with your other ratings for the most part, though. Except I'd maybe bump Lindgren down to a B+ and Trouba to like around a C+

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Had a bit of a free window of time at work while the wifi was down to boringly slop together my list of ratings for the Rangers this season, relative to salary, expectations, fit, etc.

Zibanejad-B+
Chytil A-
Fox A
Trocheck A-
Lindgren B+
Vesey A+
Miller B+
Shesterkin B-
Kreider B
Panarin B+
Trouba C+
Kakko B
Halak B-
Lafreniere B-
Goodrow C-
Schneider C-
Harpur F

Off roster

Gauthier B
Hajek INC
Jones D
Kravtsov LOL
Blais F
Carpenter D+
Lesh F


Additions

Motte A
Tarasenko B
Kane C-
Mikkola B

My ratings above.

Kreider was a tough one. I hated his game after the ASB but I can also make the case that he should have had 45+ goals this year. Poor PP shooting luck did him in and im hoping that GHB Kreider was just a function of him taking it easy before the playoffs started but he was gliding/unwilling to seal off the walls wayyyyy before the Rangers had clinched anything.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

Mine:

Zibanejad-A
Chytil A
Fox A
Trocheck A
Lindgren B+
Vesey A-
Miller A-
Shesterkin B+
Kreider B
Panarin B+
Trouba B-
Kakko B
Halak B-
Lafreniere B-
Goodrow C+
Schneider C-
Harpur D

Off roster

Gauthier B
Hajek D+
Jones D
Kravtsov D-
Blais F-
Carpenter D
Lesh F

Additions

Motte A
Tarasenko A
Kane C+
Mikkola B+

I didn't give anyone an A+ because everyone had something they could've been better on. Mika was way too hesitant to shoot at times, especially at even strength, otherwise he'd have gotten an A+.

Fox was an A+ until about 2/3 of the year then he struggled mightily for a while, so he ended up at A.

Tarasenko has been phenomenal since they've acquired him, but I still don't think his usage is optimal. He belongs on PP1 at the right circle firing pucks opposite Mika/Panarin. When he gets only 12 minutes, that's sub-optimal usage of one of the team's most dangerous scoring threats.

I dinged the D especially for early in the season. Lindgren, Fox, and Miller are a clear cut above the rest. Miller's turnovers and overhandling the puck are why he didn't get an A. Schneider was terrible at zone exits all season, so I dinged him for that.

The goaltending wasn't great much of the year, but Igor rebounded hard down the stretch which got him up to B+ for me. Halak was a capable backup, but the soft goals killed him and he lost a lot of close games b/c of it.

Despite a second highest career point total, Goodrow really wasn't that impressive to me much of the year other than the "glue guy" stuff like fighting Wilson to get that clown out of a meaningless game. But too many bad turnovers for a "defensively responsible" player, he was awful on draws this year, and didn't create a ton of offense though it helped immensely when the new improved 4th line was put together.

Panarin got a B+ because of turnovers and difficulty creating at even strength (relative to what we've come to expect).
Kreider got a B because he's been playing like he's hurt and really didn't create much offense all year. He's still elite at screening the goalie and deflections/rebounds, but the other elements to his game took a big step backwards from what he usually does (NOT talking about last year only here!) especially creating off the rush, passing, and boards play.
Kane really hasn't been all that impressive since the trade. Hope he finds another gear in the playoffs.

 

[Mandar]

Zibanejad - A-. Fell a little short of 40 which probably would have earned him a solid A in my book.

Why are you a slave to round numbers? Because Zibs had 39 goals instead of 40, he gets downgraded by half a grade? This is inane and silly.

 

[Fitzy]

I mean I feel like the consensus attitude on the board before the season was that if Kakko and Laf can get to forty points that’s a great step in the right direction and decent production for coming purely at even strength.

We know neither are likely to be Hughes or McDavid but they can very well still have long effective careers as middle 6 forwards

Next year, 50 should be the goal

 

[DanielBrassard]

Zibanejad-A-
Chytil B+
Fox A
Trocheck A-
Lindgren A
Vesey no letter can encapsulate his greatness
Miller B+
Shesterkin B+
Kreider B
Panarin A-
Trouba c
Kakko B-
Halak B-
Lafreniere B-
Goodrow c-
Schneider D
Harpur D+

Off roster

Gauthier B
Hajek D
Jones C-
Kravtsov D+
Blais F
Carpenter D+
Lesh F


Additions

Motte A+
Tarasenko B
Kane c
Mikkola B-

 

[Leonardo87]

@Fitzy good grading.

I pretty much agree with everything except would drop Laf to maybe a C+, and Miller to a B+, he had some very good games but also some very bad games.

 

[mas0764]

Lol, what? Miller shouldn't get a grade below B/B+. His offense improved a lot this year from last (20 points to 43 points) while being a steady presence on defense. Not sure how you can say he didn't develop as expected this year. The sky's still the limit for him, especially given how he was a forward for most of his teen years, so he's still learning the position in actuality. No way I agree with a C rating for him.

He's not the first pair because Lindgren has long-time chemistry with Fox.

I agree with your other ratings for the most part, though. Except I'd maybe bump Lindgren down to a B+ and Trouba to like around a C+

the Rating for Miller is based around the fact that many expected him to jump to first pair D this year and he didn’t. The athletic predicted he’d get Norris votes. In that sense, and I agreed he’d make a big leap, he is kinda a C.

 

[EdJovanovski]

Blais - F
Carpenter - D
Chytil - B+
Gauthier - C
Goodrow - C
Kakko - C-
Kane - C
Kravtsov - A
Kreider - B
Lafreniere - C-
Leshyshyn - F
Motte - B
Panarin - A
Tarasenko - B
Trocheck - B
Vesey - B
Zibanejad - B

Fox - B
Hajek - D
Harpur - F
Jones - C+
Lindgren - C+
Mikkola - C
Miller - B
Schneider - C
Trouba - C-

Shesterkin - A
Halak - C+

 

[PuckLuck3043]

the Rating for Miller is based around the fact that many expected him to jump to first pair D this year and he didn’t. The athletic predicted he’d get Norris votes. In that sense, and I agreed he’d make a big leap, he is kinda a C.

Why do you always quote the Athletic like they know more than anybody else? They are just another media source. Expecting him to get Norris votes this year is just nonsense after a 20 point season last year. Miller doubled his point output and showed continued progress. He had some bad games but had way more good ones. He's a 23yo legit top 4 Dman. Solid B in my book.

 

[will1066]

Puckluck's grades:

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A-

The last one is just to prove didn't give out all A's and isn't a pushover.

I kid, I kid puckluck.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Krieder - B
MIka - A
Kane - C
Panarin - B+
Trocheck - B+
Tarasenko - A-
Laf - B-
Chytil - B+
Kakko - B-
Motte - A-
Goodrow - B-
Vesey - A-

Fox - A
Lindgren - B+
Miller - B
Trouba - B-
Schneider - C-
Mikkola - B

Igor - A-
Halak - B

Blais - F
Carpenter - D
Gauthier - B-
Harpur - D-
Hajek - Incomplete
Jones - Incomplete
Leshysyn - F
Kravstov - D-

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Puckluck's grades:

A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A-

The last one is just to prove didn't give out all A's and isn't a pushover.

I kid, I kid puckluck.

I just tell it like I see it.

 

[mas0764]

Why do you always quote the Athletic like they know more than anybody else? They are just another media source. Expecting him to get Norris votes this year is just nonsense after a 20 point season last year. Miller doubled his point output and showed continued progress. He had some bad games but had way more good ones. He's a 23yo legit top 4 Dman. Solid B in my book.

Well, they do know more than your average Joe.

They may not know more than experts, but I'm not citing them for an expert opinion. It's just evidence that there was an expectation out there by some that he was going to make a huge leap.

 

[Siddi]

Blais - F
Carpenter - D
Chytil - B+
Gauthier - C
Goodrow - C
Kakko - C-
Kane - C
Kravtsov - A
Kreider - B
Lafreniere - C-
Leshyshyn - F
Motte - B
Panarin - A
Tarasenko - B
Trocheck - B
Vesey - B
Zibanejad - B

Fox - B
Hajek - D
Harpur - F
Jones - C+
Lindgren - C+
Mikkola - C
Miller - B
Schneider - C
Trouba - C-

Shesterkin - A
Halak - C+

I dont get this. Mika graded B? Panarin graded higher? I know you dont like Mika but is this Is a joke like your other posts? Serious question.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Lol, what? Miller shouldn't get a grade below B/B+. His offense improved a lot this year from last (20 points to 43 points) while being a steady presence on defense. Not sure how you can say he didn't develop as expected this year. The sky's still the limit for him, especially given how he was a forward for most of his teen years, so he's still learning the position in actuality. No way I agree with a C rating for him.

He's not the first pair because Lindgren has long-time chemistry with Fox.

I agree with your other ratings for the most part, though. Except I'd maybe bump Lindgren down to a B+ and Trouba to like around a C+

Basically this. Gallant's ideal is to split the heavy usage between two pairs and let the third eat less minutes and exposed to less risk.
By splitting 1/2 at about 45 minutes a game, you need to have both pairs truly capable of both offense and defense. So you can't have fox/miller on the same line.

 

[nyr2k2]

Glad to see most people are pretty reasonable in their assessments. And a couple people with absolutely terrible takes, as expected.

 

[hackeyman]

Vesey no letter can encapsulate his greatness

This !

 

[DanielBrassard]

I dont get this. Mika graded B? Panarin graded higher? I know you dont like Mika but is this Is a joke like your other posts? Serious question.

panarin had a better year i don't see why that's a controversial opinion to have.

 

[2014nyr]

Krieder - B+ production dropped but really like the other stuff kreider has been bringing this year. he finally has some attitude consistently, finishing hits, jumping into gatherings of the clans, playing pk. he looks like a guy who paid attention to the mentality cup winners play with and has been a better on ice leader.

MIka - A
Kane - inc
Panarin - B scaled a bit for what he's capable of. way too many ridiculous turnovers on telegraphed passes or overhandling in spots there's no excuse for it. has had some great moments too, but overall he needs to really clean it up with the killer mistakes. the production is fine, and can drop a bit if it means not handing the devils several odd man rushes per game.

Trocheck - B+
Tarasenko - inc
Laf - B+ severely underappreciated. laf could conservatively have another 15 assists if guys would ever finish his setups. he's put goals on a tee for more guys that found ways to miss nets, put it into a goalie's logo, dust the puck off before shooting etc...and i could care less what the analytics say, he's been very solid defensively. when he's in a puck battle he usually wins and at worst the puck stays out of danger. he stops on pucks and when he has the puck in the d zone he usually makes the right pass or at least gets it out of the zone. more offense is coming

Chytil - B i've been happy to eat crow on what i thought of him throughout last season, but he has gotten too much credit this year. he's still extremely streaky with finishing chances - lots of guys are, but his hot and cold swings are wild. more importantly, granted he has come a long way from what he was, he's still soft on pucks too often. too many flyby whiffs on pokechecks instead of stopping and putting a body on people in the d zone. he also has a habit of it in the ozone against breakouts when he's the high forwards, which leaves us with 3 below the puck too often. much improved, but still needs to get harder on pucks. also shts the bed on too many great scoring chances. its gonna happen, and its good to see him getting in good positions, but you gotta at least make the goalie make a save.

Kakko - B+ i love where his game is at. at some point he's going to really break through. i've given up trying to call it because he's looked like he was on the cusp a few times only to hit a lull, but the way he ended the season does give me hope.

Motte - inc
Goodrow - B-
Vesey - B+

Fox - B+ this is based on fox standards, has been good but not great the 2nd half of the year. has not been able to take over at times like he did early in the year.

Lindgren - A
Miller - B has had some great moments this year offensively and defensively with some incredible plays that show his ability. has also regressed with decision making, particularly in the d zone. has abandoned the front of the net way too many times to chase a non threat that he had no hope of closing on quick enough to break up the play.

Trouba - B+ - takes way too much unfair criticism around here. guy does way more than anyone realizes for the team as a leader on and off the ice, and has had a very solid season after an up and down first 20-25 games. much of what gets put on him has actually been kandre wandering that left trouba scrambling to cover for him and people putting the blame on him.

Schneider - B
Mikkola - inc

Igor - A-
Halak - B+

 

[Siddi]

panarin had a better year i don't see why that's a controversial opinion to have.

So 1 point difference equals a whole grade? Even excluding the point totals Panarin was not the better player overall. He was horrendus defensively over big stretches while Mika had a career year and is in the conversation for Selke nominations and was named the team MVP.

Did Chytil also have a better year with his B+?

 

[SA16]

Panarin B Trocheck A Tarasenko B
Kreider B Zibanejad A Kane C
Laf F Chytil A Kakko F
Vesey A Goodrow B Motte A

Lindgren B Fox A
Miller A Trouba C
Mikkola B Schneider C

Igor C
Halak B

 

[EdJovanovski]

So 1 point difference equals a whole grade? Even excluding the point totals Panarin was not the better player overall. He was horrendus defensively over big stretches while Mika had a career year and is in the conversation for Selke nominations and was named the team MVP.

Did Chytil also have a better year with his B+?

I think Panarin is a scapegoat, I think he was consistently better than Mika. Mika had his usual stretches of lethargic play where he's fanning on every one timer and looks like he hasn't eaten meat in years. OP said relative to expectations, salary, etc. Chytil played at a 50pt pace with minimal PP time, I think Chytil surpassed expectations maybe more than anyone on the team. And I wouldn't call it Mikas career year, 19/20 was, when he paced for 59 goals & 108pts. Every game I thought Panarin did things that looked skillful, he looked like a good player pretty much every night regardless of turnovers or risky plays. There were a lot of games were Mika looked lethargic. Everyone has biases, I don't hate Mika by any stretch. But many know that I do value flash more than most fans, Panarin is just more my kind of player I guess