Puck Drop Preview 2018-19 New York Rangers

[LastWordArmy]

Welcome to Puck Drop Preview 2018-19, where Last Word On Hockey gives you a detailed look at each team from around the NHL leading to the start of this hockey season and offers our insight and analysis. Make sure to stick around until the end of the series, where we’ll offer our full predictions for the standings in each division, and eventually our 2018-19 Stanley Cup pick. You can check out all our articles on our Puck Drop Page. Today the series continues with the 2018-19 New York Rangers.

Puck Drop Preview: 2018-19 New York Rangers - Last Word on Hockey

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[nyr2k2]

I definitely wouldn't project Ty Ronning into the lineup. That seems pretty far-fetched to me at this point. Spooner probably takes that wing spot and your C on the 4th is Nieves or someone.

Also, not so sure about Gilmour taking that spot. He's waiver exempt while guys like Claesson and Bigras are not. My totally unscientific projection is that he has a 25% chance of breaking with the team. If Smith doesn't look like total shit he'll be up.

Chytil's long term future may be on the wing, but the team hasn't seemed inclined to move him there yet. He's a C until the team indicates otherwise.

Finally, the "Coming up short" section says we missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

 

[GAGLine]

Finally, the "Coming up short" section says we missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

And this in the goaltender section:

However, expect the Rangers to give backups Pavelec and Tokarski more time in net than past seasons.

Overall, a pretty generic write up with several glaring mistakes.

 

[Machinehead]

 

[Machinehead]

Finally, the "Coming up short" section says we missed the playoffs for the first time since 2018.

Not wrong

 

[eco's bones]

There are a lot of people particularly out of western Canada that are really interested in Ty Ronning doing well. I get it and not to get me wrong--I think he's a pretty good prospect. I don't see him making the Rangers out of camp though. I think he needs a year in Hartford. The Rangers IMO want at least one of Meskanen/Lindqvist on the team and they're going to have at least one of McQuaid/McLeod.

Forward locks:--Zibanejad, Zuccarello, Kreider, Buchnevich, Fast, Spooner, Namestnikov, Vesey.

Others with a very realistic shot: Chytil, Andersson, Nieves, Meskanen, Lindqvist, McLeod.

Longer shots: Howden, Lettieri, Holland, Beleskey, Fontaine, Ronning.

Defense locks:--Shattenkirk, Skjei, Staal.

Others with a very realisitic shot: McQuaid, Pionk, Claesson, DeAngelo, Smith.

Longer shots--Bigras, Hajek, O'Gara, Lindgren, Gilmour.

Goalie lock:--Lundqvist.

Others with a realistic shot: Georgiev, Mazanec.

Longer shot: Tokarski.

Anyway that's how I'd break down the possibilities on the eve of training camp. Staal would be in the second grouping with a realistic shot but his NMC puts him into lock.

 

[Thordic]

Goalie lock:--Lundqvist.

Others with a realistic shot: Georgiev, Mazanec.

Longer shot: Tokarski.

Mazanec and Tokarski both have minimal NHL experience (I think 32 and 34 games respectively), and Tokarski has somewhat better stats in his games. I'd say if anything they are equally likely to stick, but I'd put money on Georgiev being our backup to start the season. He definitely appears to be the better player. I'd have Mazanec and Tokarski as the long shots.

 

[eco's bones]

Mazanec and Tokarski both have minimal NHL experience (I think 32 and 34 games respectively), and Tokarski has somewhat better stats in his games. I'd say if anything they are equally likely to stick, but I'd put money on Georgiev being our backup to start the season. He definitely appears to be the better player. I'd have Mazanec and Tokarski as the long shots.

That's a good point. It's between the three and it might be better for Georgiev to get the starting role in Hartford but IMO he's easily the best of them all.

 

[Thordic]

I think it depends on Quinn's utilization of Lundqvist. I wouldn't want Hank playing more than 60ish games, but you have to wonder if Hank convinces a rookie coach to let him play a lot more. If he plays 70+ games, the backup won't matter as much. And, to be honest, it's not like we need Hank to be fresh for the playoffs...

 

[eco's bones]

I think it depends on Quinn's utilization of Lundqvist. I wouldn't want Hank playing more than 60ish games, but you have to wonder if Hank convinces a rookie coach to let him play a lot more. If he plays 70+ games, the backup won't matter as much. And, to be honest, it's not like we need Hank to be fresh for the playoffs...

I agree. I'd be fine with Georgiev getting 30 or more. If Henrik's going to be playing 55-60 games though--I'd put Alexandar in Hartford and maybe bring him up occasionally for a couple games here and there. He's a player with a real future though.

As far as Henrik--if he's not happy he can ask out. He said when the letter came out that he wanted to stay and he'd be fine with the rebuild and working the other goalie more might very well be a part of that. If he changes his mind we could see what we could get for him though I doubt we'll realistically be able to move him until next off season.

That said Mazanec and Tokarski IMO are good depth--the goaltending in Hartford shouldn't be a problem this year and we should have a pretty good defense group there.

 

[eco's bones]

Whoever wrote that is an epic moron with 0.00% knowledge on this team.

You could simply say you disagree with some or a lot of it and maybe even say why. There's no reason here for you to insult people.

 

[Levitate]

I wouldn't be surprised if Fontaine pushes for the 4C spot over Nieves this year

If I'm going to make some wild predictions for a lineup I'd probably do something like

Kreider-Zibanejad-Zucc
Namestnikov/Spooner-Hayes-Buch
Meskanin-Chytil-Namestnikov/Spooner
Vesey-Fontaine-Fast
McLeod/Belesky to just round out the roster and practice/vet reasons

Skjei-Shattenkirk
Staal-DeAngelo
Smith-Pionk
McQuaid

Lundqvist
Georgiev

First, I think that we'll just see the breakup of that Kreider, Zib, Buch line and Quinn will want to go with his best forwards on a top line.
Hayes is definitely the second best center on the team so he's 2nd line with Buch and one of Namestnikov or Spooner playing kind of out of position. Would probably say Namestnikov is the better fit as a faster player who digs in the dirty areas more which that line could use.

Then Chytil again makes the team out of camp and starts as the 3C. If Andersson or Howden make it instead I'd expect them in the same spot. Spooner on the RW with Meskanin making a surprise spot out of camp as a big right hand shot for that line.

Fontaine wins the 4C spot and forms a hard working and potentially valuable energy 4th line that can do a bit of everything.

Then on D, Staal and DeAngelo pair together better and DeAngelo gets his best chance to prove he should stick. Smith does well enough in camp to nail down the 3rd LD spot and pairs with Pionk and McQuaid as the 7th.

Georgiev backs up Lundqvist and gets 30+ games

Then going forward through the season I expect a lot of player swapping even if there aren't injuries...guys aren't playing well? Benched or sent down depending on their status and younger players called up for a look. Chytil has ups and downs? Up comes Andersson or Howden. Spooner struggling? Benched, up comes a young player, etc

 

[Ghost of jas]

There are a lot of people particularly out of western Canada that are really interested in Ty Ronning doing well. I get it and not to get me wrong--I think he's a pretty good prospect. I don't see him making the Rangers out of camp though. I think he needs a year in Hartford. The Rangers IMO want at least one of Meskanen/Lindqvist on the team and they're going to have at least one of McQuaid/McLeod.

Forward locks:--Zibanejad, Zuccarello, Kreider, Buchnevich, Fast, Spooner, Namestnikov, Vesey.

Others with a very realistic shot: Chytil, Andersson, Nieves, Meskanen, Lindqvist, McLeod.

Longer shots: Howden, Lettieri, Holland, Beleskey, Fontaine, Ronning.

Defense locks:--Shattenkirk, Skjei, Staal.

Others with a very realisitic shot: McQuaid, Pionk, Claesson, DeAngelo, Smith.

Longer shots--Bigras, Hajek, O'Gara, Lindgren, Gilmour.

Goalie lock:--Lundqvist.

Others with a realistic shot: Georgiev, Mazanec.

Longer shot: Tokarski.

Anyway that's how I'd break down the possibilities on the eve of training camp. Staal would be in the second grouping with a realistic shot but his NMC puts him into lock.

I think Howden has every bit as good a chance to make the Rangers as Andersson and Chytil.

 

[eco's bones]

I think Howden has every bit as good a chance to make the Rangers as Andersson and Chytil.

The thing that would help me with Howden is seeing him in the exhibitions. I've seen quite a bit of Lias and Filip. I haven't seen Howden--except for a little bit of juniors--a bit of WJC and the recent Traverse tournament.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Flip Chytil and Andersson. Ronning won't make the team. Move Spooner up to Ronning's spot, and insert either Holland or Nieves. Smith probably takes Gilmour's spot, but that defense might be pretty close to what it'll be. The goalies also looks correct.

 

[Edge]

Gotta be honest with you, I think I like Howden's odds right now better than Nieves and Lindqvist, and maybe even slightly more than Chytil and Andersson.

Of course that could change quickly once camp begins, but put me on the spot today and that's my hot take.

 

[Levitate]

Gotta be honest with you, I think I like Howden's odds right now better than Nieves and Lindqvist, and maybe even slightly more than Chytil and Andersson.

Of course that could change quickly once camp begins, but put me on the spot today and that's my hot take.

I could see Howden playing more "solid" than them but once the season gets underway, ending up kind of waffling in that "he's not bad out there but he's not making things happen either and might need time in the AHL"

Just always a bit more concerned about a guy coming from juniors and being ready for the pace of the pro game

 

[Inferno]

Can you imagine if the rangers went with 3 rookie centers on opening night....yowza

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

Gotta be honest with you, I think I like Howden's odds right now better than Nieves and Lindqvist, and maybe even slightly more than Chytil and Andersson.

Of course that could change quickly once camp begins, but put me on the spot today and that's my hot take.

If we can call him Boo Howden, then who cares

 

[Hi ImHFNYR]

Oof. That was a brutal read.

I was trailing away when i read "it was the first time they missed the POs since 2018"

I skipped a bit, started to settle in and then read "most likely being shuffled around with the likes of Zuccarello and Namestnikov, for these are the seasoned veterans "

I most likely will never finish reading, for these are blogs of amateurs.

Sry to the writer, for these are the words of a jerk