The New York Rangers bettered their overall game this season, and made the playoffs. But one element was left to be desired – their sense of team communication.
The Rangers fanned on the puck too many times, and sometimes their stick handling did not connect. Not that they didn’t work as a unit. The team finished the year second in the metropolitan division. Artemi Panarin completed his stellar season with 96 points. He continues to be a points powerhouse. A surprise does not come close to describing Chris Kreider’s performance. Usually a mediocre skater, he absolutely stunned the hockey world, by posting a career year. He ended up scoring an eye-popping 52 goals and established himself in the elite group. Mika Zibanejad, the meteoric Rangers forward, finished the year scoring 29 goals. He also contributed with assists, to earn him a good 81 points. Along with Kreider, Zibanejad is a goals-machine.
On defense, Adam Fox is the team minute-muncher, completing his season with 23:54 TOI. His on-ice concentration is sublime, and is not matched by many. The 2021 Norris Trophy-winner nabbed 11 goals and 74 points, which your average defenseman doesn’t do very often. Fox does not disappoint. Jacob Trouba scored 11, and is a steady force. The team can count on Troubs to get the job done. K’Andre Miller shows promise as a new d’man, with seven goals. With grinder Greg McKegg an unsigned free agent, Ryan Reaves will provide the grinding, and his hard-nosed game brings stamina.
At this time, Greco and McKegg are still UFAs.
Barclay Goodrow is easy money for the team, and you can count on him to score approximately 15 goals. New addition Andrew Copp is the asset they needed in the playoffs. He showed flashes of goal-scoring, at times. Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil each scored few goals, and a large part of that is due to injuries. Kakko missed most of last year due to a lower-body injury; he played just 43 games. Both young players should up their game this season. Stats show Chytil is predicted to kick his assists up a notch, as he continues to prove his attentiveness and craftiness.
Coach Gerard Gallant proved he is still the same competent coach he was with Vegas. He got the Rangers into the playoffs, and he – and the New York Rangers – will be hungry for more.
