New York Rangers’ Younger Roster Can Be A Season Changer
The New York Rangers are starting the season with a much younger roster than they did last season. An increase in younger talent can be a game-changer for the Rangers as they begin the season.
Last season (2015-16) the New York Rangers roster had 10 players, including goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, that were 30 or older. This season the roster has five players who are 30 or older, including Lundqvist and currently sidelined D Kevin Klein.
The new young talent has the potential to turn the team around and put forward the kind of play the team needs to get more of an edge this season.
Out With The Old, In With The New
While the Rangers would be anticipating a season without veteran players like Dominic Moore, Viktor Stalberg, Dan Boyle and Keith Yandle, the team would gain a solid group of young players during the offseason.
The offseason was beneficial for the New York Rangers. Not only did they sign the highly sought after College FA Jimmy Vesey, the team also pulled off a good trade for former Ottawa Senators F Mika Zibanejad.
Rangers 2013 draft-pick F Pavel Buchnevich also signed with the team to join them for the 2016-17 season. The Rangers also re-signed F Kevin Hayes, F Chris Kreider, F J.T Miller, and D Dylan McIlrath and avoid arbitration. These players alone would create a solid young core for the Rangers.
New additions to the team gave the Rangers 12 players who are 25 years old or younger. Defense is younger with Brady Skjei (22) and Adam Clendening (24) replacing Boyle (39). The offense is also younger with Buchnevich (21), Zibanejad (23) replacing Derick Brassard (29) and Moore (36).
The younger roster will be refreshing for the Rangers. While a veteran ice presence is always encouraged and welcomed on a team, the Rangers were lacking a youthful presence.
Why Younger Matters
Last season the average age of the Rangers roster was 28 years and two months old, the highest average in the league. Compared to the Pittsburgh Penguins average 27 years and three months and the NY Islanders average 27 years and one month, the Rangers were much older than their division competitors.
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The Penguins knocked New York out of the playoffs last season before going on to win the Stanley Cup. The Islanders defeated the Rangers in all four matchups last season. The NYR defense was struggling and there was a lack of production from the forwards, the lack of young players was a partial reason for their disadvantage.
New York struggled to find consistent offensive production and just the right defensive pairs to keep up with other teams’ more youthful players. New faces and younger players could be exactly what the Rangers need to get their mojo back.
This season the average age of the team is 27 years and they are now the 8th youngest in the league. The new air on the roster will allow the Rangers to find the right chemistry and have the right strength and youth to face their opposition and have a stronger season.
Though having a strong veteran presence on a team is never a bad thing and their experience is often sought after, the key is finding the right balance between veteran and young players. This season the Rangers seemed to have found a better balance.
The New New York Rangers
The NYR had their first game of the season at home against the rival Islanders. The Rangers won their home opener 5-3 and finally grabbed a win against John Tavares and company.
Goals from new faces F Michael Grabner and F Brandon Pirri and returning forwards F Mats Zuccarello, Kreider, and Miller, the Rangers were able to get and stay ahead.
The Rangers are younger and fresher this season. The rookies and youth on the roster want to bring everything possible to make a difference this season.
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New, young, and hungry players are exactly what the Rangers need this season to chase their big goals. The productive line of Kreider, Zibanejad, and Buchnevich, a revitalized defense, and younger core can help get New York get the type of play they need.
Only time will tell but the Rangers seem ready to bring the consistency and the production they’ve been longing for. They face the St.Louis Blues at Scottrade Center tonight, at 8 p.m. Facing the Blues could be a good telling of where the Rangers might stand outside of their division.