4 New York Rangers poised for a breakout 2020-21 campaign
These four young players could be huge for the New York Rangers.
Every good team has depth on both sides of the puck. For the New York Rangers, their depth in goal and on the puck’s offensive side is immense. On defense, they are young and inexperienced, with a lot of room for growth that we can see pan out over the next two years.
For them to have success in what is arguably the toughest division in all of hockey, the Blueshirts will have to fire on all cylinders, with several players finding their game and breaking out before our very eyes. The Rangers added Alexis Lafreniere to an offensive group that scored the NHL’s fifth-most goals per game last season (3.33).
His presence adds another weapon to a lethal offensive unit, one that looks poised to dominate opposing defenses yet again. On that offense are three players who look ready to unleash their true potential on the NHL this season, with a fourth manning the pipes and looking to gain the spotlight he lost to fellow countryman Ilya Sorokin.
4. Kaapo Kakko
After entering the NHL in 2019-20 with sky-high expectations, the number two overall selection found it tough to acclimate to the fastest league in the world. After the six-month hiatus, Kaapo Kakko looked like an improved player over the Rangers’ brief playoff run.
After receiving a promotion this offseason to the right-wing of the Rangers’ second line, Kakko should come out of the gate looking like the player all fans thought he would be after he was drafted. On a line with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome, Kakko’s production increases regardless of his game’s improvements.
But from all accounts, Kakko looks strong and fast at camp, finishing his chances. After appearing tentative for the majority of last season when it came to shooting the puck, the 19-year-old could surprise opposing teams with his newfound willingness to put the puck on goal. Over 66 games in 2019-20, Kakko had 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists), and despite a regular-season schedule that possesses 10 fewer games, expect the Finnish product’s point total to increase drastically.
Related Story. Expect Kakko To Flourish In Sophomore Season. light
The 40-point plateau is within reach for the second-year pro, and a breakout campaign seems to be in store for the Rangers’ prized prospect.
3. Filip Chytil
Entering his third season with the Rangers, Filip Chytil will kick off 2020-21 with the most talented trio yet of his NHL career. Centering the first-overall pick in Lafreniere and 2016 first-round selection Julien Gauthier. Chytil, a first-rounder in his own right, will be able to utilize his skill to create a tantalizing tandem with Lafreniere while the 6-foot-4 Gauthier drives the net.
We have seen flashes of Chytil’s brilliance in his career, whether it was the short-side snipe on Tuukka Rask or the toe-drag goal against Nashville. But the 21-year-old has yet to play consistent hockey, getting hot for stretches and ice cold for others. He finished 2019-20, a season he started in the AHL with the Hartford Wolfpack, with 14 goals and nine assists, good for 23 points.
Those 14 goals are nothing to sneeze at, but we can expect Chytil’s offensive production to pick up, especially with Lafreniere’s addition to his line. More importantly, Chytil will look to make big strides in his two-way game. Winning just 38.4 percent of his career faceoffs, the Czech-native will have to improve that aspect of his game if he hopes to staple down the middle for the Rangers.
Expect Chytil to gel with his fellow youngsters and wreak havoc on opposing defenses, especially since the matchups will favor the Rangers’ third-line.
2. Julien Gauthier
Playing with the previously mentioned Chytil and Lafreniere, Julien Gauthier will be given his first legitimate NHL opportunity. He has only played 17-career NHL games and was a victim of Carolina’s tremendous young forward core before being shipped to the New York Rangers. Now Gauthier can slot into the wing spot on a line loaded with some of the league’s best young talent.
He has yet to score an NHL goal in his brief career, but you can almost guarantee that his linemates’ playmaking ability will surely change that. Gauthier has paid his dues after being a first-round pick in 2016, spending three years in Charlotte of the AHL. But now, the opportunity for him to break out awaits, as he will be given top-nine minutes alongside some top-flight weapons.
Gauthier seems to be in a Tom Wilson-esque role, looking to utilize his body and physical presence on a line with two ultra-skilled forwards. The Canadian forward has his own skill, but he can afford to let his linemates work along the outside while driving the net and collecting the greasy goals.
It will be fun to watch this line work, but I expect Gauthier to surprise us with just how talented he really was in 2020-21.
1. Igor Shesterkin
On this list, because he is still eligible for the Calder, Igor Shesterkin will look to prove in 2020-21 that he is ready for the number one role and that his 10-2 start was not a fluke. We know the numbers and stats that he put up in the KHL and the AHL and how hot he started with the Rangers. Over his first 12 games, Shesterkin posted 2.52 GAA and a .932 SV%., putting the Rangers in playoff contention.
There is no doubt that he will face numerous Grade-A chances throughout the course of this season, forcing the 25-year-old to be on his toes. For the Rangers to sniff the playoffs, he will likely have to put the team on his back, stealing games for the Blueshirts down the stretch like Henrik Lundqvist used to do before him.
It appears set in stone that Shesterkin is the Rangers’ future goaltender and that Sorokin, a fellow Russian, is the Islanders. These two will be tied together with their whole careers, with comparisons between their stats often being drawn. If Shesterkin can prove how talented he is behind what we hope to improve Rangers’ defense, bragging rights, and a Calder will be his.
You all might be wondering, “Where is Alexis Lafreniere?” The rookie is expected to do great things, and for him to have a successful season, the aforementioned players will have to breakout. Lafreniere will shine but also will have growing pains. It is up to the second and third-year players to pick him up.
Next. Put good money on Igor Shesterkin winning the Calder Trophy in 2020-21. dark
If the Rangers get breakout seasons from the candidates listed here, as well as a phenomenal rookie campaign from their first selection, they could very well be a dark-horse for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.