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An influx of injuries has steadily revealed the way the Rangers perceive their depth chart, as well as provided insight into how the organization plans to handle certain prospects.
It was telling that it was Connor Mackey, in wake of a season-ending injury to Ben Harpur and Mac Hollowell’s illness during Adam Fox’s long-term injured reserve stint, who got the call over, say, Matthew Robertson.
The same can be said about Jonny Brodzinski and Anton Blidh, two forwards who have both been recalled to help fill in for Filip Chytil (long-term injured reserve), Kaapo Kakko (LTIR) and the unnamed forward (banged up) who was a game-time decision and ultimately played in the Rangers’ 6-5 win over the Sharks on Sunday.
That brings us to Brennan Othmann and why he hasn’t been given a look with the team’s forward group depleted. My answer is to ask again in a few months.
At 18-4-1 heading into their matchup with the Senators on Tuesday, the Blueshirts aren’t going to rush their top prospect. Othmann may have looked solid in training camp, and the 20-year-old may have eight goals and nine assists in 20 games with the Hartford Wolf Pack, but Brodzinski is a veteran of the role the Rangers need filled.
Plus, it’s not like Brodzinski didn’t earn the call-up. He was leading the AHL in scoring when the Rangers recalled him and he is still leading the Wolf Pack with 11 goals and 14 assists in 16 games.
Othmann hasn’t even had a full AHL season yet. That’s usually beneficial to have in a prospect’s development timeline.
Depending on where the Rangers are at with injuries later in the season, as well as their position in the standings, Othmann could become an option. Especially if he starts lighting it up in the AHL.
The Rangers do need an upgrade on the right wing, but they may look outside of the organization closer to the trade deadline.
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The other Ranger readers have been particularly curious about has been Blake Wheeler, who is not the player he once was but hasn’t necessarily hindered the Rangers lineup, either
It’s true, Wheeler has lost a step at 37 and doesn’t look like the Jets skater who put up 55 points last season. His two goals and four assists isn’t close to the production the Rangers likely thought they could get out of him.
As a result, Wheeler lost his job on the right wing of the top line to Brodzinski. He also was taken off the second power-play unit when the team was healthy.
Wheeler, however, hasn’t made an abundance of costly mistakes. He may not be making as much of a positive impact as the Rangers hoped, but he’s also not hurting them.
Considering where the Rangers are at with injuries, they need Wheeler. And with an $800,000 price tag, it’s difficult to argue.
If the club is fully healthy in a few months ago and doesn’t want Wheeler in the lineup, it could talk to him about putting him on waivers, where he would probably be claimed. With a no-trade clause in his contract, Wheeler would need to be consulted on any sort of move.
Recently I asked for questions on my Texts from the Blue Seats text-message conversation with Sports+ members (join here). Here are the answers to some queries (lightly edited for clarity) that caught my eye:
I feel like the team was subpar on faceoffs for about a decade. Each offseason there would be talk about things they were going to do to improve, but it never followed through. This year has been a revelation. How much is this due solely to Vincent Trocheck or have the Rangers centermen improved across the board? And if so, is it thanks to Michael Peca?
— Michael Rode
It really is a revelation, isn’t it? I do give a bulk of the credit to the Rangers new coaching staff, mainly Peter Laviolette and Peca. Laviolette said faceoffs were an area he identified immediately and put emphasis on in the preseason. Most teams practice faceoffs frequently or every day, but I doubt they do it the way the Rangers do.
Just like everything else they do in practice and morning skates, the Rangers do faceoffs at full speed. One after the other. Several in a row. Different opponents. Relentless repetition.
Peca is always right in the middle of it, pointing things out and making slight adjustments for veterans and young players alike.
And you’re right, Trocheck has been as advertised in the dots. His 56.1 faceoff win percentage last season and his NHL-leading 64.1 mark this year are astounding.
What Ranger has been the most improved player since last season’s end?
— Joseph Meliambro
I think the easy answer would be Will Cuylle, who looks like a true NHLer this season compared to his four-game cameo last season.
The other player who hasn’t gotten nearly enough recognition for his strong start is Jacob Trouba. His numbers through the first 23 games this season, as compared to the first 23 from last season, show that the Rangers captain is at the top of his game right now.
Considering the numbers up on the Garden ceiling that that never won the Cup, have we seen the last player in Rangers history to ever wear No. 20, even if he never hoists the silver chalice?
— Michael Silvers
It’s very possible. Kreider has meant a lot to the Rangers organization for a long time.
What were the coach’s observations of Zac Jones? It seems as though if everyone on D is healthy, Jones will always be the odd man out. What are the options for him as he seems to be valuable enough to make a deal, or is he better kept in the AHL as the next man up?
— Doug Sutherland, Marc Rosen
Laviolette has described Jones as a smart player who skates and moves the puck very well. The UMass product held his own while stepping in on defense during Fox’s absence, aside from a couple tough performances with defense partner Braden Schneider.
I think Jones needs to get more reps in the NHL to continue moving forward in his career. If anything, the 11 games he’s played so far this season have upped his trade value.
Since Vincent Trocheck seems to have cemented his spot on the second line, where do you see Filip Chytil fitting in? And will Kaapo Kakko get another shot on the top two lines?
— Patricia Tamburello
Laviolette has done his best not to make too many drastic changes to the lineup amid all the injuries, so I don’t expect that strategy to stop now unless the Rangers go on a terrible losing streak.
I imagine he’d move Barclay Goodrow back to the wing, where he played to start the season. That would allow for Chytil to center the third line and Nick Bonino to return to the middle of the fourth unit. If Laviolette really wanted a different look, Chytil could play on the wing of the third line.
Depending on when Kakko returns to the lineup, the Rangers could already be shopping around for a new right wing before the trade deadline. I imagine if Brodzinski can’t get the job done, we’ll see first-line Jimmy Vesey soon.
Otherwise, Kakko could get another shot in the top six at some point this season.