Team: 2023-24 New York Rangers

Initial Creation Date: Jul. 15, 2023

Published: Jul. 19, 2023

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

My rational for the forward lines:
Line 1:
Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko in 130:41
CF- 60.1%
FF- 64.1%
SF- 61.3%
xGF- 64.5%
SCF- 63.8%
HDCF- 66.1%
- Probably the biggest takeaway I had from the playoffs is how average of a play driving center Zibanejad is. He couldn’t create anything or drive play against a Selke finalist in Hischier. Kreider and Kakko fix that. All three were at their best last year when they played together. This line can be deployed anywhere at any time. It’ll drive play and will also shut down other top lines. Look for Kakko to score 25+ goals and have 50+ points this year in a top line role.

Line 2:
Panarin/Vesey without Harpur in a 62% OZ start
CF- 62.3%
FF- 62.5%
SF- 60.3%
xGF- 65.2%
SCF- 64.4%
HDCF- 66.2%

Chytil-Vesey without Harpur in a 50/50 OZ start
CF- 56.0%
FF- 56.0%
SF- 54.4%
xGF- 64.0%
SCF- 59.0%
HDCF- 65.6%
- A lot of the same issues with Zibanejad in the playoffs are true for Panarin. Jimmy Vesey was our best play driving forward and probably our best Defensive forward. If you look at Panarin’s first 2 seasons he had a good pick retriever / defensive forward on his right wing (Fast & Blackwell). Goodrow has been tired there but offense dries up when he’s out there. Vesey just does all the little things right and will help cover for Panarin to let his creativity flow. Chytil is the perfect center for this line to push the pace with his excellent skater and his ability to be a shoot first player. Chytil has quietly become a strong 2 way center so this line doesn’t need to be sheltered. I think we get the most out of Panarin this way.

Line 3:
Lafrienerre-Trocheck without Harpur in 240:01 with a 63% OZ start
CF- 56.3%
FF- 56.9%
SF- 55.4%
xGF- 54.0%
SCF- 54.9%
HDCF- 55.4%
- This isn’t a “punishment” for Lafrienerre. This is essentially a 1A/1B 2nd line situation. Also in close games in which we’re trailing, since we have a coach that will actually make adjustments Lafrienerre will be double shifted and take Veseys spot. Lafrienerre and Trocheck played well together. Wheeler at this stage is still an elite passer with good hands and still a strong creator. Lafrienerre is a great finisher so the connection should be there. I see this long feasting on bottom pairings. This line is gonna play a ton (and Lafrienerre is on my PP1). Look for Lafrienerre to finish with 55+ points.

Line 4:
This is the grind it out meat and potatoes 4th line that’s gonna start 70% of the time in the DZ. Cuylle has a strong camp and preseason and makes the team out of camp. His path to a top 9 wing in the present and future will be very tough, I’d rather develop and excellent 4th liner (he’s not overtaking Panarin, Kreider, Kakko, Lafrienerre, Othmmann, Sykora this year or next). Cuylle’s physicality and strong defensive play in the AHL should be a seamless transition. Hell learn a lot playing with Goodrow and Bonino.

PP1:
Kreider
Zibanejad, Lafrienerre, Panarin
Fox
- Lafrienerre takes the bumper. The other 4 spots stay the same.

PP2:
Trocheck
Wheeler, Kakko, Chytil
Jones
- Wheeler plays slightly higher and uses his vision and great passing ability to almost run it with Jones. The goal here is for it to go through Chytil and let him rip it.

PK Duos:
1- Zibanejad / Vesey
2- Goodrow / Kakko
3- Bonino / Kreider
Extra- Trocheck
- The only real tweak here is Kreider moves down to the third duo. He’s playing top line minutes and PP1 and he’s 32. There are plenty of other good PKers and reducing Kreiders time is good. Look for Kakko to become a dominant, trusted PKer.

Defensively:
- I think it’s time to break up Miller-Trouba (and ultimately Lindgren-Fox). Miller and Trouba just haven’t been great. Miller and Fox becomes a top 5 pair in the NHL. Lindgren being with Trouba allows Trouba to be more of the puck carrier he was with Winnipeg, instead of handling the puck like a grenade since he’s been here. Trouba has the reputation of being a “defensive” defensemen. That’s not the case. He’s a risk taker and having a truly elite defensive defensemen in Lindgren to cover for him will allow us to move the puck and take chances and have cover. Jones-Schneider is a solid, sheltered 3rd pair. Their numbers were very solid away from the God awful 4th line of Blais-Carpenter-Reaves. Hopefully Jones puts some size on and seizes the spot.