Adam Clendening

New York Rangers: How to Contend for the Stanley Cup

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:49 p.m. ET

Fansided, Brandon Cohen/FanSided via Blue Line Station

The New York Rangers were predicted by many to miss the playoffs this season, but have rocketed off to a tremendous start. The beginning has re-launched their Stanley Cup potential, but there are still missing pieces. Let’s take an early look at how the Rangers become Stanley Cup contenders.

Despite the excellent start to the season, the New York Rangers are not Stanley Cup contenders yet. In the literal sense they are, like all teams are, but based on future success, New York is a step behind. There are a few areas the Rangers can focus in on to be legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. Let’s take a look.

Acquire a top pair defenseman:

Acquiring a top pair defenseman to play alongside Ryan McDonagh would fix a multitude of issues for the Rangers. First, the top pair defenseman would help push the possession game, an area in which the Rangers are lacking. The ability to move the puck out of their own zone and into the opponents zone will be huge for New York moving forward.

Second, McDonagh currently plays with Dan Girardi. When away from Girardi, McDonagh is a near Norris-contender, but with Girardi his game disintegrates into above average. New York bringing in a new defenseman to play with McDonagh would rejuvenate the best defenseman they have on board, while also pushing their anchor into a more limited role.

Girardi did not play poorly when starting the season on the third pairing, but once tasked with stopping opponents top offensive lines, Girardi was once lost again. There is a trickle down effect in the lineup, as rather than McDonagh-Girardi, Marc Staal-Nick Holden, Brady Skjei-Kevin Klein, the Rangers can boast McDonagh-Defenseman X, Staal-Holden, Skjei-Girardi. The latter pairings are not flawless, but they can compete. Given the Rangers tremendous forward depth and Henrik Lundqvist in net, that is enough.

Hold onto forward depth….for the most part:

So, the Rangers must acquire a top pair defenseman. The simple solution would be to deal from their strength and send a forward the other way. This cannot happen for the Rangers to be contenders, however, as it is the outstanding forward depth that keeps the defensive struggles from tanking the team.

New York has the unique ability of rolling four skill lines. While trading one or two forwards would not erase that truth, it would hinder the depth.

However, there is room for one forward to go. The Rangers will have to give to get, and the only area they can give from is at forward. New York does not own the prospects necessary to bring back a defenseman of the caliber they need without sending away a player from the NHL roster.

Off limits must be Pavel Buchnevich, Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller, Jimmy Vesey, Mika Zibanejad, and Mats Zuccarello. Rick Nash and Derek Stepan would be difficult players to move given their two-way talent levels, but their contracts make them somewhat expendable. Of the two, despite his playoff struggles, Nash is the one worth holding on to. Nash provides more and is a man possessed this season, while Stepan’s contract makes him likely to be traded in the future anyway. If Stepan can bring back a top pair defenseman, that is a move the Rangers have to make despite sentimental value.

Play like Raanta is in net, with Lundqvist in net:

The biggest must of the trio, the New York Rangers must play like Antti Raanta is in net, while Henrik Lundqvist is in net. With Raanta in net, the Rangers own a 53% Corsi For Percentage. With Lundqvist in net, the number drops to 46%. The playoffs revolve around possession and speed, and the Rangers own the speed factor. The possession factor is there when Raanta is in net, but with Lundqvist in net the Rangers get passive.

Alain Vigneault must find a way to get his team to play the way they play when Raanta is in net all the time. Lundqvist cannot be held responsible for stopping flurries of chances all postseason long, or he will tire out. With an improved defense and a bevy of talented forwards in front of him, Lundqvist’s teammates may be his strongest yet.

The New York Rangers cannot waste the roster they have due to lack of preparation. A problem is clear, now over 50 games remain to solve it.

Should the Rangers fix their possession game, the roster tweak will be the lone concern between New York and cup contention. After all, Lundqvist is in net, and the forwards roll deeper than any team in hockey.