New York Rangers Trending in Opposite Direction as Rival Islanders
The New York Rangers-New York Islanders rivalry dates back to the Islanders’ entrance into the NHL in 1972. The rivalry has been a back and forth, with recent years being no different. Recent transactions, however, nod towards the Rangers trending in the superior direction.
The New York Rangers lineup on Friday night featured Michael Grabner and Mats Zuccarello. The New York Islanders signed Cal Clutterbuck to a five-year extension worth $17.5 Million within the same 24 hours.
While the two truths may seem separated at first glance, there is a trend at hand. Grabner and Zuccarello will make $6.1 Million combined next season. Following Clutterbuck’s extension, he and Casey Cizikas will make $6.8 Million combined next year. Grabner and Zuccarello can play top six minutes, fill holes on the penalty-kill and power-play, and provide speed that causes envy from other organizations.
Cizikas and Clutterbuck provide value as fourth-liners, but once promoted to the top nine their respective games suffer. The NHL’s salary cap makes teams make difficult decisions. The Islanders opted to prioritize their fourth line, ignoring their scoring issues up front. Thus, the misguided result of signing a pair of fourth liners for more money than a pair of talented top nine players.
Mats Zuccarello, a player deemed by the NHL valuable enough to be a candidate for All-Star captain, will make $1 Million more than Cal Clutterbuck next year. The differences in philosophies between the Islanders and Rangers organizations astounds.
Two years ago the Islanders appeared to be the team trending forward. The Islanders acquired Johnny Boychuk and Nick Leddy to shore up the defense. Jaroslav Halak provided an answer to the lingering question in net. Kyle Okposo and John Tavares worked their usual magic to lead the top six to success.
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Despite finishing behind the Rangers in the regular and postseasons, the Islanders made few moves following the 2014-15 campaign. The Brooklyn bound team finally won a playoff round in the 2015-16 season, making some long-awaited progress. Despite the progress, however, the Islanders flipped their own script.
General Manager Garth Snow allowed Kyle Okposo to leave in free agency, bringing in the elder and lesser talented Andrew Ladd. The Islanders failed to capitalize on their trio of goaltenders, moving none of them. Casey Cizikas signed an extension worth $3.3 Million per season, over $1.5 Million more than what Michael Grabner makes with the rival Rangers.
The Islanders took progress, and turned it into question marks.
Across New York, the Rangers did the opposite.
Following their worst finish since the 2011-12 postseason, the Rangers sought out bargain deals. Grit and sandpaper were replaced with skill and scoring ability. The fourth line was prioritized much like the Islanders was, but the Rangers understood that valuable fourth liners could be acquired for cheap. Michael Grabner joined the team for $1.6 Million. Brandon Pirri entered the fray for $1.1 Million. Even Josh Jooris, comparable to Casey Cizikas, signed for less than $1 Million.
The Rangers boast a plethora of young depth now, recognizing their problems and turning them into solutions. The Islanders boast a plethora of question marks, turning their roster strengths into expensive question marks.
Time will tell what becomes of the rivals, but the trends appear to be working in the Rangers favor.
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