With the Rangers offseason more or less in skating mode, we’re switching from offseason mode to the latitudes and waiting for the last two big picks to re-sign. Depending on who you talk to, there are different opinions on what the lines will look like, but a common theme seems to be that Rangers need a winger to move to the right wing to balance the lines. Naturally, only one or two player names were brought up as options.
Option 1: Chris Kreider
Chris Kreider is one of two players who look fit to move to the left wing. He’s a seasoned veteran, one of the smartest guys on the team, and he’s said he’d be fine with a turnaround if needed. His skill set is pretty universal for either wing so the transition for him shouldn’t be too difficult. Of course, this is in theory.
The good news is that Kreider’s speed and forward presence skills can be easily transferred back to the far wing. There won’t be much change in the mortgage check either, as Kreider is usually the first man to enter either a 2-1-2 or 1-2-2, whichever new coach Peter Laviolette likes to run.
The challenge will be in the defensive zone, where Kreider will have to turn his coverage around. His natural intelligence should make his transition easier than most, but there are still some hiccups if he does make the transition. Another challenge would be a homerun that kicks off Kreider, but in theory, coming down the far wing makes that a little easier and gives Kreider a better shooting angle.
Option 2: Artemi Panarin
Artemi Panarin has spent his entire career in the LW and was never asked to move to the RW last season. This is an option of last resort.
Option 3: Alexis Lafrenière
Alexis Lafreniere is the player who makes the most sense to switch to RW. When he made the switch last season and was playing with Panarin and Vincent Troschek, It looked really good. In the 157 minutes before Gallant blew the lines and changed last year’s course forever, Line put up solid offensive numbers:
- 58.46% share shot
- 50.48% xG share
- 55% score chance share
- 51% chance of scoring high risk points
It’s a small sample size for sure, but it’s enough sample size to see if this is something that could work again next year with more structure, and hopefully better puck action on the blue line. Proper deployment (the start of the offensive zone) will be a critical success factor here, because this line was not very big defensively, and that’s fine.
As an addition, this leaves the equally impressive Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko line, and that line doesn’t need a protected offensive zone.
The stats look good, but the player is the important piece. Many Lafreniere were soured by his questionable approach to off-ice training. Regardless, he has the right skill for a change. He’s very skilled, gets to the net and, believe it or not, does some dirty work on that line.
At only 22 years old when the season begins, now is the time to move him to RW. It makes sense to do this now, before he develops habits and routines on the LW. While Kreider is the type of player who can make the change later in his career, Lafreniere hasn’t shown it. Better do it now so he can develop into a great winger who can play on either side. But this is just one opinion.
Since Laviolette uses analytics a bit more routinely than other trainers, this may be the first option he uses. It may not work out in the long run, but for now this trio deserves another shot.
If not, Kreider can make the change and balance the lines.
Either way you divide it, the Rangers need the left wing LW to move to the far wing for next season, lest we find ourselves in the same position at next year’s trade deadline.