As part of NHL.com's 31 in 31 series, the fantasy hockey staff identifies relevant players from each team for 2018-19. Today, we look at New York Rangers players, listed in order of rank in NHL.com's top 250. For more fantasy coverage, visit NHL.com/Fantasy.
[Rangers 31 IN 31: Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Behind the Numbers | NHL.com/Fantasy]
Chris Kreider, LW (NHL.com rank: 128) -- The 27-year-old was limited to 58 games last season after missing time with a blood clot in his right arm. When healthy, Kreider was fantasy-relevant with 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists), including 12 on the power play, and 137 shots on goal. After returning from injury Feb. 23, Kreider had 15 points (five goals, 10 assists) in the final 20 games of the season. His strong finish and an expected first-line left wing role make Kreider the top Rangers player to be selected in fantasy. He gains additional value in hits leagues with 2.0 hits per game in his NHL career.
Mika Zibanejad, C (130) -- The 25-year-old had NHL career highs in goals (27), power-play goals (14) and SOG (212) in 72 games last season. He emerged as New York's No. 1 center and solidified his spot on the first power-play unit. Despite the steps forward in scoring and usage, Zibanejad had a minus-23 rating, lowest among Rangers forwards. New York is expected to utilize forwards Lias Andersson, 19, and Filip Chytil, 18, this season, and that should help alleviate pressure off Zibanejad at even strength. With a clear-cut role and consistent linemates, Zibanejad could have a breakout season and should be a bargain outside the top 130 in drafts.
Henrik Lundqvist, G - INJ. (148) -- The 36-year-old was 26-26-7 with a 2.98 goals-against average, a .915 save percentage and two shutouts in 63 games last season. It was the first time in Lundqvist's NHL career he didn't have at least 30 wins when playing more than 60 games. The decline in wins can be explained by team regression; New York failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2009-10. Lundqvist's career peripherals (2.37 GAA, .919 SV%) make him worthy of a middle-round pick, even with potential team concerns.
Pavel Buchnevich, RW** (155) -- The 23-year-old emerged on the fantasy landscape with 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists) in 74 games last season. He finished fourth among New York forwards in points despite playing 15:01 per game (ninth among Rangers forwards) and bouncing around different lines. It's realistic to project Buchnevich starting on the top line with Zibanejad and potentially forming a high-end duo. With breakout appeal, fantasy owners should target Buchnevich in later rounds with potential to finish among the top 100 forwards.
Kevin Shattenkirk, D - INJ. (176) -- In his first season with the Rangers, Shattenkirk missed 36 games with a knee injury. He finished with 23 points (five goals, 18 assists), including 12 on the power play, and had 94 SOG and a minus-14 rating in 46 games. Since 2010-11, Shattenkirk ranks fourth among NHL defensemen with 158 PPP in 536 games behind Erik Karlsson (185), P.K. Subban (167) and Keith Yandle (165). Potential fantasy owners should view the 29-year-old as a specialist for power-play points and wait to see if he's available in later rounds.
Mats Zuccarello, RW* (211) -- The 30-year-old led the Rangers with 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists) in 80 games last season. He played an NHL career-high 18:55 per game, the sixth straight season his ice time increased. Though Zuccarello likely will go undrafted in standard 12-team leagues, his usage indicates he should be fantasy-relevant this season and could be an attractive waiver-wire add if New York performs well. Zuccarello potentially can become an unrestricted free agent July 1, 2019, and could have extra motivation in a contract year.
Other players with fantasy upside in late rounds or off waiver wire: Lias Andersson, C; Filip Chytil, C; Vladislav Namestnikov, C/LW; Brady Skjei, D
*Potential 2019 unrestricted free agent
**Potential 2019 restricted free agent
INJ. - Injury concern entering 2018-19
NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, the top five prospects for the New York Rangers, according to NHL.com.
[Rangers 31 IN 31: Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown | Behind the Numbers]
1. Lias Andersson, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 7 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
Last season: New York: 7 GP, 1-1-2; Hartford (AHL): 25 GP, 5-9-14; Frolunda (SHL): 22 GP, 7-7-14
Andersson, who turns 20 on Oct. 13, is expected to push to be a top-four center in New York this season after coming to North America last season and spending most of the offseason training in Connecticut.
Andersson (6-foot, 200 pounds) began last season with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League and was captain for Sweden at the 2018 IIHF World Junior Championship. Although he had a shoulder injury, he had seven points (six goals, one assist) in seven games and helped Sweden win the silver medal. Andersson joined Hartford on Jan. 19 and established himself as a top-six forward for New York's American Hockey League affiliate before the Rangers recalled him March 25 to play the final seven games of the regular season.
"I have to be stronger and faster and all that stuff to be ready [for a full NHL season]," Andersson said. "I think I've got the tools to be a good NHL player, but you have to learn the game and be ready physically."
Projected NHL arrival: This season
2. Filip Chytil, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 21 pick in 2017 NHL Draft
Last season: New York: 9 GP, 1-2-3; Hartford (AHL): 46 GP, 11-20-31
Chytil, who turns 19 on Sept. 5, will challenge to be one of the Rangers' top four centers this season. He made the roster out of training camp last season and played the first two games with the Rangers before being sent to Hartford. Chytl (6-2, 202) was recalled with Andersson on March 25 and scored his first NHL goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 30.
"I think I improved everything since the start of last season," Chytil said. "I feel more ready to play [in the] NHL."
Projected NHL arrival: This season
3. Vitali Kravtsov, F
How acquired: Selected with No. 9 pick in 2018 NHL Draft
Last season: Traktor Chelyabinsk (KHL): 35 GP, 4-3-7
The 18-year-old became the Rangers' target at the 2018 draft in part because of his strong showing in the Kontinental Hockey League playoffs last season. Kravtsov (6-2, 170) had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 16 games to set a record for most points by a junior-aged player in the KHL playoffs. The previous record was nine, held by Washington Capitals center Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dallas Stars forward Valeri Nichushkin. Kravtsov won the Alexei Cherepanov Award as the KHL rookie of the year.
Kravtsov will begin this season in Russia, with the intention to sign with New York when his KHL season ends.
Projected NHL arrival: Next season
4. Igor Shesterkin, G
How acquired: Selected with No. 118 pick in 2014 NHL Draft
Last season: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL): 28 GP; 20-4-4, 1.70 GAA, .933 save percentage, 7 shutouts
The 22-year-old is New York's goaltender of the future. Shesterkin (6-1, 187) set a Russian/Soviet record for consecutive shutout minutes in a single IIHF World Championship this year (140:00). He was 47-8-10 for SKA St. Petersburg the past two seasons; he had a 1.64 goals-against average, a .937 save percentage and eight shutouts for SKA St. Petersburg in 2016-17 season, and a 1.69 GAA, a .933 save percentage and seven shutouts last season. He is signed in the KHL for one more season.
Projected NHL arrival: 2020-21 season
5. Libor Hajek, D
How acquired: Trade from Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 26
Last season: Saskatoon (WHL): 33 GP, 8-17-25; Regina (WHL): 25 GP, 4-10-14
Hajek (6-2, 202) was acquired in the trade that sent defenseman Ryan McDonagh and forward J.T. Miller to the Lightning. The Rangers like the 20-year-old because of his size, mobility, two-way play and presence on the ice. They project the second-round pick (No. 37) in the 2016 NHL Draft as a top-four defenseman at the NHL level with top-pair potential.
Projected NHL arrival: Next season
NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, three important questions facing the New York Rangers.
[Rangers 31 IN 31: Season preview | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown | Behind the Numbers]
1. Can Henrik Lundqvist be better than he was last season?
Lundqvist was 26-26-7 with a 2.98 goals-against average and .915 save percentage in 63 games last season, but many times, especially in the second half of the season, he was the difference between the Rangers staying in a game and getting blown out.
For New York to improve after missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second time in Lundqvist's 13-season NHL career, the 36-year-old goaltender has to put up better numbers, which have declined in each of the past two seasons. His statistical dip coincided with the Rangers' poor defensive play, and there is no guarantee they will be better defensively than last season, when they were 28th in the NHL in goals-against (3.21). Still, a good part of the growth the Rangers hope to see this season hinges on Lundqvist.
To make it more difficult, he isn't expected to have a proven NHL goalie as his backup. The top two candidates are Alexandar Georgiev and Marek Mazanec, who between them have played 41 NHL games. Georgiev played in 10 last season, and Mazanec has played in six since 2014-15 and none last season. The Rangers also agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Dustin Tokarski on Aug. 20. Tokarski hasn't played in the NHL since the 2016-17 season and has played 39 games in six NHL seasons.
2. Is Kevin Hayes' future still in New York?
Hayes, the No. 2 center, agreed to a one-year contract July 30. The Rangers like the 26-year-old, who had 44 points (25 goals, 19 assists) in 76 games last season, but weren't ready to commit long term to him because they want to see what they have with rookie centers Lias Andersson, 19, and Filip Chytil, 18, each a first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Draft. If Andersson and Chytil become impactful NHL players this season, the Rangers could trade Hayes before the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline. If either struggles, or both do, the Rangers could try to sign Hayes to a long-term contract. First-year coach David Quinn said Hayes told him he wants to be in New York and wants to be a leader for the young players. Hayes will have to prove that.
3. How many rookies will make the team out of training camp?
Neither Quinn nor general manager Jeff Gorton would speculate on a number, but the Rangers could have at least five rookies on their opening roster. The most obvious candidates are Chytil, Andersson, Georgiev, 22, and forwards Michael Lindqvist, 23, and Ville Meskanen, 22. Lindqvist and Meskanen were signed as free agents from Europe on May 2 and 3. Others who could earn roster spots include four 20-year-olds: center Brett Howden and defensemen Libor Hajek, Ryan Lindgren and Sean Day. Gorton and Quinn each said the roster competition in training camp will be wide open and nobody will be held back because of a lack of experience.
NHL.com is providing in-depth roster, prospect and fantasy analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, the New York Rangers.
The New York Rangers enter the 2018-19 season in full rebuilding mode. They have a new coach, David Quinn, and a roster made up mostly of young players with a few returning veterans from a team that missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season for the first time since 2010.
But don't mistake a rebuild as an excuse to lower expectations for the Rangers, who have missed the playoffs twice since goaltender Henrik Lundqvist arrived in the 2005-06 season.
"This year is about establishing a culture of winning," said defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, one of the returning veterans. "I think that it's important that when we show up in September that guys know that this isn't a year to just slightly improve. It's a year to try to make the playoffs."
[Rangers 31 IN 31: 3 Questions | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown | Behind the Numbers]
Lundqvist had the exact same sentiment at the end of last season.
"Whoever is going to be here, we're going to compete and make sure we have a better year," he said April 10. "That's that."
Quinn was hired May 23 to replace Alain Vigneault, who was fired after five seasons with New York. Quinn, the coach at Boston University the past five seasons, is entering his first season as an NHL coach, and there is potential for several rookies to be in the lineup when the Rangers open the season against the Nashville Predators at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 4.
Quinn is a strong fit to coach the group of young Rangers, which likely will include rookies Lias Andersson, 19, and Filip Chytil, 18, who could be in two of New York's four center spots.
"David is hands-on, he's a talker, a communicator," Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton said. "I think players are going to look at him and say, 'This guy is a good guy. He knows what he's doing. We understand his system.' You'll see him active on the ice and I think it's going to work for our young group."
The leading scorer on the Rangers last season was forward Mats Zuccarello, who had 53 points (16 goals, 37 assists) in 80 games, the lowest point total for any team leader in the NHL last season.
The Rangers were tied for 21st in the NHL in goals per game (2.78) and will need more from center Mika Zibanejad, who had 47 points (27 goals, 20 assists) in 72 games; center Kevin Hayes, who had 44 points (25 goals, 19 assists) in 76 games; forward Chris Kreider, who had 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists) in 58 games; forward Pavel Buchnevich, who had 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists) in 74 games; forward Jimmy Vesey, who had 28 points (17 goals, 11 assists) in 79 games; center Vladislav Namestnikov, who had two goals and two assists in 19 games with New York after being acquired in a trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning; and center Ryan Spooner, who had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) in 20 games with the Rangers after being acquired in a trade from the Boston Bruins.
"When I write the names down on paper, I look and I say, 'This guy can be better. That guy can be better. We can get more out of this guy,'" Gorton said. "Sometimes when you're going through your team, you're thinking, 'Maybe we got the most out of this guy,' but I don't feel that here. I feel like everybody here has something to prove."
Lundqvist is among them. His numbers need to improve from last season, when he had a 2.98 goals-against average, the worst of his NHL career, and .915 save percentage in 63 games.
The 36-year-old was the Rangers' best player in many games but didn't get much help.
"Hank is as competitive and in as good a shape as he's ever been," Quinn said, "and I think he wants to be part of the next run we have in New York."
Shattenkirk plans to be as well, but he's coming off a disappointing first season with the Rangers after signing a four-year contract July 1, 2017. The 29-year-old injured his left knee in training camp and played through it before he was shut down Jan. 19. He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus and missed the rest of the season.
In addition to Shattenkirk, who is fully recovered, according to Quinn, defensemen Brady Skjei, Marc Staal and possibly Brendan Smith and Neal Pionk need to be better for New York to improve from 28th in goals-against per game last season (3.21).
"There's a lot of talk about youth and where we're going," Gorton said, "but there are a lot of players here who are trying to emerge and show they're better than maybe some people think they are. It's their time."
NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 31 teams throughout August. Today, three key statistics for the New York Rangers.
[Rangers 31 IN 31: Season preview | 3 Questions | Top prospects | Fantasy breakdown]
1. Scoring boost
The Rangers dropped from 253 goals in 2016-17, which ranked fourth in the NHL, to 228 last season, tied with the Chicago Blackhawks for 21st. The difference of minus-25 was the largest decrease in the NHL.
One area for improvement is scoring from their defensemen. Their leading scorer at the position last season was Ryan McDonagh, who had 26 points (two goals, 24 assists) in 49 games before being traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Feb. 26.
The Rangers have three defensemen who could score 40 points this season. Kevin Shattenkirk, who has at least 43 points in six of his eight NHL seasons, was limited to 46 games because of season-ending knee surgery Jan. 22 and finished with 23 points (five goals, 18 assists). Rookie Neal Pionk had 14 points (one goal, 13 assists) in 28 games, which projects to 41 points in 82 games. Brady Skjei, who had 39 points (five goals, 34 assists) in 80 games as a rookie in 2016-17, had 25 points (four goals, 21 assists) in 82 games.
Skjei opens the scoring
2. Stepping up
New York's top five scorers combined for 227 points (95 goals, 132 assists) last season, 31st in the NHL. The Rangers will continue to rely heavily on Mika Zibanejad, who led them with 27 goals and 212 shots on goal. Zibanejad's 14 power-play goals were tied for sixth in the NHL.
New York's share of 5-on-5 shot attempts increased from 44.23 to 51.45 percent with Zibanejad on the ice for a relative SAT of plus-7.22 percent that ranked fifth in the NHL among those to play at least 20 games.
3. Pressure in net
The Rangers allowed an average of 35.3 shots per game, second highest in the NHL after the New York Islanders (35.6) and their highest since giving up 37.5 per game in 1963-64.
Higher shot volumes placed additional pressure on goalie Henrik Lundqvist, whose save percentage has dropped from a previous NHL career average of .920 through the end of 2015-16 to .913 the past two seasons.
Should Lundqvist falter, the Rangers are without an experienced backup. Marek Mazanec, Alexandar Georgiev and Brandon Halverson have played a combined 17 NHL games over the past four seasons.
