Can Kakko Find His Game, Chytil's Health & A Potential Lafreniere Extension
On top of this, we will look at their center depth and a small look back at some Rangers' history.
Welcome to the THW New York Rangers Substack newsletter, with all the latest from our team of Rangers writers.
In today’s edition, we look at Kakko needing to find his game, Chytil’s health impacting the team’s decisions, and more.
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Now on to the good stuff….
Rangers’ Season Could Hinge on Healthy Kakko Finding His Game
January 18, 2024 by Tom Castro
To say the New York Rangers‘ Kaapo Kakko looks like he hasn’t missed a beat in two games since coming back from Long Term Injured Reserve just wouldn’t be accurate.
Maybe it’s more noticeable merely because he was sidelined for almost seven weeks, but in actuality, the big forward has been more effective the past two contests than he was in his 20 games prior to suffering a lower-body injury against the Buffalo Sabres on Nov. 27. That paused what had been a stunningly quiet season for the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2019.
Rangers’ Trade Deadline Will Be Dictated By Filip Chytil’s Health
January 18, 2024 by Lucas Standel
As we get closer to the March 8, 2024, NHL Trade Deadline, the New York Rangers will have some decisions to make. As of this writing, they are still first in the Metropolitan Division, with a four-point lead on the second-place Philadelphia Flyers and five points on the third-place Carolina Hurricanes. One narrative to watch as the weeks go along is the health of Filip Chytil. He has missed the last 33 games with a concussion, and the timeline for his return is unknown. While he has posted pictures and videos of himself working out and skating, it does not mean that he will be able to return this season. However, he remains optimistic that he can return, and if he does, it will change the plans the Rangers have going into the trade deadline.
Rangers’ Lafreniere Making Strong Case for Massive Extension
January 16, 2024 by Jesse Courville-Lynch
The New York Rangers were over the moon when they won the draft lottery back in 2020 and earned the privilege of selecting first overall in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. The guaranteed number-one pick in the draft is exactly who the Rangers ended up taking in Alexis Lafreniere out of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) after he exploded offensively in the previous two seasons. While his start with the Rangers has been slower than expected for someone who had over 250 points in the QMJHL in his career, he has recently been making a case to earn a massive contract extension before his deal is up at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Rangers Burned by Lack of Depth at Center
January 16, 2024 by Brian Abate
After years of struggling to find a number-one center, the New York Rangers found an excellent one in Mika Zibanejad. Following the 2021-22 season, they let Ryan Strome go in free agency and signed free agent Vincent Trocheck to a seven-year deal. While the team’s top two centers are both having strong seasons, the organization’s lack of depth in both the NHL and the American Hockey League (AHL) is hurting them and it needs to be addressed.
Other Good Rangers’ Reads
Mark Messier – NHL Legend and 6-Time Stanley Cup Winner
January 18, 2024 by Jeff Seide
Today in Hockey History: Jan. 16
January 16, 2024 by Matthew Zator
New York Rangers’ Top-20 All-Time Goal Scorers
January 15, 2024 by Scott Blair