For the third consecutive trade deadline, the Rangers await the arrival of a new forward option for the job alongside their first-line staples Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.
Frank Vatrano, who is reportedly back on the Blueshirts’ radar, once filled the role and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference final as a sharp-shooting rental two seasons ago.
Both Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane took a turn in that spot last year on the way to the Rangers’ first-round exit against the Devils.
It is now shaping up to be arguably the most important opening to fill ahead of the 3 p.m. cutoff on Friday.
The season-long dominance of the Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trochek-Alexis Lafreniere unit will need to be preserved, which means Kreider and Zibanejad will be challenged to make it work with whoever ends up on their right wing come the playoffs.
Asked if he foresees himself splitting up Kreider and Zibanejad amid their recent offensive struggles, head coach Peter Laviolette said “not at this point.”
“Right now, there has been chemistry with them in the past,” Laviolette said of his top line. “The Trocheck line has been a force the entire year. I believe we have the right people together.”
Laviolette has shuffled his lines as little as possible and remained steadfast in keeping the second unit together since Nov. 4. That’s understandable, considering it’s been a play-driving line that can score goals in bunches and seemingly develops more chemistry every game.
Such was the case Saturday night in Toronto, where Panarin, Trocheck and Lafreniere combined for three goals and four assists to force overtime before the Maple Leafs won the game in the shootout. The Rangers needed more from the rest of the lineup, especially their top guns, to take that contest in regulation.
If Kaapo Kakko wants to keep the job on the top line and the ice time that comes with it, the Finnish wing can’t afford to be held without a shot on goal like he was Saturday night. Two total shots on goal through his first two games back with Kreider and Zibanejad isn’t going to cut it.
Kreider and Zibanejad have contributed in other situations — on the power play, shorthanded, four-on-four, overtime, etc. — but their lack of consistent production during five-on-five play has been a hindrance.
The Rangers’ No. 1 center is ranked 11th on the team in five-on-five goals with five, behind the likes of K’Andre Miller (6), Adam Fox (6) and Blake Wheeler (6), who has been on long-term injured reserve since Feb. 16. This all while averaging 12:58 of five-on-five ice time per game.
There is no way to understate how invaluable Zibanejad’s 200-foot game is, but this is a results league.
Kreider and Zibanejad have had at least one game with five different right wings this season, including Kakko, Jimmy Vesey, Wheeler, Jonny Brodzinski and Will Cuylle. Among the first three who have logged the most ice time with those two, Kakko has given the line the best numbers.
In 205:16 of ice time, according to Natural Stat Trick, Kreider, Zibanejad and Kakko have been on the ice for five Rangers goals and two against. They’ve held an 86-75 edge in scoring chances, as well as 43-31 in high-danger chances.
With Vesey and Wheeler, the two longest-tenured Rangers have been out-chanced.
The revolving door of right wings is nothing new for Kreider and Zibanejad, who have actually seen some continuity this season under Laviolette. Someone new will likely be along shortly.
The Rangers will only go as far as their marquee forwards will take them.
“Right now, when you talk to Mika and his line, I think that there’s a want to do more, as well,” Laviolette said. “So those are the things that we work on. We look at video, we talk, we try to come up with a game plan. I’m confident — talking about great players — I’m confident they’ll find their way.”