4 (NYR) Things About the Streaking Rangers

REVISITING THE KAAPO KAKKO TRADE
5 weeks ago, the New York Rangers cut the chord with Kaapo Kakko after 5+ seasons mixed with promise and frustration. Much has been made of Kakko’s hot start with Seattle where he has 13 points (4 goals, 9 assists) in his first 15 games. That’s not a surprise to this observer, as after the initial shock that he was not going to be a superstar, I compared him favorably to the New Jersey Devils’ Ondrej Palat.

Palat has been a solid two-way performer for 13 seasons in the NHL. Early in his career, he was given top line minutes with the Tampa Bay Lightning and showed that he could produce 55-65 points. Later, as the Lightning added pieces, he settled into a middle six role which he continues now with the Devils. Kakko is a similar player, with a similar ceiling, who due to his responsible defensive game, strong wall play, and vision, should also have a long career despite being an average skater.

When the trade was announced, the return was considered very underwhelming, as the Rangers received two picks (3^rd and 6^th rounders) and Will Borgen, a pending UFA defensemen that was demoted to the Kraken’s 3^rd pair at the start of the season.

Well, what a difference 5 weeks makes. Peter Laviolette has credited the acquisition of Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen (obtained in the Jacob Trouba deal) for “quieting” everything down and helping the Rangers get back to being defensively responsible. In 17 games with the Rangers, he is averaging a career high 18:33 minutes. Perhaps more importantly, his partner K’Andre Miller is playing his best hockey in almost a calendar year.

The Rangers were mired in their horrendous slump when this trade was first completed, so conventional wisdom was that the Rangers would pawn Borgen off at the deadline for a 2^nd or 3^rd round draft pick. IF that were to happen, the Rangers would need to get lucky in the draft to feel good about this trade. However, if Chris Drury can get Borgen signed to a reasonable contract, and he continues his steady play, this will go down as a “win-win” trade where both teams skate away happy.

MATT REMPE’S CONTINUED IMPACT
Since Matt Rempe rejoined the lineup after serving his 8-game suspension, the Rangers have not lost, going 6-0-2. That’s nothing new as the Rangers all-time regular season record with their 6’7” hitman is 22-4-4.

In last night’s 6-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers, Rempe and his linemates had another impactful game. Fellow towering rookie Adam Edstrom scored his 5^th goal (3^rd in 7 games), while the line centered by Sam Carrick combined for 6 shots, 5 hits and 6 blocked shots.

Carrick and Edstrom have been solid all year, but in these last 8 games the threesome is giving the Rangers a steady dose of solid, simple, physical hockey. That’s something we have not seen by a 4^th line since 2013-14 when Brian Boyle, Dominic Moore and the combination of Derek Dorsett or Daniel Carcillo did the same all the way through the Cup finals.

MIKA ZIBANEJAD
The Rangers have gotten at least a point in the last 10 games and Mika Zibanejad has been a solid contributor in this stretch. He hasn’t quite been great yet, but after witnessing “Bad Mika” early in the year, followed by “Sad Mika” during most of the Rangers’ slump, the fact that he is currently “Good Mika” is encouraging. He’s getting chances, lots of them, but seems to be just a “tick” off. Perhaps he passes when he should shoot, or shoots when he should pass. But the best hockey players will tell you that if they are getting chances, they are close. Let’s not forget that when Mika is on top of his game, as he was for most of the previous 6 seasons, other than Igor Shesterkin he’s been the Rangers most indispensable player. With his confidence on the rise, it’s possible a good showing in the “4 Nations Face-Off” for Team Sweden will propel him into one of his patented hot streaks down the stretch.

4 NATIONS FACE OFF
Speaking of the mid-season “best-on-best” tournament, that will be played from February 12^th through February 20^th with games in Boston and Montreal, there’s always a debate about whether a “hot” team would be hurt by having such a long break. The Rangers last game before the break will be Saturday, February 8^th at Columbus and they return in Buffalo on Saturday, February 22^nd. There are two reasons why I’m confident the break will be good for the Rangers. Artemi Panarin and Shesterkin. Unfortunately for them, due to issues much more important than hockey, Russia is not one of the 4 countries invited. But the good news for Rangers fans is that both players have shown the ability to come back strong after breaks. Panarin, while having a solid season, has not been red-hot since he opened the season with 15 points in his first 8 games. Shesterkin, has given up only 10 goals in the 7 games he played since missing 4 earlier this month with injury.

Here are the current (and former) Rangers scheduled to play in the “4 Nations Face-Off”:

TEAM CANADA
None

TEAM FINLAND
Kaapo Kakko (former)
Niko Mikkola (former)

TEAM SWEDEN
Mika Zibanejad (current)

TEAM USA
Adam Fox (current)
Chris Kreider (current)
J.T. Miller (former)*
Vincent Trocheck (current)
*possibly future