Why Rangers lineup changes influence both current, future roster decisions with young talent

The New York Rangers start their California road trip Tuesday against a Los Angeles Kings team that has been as dominant any at home this season, posting a 25-3-4 record. It should be great test for the struggling Rangers, who are playing for a postseason berth while trying to re-establish their identity.

After a woeful effort to start their most recent game, an eventual 5-3 win against the Vancouver Canucks at home Saturday, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette threw his lines in a blender. They were being out-shot 21-4 when Adam Fox scored to tie the game 1-1 at the 11:03 mark of the second period. That’s something that should honestly be hard to do with the talent of this group. Especially at home. Yet, it has happened far too often this season.

Some of the line changes sparked better play, including sliding rookie Brennan Othmann up to play on a line with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. Othmann picked up his first NHL point on Fox’s goal and fit in nicely getting to the net and playing physically on that line.

Lines change throughout the season on all NHL teams. A key takeaway from the moves Laviolette made was how the team was able to rally and respond, leading to a win that for two periods didn’t seem to be the likely outcome.

Jonny Brodzinski scored twice in the third period, elevated from the bottom six to play with J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere, who was sparked by the move and picked up a pair of assists. Mika Zibanejad was reunited with Chris Kreider and Will Cuylle.

“Third period I thought we came out playing better, attacking more,” Laviolette explained. “I like the responses in the third as well, you know. if we scored, they scored. Kick it back to even. We put it back in there again. Obviously, Johnny had a big third period for us too so it was nice to get responses and get the win”

A road trip, with two actual practice days baked in (Monday and Thursday), couldn’t have come at a better time for the Rangers. Fewer distractions and a chance for the more-balanced lineup to build chemistry. Simple things like defensive-zone structure, breaking the puck out, establishing a forecheck and supporting the puck once you get there to create chances will be front and center on this trip, if these lineup changes stick.

Rangers aiming for playoffs, keeping eye on next season

Laviolette is doing his job, trying to find the right fits with the lineup. Trying to mix younger players who are deserving of more opportunity with tried and true veterans who helped the Rangers to past success. It’s a tough needle to thread.

Also difficult is the job of constructing a changing roster. That’s general manager Chris Drury’s area. He’s drafted the likes of Othmann, Brett Berard, Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe, and helped bring along Cuylle, who was selected before Drury’s tenure as GM. Now they’re all here (except for Edstrom, who is injured) itching to play big roles as the Rangers try and find a way into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and looking to be lineup regulars next season.

Balancing their playing time in key situations is not easy. They still need support from the veterans on the roster, who, of course, may see some their responsibilities change along the way. It’s the Yin and Yang of professional sports, the veterans are helping the kids, who, in turn, are looking to one day replace the veterans.

The Rangers could learn some from the Dallas Stars, who’ve done an excellent job of maximizing what they get from veteran players while bringing along young talent in key roles. It’s not apples to apples comparison because the Stars have more high-end young talent, but look at how they’ve been able to get the most out of their lineup. Players past their prime like like Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Matt Duchene still excel in important roles, just as Joe Pavelski did before he retired. Supporting them are young cost-controlled players in recent years like Wyatt Johnston, Logan Stankoven (before he was traded for star forward Mikko Rantanen), and Mavrik Bourque.

In addition, Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz, have since become stars though drafted well outside of the top 10, playing mostly with Pavelski who helped bring them along in his final NHL seasons. It’s a model that over time, just like Dallas, can establish a stronger culture for development that the Rangers organization has failed at far too often.

It’s time for the Rangers management to see what they have in the incoming youth, no matter what path they take this offseason. This may even come with plenty of losing lessons next season. But sooner than later, an energized culture can be established, when the vets still with the team find new life in their own games being around the young guns whose confidence will only grow with opportunity.

Whether it’s behind the bench, on the roster, environment in the locker room, something must change with the Rangers. Perhaps a full season with J.T. Miller, as well as the growth of Othmann, Cuylle, Berard, Edstrom and Rempe, and addition of Gabe Perreault (if he turns pro), helps solve immediate bottom-six concerns for now, with spots higher in the lineup over time being taken care of organically.

This probably also comes at the cost of moving some veterans out, perhaps Kreider, perhaps more than him. But this team needs a more fresh approach, and doing so integrating more youth in the lineup as they are now is a good starting point.

Let’s give this group a chance and see how it produces far away from home this week and finishes out the regular season before we push the panic button on how much Drury should do this offseason. The answers may be right in front of his eyes.