How the New York Rangers could line up after active offseason

They say that the night is darkest right before the dawn. For the New York Rangers, last season was pitch black as injuries and trades exposed a terminal lack of depth that saw the Blueshirts record the third-to-worst record in the NHL.

Traditionally a conservative decision maker, general manager Chris Drury made a series of aggressive moves that have reshaped his roster, adding both depth and top-end talent, while maintaining roster positions for younger prospects.

In fulfilling his "retool, not rebuild" manifesto, it could be argued that Drury may have secured his position for the foreseeable future.

There are still two months to go until opening night in the NHL season, so Drury still has time to make further moves. But as things stand today, let’s prognosticate as to the Rangers opening-night lineup:

Goalies

Starting from the back, let’s make the easy call that Igor Shesterkin will remain first choice in goal. Behind him, Drury made his one incomprehensible move of the of-season, acquiring the terminally average Joonas Korpisalo to compete with homegrown Dylan Garand. 

Neither player is waiver exempt, though retaining three rostered goalies seems unlikely. With a $3 million cap hit, Korpisalo seems the likely backup with Garand yet again assigned to take on a bulk workload in Hartford. Garand, though, is ready for regular NHL action. This is a risky strategy.

Defensemen

On the blueline, Braden Schneider is currently set for arbitration, so let’s assume he’s sticking around. Overmatched when forced into top-pairing service last season, he’ll settle into a third-pairing role for which he’s perhaps a touch overqualified. Who he’s paired with is the Rangers biggest defensive question. Fifth overall pick Alberts Smits will get a long look out of camp, as will Drew Fortescue, who looked comfortable in a nine-game NHL cameo last season. The bet here is that 25-year-old Matthew Robertson builds on his belated rookie campaign (18 points in 72 games) in a pairing with Schneider.

Ahead of them, the Vladislav Gavrikov-Adam Fox duo is a no-brainer, elite first pairing. Drury’s shopping spree will see a rebuilt second pairing of Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi. Petterson, reuniting with former coach Mike Sullivan, should rebound from a poor season in Vancouver. His rugged two-way game ought to provide a perfect foil for the offensively minded Durzi.

Forwards

The Rangers' forwards were positively anaemic last season — only five teams scored less than the Rangers' 238 goals — with the notable exception of a late season resurrection of the Gabe Perreault-Mika Zibanejad-Alexis Lafreniere line. So, the prediction that Sullivan will break up that trio might be a risk. Sullivan, though, will want to put headline acquisition Pavel Dorofeyev in the best position to succeed. That means placing him with his two best incumbent forwards in Lafreniere and Zibanejad.

That in turn, makes Perreault the creative hub of a line with solid goal scorers in J.T. Miller and free agency addition Oliver Bjorkstrand. There could be some fluency with this line. Could Will Cuylle step in for Bjorkstrand? Does the chemistry Miller developed with Tye Kartye lead to more balance between the Miller line and expected third line center Noah Laba’s wingers?

The fourth line will be centered by speedster Joe Veleno flanked by impressive youngsters Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora. This will be the sparkplug line that will energize the MSG faithful and leaves Taylor Raddysh as the odd man out and/or trade candidate.

Expect the Rangers' restocked prospect pool to dip their toes in the NHL waters as the season progresses. Nathan Aspinall, Liam Greentree, Jacob Battaglia and the impressive Cole Beaudoin should all get a look this season.

Notably absent is wrecking ball Matt Rempe. A lost season should be seen as an opportunity for him to develop his skating and stick skills in Hartford, playing alongside the Wolfpack’s young talent. He will surely get time with the Rangers as the attrition of the 84-game campaign takes hold but is expected to start the season in Hartford.

Expected lineup:

Dorofeyev – Zibanejad – Lafreniere

Perreault – Miller – Bjorkstrand

Cuylle – Laba – Kartye

Sykora – Veleno – Chmelar

Gavrikov – Fox

Petterson – Durzi

Robertson – Schneider

Shesterkin – Korpisalo

Scratches: Raddysh - Vaakanainen