Even though the Rangers are not getting the most out of their right-wing depth chart, they must focus on acquiring a third-line center.
The New York Rangers announced that Filip Chytil will miss the remainder of the season due to his upper-body injury.
It is a major blow to the club, as Chytil has developed into an effective young scoring talent for the Blueshirts.
Chtyil recorded seven goals in the 2022 Stanley Cup playoffs, and 55 points (22 goals, 23 assists) last season. The young pivot has been exponentially growing as an impact player at just 24 years old.
When Chytil was injured on Nov.2, he was playing driving on a line with Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere.
Luckily for the Rangers, they had a skater they signed 2C money to step up into the role. That is 2024 All-Star Vincent Trocheck.
The dynamic second line was not affected by the loss of Chytil. The bottom six was.
Nick Bonino was the third-line center until he was waived last week. In response, long-term recall Jonny Brodzinski has skated as the club's 3C.
Drury made a move to shift an NHL veteran to the AHL, a display of win-at-all-costs movement within a deep organization.
Even though the Rangers are not getting the most out of their right-wing depth chart, they must focus on acquiring a third-line center.
Outside of structure, the biggest issue the Rangers have is a lack of identity on the third line. When the "Kid Line" was both a checking line and a trio of young talent, they had specific roles.
The team currently has a first line responsible in all three zones, a five-on-five and straight lines hockey second line, and a relentless forechecking fourth line.
Will Cuylle has been a staple of the third unit, but it has had a revolving door of centers and right-wingers. To create a unit with more purpose, it starts with acquiring a center.
Kaapo Kakko can be trusted to play well on the first-line or third-line right wing. Long-term production would be ideal, but his skill set is unique and will help the team no matter what line he is placed on.
An identity for the third line must be the priority above all. With just $413,146 in cap space (CapFriendly), that need must be the focus for the club moving forward.
A Stanley Cup champion needs center depth. A player who is responsible for the 200 feet of the middle lane of the ice is not a want: It's a necessity.
A team can deploy a player like Brodzinski on the wing and succeed in a pinch. It's harder to match up against the league's best center cores with a long-term recall.
For Chytil, the most important thing is his health. The Rangers have to secure a third-line center to compete for the Stanley Cup.