For the New York Rangers
offensive production is something that is a constant problem in terms of
finding consistency. The team has shown
an ability to explode for huge goal scoring games, but then they go into
prolonged droughts where they can muster two goals, at most, per game. They obviously need scoring from their
veteran players and those guys have started to come around of late. In addition they need some of the young
players who have produced for much of the season to bring their game back up
again. One player the Rangers are going
to need more from down the stretch if they are going to maintain their playoff
position is rookie Derek Stepan.
The Rangers have asked a lot of
Stepan at different points in the year and he has responded well to all the
challenges they have given him. Overall Stepan
has put up and impressive 39 points (18-21) on the season. He has been as high as the top line with
Marian Gaborik and as low as the fourth line.
The flip side for Stepan has
been the lulls in his performance and production has crept in at different points of the season, which is to be expected from young players. He is currently experiencing one of those
lulls as he has recorded only one goal and two assists in the team’s last 8
games, which will not be enough the rest of the way. In recent games his play and the play of his
linemates has made their line fall in the pecking order to fourth once
again.
What has happened previously
when Stepan has fallen down the order is that he has gotten back to playing his
game and worked his way out of it. When
he has been at his most effective this season it has been when he has added a
physical element to his game which has been lacking lately. Stepan is never going to be a big hitter or
anything of the sort, but when he plays with contact his entire game changes
because he is more aggressive at the front of the net. They need him to do this again as it will
lift not only his game, but the game of his wingers.
The team has to be happy with
the recent surge in the offense, but with the standings as tight as they are
they cannot be content relying on the same guys to score each night. They need others to rise to the occasion down
the stretch and Derek Stepan has shown he, as much as anyone, should be
expected to increase his level when it counts most. While not at this level he has been in
critical games and performed whether it be helping Wisconsin reach the national
championship game or the USA win Gold at the World Juniors both last season, so
he can handle the moment.
The 20-year-old rookie has shown
he can be an impact player with a knack for scoring goals at key times in the
game. There will come at least one
moment in these last 11 games where the Rangers will need Stepan to come
through with a goal to tie, win or send a game to overtime and I expect him to
rise to the occasion. At each turn this season Stepan has met the challenge and found another level when his team has really needed it from him and now they need that guy again. This time of year
there is no such thing as a rookie anymore, and Stepan has not carried himself
like a rookie all season so the Rangers need him to find his game again and
bring the offense back so that he can have a chance to make some history come
playoff time.
