Following the Rangers signing of Brad Richards on Saturday
one of the biggest topics of conversation has been who will fill the third spot
on the top line for the Blueshirts along with him and Marian Gaborik. The Rangers currently have five different players
who predominantly play left wing on the roster.
The question becomes which of Brandon Dubinsky, Wojtek Wolski, Mike
Rupp, Ruslan Fedotenko and Sean Avery is the best fit to play alongside the
Rangers two best offensive players?
Brandon Dubinsky:
While not on the same level in terms of skill that Richards and Gaborik are,
Dubinsky’s physical play could add an element to the line while he has the
ability to score 25-30 goals in combination.
The negative to moving Dubinsky with these two would be taking him away
from his partnership with Ryan Callahan that has demonstrated excellent
chemistry and good results for the team.
Wojtek Wolski: The
most talented player of the group, but also the most inconsistent and
frustrating. Wolski has top line ability
and his combination of skating skill, passing ability and hands should make him
the perfect complement to Richards and Gaborik and make the trio one of the
best in the NHL. The problem is you
never know which version of Wolski is going to show up and his inconsistent
effort makes him as likely to be scratched as be a top line player for coach
John Tortorella.
Mike Rupp: This
would be the most unlikely of the options to play on the top line just because
the skill set does not seem to be a match, but Rupp has the ability to be a
protective force for the Rangers top skilled players and he is pretty good at
screening in front the of the net. At
the end of the day his lack of offensive skill overall would make this an unlikely
grouping for Tortorella to turn to.
Ruslan Fedotenko: Having
scored only 10 goals last season the idea of Ruslan Fedotenko as a top line
winger is not something that will excite many Rangers’ fans. However, in the playoffs Fedotenko was pushed
into a top line role due to the injury to Ryan Callahan and the poor
performance of much of the Rangers lineup.
In that role on the top line with Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik it
was Fedotenko who was the best forward on the team. There are certainly questions whether he
could keep up with Richards and Gaborik for a full season and also the issue of
whether you want to separate him from Boyle and Prust, but Fedotenko’s
forechecking style might be a good complement to the skill of the other two.
Sean Avery: Possibly
the most interesting of the options at left wing would be inserting Sean Avery
with Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik.
Avery, in limited action last season, had the most consistent chemistry
with Gaborik and his personal relationship with Richards has been well
documented. Avery possesses underrated
skill on the ice with excellent vision and good passing skills, but his
finishing leaves much to be desired in a top line role. The biggest obstacle to this move is likely
the perceived issues that Tortorella has with Avery and whether he would trust
him in the situations necessary to make the line work.
Options not considered include: Carl Hagelin as he is not ready for that kind of role and Mats Zuccarello as he was clearly more effective on the right wing last season.
The first chance to play with Richards and Gaborik likely
goes to Wolski, if he is still here, because of the intrigue the combination of
skill could bring to the Rangers. If
playing with two highly skilled players like Richards and Gaborik can make
Wolski exhibit his skill on a more consistent basis, then the Rangers are
getting a tremendous lift from the expected.
Of the rest of the group putting Avery with those two might be the best
move not just because of his chemistry with them, but because of how it allows
other lines that work (Dubinsky-Anisimov-Callahan; Fedotenko-Boyle-Prust) to
stay in-tact.
