The New York Rangers had
tremendous success during the 2010-11 season incorporating rookies into their
lineup and having those players perform at a very high level. It is rare that a team can have significant
contributions from three or four rookies in a season and still be a very
competitive overall. New York had that
last season with Derek Stepan and Michael Sauer performing at very high levels
for the entire season, while Ryan McDonagh and Mats Zuccarello also played well
in their split seasons between the AHL and NHL.
After a season like that it
would be understandable for an organization to lack talented players to step in
as rookies the following season. The
Rangers do not have that problem and over the course of the next week we are
going to look at some of the rookies that have a chance to make an impact on
the Rangers during the 2011-12 season, whether it be in full or partial season
duty. Yesterday there was a look at CarlHagelin and what his chances were to both in terms of making the team and how
big an impact he would have. Today, the
focus shifts to elite defensive prospect Tim Erixon and his quest to make the
team out of camp and follow in the footsteps of Michael Sauer and Ryan McDonagh
in how he adapted quickly at the NHL level.
Of the Rangers prospects that
will compete to make the club this year, Erixon is deemed by many to be the
most NHL ready. His talent level gives
him the markings of someone that an step in an play right away while be an
impact player that adds yet another level of depth to the Rangers tremendous
young defense corps. The combination of that talent and the Rangers current defensive roster
sets Erixon up as one of the favorites to make the roster in the final
two spots with Michael Del Zotto. The roster can always change between
now and camp to change those odds. If it does not change, this young
defensive group has the potential to open the season with Dan Girardi as the
oldest member at 27 and amassing an average age of only 23. With a group that is collectively that young
it shows the organization is not afraid to allow their young defensive
prospects to have a chance to prove themselves as ready for the NHL.
The 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds
Erixon brings with him three seasons playing against men in Swedish Elite
League (SEL). In each season Erixon has
improved his game both offensive and defensively, while improving his body
along the way. The physical maturation
of his body has been as important to his NHL readiness as the rest of his game
on the ice.
In 48 games for Skelleftea last
season he showed offensive promise as well scoring five goals and adding 19
assists. The offense held up in the
playoffs where he had three goals and five assists in 18 games. He is not a player who is going to be a huge
offensive threat, at least not next season, but he has the ability to bring
more offense than most of the Rangers defense, while bringing similar ability
to be a shutdown type defender.
Reports on Erixon conjure
thoughts of a player that is an amalgamation of some of the best qualities
different Rangers defenders already have.
The closest overall comparison that comes to mind is that of Ryan
McDonagh, but unlike McDonagh the SEL likely has Erixon ready to step in from
opening night without the necessary grooming in the AHL.
When you have a defender with excellent two-way upside who
thinks the game the way that Erixon does you have something special. For the Rangers it is a case of the rich
getting richer with the excellent young defense they already have getting yet
another top piece. For Erixon it becomes
a scenario where he gets a chance to make the team from the outset and has a
coaching staff that allows young defenders all the chances to do so, while not
having to step into a role he isn’t ready for.
The fact that the Rangers have Marc Staal, Dan Girardi, Michael Sauer
and Ryan McDonagh already in the fold allows for Erixon to transition without
having to face the best players on the opposition nightly. Not only should Erixon be expected to make
the team out of camp, but before long he should be moving up the ranks in the
defense corps because of his combination of skills. While it might be understandable for a team
to have a drop in impact rookies after what the Rangers did last season, Tim
Erixon has the ability to change that type of thinking and be a huge piece to
push the Rangers forward for years to come.
