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| Al Bello/Getty Images |
With less than a month left until the frenzy that is free
agency begins and the New York Rangers will certainly be looking for offense
when the market opens on July 1. In looking ahead to the free agent
market there have already been looks at Brad
Richards for the first line center role, James
Wisniewski as a puck-moving defender that could also aid the power play, Brooks
Laich as a top-six forward and Simon
Gagne as another potential cheap gamble and Anton
Babchuk to be a bomber from the point.
With the Rangers need for offense being a priority the focus
shifts back to the available forwards on the market this year with Ville Leino. After struggling to consistently crack the
Detroit Red Wings lineup Leino was moved to Philadelphia during the 2009-10
season where he found his legs at the NHL level. During the Flyers run to the cup, Leino had
seven goals and 14 assists in 19 games.
The 27-year old Finnish forward built on his strong playoff
run from the season before en route to a career year in which he posted 21
goals and 53 points in 81 games. Not bad
for a guy who had 11 goals and nine assists in 68 career regular season games
coming into the 2010-11 season. There is
no question that Leino is due for a substantial raise from his current salary
(825K), but there can be questions about whether Leino’s production is a sign
that he has truly figured it out or if he has been very lucking playing with
Daniel Briere since joining the Flyers.
Making that determination is the key to deciding if Leino could work
here in New York. If his production was
a product of playing with Briere, then he is not a fit because he will be paid
based on that production and unable to duplicate it as the Rangers do not have
a player with Briere’s skill-set here.
If Leino’s stick-handling and playmaking abilities are deemed to have
been the real cause along with greater opportunity to consistently play, then
you are looking at a player growing into the NHL at the prime of his career.
With the Rangers likely having a void on left wing next year
in their top six forwards a player like Leino who could potentially fit in on a
second line is an intriguing option. If
the market has him closer to $3 rather than $4 million it is someone the
Rangers should consider signing to create depth in the forward core.
