Alain Vigneault fielded the same questions last year, about the youth and inexperience of his team in critical positions. So when the Rangers coach is asked about his second line — Derek Stepan, Chris Kreider and Kevin Hayes are all 25 years or younger — and Oscar Lindberg, his 23-year-old rookie third-line center, he didn’t seem concerned.
“We were all hoping those young kids would be able to step in and contribute [last year], and that hope became reality — they were able to do it for us,” Vigneault said after Saturday’s practice at the MSG Training Center. “I think it’s the same thing now. We’re hoping the guys we add in, the guys we’re giving bigger roles, will be able to do it for us. Time is going to tell.”
The Rangers enter this season without two of their stalwarts from a year ago — Martin St. Louis retired and Carl Hagelin was traded to the Ducks. With so much money invested into arguably the best blue line in the NHL, elite goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and top scorer Rick Nash, the Rangers had to get creative. For example, they moved the 23-year-old Hayes up to the second line, and have been pleased with what they have seen from that group.
“I’ve liked them in practice, I’ve liked them on the power play. That one game [in the preseason] they had some good moments,” Vigneault said. “We’re going to give them a good look.”
“It might be a couple of games, it might be a couple of weeks, it might be the whole season. It depends on how they perform. … On that line, we got size, speed, good hockey sense. It can be a solid and effective line for us.”
In his second full NHL season a year ago, Kreider developed into a productive presence, with 46 points (21 goals and 25 assists) in 80 games, while Stepan is now considered a high-end two-way center, registering at least 44 points each of the last three years.
“They’re elite players in this league,” Hayes said, referring to Stepan and Kreider. “I’m just hoping to compliment them.”
The bigger surprise was Lindberg — with just one NHL game under his belt — the third line pivot entering Wednesday’s season opener in Chicago against the Stanley Cup-champion Blackhawks. There was some thought he wouldn’t even make the team entering training camp. But he excelled and was given the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award as the best rookie in camp.
“I thought I played good in the American Hockey League [last year], but I thought it was time for me to be up here, I want to play up here,” said Lindberg, who has impressed with his skill and understanding of the game at both ends. “I switched some things this summer and it’s working good so far.”
Vigneault praised the chemistry he has seen with Lindberg and veteran winger Viktor Stalberg, who will be joined by J.T. Miller, another youngster, at 22, on the third line. The Rangers have high hopes this year of getting back to the Stanley Cup finals after last year’s series loss in the Eastern Conference finals. And they will need their plethora of young, talented forwards to help them get there.
“They’re putting who they think are the best guys to formulate a team and get two points every night,” Hayes said.
After all, it worked pretty well last year.