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Rangers Vs. Islanders: Stock Report

Joe Fortunato

Joe Fortunato

— 4 min read

Can It Go Higher?

Kaapo Kakko — What else do you want me to say? The 18-year-old gets his own category because he deserves it, because the Rangers haven’t had a prospect like him in recent memory, because he’s three years away from 21, because it’s something really special to have someone like him in your lineup. Davis Quinn used his 60 minutes of ice time in a “show me” fashion Tuesday night, giving guys like Ryan Strome, Brett Howden, Brendan Lemieux, and Vitali Kravtsov bigger time shares on the ice. More on them later.

Kakko played just over 14 minutes, and had a few very memorable moments. His work on the power play — specifically at the half-boards — is something to drool over. He has a fantastic shot, but his vision and ability to move into space with the puck are the real draw at times. We haven’t seen him score yet, but there’s not going to be much time left on that clock. Also ...

Stock Going Up

Alexandar Georgiev — I thought Georgiev really struggled in the first game, and that struggle was compounded by Igor Shesterkin’s fantastic outing in his first game. The good news is Georgiev was tested early and often once he came in, and his only goal against came on an unstoppable shot from Jordan Eberle. This is going to be a really interesting three-headed race.

The Pavel Buchnevich - Artemiy Panarin connection — Did you see this? I mean, watch it again. Drink it in.

That, my friends, is the look of a duo that might jump off the page this year (no slight to Mika Zibanejad, who drove the land and freed Buchnevich from the trailing defender). Buchnevich has a fantastic shot, but he’s always played a more vision focused game. I have a feeling Panarin is going to open up more shooting lanes for him, but will also help finish a lot of the chances Buchnevich seems to generate. And adding Zibanejad to that mix is going to be something really special. Props to Quinn for instantly going with this top pair.

Brady Skjei — Two assists to his name, and an overall solid night at the office. Skjei and Jacob Trouba are going to have to do big things this year if the Rangers want to sniff the playoffs, and Skjei has already looked much more fundamentally sound with Trouba on his other side. His assist to Kravtsov was a result of his speed and skating, the same things that earned him the contract he got from Jeff Gorton. More of that, please.

Kravtsov — Speaking of our Russian son. He scored his first goal, barely celebrates, and then gets a smack from Skjei for not being happier. Our sweet boy knew it was the preseason and didn’t want to show anyone up. That’s all.

Kravtsov does a great job going to the soft areas of the ice, and he’s another guy who can beat you in different ways. Of all the question marks when it comes to this forward group, I think Kravtsov is the first one to have cemented himself in the opening night lineup. If he wasn’t there from the jump.

Adam Fox — Fox continues to look like an NHL defenseman. He played nearly 20 minutes, got some power play time, and some penalty kill time as well, but played a solid game top to bottom. There’s going to be lumps and bumps there, but I’ve been super impressed with Fox from the get go.

I’m Honestly Not Sure

Lias Andersson — I can’t figure out where Andersson sits when it comes to Quinn. His ice time, just over nine minutes, insinuates Quinn didn’t need to take a longer look at him in this preseason game. That said, Quinn has made a few comments about Andersson, Howden, and Chytil fighting with each other for roles on this team. I can’t shake the idea that Andersson is finally being pegged as a two-way center in the bottom six, but that 3C role should be for him if Quinn runs Chytil as the 2C — like he should. Maybe another stint on the fourth line would work for Howden. Or maybe Boo Nieves takes that spot and Howden starts the year in Hartford.

Ryan Strome — I think the organization really likes him, and I believe that includes Quinn, but I just don’t know what Strome’s presence is going to do to other more important development pieces in this lineup. If Stome is moved to the wing it leaves room to have Chytil, Howden, Andersson down the middle. If Quinn likes Strome at center — the way he’s used him in the preseason — that will cause problems. And Strome simply isn’t a guy worth causing problems with.

Stock Going Down

Brett Howden — Despite what Larry Brooks might tell you about his frame, Howden has not looked the part of an NHL player so far in the preseason. He was given a really good look Tuesday night, paired with Kakko, and did ... nothing with it. Howden has been a continued issue in his own end, and he’s not doing enough to make an impact in the offensive zone to make up for it. With Kakko he should have at least been able to ride his coattails, and yet I noticed him just a handful of times throughout the game.

Howden’s struggles from last year seem to have carried over to this season, which is somewhat expected for a 21-year-old, but the continued media narrative that Howden is somehow more well rounded than, say, Chytil is insane. The way Quinn characterized Howden also seems to be akin to his thoughts on the youngster last year — which is to say misguided. I have no issues whatsoever with kids who might be struggling making the team over guys like Greg McKegg, but Howden should not be taking a bigger role away from a guy like Chytil. Period.

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