If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times: The Rangers have problems developing high end skill. Much digital ink has been spilled on the topic this season as the Rangers spiraled and head coach Mike Sullivan made questionable lineup decisions. While Brett Berard leads the yo-yo charge this season it’s easy to forget that the Rangers development this season has produced four key contributors in their rookie seasons. Sometimes, you just need to take the win when you see it.
Rangers development this year started right out of camp when Noah Laba broke camp as the Rangers 3C. He surprised many–though not Hope–as he continued to improve and stick for the full season. Laba persevered this season despite a rotating cavalry of linemates. Laba has not played more than 250 minutes with any forward, has 3 teammates with over 200 minutes shared TOI (Taylor Raddysh, Conor Sheary, Will Cuylle), and has played 100+ minutes with Berard, Brennan Othmann, and Jonny Brodzinski.
Laba seems to have found some nice chemistry with newly acquired Tye Kartye, and the duo have been nearly unstoppable with Sheary as their third. For the Rangers to be a true Cup contender, Sheary would be replaced by Will Cuylle as a rebounding JT Miller finds his game again alongside two speedy, skilled wingers. But that’s a topic for another day.
Also breaking camp was defenseman Matthew Robertson. He may have started as the Rangers 7D because of waivers, but he very quickly supplanted both Carson Soucy and Urho Vaakanainen as the Rangers 2LD. Many, including myself, had written off Robertson. He proved everyone wrong as a late bloomer and a steady two way defenseman who is a solid skater.
Gabe Perreault, a midseason call up this year, has finally found rhythm on the new top line with Mika Zibanejad and a surging Alexis Lafreniere. The new top line has shown that the Rangers development group may actually be able to develop top talent, though this is a small sample. Ideally, this becomes the Rangers second line, or at least a 1A/1B situation in the near future.
The fourth rookie earning his keep is Jaro Chmelar. Chmelar was a project pick but one of my favorites in the 2021 draft as a high ceiling player. We’ve seen him contribute on offense already in a 4RW role, and could conceivably move up in the lineup as he continues to grow. Rangers development is sometimes an afterthought with fourth line players, but don’t sleep on Chmelar.
Rangers development still has a lot of work to do
The Rangers development group has sent what looks like four regulars to the NHL lineup this season alone. This doesn’t include the revival of Alexis Lafreniere, who is forcing Chris Drury to keep him around as he goes on this tear to end the season. But that doesn’t mean their work is done.
Brett Berard is one player that seems to be on the cusp of breaking into the NHL, but simply hasn’t stuck yet. Mike Sullivan told Colin Stephenson that he needed bigger minutes in the AHL. So let’s take that at face value and see what he does next season. Chmelar cracking the fourth line is proof though that Sully is willing to play the kids. Same with Tye Kartye.
Berard is one thing, but Scott Morrow’s usage has been puzzling at best. The centerpiece of the K’Andre Miller trade, it behooves the Rangers development group to get him into the NHL as a steady producer. He’s been fine on offense, but clearly his defensive game has needed work. He, like Berard, simply needed minutes and reps. We will have to see what he does next year.
Morrow and Berard are question marks with Rangers development. But getting these two ice time won’t change the fact that the Rangers need to find more top of the lineup scoring. This is where Rangers development is going to take center stage, as it’s looking like the Rangers will have a top five pick in this year’s draft. At some point, Rangers development is going to have to figure out how to let elite talent be just that, elite talent. Less is more for this team right now.