The New York Rangers’ defensive corps became somewhat of a weakness during the team’s most recent failed postseason run. This offseason complicated things further as the Rangers reportedly attempted to trade away team captain defenseman Jacob Trouba to no avail.
Trouba will likely remain with the team this season, but the Rangers must come up with a solution for the loss of veteran defenseman Erik Gustafsson. There will be changes to the defensive pairings this season, however, they should look familiar to the last campaign.
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it: Keep the Lindgren-Fox pairing together
Rangers fans have grown accustomed to the first-pairing of Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren. The two have spent plenty of time on the ice together in recent years, forming what many feel to be the Blueshirts’ best pairing.
Fox is the team’s best defenseman. He won the Norris Trophy back in 2021 and has been a finalist for the award in each season since then. He’s totaled 70 or more points in each of the last three seasons.
Lindgren, meanwhile, is blossoming into a top defenseman in his own right. The 26-year-old has a career +99 rating across six seasons with the Rangers. He’s more of a stay-at-home defenseman than Fox and has began to establish himself as a foundational piece for the team. However, Lindgren is the only unsigned starter on defense, leaving his long-term future with New York in question. The Rangers are sure to work diligently to keep him rostered, though.
Jacob Trouba’s uncertain future complicates the Rangers’ second pairing
Things have reportedly gotten messy as a result of the drama surrounding a potential Trouba trade. But nevertheless, it seems as though Trouba will maintain his role as the team’s captain, continuing to play alongside K’Andre Miller in the second defensive pairing.
This has been –to say the least — a chaotic pairing in the past. Both Trouba and Miller bring their share of strengths and weaknesses to the table, sometimes creating a perfect storm resulting in defensive lapses.
Trouba’s long-term future with the team feels nonexistent. Miller, however, is under contract through next offseason. He could wind up with a new skater alongside him if Trouba’s struggles from the 2024 postseason carry over into the upcoming regular season. But in all likelihood, it will be a Miller-Trouba pairing once again this season.
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It’s time to give the youngster a chance in the third pairing
Braden Schneider spent the majority of the 2023-24 season skating alongside Erik Gustafsson on the Rangers’ third defensive pairing. However, with Gustafsson departing this offseason, he will need a new skater alongside him. Rather than depending on a veteran player, head coach Peter Laviolette should take this opportunity to give one of the team’s promising youngsters more ice time.
Zac Jones is ready to step into a larger role. Last season, he was primarily a healthy scratch, waiting in the wings to fill-in in case of any further injuries to Trouba. When Trouba was out of the lineup due to an injury, Jones stepped in and contributed nine points with a +1 rating across 31 games last season.
Chad Ruhwedel could potentially slot into this role after re-signing with the team earlier this week. However, Ruhwedel seems better suited for a rotational role as a veteran defenseman who can fill-in for injured starters and give rest to those running on fumes. Jones is an exciting young talent and it’s time for the Blueshirts to develop him into a full-time NHL starter this season.
Projecting the Rangers’ three defensive pairings:
Fox-Lindgren
Miller-Trouba
Jones-Schneider
