Does Brandon Pirri’s emergence give the Rangers trade flexibility?
Brandon Pirri scored two more goals in the Rangers’ 5-2 win over the Bruins on Wednesday night.
The well-traveled 25-year-old sniper has made an intimidate contribution on Broadway. Pirri’s got four goals in this early campaign. The way he’s being deployed makes it even more impressive.
He’s been featured mainly on the fourth line at even strength. Where he’s gotten the majority of his good looks, though, is on the power play. This was the case last night, when Pirri utilized his sick wrist shot to pick a corner on rookie G Zane Macintyre.
“I’m a shoot-first player, that’s what (the coaching staff) told me to be. I’m the benificiary of some good passing, it makes it fun,” Pirri said to Pierre McGuire post-game on Wednesday.
Pirri is, and has always been an elite shooting talent, that much is certain. His goals per sixty minutes rating (1.31) ranked 13th out of the 415 forwards who played over 1000 minutes since 13-14, coming into the season.
The fact that he hasn’t found a permanent home yet is kinda baffling.
Hopefully New York becomes that home
It would appear that Pirri has arrived on Broadway just in time. He’s one of many speedy, skilled forwards propelling the Rangers’ goal scoring explosion; their 3.86 goals per game ranks #1 in the NHL. This is now a surplus from which the Rangers can deal from in an effort to bring in the top-four defenseman they very publicly covet.
While Pirri will not be scoring on, like, half of the shots he takes all season, he is better than the role currently slotted in. Much better.
The @NYRangers take the lead, 3-2! #BOSvsNYR https://t.co/AN4sFJJ0Lr
— NBCSN (@NBCSN) October 27, 2016
He’s a gifted offensive difference maker. A straight shooter– someone who can pick up the puck from anywhere on the ice and pose a legitimate threat to score. He needs to play more.
Pirri is an ideal option to slot into the top-six in the event that the Rangers do trade a forward. Depth is a great luxury to have, and the Rangers have it.
In Brandon Pirri, you’ve got a gifted sniper who should be given as much ice time as he can handle. In return, he’ll score a ton of goals.
More About:New York Rangers Analysis