Projecting the 2016-17 New York Rangers Player’s Stats

Anthony Scultore Updated: Aug 25, 2016

The hockey season is just around the corner and that means most Fantasy Hockey websites are starting to put out player projections. That means I get to play Hockeydamus again.

Without further adieu, here are my projections:

I supplied the CBS projections as an alternative view.

Key Notes Forwards:

I feel that CBS low balled Kevin Hayes and that in his third year he will improve and may actually surpass the numbers I am predicting. This is of course if gets consistent ice time and wingers.

On the way up are Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. All three will improve on their stats and CK20 will break the 30 goal mark this season. On the way down is Rick Nash who appears to have hit that downward slide in his career.

If you are looking for who will lead the Rangers in scoring, Derek Stepan and Mats Zuccarello are my early favorites. I have them both at 66 but they could break 70 if healthy. The scoring leader will be the one who has the better PP season. I am betting on Zucc.

Now to Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich. Of the two, I think Vesey has the advantage to be the better rookie due to his maturity level. However, it could be Buchnevich who dazzles us all enroute to a possible Calder Trophy. I’m giving Vesey the edge for now.

Key Notes Defense:

This is it…but I truly believe that Ryan McDonagh will finally get his name into the conversation for the Norris. Yes, that flies in the face of what all experts are saying, especially since his partner may very well be the declining Dan Girardi.

I agree with Kevin Klein‘s projections from CBS as the 2nd leading scorer on defense, but don’t sleep on Brady Skjei is all I’m saying. As for the rest of the defense, no real surprises there.

Key Notes Goaltending:

Henrik Lundqvist is still amazing. He will flirt with 40 wins this year and laugh off any nonsense that he will start to regress. The King is one those generational goaltenders that you only see a handful of over the course of history. The 80’s and 90’s saw Patrick Roy, while the 90’s and 2000’s had Martin Brodeur. This is Lundqvist’s time.

Antti Raanta is a complimentary backup and with them in net, the Rangers could hit 50 wins combined.

*This post was originally written prior to the signing of Brandon Pirri. A quick glance at his statistics and how he would play either 3rd or 4th line minutes could lead to a 10-15 goal season and 20-25 points.