Grading New York Rangers forwards at 4 Nations Face-Off break in NHL schedule

Artemi Panarin leads the Rangers in goals (23), points (57), even-strength goals (15) and power-play goals (eight), averaging 1.08 points in 53 games. Solid numbers but only tied for 24th in the NHL scoring race after his massive 49-goal, 120-point season in 2023-24. That kind of sums up his season: he’s been very good. He hasn’t been great. Especially when the Rangers needed him to be great during that 4-15-0 slide. His defensive game and effort are wanting, too. He’s minus-7 and been on ice for 20 high-danger goals against and only 14 for 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick.

Vincent Trocheck’s numbers (37 points; 17 goals, 20 assists in 55 games) are way down from his NHL career-high 77 points from last season. But he’s still third on the Rangers in scoring and earns a really good grade here for everything else he does so well for them. The emotional leader of the Rangers averages more than 21 minutes TOI, playing in every important game situation. He’s a gamer, tenacious two-way player and is winning 60.6 percent of his face-offs. Trocheck is also an important voice in the dressing room and very likely the next Rangers captain.

His production has dipped considerably since a torrid start, but Will Cuylle has become a valuable player on this roster in his second NHL season. The power forward is tied for fourth on the Rangers with 14 goals, besting the 13 that he scored as a rookie. His 29 points surge past the 21 he had last season. He’s also a solid penalty killer, shutdown defensive forward and earned top-six minutes. His 204 hits top the Rangers and are fourth most in the NHL.

You know what you’re going to get game-in, game-out with Sam Carrick. And that’s a good thing. Carrick has been tremendously consistent in his first season on Broadway, providing grit, solid defensive play and some scoring touch on the fourth line. He’s an excellent penalty killer and will drop the gloves when needed too. A glue guy, for sure. And a solid pick up by general manager Chris Drury.

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Jonny Brodzinski serves the Rangers quite well as the 13th forward on the roster. When called upon, he doesn’t miss a beat and provides solid two-way play. Coach Peter Laviolette loves his speed and scoring touch to jump start the bottom six. He’s a plus-6 and has four goals and eight points in 24 games. The Rangers have allowed only four goals 5v5 when he’s on the ice.

Adam Edstrom had a great training camp and turned into a very solid first full season so far in the NHL. Though the 6-foot-6 forward is out now with a lower-body injury, he’s made his mark as a regular on the fourth line, providing speed, size, physicality and a bit of scoring (nine points; five goals, four assists in 51 games).

Arthur Kaliyev has played just enough not to receive an Incomplete on his report card. In 11 games since being claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Kings, Kaliyev has three goals and four points, displaying his signature quick release and enticing potential offensively. He missed the entire season with a fractured clavicle before coming to New York, so he’s been adjusting physically, as well as to being on a new team. He’s not the best defensively, but there’s some overall promise here.

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Reilly Smith was not expected to be a 60-point scorer and he isn’t. The 33-year-old forward has played relatively well up and down the Rangers lineup, and been a real force on the PK, where he’s scored a pair of short-handed goals. The pending UFA may be traded ahead of the deadline, but his 10 goals and 26 points in 54 games is pretty much on par with what was expected from him after arriving last summer from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Trade rumors. Back woes. Subpar play. It’s not been an easy go of it for Chris Kreider this season. The longest tenured current Rangers player has struggled to find his scoring touch and any sense of rhythm to his game this season, and his magic with Mika Zibanejad kind of dried up. Still, Kreider is third on the Rangers with 16 goals, second with five power-play goals and leads them with three shorties. He has only four assists in 47 games and his defensive play has not been good.

OK, we know Brett Berard is now down in the American Hockey League with Hartford. But the rookie did play 19 games this season with the Rangers and could end up back on Broadway somewhere down the line. He gets props for the energy, speed and passion he brought to the Rangers, at a time when they really needed it. Berard also contributed three goals and seven points. But his poor defensive play can’t be ignored in his overall grade. HIs xGF is 44.59 percent and the Rangers were outscored 16-8 at 5v5 with Berard on the ice.

Here’s a player trending in the right direction. Matt Rempe grabbed ahold of a fourth-line role and not let go since coming back from an eight-game suspension for boarding Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars. Rempe has played much smarter, remained physical and active on the forecheck and generated a fair amount of scoring chances for his limited ice time. Simply, the 22-year-old is learning and improving by the day. And there’s no denying the positive effect he has on the Rangers lineup.

Admittedly, this grade may be a bit too harsh. Alexis Lafreniere is tied for fourth on the Rangers with 14 goals and is fifth with 32 points in 55 games. His metrics, like a 0.501 xGF, aren’t so terrible. But he’s been a huge disappointment coming off a 28-goal, 57-point season in 2023-24, and a hot start this season. Since Nov. 23, not long after signing his seven-year, $52.15 million contract, Lafreniere has six goals in 38 games. Sure, his usual linemates — Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck — have seen their production drop this season, too. But Lafreniere’s cratered, and his defensive game is not exactly exemplary. So, yes, a big disappointment this season.

Wasn’t there a time not too long ago that Rangers coach Peter Laviolette loved Jimmy Vesey? Now, the 31-year-old is a spare part, one who said he was “dying” on the Rangers roster this season. Vesey, who missed 10 games due to injury to begin the season, is playing regularly now with Adam Edstrom sidelined, so he has a chance to improve on his grade. But three goals in 30 games, and little impact elsewhere has him sitting at a C- mark.

The eight points (two goals, six assists) in his past five games is a hopeful sign, but Mika Zibanejad is nowhere near the player he needs to be this season. The Rangers have been outscored 38-23 with him on the ice 5v5 this season. His overall production (11 goals, 37 points in 55 games) is way down and his power-play numbers have cratered (four power-play goals) as he routinely mishandles pucks and shoots wide of the net with his patented left-circle snipe. He’s looked lost and disinterested much of this incredibly disappointing season. But he’s important to this team’s success, has played better of late and a strong finish likely means the Rangers will find a way into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

We can’t grade J.T. Miller after just five games with the Rangers, following the trade with the Vancouver Canucks. But he’s made an impact already with his no-nonsense approach rubbing off on a largely vanilla roster. His grit and physicality stand out and are as important as the six points (two goals, four assists) he has already.