We continue our selection of the perfect Rangers team with the second line. Last week, the voting kicked off by picking the first line center, right and left winger for two teams followed up by the second team. The results are below and I will track who was selected for each as well as the voting when full lines were proposed.
In line with the first two blogs, below you will find a list of possible third line centers as well as left and right wingers for 1988 to present. I have listed the names alphabetically and then posted the poll for each spot. Once the overall team is selected, I then will list all the roster proposals you posted in the prior blog comments along with mine. It be interesting to see how the general consensus compares to each of our selections.
In the poll, I have listed lines for selection to compare to the individual options, as it might also be intriguing to see how the ‘made’ up trios compare to some actual lines utilized by the Blueshirts. In addition, some overlap exists between those already proposed as possible first line options to players listed below for second line based on the names and their role on the team. Therefore, a handful of names you see below were also presented as first line options and I have noted where that is the case.
First and second line selections based on the vote:
First team:
Adam Graves-Mark Messier-Jaromir Jagr
Tony Granato-Petr Nedved-Theo Fleury
(Please note that Steve Larmer won the vote. But based on some comments I received in addition to my own thoughts on this, I am not listing him above. Larmer’s impact on the Rangers and winning the 1994 Cup can’t be discounted. But I don’t believe that’s enough to earn him the role as best second line left winger from 1998-present especially since the majority of his playing days and his finest hours came in Chicago).
Second team:
Alexei Kovalev-Wayne Gretzky-Mike Gartner
Brandon Dubinsky-Doug Weight-Tomas Sandstrom
(Nedved just beat out Derek Stepan for the second line center. Sandstrom edged Ryan Callahan for the right wing spot).
Line combinations:
Graves-Messier-Kovalev
Fleury-Lindros-York (FLY line)
Straka-Nylander-Jagr
Dubinsky-Stepan-Callahan (the Young Americans)
(Young Americans barely edged Czechmates for the second line, second team spot)
A few reminders :
1) Cut off for eligibility is to be 170 games or two-plus seasons as a Ranger, but have used some leeway in a several instances. Once you get past the first liners, a substantive number of players that are options for the second and to a certain extent third line skated in far less than 170 games, so I am using 110 games as the cut off point. This number was slightly modified for line combinations.
2) Selection should be based on their production and role in New York, not output while with other teams
3) If you feel I have missed any names, please let me know and I will add those to the poll. This is especially so for the first liners who readers feel are truly second liners and belong on the list for voting.
4) In the case of Tomas Sandstrom, he almost equally bridges 71-87 and 88-present and therefore was listed here as a second liner and will be listed for 71-87
Centers:
Artem Anisimov, Derick Brassard (based on role in 2014), Kevin Hayes, Oscar Lindberg, Sergei Nemchinov
Left wing:
Jan Erixon, Ruslan Fedotenko, Carl Hagelin, Nick Kypreos, J.T. Miller, Esa Tikkanen
Right wing:
Sean Avery, Matthew Barnaby, Michael Grabner, Petr Prucha, Niklas Sundstrom, Jimmy Vesey
Line combinations to vote on:
Tikkanen-Nemchinov-Matteau
Pouliot-Brassard-Hagelin
Zuccarello-Brassard-Pouliot
Miller-Hayes-Grabner
With all the RFAs signed, I am not expecting much traction elsewhere. Maybe we see a minor-league signing or player offered a PTO and a long-shot of a trade, but I am not expecting much until maybe the middle to latter part of August. Until then, open to blog ideas. We can play with line combinations - early hint, Kevin Hayes will not be on my fourth line - or focus elsewhere. Let me know what you are thinking and would want to see.
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