It has been an odd start for the returning Eastern Conference Champions and their head coach Alain Vigneault to say the least. They have suffered their share of significant key injuries early on in the season, but have still managed to stay afloat in the Eastern Conference. The Rangers currently sit in fourth place in the Metropolitan Division with a record of 7-7-4 and a total of 18 points in as many games played.
That said, the Broadway Blue Shirts still have some depth problems on their hands, especially when it comes to the younger end of their roster.
In my opinion, it's time for Alain Vigneault to let the youth play so he can find out exactly what they can give in the later end of the season and in the future.
The Rangers had some pleasant surprises coming out of training camp, none more notable than the 19-year old Anthony Duclair. Non the less, Duclair has been in and out of the lineup during the first 18 games of his young career. He sat out the past three games before being inserted into the lineup against Tampa Bay last night.
Duclair isn't the only young bright star for the New York Rangers in and out of the lineup consistently. Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller, Jesper Fasth, Dylan McIlrath and Conor Allen have all seen significant time up in the press box as well for extended amounts of time this season, and in some cases, sen't down to Hatford in the AHL.
Every team in the NHL outside of a few should let their young guns play. If they're pampered and don't get enough NHL experience before a certain point in their careers, they will not grow as players. The Rangers are trying to keep their young players healthy and not tamper with their development, but the best way for them to develop is to play regularly in the NHL. The Rangers are one of the rare teams who have a surplus of prospects who have already surpassed the AHL level at such a young age. Playing these kids regularly will not only help with their individual development, but will help the entire Ranger team as a whole. The speed and skill level of Duclair, Miller, and Fast make them better fits into the teams system than Tanner Glass and Ryan Malone.
Now, to Vigneault's credit, he has done a terrific job over his first year and a quarter as the Rangers head coach. He has completely changed the identity of the organization, but he needs to take the leash off some of these kids and stop holding them back, or he'll ruin their development. Vigneault came in and unleashed the beast in Kreider, he should do the same for the rest of the young Rangers.
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