Why an 11-Year Veteran May Play a Larger Role in the NY Rangers 26-27 Season Than Fans May Think
A large number of moves were made by the New York Rangers this offseason, hoping to turn their luck around and return to the postseason quite quickly. You have big moves like acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev, a player that’s just what they needed, from Vegas, as well as the small moves of picking up Joe Veleno, but there were a few moves that were overlooked a little too much. As free agency hit, the Rangers picked up Oliver Bjorkstrand and signed him to a one-year, $4.5 million deal, likely to slot into the Blueshirts' top six. No confirmation was made whatsoever regarding the lineup as training camp approaches, so there's no telling what the 31-year-old's role will be in this defining Rangers season. Not a blockbuster pickup by any means, but his numbers may prove he’s a right-handed shooter the Rangers need. As the 26-27 season rapidly approaches, can the 11-year veteran play a much larger role than Ranger fans may expect?
When you look at how much the defense has changed this Summer, you may not be able to say the same about the offense. Sure, Dorofeyev was a steal, but do fans see anyone else that can come close to production similar to Artemi Panarin? Mika Zibanejad is looking to build off his bounce-back season, Alexis Lafrenière is looking to, at long last, have his breakout year, and Gabe Perreault, who most fans see the most of Panarin in, is looking to take the next step. Not much firepower as it may appear on paper, which may be the reason Bjorkstrand was acquired. Reaching the 20-goal mark six times in his career, the Denmark native has proved he can certainly handle the puck well and score goals, as well as being a right-shot winger, something the Blueshirts were very much in need of. Recently spending the previous two seasons with the Tampa Bay Lightning, his stats didn’t scream career years as he largely played more of a bottom-six role. There’s definitely a little bit of gambling with this, as recent stats could make fans question if the Danish player’s best days are perhaps behind him.
A gamble indeed, but fans should be quick to remember that Bjorkstrand is committed to New York for only one year. Overall, it’s a solid move to help short-term; it keeps veterans like him from standing in the way of the youngsters longer term. Looking most likely as someone to play a top-six role, and if all else fails, a small shift to the third line, which may include bumping up a more productive young player, isn’t something to complain about. If we’re talking about a bounce-back season as well, not just from him but from players like J.T. Miller and Lafrenière, it could make that $4.5 million feel like nothing. Just two seasons prior, the former Kraken finished his season past the 20-goal mark for the sixth time in seven years, so who’s to say he can’t reach that mark now that he’s back in a top-six position? In the blink of an eye, the 26-27 will commence, and with a new set of Rangers coming into MSG, will their top six be anything to brag about?
