The New York Rangers have made an impressive start to the regular season with a record of 4-0-1, being one of only four NHL teams yet to lose in regulation. The forwards are contributing to the scoring, the defense will be strengthened by Ryan Lindgren’s return for their game against the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday, and the goaltending has been exceptional.
Pierre McGuire, a former NHL assistant coach and network analyst, believes he has identified what distinguishes the Rangers from other top NHL teams. He noted on TSN 690 in Montreal, “What’s remarkable about the Rangers is their exceptional puck passing. I don’t believe I’ve seen a team pass as well as they have this season.”
This is a notable observation that highlights the Rangers’ talented roster, which includes skilled puck handlers like Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, and Mika Zibanejad. McGuire emphasizes that their puck movement is a major factor in their dominance over the first five games.
“They’re currently the best passing team in the League and should be considered one of the top three teams in the NHL,” he remarked.
One reason for their success in this regard is the strong chemistry among the players. With the exceptions of new additions Reilly Smith and Sam Carrick and Filip Chytil’s return, this Rangers squad is largely the same as the one that reached the Eastern Conference Final last year, which has been beneficial.
Chris Kreider and Zibanejad are building a strong rapport with Smith, while the trio of Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere appears even more formidable than last season. Additionally, the third line, featuring Will Cuylle, Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko, is excelling on both ends. Fox has been paired with K’Andre Miller, another skilled puck-moving defenseman, for the first five games.
McGuire highlights that the Rangers’ teamwork is essential for the impressive play he describes. Although Panarin leads the NHL with 12 points, New York’s success goes beyond him.
“I challenge anyone to say the Rangers’ performance is solely about Panarin—it’s not,” McGuire asserted. “Kreider has played well, Zibanejad continues to improve, Alexis Lafreniere is developing into an outstanding power forward, and Filip Chytil is finally making his mark.”
This depth is evident in the three different lines mentioned. And it doesn’t even account for the defense, where Fox has six assists and Jacob Trouba has five.
The Rangers will showcase their passing skills once more when they take on the Canadiens as part of the League’s “Frozen Frenzy,” which features all 32 teams in action. They will then prepare for a challenging matchup against the defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers on Thursday, which will be a significant test of their performance this season.
