Burning Questions as New York Rangers' 2014 Training Camp Approaches

Despite a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals, the New York Rangers have several holes to plug in their roster.
Brad Richards, Brian Boyle, Anton Stralman, Derek Dorsett and Benoit Pouliot are all gone, and it is vital that the organization finds suitable replacements.

Heading into training camp, head coach Alain Vigneault will have many options. Several veterans are coming to camp as well as a group of fresh-faced, hungry prospects who are looking for jobs.

At this point it’s wide open, and no one has the answers.

But today we’ll look at the biggest questions heading into training camp and discuss some of Vigneault’s options. Read on after the jump.

The Rangers’ most consistent line in 2013-14 was the line of Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello and Benoit Pouliot. All three were due for new contracts this summer, and although Brassard and Zuccarello reupped with the Rangers, Pouliot signed a big contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

All signs point to head coach Alain Vigneault keeping the Brassard and Zuccarello duo intact this coming season, but the second-year coach is tasked with filling out the line with a new left winger. Fortunately, he has options. Lee Stempniak was signed via free agency and possesses great speed, a solid work ethic and a nose for goal. He’s the easy choice, although I’m not sure he has what it takes to play on the second line for 82 games.

Now that Brad Richards is gone, Martin St. Louis (39) needs to be slotted on another line. You’d have to think that playing with two creative players in Zuccarello and Brassard would prime St. Louis to maintain a high level of play despite his climbing age.

If AV is looking to add some size and grit to that line, he could turn to Chris Kreider or the rookie Kevin Hayes. Kreider played the better part of last season with Derek Stepan and Rick Nash, and the trio had varying levels of success. Regardless, Vigneault may want to let those three continue to jell in training camp and forgo breaking them up.

Hayes is another solid option. He’s big and strong and can put the puck in the back of the net. If he can prove he is ready to play in the NHL, he may even be an improvement over Pouliot in that spot.

Brad Richards was a consummate professional and brought a lot to the locker room during the three years he spent in New York. Much of what he taught the youngsters on this team will continue to resonate with them for the remainder of their careers.

Buying him out was a business decision and a smart one at that. And although he tailed off again in the playoffs, the Rangers have a sizable hole to fill at third-line center with his absence.

As far as I’m concerned, the job is J.T. Miller’s to lose. He had his ups and downs with Vigneault last season, with the boss essentially calling out his drive and desire to be a professional.

But Miller has proved he has outgrown the AHL. Now he needs to take the next step. He’s at a crucial point in his career, but I have faith in him.

Like Kreider in 2012-13, Miller battled confidence issues, and it affected his overall consistency last season, especially in the offensive zone. He will probably never score 30 goals in a single season, but he has the potential to provide strong two-way play while contributing on the scoresheet. That's exactly what you’re looking for out of a third-line center.

Also challenging for the spot is Swede Oscar Lindberg, who spent all of last season playing for Hartford of the AHL after a stellar 2012-13 season in Sweden’s Elitserien. Another two-way pivot, Lindberg is a smarter player than Miller but probably not as talented. Although Miller probably has the inside track, Lindberg will push him, and if he outplays Miller, don’t think AV will be shy to award him the spot.

Hayes, too, may be an option. He was recruited to play center at Boston College but made the switch to the wing once he joined the team. It could be a tough—and unnecessary—adjustment for a rookie to make after such an outstanding season out on the wing, but we’ll have to wait and see.

When Anton Stralman left the Rangers this summer for Tampa Bay, I envisioned Dylan McIlrath and Conor Allen somewhere smiling. The duo, which played for Hartford of the AHL all of last season, would naturally be the top two candidates to take Stralman’s spot in the lineup come the fall.

Yet that optimism must have subsided quickly for the two, because later that day veteran blueliner Dan Boyle was signed by the Rangers on a two-year deal. The Rangers again had a logjam on defense with six more-than-capable candidates.

Last season we saw Allen go the distance in terms of training camp. He was the last defenseman cut. AV favored Justin Falk as the team’s seventh defenseman, simply because he wanted Allen to get regular playing time as opposed to watching from the press box night in and night out.

And as much as the organization would like to promote some of these more exciting defense prospects, there just doesn’t appear to be room for them just yet. Again, look for McIlarth and Allen to start the season in Hartford with recent signing Mike Kostka the obvious choice as press-box attendant, aka seventh defenseman.

Vigneault wants young players to make the team this year and in the years ahead, but just how many can actually crack the lineup? 

If Miller wins the third-line center job, he wouldn’t be considered a rookie, as he played too many games in 2012-13 to be considered one any longer.

There’s a slim-to-none chance that a rookie defenseman makes this team in 2014-15, so we’re still at zero.

It basically comes down to Hayes and winger Jesper Fast. There are approximately four starting spots available at forward: third-line center, second-line winger and two fourth-line winger spots. It’s doubtful AV uses a rookie on the fourth line, although I could see Fast there if he has a solid camp.

The problem for the two is that a lot of veterans are coming into camp. Stempniak, Matt Lombardi, Tanner Glass and Ryan Malone are all looking for jobs, and in limited roles AV is more than likely going to look to experienced players.

If Hayes proves he’s an NHL talent, I think he’s on this team. He has too much talent to be left off. The Rangers need goals; if Hayes can score them, he’s a Blueshirt come October. Fast, on the other hand, needs to prove that he can contribute in more ways than one and beat out players with a lot more experience than he possesses.