Rangers Full of Promise

The New York Rangers are on the cusp of becoming perennial favourites. With a host of young skilled players the team is hoping that the future starts this season.

"We're excited about the upcoming season," said team captain J.P. Dumont. "We've got a team that's better than it was last year and also I think it's more balanced. We're not going to be satisfied unless we make the playoffs this year."

With an average team age of 26 years old and a salary level of only $37,890,000 the team has room improve and to add more players. The Rangers are loaded with exciting players up front and it their offence that will decide their fate this season. Here is are the likely opening night line forward combinations. We will focus on defence and goaltending in the next article.

First Line


LW: J.P Dumont.
Age: 27
J-P Dumont LW L OK 51 74 71 73 89 63 73 79 85 73 76 70 59 78



C: Mike Ribeiro
Age: 25
Mike Ribeiro C L OK 60 76 70 70 72 53 80 81 81 71 77 58 53 79




RW: Alexei Ponikarovsky
Age: 25
Alexei Ponikarovsky RW L OK 68 79 76 77 68 43 82 79 71 65 82 44 44 79


These three young stars will most likely start on the first line together. All three can handle the puck as well as anyone in the league. Ribeiro's vision and set up skills should mould nicely with Ponikarovsky's scoring prowness. Look for puckhandler extrordinaire JP Dumont to carry the puck into the zone and for speedy powerful Ponikarovsky to bang in the corners. This line can come at you several differnt ways.

Second Line



LW:Martin Erat
Age: 24
Martin Erat LW L OK 65 72 73 71 77 57 73 81 81 68 80 40 58 79





C: Jason Blake
Age: 32
Jason Blake C L OK 58 82 62 67 78 72 77 75 75 63 74 68 69 76


RW: Pavel Bure
Age: 34
Pavel Bure RW L OK 61 91 48 70 55 74 86 72 81 57 92 68 59 79


Pavel Bure is no longer the most skilled player in the league but he hasn't lost a step in terms of speed. He's still an electrifying sniper and with fellow speedster Jason Blake at centre they should back defenceman up and intimidate with speed. Youngster Martin Erat fills out the line. Erat is a magician with the puck. Watch for him to set up Bure and when he's unable to connect with a pass to put the puck in the net.

Third Line

LW: Rick Nash
Age: 21
Rick Nash LW L OK 76 73 76 72 76 57 73 72 68 67 79 51 44 77


C: Chad Kilger
Age: 29
Chad Kilger C L OK 57 71 79 68 91 51 68 69 72 64 69 54 54 73




RW: Niko Dimitrakos
Age: 27
Niko Dimitrakos RW R OK 75 72 73 72 74 69 71 69 66 70 68 64 61 74


The most exciting element of this line is superstar-in-the-making Rick Nash. Not quite ready for prime time but as good a third liner as you'll find anywhere he adds a good offensive dimension to the line. Kilger is decetn all around and can use his power to maintain position in fron to the net. Dimitrakos has decent speed and likes to bang. Both Kilger and Dimitrakos could go before the season begins if rough and tumble banging forwards became available.

Fourth Line

LW: Peter Polcik - Photo Unavailable

Age: 22

Peter Polcik LW L OK 68 64 79 71 80 68 70 65 73 75 74 46 55 75

C:Toby Peterson (HO)

Age: 27

Toby Peterson C L OK HO 70 72 72 80 80 75 73 69 70 58 69 68 64 74

Dan LaCouture

Age: 28

Dan LaCouture RW L OK 75 66 75 71 75 48 63 61 68 67 65 61 53 71

The Rangers made an astute signing in Lacouture. By picking this banger off the unassinged list they have a player who can play on the 3rd or 4th line and has a good amount of grit. They need to get Peterson under contract or look elsewhere. At only 22 Polcik is an exciting player and will be a key factor on this team for the next decade.

The Rangers depth on left wing gives them quality players on every line. They're reminiscent of the NHL's Ottawa Senators a few years back in that they're stacked on the wing and weak at centre. Perhaps they could use a bit more grit on the third and 4th lines but this core group of forwards are the cornerstones of a future championship team.