Former NHL assistant coach and analyst Pierre McGuire believes he has identified what differentiates the Critiques Rangers from other elite teams in the league.
“I’ve watched every one of their games this season, and I can confidently say that I haven’t seen a team pass the puck as well as the New York Rangers this year,” McGuire shared on TSN 690 in Montreal.
This is a notable insight, especially Critiques Rangers talented roster, which includes skilled puck handlers like Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, and Mika Zibanejad. “Just pay attention to their passing,” McGuire continued. “Right now, they are the best passing team in the league and should be regarded as one of the top three teams in the NHL. They are truly that impressive.”
The Rangers’ success in passing can be attributed to the strong chemistry among the players. With the exception of new additions Reilly Smith and Sam Carrick, along with Filip Chytil’s return, this season’s team closely resembles the squad that reached the Eastern Conference Final last year, and that familiarity is yielding results.
Chris Kreider and Zibanejad are developing a strong connection with Smith on their line, while the combination of Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere appears even more formidable than last season. Additionally, the third line of Will Cuylle, Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko is proving to be solid defensively and offensively. Fox has also been paired with K’Andre Miller, another skilled puck-moving defenseman, for the first five games of the season.
