Grading New York Rangers goalies, defensemen at 4 Nations break in NHL schedule

Adam Fox has been the Rangers most consistent player — not just defenseman — all season. Even during the team-wide malaise during November and December, Fox was their best player on most nights. He’s second on the Rangers with 44 points, which is tied for sixth among NHL defensemen, and his 40 assists are fifth among players at his position. The Rangers have outscored opponents 46-34 at 5v5 with Fox on the ice and his xGF (56.58 percent) is easily best on the team.

Braden Schneider continues to mature into a solid NHL defenseman and has maintained tremendous consistency in his game despite playing with a variety of partners, several of whom put a drag on his analytics. The 23-year-old stepped up to play his off side (left side) because of injuries on the blue line earlier this season, affording the Rangers options moving forward with building their defense corps. Schneider leads the Rangers with 100 blocked shots and Blueshirts defensemen with 96 hits (third overall). He’s tied with Fox and two others for second on the Rangers at plus-6, while averaging an NHL career-high 17:20 TOI.

Grading Igor Shesterkin isn’t so easy. Playing behind some atrocious team defense this season, the 29-year-old is on his way to the worst numbers in his five full NHL seasons. In fact, the only statistic he’s among the League leaders is losses — his 19 are tied for third most, part of a sub-.500 record at the break (18-19-2). Shesterkin has allowed four or more goals 13 times — one-third of his starts (39). But he’s been sensational at other times, stealing wins when the Rangers had no reason getting two points. His 12.1 goals saved above expected is 11th most in the NHL, per Money Puck. Like the team he plays for, Shesterkin’s play to this point has been uneven. A big stretch drive is need from him when Shesterkin returns from an upper-body injury.

Acquired from the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 18 in the Kaapo Kakko trade, Will Borgen made such a quick positive impression on the Rangers that they signed him to a five-year, $20.5 million contract Jan. 25. The 28-year-old has provided steady, physical play on the second pair and helped bring out the best in partner K’Andre Miller. His 5.52 blocks per 60 minutes is third on the Rangers and his 5.79 hits/60 are second among Blueshirts defensemen. Plus, he’s a solid penalty killer. However, the Rangers are being outscored (20-16) and outchanced (190-177) with Borgen on the ice 5v5 — and his 0.479 xGF bears watching.

His offensive numbers are way down, and he’s had some horrendous and ill-timed defensive miscues. But K’Andre Miller also had some bright moments on the top pair with Fox and settled in nicely since Borgen’s arrival. Miller is the only Rangers defenseman outside of Fox whose xGF is better than 50 percent (50.9), though he’s been on for more goals against than for 5v5 (46-39). He’s a mixed bag, but more production (13 points; four goals, nine assists) would certainly help his case.

Jonathan Quick’s grade probably suffers from his teammates’ lax play in front of him, similar to Shesterkin. Quick allowed a total of three goals in his first four starts (all wins), including two shutouts. Since then the 39-year-old’s been on a roller coaster. Quick has allowed five goals or more in six of his 15 starts, including six goals on three occasions. He’s 8-5-2 with a 3.03 goals-against average and .900 save percentage and recently won his 400th NHL game, the 15th goalie and first born in the United States to do so.

For quite a stretch, this grade was likely in the D range, but Ryan Lindgren found his footing after breaking his jaw earlier in the season and has been much better to the left of Fox on the top pair. Whether that keeps him here past the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7 remains unclear. The pending UFA is still a heart-and-soul player, though his future likely is with another team. That hasn’t stopped him from being tough as nails and a leader on the ice and in the dressing room this season for the Rangers.

Since arriving from the Anaheim Ducks in the Jacob Trouba trade in early December, Urho Vaakanainen has helped stabilize the defense corps. He’s not flashy, just reliable, and has fit in well on the third pair. Some of his metrics aren’t great, and the Rangers should look into a further upgrade, but good things do happen when Vaakanainen is out there (12 goals for, 10 against 5v5, including 9-4 in high-danger opportunities).

Let’s start with this: Zac Jones can play in the top six for many NHL teams. But it’s clear Rangers coach Peter Laviolette doesn’t believe his team is one of them. Jones was basically handed a regular role on the third pair after several seasons serving an apprenticeship of sorts. It didn’t last long. First, Jones landed in the press box when rookie Victor Mancini got a look on his off side and then Vaakanainen’s arrival meant Jones was a healthy scratch 18 straight games until recently. Jones moves the puck well and competes, but he’s troublesome in his own end and small (listed at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds). The Rangers have outscored opponents 15-12 with Jones on the ice, and he was burdened when paired with Mancini, but it doesn’t appear his future is in New York.