Rangers coach believes swapping defense partners ‘easiest part’ of recent shakeup

NHL: New York Islanders at New York Rangers
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The New York Rangers returned to deploying the frequent defensive pairs they have relied on since 2020-21, when they skated past the New York Islanders 5-2 on Sunday. Adam Fox and Ryan Lindgren reunited, and Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller paired together, to begin a game for the first time this season.

The moves were part of a bigger shake up, that included new forward line combination, as well. It all came in the aftermath of a stagnant 2-2-0 stretch, when the Rangers scored eight goals in four games and played subpar team defense.

“That was actually the easiest of moves because there was so much history in the past.” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette told reporters after practice Monday, referring to changing the defense pairs. 

History they have. 

Fox and Lindgren have skated 320 games together from 2019-20 to 2024-25. They have 201 goals for and 137 goals against as a pair across that six-year professional window, per Natural Stat Trick. They also skated together to represent the United States in various national tournaments. 

Since Miller made the club out of camp in 2021, he’s paired most often with Trouba, logging 354 games together. The duo has produced 213 goals for and surrendered 214 goals against. 

“We made a change and went to something more familiar with the back end. The bigger change was obviously up front with the forwards. I didn’t think [it was a big deal] and they probably didn’t blink an eye,” Laviolette explained.

Related: Why Mika Zibanejad believes Rangers dealing with ‘good problem to have’

‘Something a little bit more familiar’ for Rangers defense pairs

NHL: New York Rangers at Vancouver Canucks
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Changing up the forward line combinations was a more difficult decision for Laviolette. Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, for example, have insane chemistry — if not crazy 5v5 numbers — because of their long history as linemates. But they were separated on Sunday.

Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere, and Vincent Trocheck have played 99 games together, logging 1,170 TOI, scoring 73 goals,, and surrendering 54 in the regular season and Stanley Cup Playoffs since they were united in Oct. 2023.  They were the most productive line 5v5 in the NHL in 2023-24.

Laviolette broke them up, too. Zibanejad took Trocheck’s place in the middle of Panarin and Lafreniere. 

Will Cuylle, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko had outscored opponents 9-0 at 5v5 this season, but Laviolette changed things up there too. Kreider swapped in for Cuylle, who landed on a line with Trocheck and Reilly Smith.

“It felt good. I thought all the lines were jelling and playing well,” Zibanejad said postgame. “It seemed to work today … everyone played their own game within the lines.”

The Rangers were still outchanced 5v5, but the goals were even, 2-2, at even strength. The Rangers put it away with a power-play goal, a short-handed goal and an empty-netter by Panarin. Zibanejad assisted on all three of those goals. Panarin scored twice.

So, the experiment, by and large, worked out up front. And it was pretty smooth on the back end too.

The Lindgren-Fox pair skated 15:58 together and was on the ice for two goals and one goal against. They had just a 36.36 percent scoring chances for percentage, per Natural Stat Trick. Trouba-Miller logged 17:52 TOI and were on the ice for one goal and one goal against. They had an xGF of just 27.99 percent.

The eye test looked better than in previous games, but the advanced stats were, again, not pretty — even with the renewed familiarity.

“That was just to change it up because I didn’t like how it had gone three of our last four (previous games). I just don’t think we were on top of our game,” Laviolette explained about the defensemen. “So, we made a change and went back to something that’s a little more familiar on the back end.”

The third pair of Zac Jones and Braden Schneider rounded things out and graded well, with an xGF of 56.03 percent and a 4-3 advantage in high-dangers chances.

It’d appear that the Rangers will move forward with these new/old defense pairs, at least for the time being. There’s no doubt Laviolette is intrigued by pairing Miller and Fox, and now has a base to work from with them if he reverts back to that combo.

We’ll see how they line up Thursday when the Buffalo Sabres come to town.

Matthew Mugno is a multi-media professional who has previously covered the New York Rangers for The Hockey News and... More about Matthew Mugno

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