New York Rangers' Biggest Areas for Improvement Entering February

The New York Rangers currently sit in third place within the NHL’s Metropolitan Division and two points out of first with two games in hand. With a record of 30-15-4 and the fifth-best goal differential in the league, you could say things are going swimmingly for the boys in blue.

However, as the team prepares to go through the short month of February there are some areas that need to be evaluated and addressed before the March 2 trade deadline. The Rangers know firsthand what it takes to win the Stanley Cup, and here are the biggest areas for improvement going forward.

Third Defensive Pairing

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The Rangers have five defenders locked up past this season, but the blue line is still an area where improvements can, and should be made. Dan Boyle has not panned out as expected, contributing 11 points in 33 games, and he currently is the Rangers' third pairing right-handed defenseman.

On the left side of the third pairing is John Moore, although Larry Brooks of the New York Post feels that this could be an attempt on the part of Glen Sather to showcase the 24-year-old defender for the purpose of a trade.

No matter what the logic is, it is abundantly clear that there is a ton of room for improvement. There's a reason why Moore and Matt Hunwick have battled all season for a spot in the lineup, because there hasn't been a permanent option that has made the team better on a consistent basis. 

Moore hasn't looked like a first-round draft pick, and Hunwick has played like the journeyman defender he's been over the last few years.

Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet named the Rangers as a team interested in Andrej Sekera of the Carolina Hurricanes, and he's a player who would instantly transform the third pairing because of his ability to log big minutes and overall ability.

The Rangers need another quality defender in the lineup, and adding one would certainly bolster the team's cup candidacy. 

Faceoffs

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The Rangers have only three centers with enough faceoffs taken to qualify for the faceoff leaders tab on NHL.com, and only Dominic Moore has a positive win rate.

Moore has won 54.4 percent of all draws taken, Derick Brassard has won 48.7 percent and Derek Stepan has won 42.8 percent. What is clear is that the Rangers need help at the faceoff dot, because they haven't been able to improve in this area as the season has progressed.

The inability to win faceoffs hasn't adversely impacted the Rangers yet, but it could catch up with them in the playoffs where every draw increases in importance as the games become tighter. Mike Santorelli of the Toronto Maple Leafs could be a viable option, but there's no guarantee that he will get moved before the deadline.

The Fourth Line

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The New York Rangers' top nine has been decent this season, as a number of forwards have contributed offensively and defensively. The one line that hasn't produced has been the fourth line, and it is something that needs to be fixed before the playoffs.

A combination of Jesper Fast, J.T. Miller, Dominic Moore, Lee Stempniak and Tanner Glass has suited up for duty this season, and at times head coach Alain Vigneault has been guilty of not icing the best possible lineup.  

Glass has been put in the lineup multiple times over Fast and Miller, two young players who can produce offensively. Going forward the Rangers need to make some decisions about their lineup, because skating with three lines is a quick way to get sent home during the first round of the playoffs.

Whatever decision is made, it needs to be made soon, because the Rangers need to use the upcoming weeks to further come together as a team and develop chemistry and consistency throughout each line. The fourth line was a rock for the Rangers last year, but this year it has been a major sore spot.

Second Power-Play Unit

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The Rangers' power play has been successful this season and currently is 12th overall in the NHL. Despite the success, there is room for improvement as the first unit has thrived and the second unit has struggled.

The first unit is loaded up, as it should be, and Rick Nash, Derek Stepan, Martin St. Louis and Derick Brassard have produced, but the second unit has sputtered. 

The usual suspects on the second unit include Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, J.T. Miller and Kevin Hayes, and the unit as a whole just hasn't clicked. Combined, they have only recorded 12 points, and that is an issue when Brassard and St. Louis are in double digits individually.

While there is an expected drop in production from the first to second unit because of average ice time, the second unit could really use some restructuring for the remainder of the season.

All stats via NHL.com unless otherwise noted.