New York Rangers Preview: Who Will Land the Number One Center Spot?

New York Rangers positional preview No. 2: Center

Last season the Rangers had multiple players to try out the center position. These players include Vinny Prospal, Erik Christenson, Olli Jokenin, Brandon Dubinsky, Artem Anisimov, Chris Drury, and Brian Boyle. Both Prospal and Christenson spent time as the No. 1 center for Marian Gaborik, and late in the season the Rangers moved Prospal to left wing and Christenson as the official No. 1 center.

Dubinsky didn’t play center for a very long time, and will probably remain a winger for this season. Jokenin was acquired through a trade with the Flames, but never grew into the No. 1 center role for the Rangers. Neither did he grow into an offensive role for the Rangers, only scoring four goals during his time on Broadway.

Drury spent time as a center and a winger last season, but for the majority of last year he played as the third-line center with Sean Avery on his wing throughout the season. Drury also played a huge role on the penalty kill again. 

Anisimov spent last season mostly playing on the fourth line. In the last months of the season, Anisimov was arguably one of the best players on the team. In my opinion, a big season awaits the young center.

Boyle spent time on the third and fourth lines last season, before suffering a season-ending injury late in the year. He will try hard to earn his spot back for this season.

My “Top 6” at the center position:

No. 1. Derek Stepan—Yes, I do believe Stepan is the best center in the Rangers organization. He will definitely be a top competitor for a spot on the roster this season, and his chances are much better due to Drury’s finger injury. Though a season with the Hartford Wolf Pack (soon to be the Connecticut Whale) wouldn’t hurt Stepan, but word out of camp is that he is ready for the NHL, so why not play him?

No. 2. Artem Anisimov—As I said before, I believe this will be a very big season for Anisimov. He has the ability to make a jump to one of the top two lines, and I trust that he will.

No. 3. Chris Drury—His scoring is down, his offensive style of play is gone, but his defensive play is outstanding. He is a major part of the Rangers' penalty kill, and the Rangers will miss that during the start of the season (due to his injury).

No. 4. Tim Kennedy—One of the better offseason pickups by Glen Sather; Tim Kennedy can play both center and wing, but with the injury to Chris Drury, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kennedy make the team as a center. But there is also the possibility of him making the team as a winger.

No. 5. Erik Christenson—He was a very good waiver-wire pickup by Sather last season, but re-signing him may have been a mistake. Yes, he did do well with Marian Gaborik, but the Rangers have a lot of young, talented centers in the minors, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Christenson becomes the odd man out.

6. Vinny Prospal—The only reason he is in the center preview instead of the left wing preview, is  because Drury will not be in the lineup for the first week of the season, and this preview is for the opening lineup, so Prospal may be forced to center a bottom-two line.

Rangers projected opening night lines (Centers added):

Line one: Gaborik Stepan

Line two: Zuccarello Anisimov

Line three: Callahan Prospal

Line four: Prust Kennedy

Midseason callups: Erik Christenson may be called up or put in the lineup instead of Kennedy. I’d prefer Kennedy to Christenson, so that’s why he is in the lineup.

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