2011-12 NHL Season Preview: Who Will Play Left Wing on the Rangers' Top Line

A loyal reader of mine has asked me this question time and time again so I felt I owed him an answer or two.

We have seen many debates on who made the best moves this offseason.  Who should or could win NHL Awards this season and who should or shouldn't be captain.

The Rangers are a franchise that is full of young players and talented athletes.  This crop of young talent also gives them a lot of depth and a lot of possibilities when it comes to who could make the team out of training camp.

The biggest question surrounding the New York Rangers for this upcoming season is who is going to complete the dynamic duo of Brad Richards and Marian Gaborik on the top line.

There are few candidates for this role and each has an equal chances as any.  This article will take a look at the candidates and who should win the job.

The first candidate is Wojtek Wolski.

Wojtek Wolski was acquired by the Rangers in a deal involving veteran defenseman, and incidentally the number two cause of headaches amongst Rangers fans, Michael Roszival.

This deal was so lopsided it wouldn't even be accepted in EA NHL 11.  Nonetheless Wolski was acquired to replace Alex Frolov.

Wolski is a speedy forward that has real offensive potential.  However it appeared that's all that Wolski had.  This summer, Wolski went to hockey school to get serious about his game.  He enlisted the help of Barbara Underhill, a famed Olympic Skater who has helped numerous players in the past.

He also enlisted the tutelage and help of hockey guru, Jari Byrski so he could improve his shot. Some of his past clients happen to include Jason Spezza and Steven Stamkos.

Wolski is our first candidate because of his size and speed.  He would complement Gaborik and Richards quite nicely.  If he continues to bulk up, Wolski could be quite the power forward on this line.

If I was a betting man, I would say Wolski would finish in third in the top line sweepstakes.

The second candidate and the second most likely candidate is Brandon Dubinsky.

I doubt that Tortorella would pair Dubinsky with Richards and Gaborik full time because it would defeat the purpose of adding Richards.  By adding Richards, the Rangers would have a legitimate top scoring line. 

This would allow the A (Anisimov) B(B.Dubinsky) and C (Callahan) line to fly under the radar. It would allow the line to play their own style of hockey.  These players will probably average anywhere from 50-65 points each. 

They can provide secondary scoring and their grit and checking game.

Regardless, I could see Tortorella rolling this line during training camp.  Dubinsky is a player with a lot of talent and skill.  He could easily score 30 goals and 60 points if he was paired with Richards and Gaborik.

However, I feel Dubinsky can be productive and grow into an effective hockey player while still playing alongside his Whale Pack mates Ryan and Artie.

The last candidate and the person who should play on the top line is Derek Stepan.

Before you inform me that Derek Stepan is a center, hear me out.

Brad Richards was brought in to be a mentor to young players as well as being a top center and power-play quarterback.

Richards is a capable passer and playmaker and Stepan would greatly benefit from playing alongside him

It should be noted that Brad Richards spent ample time playing left wing for the Tampa Bay Lightning and he still turned out to be a great center.

Marian Gaborik should have no problem scoring 30-plus goals while playing with Richards and Stepan.

The biggest upside to having Stepan on the left wing for the top line is that it would benefit all of the Rangers' other lines. 

The idea of pairing Brandon Dubinsky with Gaborik and Richards was toyed around with by fans on multiple hockey forums and blogs.

Dubinsky wouldn't make sense because if would break up his already established line with Artem Anisimov and Ryan Callahan.  Bringing in Richards would allow this line to stay together and play their own game.

Another upside would be freeing up a center spot for Brian Boyle or Mike Rupp.  It is no secret that Stepan is no faceoff ace.  Richards could help him develop, but in the meantime this spot would be put to better use with Rupp or Boyle.

Boyle and Rupp are capable centers who can man their own respective lines if John Tortorella required it.

At the end of the day this is just my take but I would love to hear what you think.  Leave a comment in the section below to get the conversation started. 

Tom Urtz is an NHL Featured Columnist

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