As Opening Night inches closer, it’s safe to say the New York Rangers depth chart at center will be something to keep an eye on.
Longtime first line middle-man Derek Stepan was shipped from Broadway to the desert earlier this offseason, as he was the focal point of a Draft Day deal between the Rangers and Arizona Coyotes. Despite being a consistent 50-point scorer, Stepan drew the ire of the Blueshirts faithful because of his declining play and cap hit.
But the hits at center didn’t start with that transaction. Just a week prior, the Rangers lost Oscar Lindberg to the Vegas Golden Knights during the NHL’s Expansion Draft.