Pre-season has started, players are fighting for that final spot, and we’re officially underway with the 2018-19 season. For years the center position has been a glaring weakness for the New York Rangers. To start the 2017 season, New York had Mike Zibanejad and Kevin Hayes as their two solidified centers. After that, it was a game time decision who would fill the third and fourth roles.
J.T. Miller was a natural center but utilized too often as a winger. Paul Carey and David Desharnais showed that they can chip in at center once in a while, but their departure was an indication that it wasn’t enough to earn a spot with the rebuilding Rangers.