ST. LOUIS — During the preseason, forward Brandon Pirri had four goals and two assists and earned a roster spot with the Rangers. He also was a force on the power play, showing that he could be a piece to a puzzle which the Blueshirts were missing.
For years, the Rangers’ power play has featured pass-first playmakers with vision, but defensemen able to launch rockets from the point were hard to come by. Veteran Dan Boyle, whose career was winding down when the Rangers acquired him, didn’t really fit the role. Arizona’s Keith Yandle was brought in, and he did deliver 20 assists with the man-advantage last season before leaving for a long-term contract with Florida.