One of the most fascinating storylines that unfolded during the 2017-18 Rangers season was the team’s crumbling blue line. New York’s defense started the year sloppy and unstable, and things only got worse from there. By deadline day Jeff Gorton made a few deals involving blue liners; he dealt Nick Holden and acquired Rob O’Gara, Chris Bigras, and three prospects: Ryan Lindgren, Libor Hajek, and Yegor Rykov.
Something that all of those new faces have in common is that they’re left-handed. Why is that noteworthy? Because the Blueshirts have a dire need to shore up the right side of the blue line at an organizational level.