Blake Wheeler rises out of Rangers' right-wing necessity

WALTHAM, Mass. − If there's one thing Blake Wheeler has learned about Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, it's that the hockey conversation never ends between the Rangers' two longest-tenured players.

"Those guys are great communicators," he said following Monday's practice at Bentley University. "They love talking the game."

Wheeler has joined the discussion this season, with the 37-year-old the latest forward to get a crack at filling the ever-present right-wing void next to New York's most introspective linemates.

The results have been mixed across 131:16 time on ice. On the positive side, that trio has outscored opponents, 9-5, while posting a 54.73% shot share, according to Natural Stat Trick. But their 47.32% xGF suggests room for improvement, particularly when it comes to generating high-danger scoring chances. They've been credited with 26, per NST, while allowing 33.

Too often, they've been non-factors offensively.

Much of that TOI together came last month, with their initial struggles to produce resulting in a temporary shift to other RW options.

"Although we've tried to really limit them and have some stability in the lineup, there's always been some changes," head coach Peter Laviolette said. "If a line maybe isn't quite as productive as you'd like it to be, change a piece or change a part and see if that sends it in a different direction."

Lack of alternatives

Laviolette is now the fourth head coach in a row whose preference to keep the Kreider-Zibanejad connection intact is obvious. But, much like his predecessors, there is no obvious answer for who works best as the third wheel. (See what I did there?)

The most successful players in that spot were Mats Zuccarello and Pavel Buchnevich, but both currently play for other teams. That left the door wide open for Kaapo Kakko, but the 22-year-old was at first ineffective (three points in 20 games played this season) and now on long-term injured reserve with a left-leg injury.

The alternatives beyond Kakko and Wheeler are limited, whether it be promoting a bottom-sixer (such as Barclay Goodrow, Tyler Pitlick or Jimmy Vesey) or rushing a prospect (such as Brett Berard or Brennan Othmann, both of whom are natural left-wingers).

As such, the 6-foot-5, 222-pound Wheeler has been thrust into a more prominent role than the Rangers envisioned when they signed him to a one-year, $800,000 contract over the summer. It's a lot to ask for an older player who spent the previous 13 seasons with the same organization and was bought out due to declining production, with the former Winnipeg Jets' captain open about the difficult adjustment.

"I think you take for granted all the little things that were just kind of second nature when you're in a place for as long as we were − little things like the guys you're playing with and the system," he said. "When you come to a new situation, now you're thinking a little bit more because you want to be in the right place. You want to be doing the right things and be responsible for the guys you're playing with.

"You see it happen a lot in pro sports where guys change scenery, and it doesn't necessarily go smoothly right off the bat, just because there's a lot that goes into it."

Less thinking, more playing

Laviolette briefly lightened the load by giving AHL call-up Jonny Brodzinski a look on the top line, but he pivoted back to Wheeler for the Dec. 10 game against the Los Angeles Kings.

Since then, the bench boss has been pleased with what he's seen − so much so that he made a point of pulling all three aside Saturday to let them know.

"For me, one of the noticeable things was their speed – not just straightaway speed, but speed to support each other, speed with the puck, speed in tight areas to make plays," Laviolette said. "I thought they had an excellent night (in Friday's 5-1 win over the Anaheim Ducks). We chatted about it just for that reason because they seemed to work to find each other. And when they had chances to use their speed on the forecheck or off the rush or to defend, I thought they did that, too. But I thought that they were moving their feet to support each other on breakouts through the neutral zone, in the offensive zone, and I think that made them a really effective line."

It was a meaningful gesutre.

"That communication is huge – to get some feedback from the staff, just to know that things are going in the right direction," Wheeler said. "No matter how many games you play, it's still good to get positive reinforcement. I think our line is a bit more connected than maybe we were a little bit earlier."

Laviolette has also offered public praise. Prior to Saturday's 2-1 overtime win over the Boston Bruins, he said that Wheeler's "last three or four games" have been his best as a Ranger.

Wheeler, who has posted three points (two goals and one assist) in his last three games and has noticeably had the puck on his stick more often, concurred.

"The last little bit, I’ve been able to just play," he said. "Know your assignments and kind of know where you're supposed to be on the ice. It's more second nature now than it was before."

The results have been encouraging, with their line generating an xGF above 50% in each of the last three games while outshooting opponents, 17-10.

That increasing comfort stems from Wheeler's growing understanding of what Kreider and Zibanejad need from him. It's been a daily talking point between the three.

"We’re trying to play in the offensive zone as much as we can," he said. "Protecting pucks and being connected and providing just some layers of support in the offensive zone. I think that's probably what was missing the first go around. It was a lot of one-and-dones in the offensive zone. I feel like we're spending time down there now, and every time we're out there, we're forcing the other team to spend time in the defensive zone. That's our mindset."

The luxury of patience

The reality of the Rangers' situation is that Wheeler will likely be given a long leash out of necessity. Kakko's return date is very much up in the air and Laviolette has been clear about his preference to keep Alexis Lafrenière in the spot where he's flourished with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck.

Adding another RW may ultimately be the top trade-deadline priority, but there's a lot of time between now and March 8. The Blueshirts have built enough cushion in the standings to be patient and see if an extended run allows Wheeler to continue his recent progress.

"There's no question about the track record those guys have," Wheeler said of Kreider and Zibanejad. "I've experienced that before, too, playing with the same guy for a long time. Sometimes you add a third layer to it and it works. Sometimes it doesn't. I think it's just a matter of knowing what those guys do well, knowing what I do well and just building on it."

Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Blake Wheeler rises out of Rangers' right-wing necessity