Three combinations the Rangers should consider for their top line

TARRYTOWN - This is a time for experimentation, not overreaction.

That’s why there’s no sense in getting worked up about an underwhelming showing from the New York Rangers’ potential top line of Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafrenière in Thursday’s 3-2 preseason loss to the New Jersey Devils.

But this is also a time for weighing decisions, with less than two weeks remaining until the Oct. 12 opener in Buffalo.

Sometime between now and then, new head coach Peter Laviolette will determine how he wants the Blueshirts’ lineup to look when the puck drops against the Sabres. That doesn’t mean he’ll stick with those combinations all year – he almost surely won’t – but coming off a season of constant juggling, the players would undoubtedly appreciate a bit of consistency.

3 takeaways: From Rangers preseason loss to Devils

We should get a clearer picture in the coming days, with a round of roster cuts made Friday – including forwards Alex Belzile, Anton Blidh, Turner Elson and Riley Nash, along with defensemen Ty Emberson and Connor Mackey, being placed on waivers – and more expected soon.

“At some point, like in every training camp, there'll be moves made,” Laviolette said. “There'll be a stretch here where I feel like we can really start to dial in on some things.”

That process will be slightly delayed after Friday’s scheduled preseason game against the Islanders was postponed until Saturday at 7 p.m. due to flooding, but clarity is forthcoming.

As it pertains to the forwards, it starts at the top. Once the coaching staff figures out the best solution for its No. 1 trio, the rest should fall into place. With that in mind, let’s examine three possible top-line combinations under consideration for opening night:

Kreider-Zibanejad-Lafrenière

The evidence has pointed to this being Laviolette’s first choice.

While the second and third lines have shuffled throughout camp, this trio has skated together for multiple practices. Their first live game action was delayed due to an upper-body injury for Zibanejad, but they got their chance Thursday.

They didn’t exactly seize the opportunity, failing to produce any points while losing the scoring chances battle, 5-1, according to Natural Stat Trick, and combining for just two shots on goal at five-on-five.

It wasn’t much better defensively. Kreider and Zibanejad were on ice for the Devils’ go-ahead goal, with Jesper Bratt beating Kreider to the front of the net for the easy finish, and all three were in for Michael McLeod’s empty-netter that sealed Jersey’s win.

Of course, context is important here. We know that Zibanejad is coming off some kind of minor injury and Lafrenière is in the process of switching from his natural left-handed side to right wing. Plus, those three have posted a respectable 51.69% xGF across a relatively small sample size of 293:25 time on ice together the previous three seasons.

Junking what the coach very recently considered a good idea this quickly would feel panicky – and it doesn’t sound like Laviolette intends to do that.

“If something wasn't completely on point (Thursday) night that I was looking at, that doesn't mean that you throw it out the window,” he said.

If Laviolette believes Lafrenière as a top-six RW is what’s best for his development and has conviction about that trio as the No. 1 line, then he should stick with it and give them a fair shot at making it work. But if he’s having doubts, there are a few alternatives we may see in the coming days.

Panarin-Zibanejad-Wheeler

On the second day of practice, Zibanejad centered a top line with Artemi Panarin to his left and Blake Wheeler to his right. We haven’t seen it since – but then again, there have only been three true practice days so far in camp.

We’ll discuss the RW spot in a moment, but the central debate should focus on Panarin and Zibanejad.

The Rangers’ two leading scorers have rarely played together since Panarin’s 2019 arrival. That was three head coaches ago, when David Quinn began the 2019-20 season with that pair on the top line but quickly separated them and never looked back.

Laviolette’s predecessor, Gerard Gallant, largely stuck to that arrangement. Panarin and Zibanejad have logged 563:33 TOI together at 5v5 the past three seasons, compared to around 2,400 minutes apart.

The results in those instances are a mixed bag. They’ve outscored opponents, 32-21, which is ultimately the most important stat. But the underlying numbers don’t look as promising, with a 45.66% xGF and 45.27% shot share. Turnovers and poor time of possession have been issues, with a .927 save percentage from Rangers' goalies in those situations often bailing them out.

Zibanejad has fared much better with Kreider on his left, while Panarin’s presence on the second line has made that unit exponentially more dangerous. But, as both players have pointed out, it’s difficult to build chemistry when you only play together for short spurts. It’s hard not to be intrigued by the upside if it ever clicked between the team’s two most dynamic forwards.

I do wonder if Laviolette will try it in one of the final two preseason games next week. And if so, would Wheeler be riding shotgun?

The 37-year-old veteran is a big body who, much like Kreider, can get inside to the areas where Panarin typically doesn’t go. He has a long track record of offensive production and would bring some complementary skills, particularly his physicality and ability to hold pucks down low. And, at this stage of his career, he might benefit by transitioning from play-driver to a supporting role next to two high-level linemates.

Kreider-Zibanejad-Kakko

There's one player we’ve yet to discuss as the top-line RW who most analytics portray as the best option.

Kaapo Kakko is having a solid camp, continuing his evolution as an effective 200-foot player. His defense has drastically improved – so much so that he's getting looks on the penalty kill – and Laviolette has raved about how he controls pucks in high-traffic areas and still make plays.

“He has the speed and the size and the creativity to hang on to pucks and to try and find something and make something happen offensively when it's not crystal clear,” the coach noted after Tuesday’s 4-2 win over the Islanders. “The crystal-clear plays, those are the easy ones to see and make. But when you don't have those crystal-clear plays – when you have a player that has the ability to create – that can become a really dangerous player.”

The next step is turning those more of those possessions into points, which feels like a matter of time for the 22-year-old.

His best chance to do that might come on the top line. Kakko logged 229:43 TOI with Kreider and Zibanejad last season, and while they only netted 10 goals in that time, they allowed a measly six. Their 59.18% xGF ranked best on the team among lines that played 200 minutes or more together, as did their 58.4% shot share. Logic tells us the points were coming if they had been given a longer runway.

Kakko said last season that he “played my best hockey I've ever played with those guys,” which should count for something, too.

We’ve yet to see that trio in this camp, but if Laviolette isn’t thrilled with the other combos he’s explored so far, this is one that’s worth considering.

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: NY Rangers lineup combination ideas for their top line