New York Rangers player development past failures have defined the last half-decade, or so, costing the organization first-round picks like Kaapo Kakko and Brennan Othmann. With Tanner Glass stepping in as the new director of player development, the question is whether anything will actually change.
New York Ranger Player Development Director, Recent Hire Tanner Glass
Credit Image: © Alie Skowronski/Miami Herald via ZUMA Press Wire
Jed Ortmeyer is out, and Tanner Glass is in as the new director of player development for the New York Rangers. Glass spent 11 seasons in the NHL (2007-2018) and three of those with the Blueshirts. Glass put up a career high 16 points in 78 games during the 2011-2012 season with the Winnipeg Jets. The enforcer found most of his time in a bottom-six role, putting his body on the line and winning board battles. In today’s NHL, the enforcer playstyle is fading as speed and playmaking ability take over. So is it fair to question Tanner Glass’ ability as the New York Rangers player development director in order to develop NHL skills and talent in a game that has left his style behind?
New York Rangers Player Development Failures
During Ortmeyer’s tenure, the Rangers had major trouble developing their talent to their projected potential, so a change was inevitable. Most notable in this conversation are Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere, second and first-overall picks in back-to-back years.
Kakko and Lafreniere
What seemed to be the future of a new New York Rangers era never lived up to the hype Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko received. Kakko had a career high 40 points during the 2022-23 Rangers season, a decent performance but one that fell short of Rangers fans’ expectations as it was his fourth year with the team. After what seemed to be a decline in Kakko’s performance in the following years, it wasn’t long until the Rangers decided to part ways with the young forward.
A very similar story for the former first overall pick Alexis Lafreniere, a career high of 57 points during the 2023-24 season. A decline in performance since then has raised concern from Ranger fans regarding the outlook of Alexis Lafreniere’s career with the New York Rangers. So was this an unlucky draft or a failure to develop talent from the Rangers staff?
It could be a mix of both. The most effective development tool a team can provide is opportunity. Young talent develops through playing, failing, and adjusting to the speed of the NHL game in real time. The more minutes they play, the more experience they get and opportunities to grow as a player.
During the time of Kakko’s and Lafreniere’s rise, the Rangers had a solidified lineup with veteran names like Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Patrick Kane, and Vincent Trocheck, leaving limited minutes for these kids to experience the NHL game as they should. During the start of their careers with the Rangers, the first three-to-four years with the team, Kakko averaged 14.5 mins per game, and Lafreniere 14 mins per game. For two of the highest-picked forwards in recent Rangers history, 14 minutes a night was simply not enough to develop into the players they were drafted to be.
Looking at the Sharks’ Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith
In contrast, we will take a look at the San Jose Sharks, a team that has successfully developed their talent and has created a playoff-contending team around them.
Similar to the Rangers, the Sharks picked Will Smith third overall and Macklin Celebrini first overall in back-to-back years. However, the main difference was the roster the Sharks already possessed. It was clear the Sharks committed to a rebuilding phase, allowing their young talent to fill into top-six forward roles, and get the ice time they require to develop to their full potential. Just two years after their drafts, we see Celebrini earning 21 mins per game, and Smith 18 mins per game. A very large difference between Kakko and Lafreniere at a similar time in their careers.
New York Rangers Player Development and What Needs to Change
As the Rangers look to retool their team, it might be worth taking a page out of the Sharks’ playbook, using the next couple of years as development for the young talent they pick up at the draft.
We are starting to see young names beyond just Celebrini, like Connor Bedard, Lane Hutson, and Ryan Leonard, all make great impacts on their respective teams when they are just given the minutes they need. Although New York Rangers player development might complicate the fact that fans want to win now, it may be worth holding off on big free agent signings this summer, especially given the weak free agent class, so that top-six and top-four slots remain open for these rising prospects. While Tanner Glass and staff may be suitable for the New York Rangers player development director job, there are measures the Rangers must take beyond instruction to provide their talent with the best opportunity to reach or surpass their potential.
Main Photo Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
