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The New York Rangers haven’t made a ton of news this summer in signing unrestricted free agents. They did, however, add some depth to the roster, and one of those moves was the Rangers’ best addition to the roster this summer. The player who I am referring to is none other than forward Benoit Pouliot.
Pouliot will be asked to be a third line winger for the Rangers next season, and I believe he will thrive in that role in new head coach Alain Vigneault‘s offensive system. When healthy, he can easily put up 20 goals, and for a third line winger I say that is pretty darn good. However, notice I said when healthy.
Pouliot’s downside is that he is injury prone and has never played a full 82 game season so far in his career. The most games he has ever played in one season was 79 back in the 2010-2011 season with the Montreal Canadiens where he recorded 13 goals and 17 assists. That season he would not have scored 20 goals, but the year after when he was with the Boston Bruins, he played less games, at 74, and had 16 goals and 16 assists.
With Pouliot being only 26 years of age and entering into the prime of his career, I think he will only get better and better for the next few years. Which is why I think if Pouliot can stay healthy, he can put up 20 or more goals in Vigneault’s system, all while being on the Rangers’ third line.
What do you think?
