The Rangers’ best forward line, by far, doesn’t have Rick Nash on it. Or Mats Zuccarello. Or Derek Stepan. Or Chris Kreider.
Nope, the Rangers’ best line is centered by a resurgent Derick Brassard, flanked by a pair of emerging wingers who had been considered, by many, and at times by Rangers coach Alain Vigneault, to be third-line types.
Left winger J.T. Miller is quickly becoming the type of force you hope to get (though the Rangers rarely do) from a first-round draft pick (15th in 2011), just short of his 23rd birthday,
Right winger Jesper Fast, who just turned 24 (a sixth-rounder in 2010), is the kind of player coaches absolutely love – defensively responsible, willing to do the dirty work, and with an unquestioned work ethic.