Building best Rangers starting 6 since 2010

You never know what’s going to come your way when the NHL offseason is in full swing and New York Rangers news is hard to come by.

So, here’s a shoutout to Talkin’ Rangers on X (formerly Twitter), who designed a fun post asking fans to create the best possible starting lineup with a $20 budget in relation to the financial values for each player assigned in the graphic. The players available are Rangers from 2010-present.

Fans must fill six spots — center, left wing, right wing, two defensemen and a goaltender — with a variety of players whose value ranges from most expensive ($5) to least expensive ($1).

Think this is so easy? Good luck trying to play general manager and spending that 20 bucks in the most effective way.

Taking turns building best Rangers lineup since 2010

Four members of the Forever Blueshirts staff took a whack at this and each admitted it’s nearly impossible to build a perfect starting six with the dollar-value restraints. Interestingly, not one player was included on each of the four lineups. Three players appeared in three lineups.

After this fun exercise, perhaps, at least a few of us came away with more admiration for what Chris Drury and other general managers contend with in building their rosters.

C: ($4) Mika Zibanejad

LW: ($5) Artemi Panarin

RW: ($1) Ryan Callahan

D: ($5) Adam Fox

D: ($4) Ryan McDonagh

G: ($1) Jonathan Quick

This was a fun exercise, one where I have eight solid possibilities staring up at me from my scratch pad. Henrik Lundqvist is my goalie in seven of the eight options. But the very last option I seriously considered, slotted in three-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Quick for a buck and that really let me load up elsewhere in the lineup. There’s risk here not going with the best goalie, which Quick is not at this stage of his career, but every one of my options come with risks – even one or two that include Jacob Trouba for $1 on defense! By starting Quick, I am able to achieve my main goal of having a top D pairing of Adam Fox and Ryan McDonagh, which might be as good as any defensive combo in Rangers history. And it allowed me to keep two more expensive options – Mika Zibanejad, who is clearly the best center here, and Artemi Panarin, the best and most consistent point producer in this group. The best value by far is Ryan Callahan for $1. His name is all over my scratch pad, a no-brainer at that price for all he brings to the table.

Lou Orlando, staff writer

C: ($2) Derick Brassard

LW: ($5) Artemi Panarin

RW: ($1) Ryan Callahan

D: ($5) Adam Fox

D: ($2) Marc Staal

G: ($5) Henrik Lundqvist

After much deliberation, I chose to go big on three of the four $5 players and fill the remaining three spots with some value picks. While Quick was tempting for just $1, I couldn’t deny myself one of the elite Blueshirts goalies of all-time. You can’t go wrong with either Shesterkin or Lundqvist, but I went with “The King,” partially out of nostalgia but because he was elite for over a decade — I know exactly what I’m getting with him. Except for maybe Jaromir Jagr, I’m not sure Hank ever played with a forward quite as dynamic as Artemi Panarin, so I made sure to lock down the elite scorer and playmaker. Derick Brassard isn’t quite as flashy, but he’s a beast in the postseason and a reliable top-six guy. Then, I just couldn’t turn down Ryan Callahan at $1, the definition of a 200-foot player and the first Ranger I ever fell in love with. Marc Staal will be the reliable safety net on the blue line that allows Adam Fox to do his thing offensively. All of that in front of the greatest goalie in Rangers history? Yes, please!

Nick Palmer, staff writer

C: ($4) Mika Zibanejad

LW: ($3) Chris Kreider

RW: ($4) Rick Nash

D: ($5) Adam Fox

D: ($3) Dan Girardi

G: ($1) Jonathan Quick

Having Quick as a $1 option is the biggest steal on the board, and allows you to spend lavishly on your five skaters. Quick, in his prime, is arguably the best goaltender here. But even if he plays as he did last season, posting a 2.62 goals-against average and the way he helped carry the Rangers through the first half of the year, that still brings incredible value. Fox and Girardi will take the blue line, even though we know they’re both right-hand shots. I’ll take that liberty, believing Girardi could slot in on the left. Fox’s playmaking abilities and offensive skill with three straight 70+ point seasons combined with Girardi’s shot-blocking prowess (he blocked 2337 shots in his career) as a stay-at-home partner make for a formidable pairing. The special teams unit will be lethal with Zibanejad leading the way, and the forward group relying on Nash’s ability to shield the puck in the offensive zone. Once Nash fires the puck toward the net, Kreider’s power-forward identity with a six-foot-3 frame will be used to crash the crease and create opportunities for Zibanejad and Nash, as well as for himself. This will be a solid team that creates greasy goals, and gorgeous ones.

Dane Walsh, staff writer

C: ($4) Mika Zibanejad

LW: ($3) Chris Kreider

RW: ($1) Ryan Callahan

D: ($4) Ryan McDonagh

D: ($3) Dan Girardi

G: ($5) Henrik Lundqvist

This may be my early 2010s nostalgia getting the best of me, but if I had $20 to pick a starting six for the Rangers, I find it hard to beat this one. Taking the duo of Kreider and Zibanejad and adding in Captain Callahan creates a perfect first line. If Callahan were in his prime, he would be a great fit here. Always so reliable, always willing to grind for pucks, and could chip in offensively. Playing with Kreider, one of the best Rangers of all time, and Zibanejad, who is not too far behind, makes for a solid forward group. On defense, I had to go with the iconic McDonagh – Girardi pairing. These two played countless games together for the Rangers and were the top defensive pair for years. This was an easy decision. And, of course, I had to have “The King” in net. I grew up for nearly two decades knowing no Rangers goalie other than Henrik Lundqvist. There’s no better goalie to have as the backstop for this lineup. Two former captains, three great Ranger veterans, and perhaps the best Rangers goalie of all time. I think it’s a great starting six.

By Lou Orlando

Lou Orlando has spent the past two seasons as a New York Rangers beat reporter for WFUV Sports. The... More about Lou Orlando