If McDonnel comes as advertised, I can see someone being moved. Unless grades were an issue, it's not likely he decommitted to be a depth player. Him committing puts pressure on a guy like Stepien to prove he's a top 6 caliber player next season, or at least significantly better than McDonnel to earn top 9 minutes over him. Going to be some tough decisions either way, and especially if anyone else in that bottom 6 performs at a high level.
The Rangers have six centres who'll likely be on the roster on opening night. (No particular order)
Langdon
MacDonnell
Serpa
Pinelli
Damiani
Meireles
For McDonnell, or Pinelli for that matter, to play their way up the lineup, they'll have to unseat highly touted returning players or play out of position.
As I see it, even though Meireles has spent time on the right side, no way I split up he and RW Yantsis as line mates. They have to do everything possible to allow Yantsis every opportunity to repeat his output from last year. That starts and ends playing with Meireles as his centre. Nobody is bumping Damiani out of the centre position.
That leaves Langdon, MacDonnell and Pinelli to occupy the other two spots down the middle. (I see Serpa playing 4th line wing period).
Can either rookie bump Langdon out of the third line centre spot. I'm not so sure. But even if one does, one will still be centering the 4th line - a line that neither (according to some on here) signed on to do. Don't forget, Langdon, like McDonnell, also left an NCAA committee to come here. Did he do so to play out of position or 4th line in his NHL draft year?
I don't see one of these guys forcing out a centre from the top six. I do see at least one playing out of position.
As far as Stepien goes, I think the only way he's traded is to make way for a high end veteran winger to play on the top six. I compare the top six spot Stepien occupies to the top four spot MacPherson occupies on D. MacPherson, a safe, serviceable player who occupies a spot that could be improved upon at the deadline should we decide to trade for a higher end D. (No disrespect to MacPherson but Vallati would look nice in our top four this year).
The way I see it today, and of course it could change, is Meireles, Damiani, Langdon and Pinelli playing down the middle with MacDonnell occupying a spot on the wing among the bottom six.
My lineup on opening night:
Petizian/Meireles/Yantsis
Garreffa/Damiani/Stepien
MacDonnell/Langdon/Valade
Serpa/Pinelli/Dickerson
I see a top six winger acquired by the deadline who'll bump Petizian down to the 3rd line, MacDonnell down to the 4th and Dickerson out of the top 12. That would be 4 strong lines IMO.
But there's a lot of hockey to be played so of course, anything could happen.
