As many of you know, I often think about former Rangers players and certain names stand out to me, even if they were just passable or average. Matt Gilroy and Chris Higgins spring to mind, but one player always makes me think of missed potential: Erik Christensen.
While researching this topic, I found out that Dave didn’t like Christensen very much back in the day. While we disagree on this point, we both agree that Christensen was one of the most frustrating players during his time with the Rangers.
Signed off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks in December 2009, Christensen had undeniable talent. He was skilled with the puck, had a great shot and was a strong skater with enough size to make an impact. He had all the tools to be a top center and paired with Marian Gaborik, he showed flashes of his potential – especially in the shootout, where he really shined.
So what went wrong? Erik Christensen showed flashes of his outstanding talent but then disappeared for long stretches, which makes his inconsistency all the more frustrating. Was he simply ahead of his time in a league that was just beginning to add talented players with outstanding hands, or was he not suited to be a top center in the NHL? It’s probably a mix of both.
In the early 2010s, the NHL began to move away from the hard-fought style of the late ’90s and early 2000s. As the game evolved, players with quick hands and speed like Christensen became more valuable. However, his skills didn’t quite fit with John Tortorella’s coaching style, which may have hampered his development.
On the other hand, there were nights when Christensen seemed completely disinterested and faded into the background. This inconsistency ultimately led to the Rangers trading him to Minnesota. With Mats Zuccarello emerging as a shootout specialist who also performed more consistently, Christensen became expendable.
Today he serves as a cautionary tale – a reminder of what could have been. But at least we can still appreciate some of the spectacular goals he scored along the way.
