The New York Rangers went into the season with one of the most highly touted defenses in the NHL. A year after making the Eastern Conference Final in consecutive seasons, the expectation was that the defense would be a strong point for a team with a bit of uncertainty up front.

USA Today even posted a ranking of the top 5 defenses in the NHL, placing the Rangers #2 overall. The skinny:

New York Rangers: Advanced-stat zealots don’t love the Rangers’ defense because of poor Corsi ratings recorded by key players, but the league respects it. Dan Girardi,Ryan McDonagh and Marc Staal are all proven, relentless competitors, and Kevin Klein has been highly impressive since coming to the team. Keith Yandle is still among the best offensive defensemen in the game. Dan Boyle is past his best seasons, but when he’s on your bottom pair, you are in good shape. He can put up numbers. (KA)

However, the Corsi “zealots” have been proven right, as even the strongest of Dan Girardi supporters have quieted down. Marc Staal has seen his ice time diminish as he loses his head coach’s trust, with Vigneault calling Staal out specifically twice this season.

The issues of the Rangers defense have been beaten to death and then some, with the understanding that as long as Dan Girardi and Marc Staal are playing major minutes, the Rangers will not be icing a superb defense.

With that said, the the other for defenders deserve some appreciation in New York.

Since January 1, the quartet of Dan Boyle, Kevin Klein, Ryan McDonagh, and Keith Yandle have all played 50 percent (or better) possession games at even strength. For a team that ranks 22nd in Corsi For percentage, it shows the problem is not across the entire defense, but only among the pair of anchors.

Taking a further look shows that Ryan McDonagh and Kevin Klein have contributed offensively at even strength, each tallying 12 points since January 1 — the same total of points as offensive weapon Derick Brassard.

McDonagh and Klein each have averaged over a point per 60 minutes at even strength in the stretch, with Klein being responsible for some of the most important goals. Klein’s four game-winning goals have him tied for 2nd on the Rangers roster, and his knack for scoring the big goals has helped the Rangers climb the standings.

On the power play, Keith Yandle has been the primary set-up man, tallying eight assists and a 5.6 points per 60 minutes in the same stretch. Dan Boyle has been used less by Alain Vigneault in an attempt to keep his legs fresh for the playoffs, but when Boyle has played he has posted the highest Corsi For percentage of the Rangers defense, coupled with the worst luck given his lowest PDO.

The Rangers have a below-even Corsi For percentage with each individual defenseman of the four off of the ice, but an even or above Corsi For percentage with them on. In other words, the Rangers are either controlling play or playing back-and-forth hockey when Dan Boyle, Kevin Klein, Ryan McDonagh, or Keith Yandle are on the ice, but are watching their opponents possess the puck when the four are off the ice.

This leaves room for optimism around the Rangers defense.

With correct deployment, these top four make for a dangerous unit, and prospects Brady Skjei and Dylan McIlrath are ready to be inserted into the lineup.

While they may not boast a top five defense in the NHL overall, the Rangers certainly have the personnel available to be one of the best in the league if they cut some dead weight.

Statistics via War-On-Ice