TAMPA, Fla. — It is about the team, nothing but the team, nothing but making the playoffs.
Except of course, it is almost all about the team and making the playoffs when your own NHL career is on the line, as it is for Erik Christensen, the Rangers’ first-line center who has no guarantee for next season.
“I’m trying to do everything I can to help the team make the playoffs. That’s the most important thing, but I have to admit I’m also worrying about playing next year,” said Christensen, the Dec. 2 waiver acquisition from Anaheim, following yesterday’s early morning practice in preparation for tonight’s match against the Lightning (7:30, MSG, ESPN 1050 AM).
“You have to work and eat next year, so it’s definitely on my mind.”
Christensen, operating on the final year of his contract at $750,000 before hitting restricted free agency, has worked well with Marian Gaborik since getting the opportunity to play with the Blueshirts’ lone elite forward, but that won’t prevent the Rangers from pursuing an elite pivot over the summer.
“With the way my career has gone, I don’t think I’m ever going to feel comfortable,” said the 26-year-old Christensen, who bounced from Pittsburgh to Atlanta to Anaheim to New York in a 22-month period between February 2008 and December 2009. “I think I’m always going to have to fight for my opportunities.
“I have to show a little more initiative,” he said. “This is definitely the place I’ve gotten the most opportunity to become a top-two centerman, which is how I envision myself. I’m kind of figuring out what I need to do to get those kinds of minutes beyond putting up points.
“I need to be play defensively in our own end, I need to finish checks, I need to do the little things that add up to being able to do the job that a top-line player is expected to do.”
Christensen, who has great finesse skills and wonderful vision, said upon his arrival that he regarded this as his last chance in the NHL. After all, he’s a 2002 Entry Draft selection, 69th overall that year by Pittsburgh. Eight years is a long time to wait.
But patience can be a virtue, as exemplified by Washington’s approach with Eric Fehr, the 18th selection in the 2003 Entry Draft, who just this season is becoming an important player on the conference’s best team after spending a few seasons in the AHL.
“I’ve liked my attitude and approach since declaring this as my last chance,” said Christensen, who has recorded 22 points (6 goals, 16 assists) in 43 games with the Rangers. “Whether other people have that same thought, I don’t know, but I think people are always going to doubt me.
“People are accustomed to seeing young players thrive early, so I think I probably haven’t lived up to expectations that people had for me back in 2002,” he said. “But everyone isn’t the same. Sometimes it takes time.”
The Rangers don’t have much time — they’re four points out with six games to go.
“Regardless of my situation, making the playoffs is first and foremost,” Christensen said. “Team success breeds individual success. There’s no question about that.”
*
Henrik Lundqvist is scheduled to make his 12th straight start and 20th in last 21 tonight. . . . Matt Gilroy and Enver Lisin will be scratched again, and Brian Boyle (ankle), Sean Avery (knee) and Ryan Callahan (knee) remain sidelined.