Brady Skjei has earned his place on this Rangers team, just as the rookie defenseman has worked for the confidence that has blossomed in his game over the past few weeks. In turn, his performance has created a confidence from his coach that draws a reasonable comparison to captain Ryan McDonagh.
“Him and Mac right now, when they’re going back for pucks, both of them have the ability to beat the first forechecker or to skate away from the pressure,” Alain Vigneault said after Monday’s practice, his team coming off a heartening 2-1 victory over the league-leading Capitals on Sunday afternoon at the Garden and preparing to take on the Atlantic Division-leading Canadiens (with new coach Claude Julien) Tuesday on Broadway.
“It makes it a lot easier on our game instead of defending,” Vigneault continued. “And [Sunday] was one of Brady’s most effective games as far as beating the first forechecker.”
Skjei, 22, is built in the mold of Vigneault’s ideal defenseman. He skates like the wind, moves the puck quickly — and when he’s on his game, that also means effectively — and he’s able to join the rush and contribute in the offensive zone. The team’s first-round pick (28th overall) in the 2012 draft, Skjei’s 25 assists through the first 57 games are second only to McDonagh’s 30 among the team’s defensemen.
Yet Skjei’s 21 assists at even strength are good for fourth in the league, behind only such luminaries as Brent Burns, Erik Karlsson and Duncan Keith.
That’s heady company for the kid from Lakeville, Minn. It’s also one of the big reasons why his Rangers were winners in seven of their past eight games and own a record of 9-3-0 in their previous 12 to get them within two points of the Blue Jackets for third in the Metropolitan Division and three points short of Pittsburgh for second — not to mention 11 or 12 points clear of the second wild-card spot, depending on what the Panthers did on Monday night.
“I think as rookies, it’s difficult at the start of the year to kind of know you’re a part of the team and you’re a big piece of the puzzle,” Skjei told The Post, having made his NHL debut with seven games at the end of last year’s regular season as well as five games in the playoffs. But his rookie acclimation has helped with fellow youngsters Jimmy Vesey and Pavel Buchnevich, all sticking with the team out of training camp and playing big roles.
“I think me, Jimmy and Buch, all three of us, are getting that feeling now that when we’re playing well, the team is more successful,” Skjei said. “So we have to do our part, and we can’t feel like we’re rookies anymore. We’re 50-something games into the season, so got to play like guys that belong on this team and should be here everyday.”
Skjei admittedly had a mediocre training camp, and his season hasn’t been all rosy. He was a healthy scratch Dec. 23 against his hometown Wild, and just two weeks before that, he had taken a skate to the face from teammate Kevin Hayes.
But he was a puck-moving force against the Islanders on Thursday, and matched it again against the powerhouse Capitals. His play is finally rounding into form as the games are getting more and more important.
“I think I’ve played more consistent,” Skjei said. “I feel confident out there. I feel like I’m playing well right now.”
Now it’s on Skjei to keep it going, and allow his team to keep relying on him to be a steady contributor at both ends of the ice.
“The first part of the season, you’re trying to do whatever you can just to stay up here and stay in the lineup every night,” Skjei said. “You still have to work every day so you’re not out of the lineup. But I think it’s at that point now where we’re making plays and don’t have to worry about making a huge mistake and really regretting it and sitting or going on back to [AHL] Hartford. I think we’re good that way for now, but still have to keep coming every day.”
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