Ask The Maven: Friday’s question of the week and the answer.

The question comes from Michael Cardoza of Woodbury, New York: HOW DO THE RANGERS SOLVE THE PROBLEM OF DEPTH SCORING?

The Maven replies.

This is a question that will torment general manager Chris Drury through training camp and perhaps beyond.

For starters, know that Drury’s free agent pursuit virtually stopped at the starting gate.Therefore, with no notable sharpshooters signed, he absolutely must dip into his prospect reserve.

Left wing Brennan Othmann has been more talk and little action which means he tops the “Now Is The Hour” list. We’ve heard enough about how “complete” a player Brennan is so now’s the time to prove it – at camp.

Another port sider who’ll compete with Othmann is Brett Berard, noted for his quickness and craftiness. At 22, he’s reached the “Show Me Or Drop Me” time of his career.

With Blake Wheeler and Barclay Goodrow gone, there’s room for the son of former NHLer Yanic Perreault on the right side. Gabe Perreault is the former NTDP record-setter and knows the importance of both sides of the ice.

Mind you, we’re talking about the Presidents’ Cup-winners with very few slots to fill.

The bonus in this case is center Matt Rempe who – don’t laugh – could wind up as third pivot behind Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck.

That, however, is contingent on Filip Chytil’s condition. Should Chytil not make the team because of health reasons coach Peter Laviolette might choose to gamble on Rempe.

Those who have chosen to denigrate The Skating Giraffe as some kind of fraud fail to consider how he came out of nowhere to become an NHLer, and possibly a truly surprise asset at center this term.

And at no cost but a train ticket from Hartford!