The ‘Cup or Bust’ narrative that has hung over this Rangers team for a pair years now has a unique feel to it this season.
It’s not a difference in pressure or expectations or standard of play, but there may be this latest presence of an understanding.
The Blueshirts got here awfully close to creating just a few major changes this offseason, and it has develop into clear those changes can’t be delay for for much longer if the organization’s Stanley Cup drought goes any further into its third decade.
The clock has been ticking on this core.
“In all likelihood, this can probably be the last crack for this core,” said captain Jacob Trouba, who was imagined to be a casualty of certainly one of those major moves. “I don’t think that’s a secret by any means. We’re a gaggle that’s grown together, spent some years together here and we’ve something we wish to perform.”
Attention has been focused on rookies attempting to make the opening-night roster for the primary time, like Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, Brennan Othmann and Victor Mancini.
That’s because, for the veterans and everybody else, it’s been pretty establishment.
The Rangers are expected to be a serious contender for the Stanley Cup, returning 21 players who were either lineup regulars or with the club for an prolonged time period during last season’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning tour de force and Eastern Conference Final finish.
This training camp has felt more like a continuation of 2023-24 than it has a brand latest campaign.
Injuries to Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey have only made it feel more so.
Whether it is indeed a continuation, the Rangers need to alter the ending.
If that is the core the Rangers wish to win with, the time could also be now or never.
Thirteen current players will need latest contracts next summer and that creates opportunity for significant alterations.
Nothing can last endlessly in a results-driven and hard-salary-cap league.
It’s meant to be an open secret.
Tick, tick, tick.
Offense
Rating seventh within the NHL in goals (278) and goals per game (3.39), the Rangers had a sturdy offensive game last season.
They beautiful consistently threatened on the facility play and the penalty kill, each ranked third, while generally thriving offensively in late-game situations.
Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck are all coming off profession years while skating on a line together, with the star Russian wing leading the best way with a 120-point season.
They’ll remain intact while Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad attempt to make it work with newcomer Reilly Smith to round out the Rangers top six.
The hope is that Kaapo Kakko, and the remaining of the third line, can begin producing usually to assist alleviate a number of the scoring pressure on the highest six.
Defense
Amid Lindgren’s upper-body injury, the defense corps will look a bit different than expected to begin the season.
Adam Fox, in search of a more stable campaign after he struggled to get his feel for the sport back after a stint on injured reserve last yr, could open the season alongside K’Andre Miller, who’s seeking to have a more impactful yr ahead.
Braden Schneider should get top-four minutes and Trouba will look to bounce back from a tricky season and summer.
Moreover, Zac Jones is primed to be within the opening-night lineup for the primary time after proving he’s ready for it this preseason, while Mancini made his first big impression and presumably earned a minimum of a call-up sooner or later this season.
The Rangers probably don’t want to provide up as much as they did at times last yr — noisy possibilities, as Peter Laviolette calls them.
Perhaps a number of the anticipated movement with the D pairs could make for a more formidable unit.
Goaltending
Igor Shesterkin entering the season and not using a contract extension isn’t the top of the world, but it surely’s definitely something to watch.
The star Russian netminder is such a mentally focused player, and that’s partially why there is anticipated to be no negotiations through the season.
Despite a pair shaky patches last season, Shesterkin still finished in a three-way tie for the fifth highest save percentage at .913 amongst goalies with a minimum of 40 appearances. His 2.58 goals-against average was good for tenth.
It’s hard to assume Jonathan Quick having as strong of a season as he did last yr, but there’s also no reason why the 38-year-old can’t.
Quick played a significant role in keeping the Rangers afloat while Shesterkin reset across the All-Star break.
Coaching
Entering his second yr with the Rangers, Laviolette has seemingly picked up where he left off with the group last season.
Each the intensity and pace of practice are the identical, as are his philosophies and approach to the team.
Laviolette led the Rangers to their first Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign since 2014-15 last season.
So long as his message remains to be resonating throughout the room, it worked once and it should work again.
Most vital offensive player
A completely healthy season from Filip Chytil is arguably one of the crucial necessary points of the Rangers season for a myriad of reasons.
Not only do the Rangers need to know what Chytil’s future could appear like, but a scoring third-line center could be a welcome addition.
After breaking through for 45 points (22 goals) in 74 games in 2022-23, Chytil registered just six assists in 10 games before he sustained the fourth suspected concussion of his profession and missed the remaining of the regular season.
The Rangers were successful without him, but may very well be even higher off with him if he delivers.
Most vital defensive player
Miller said he wasn’t “too comfortable or too thrilled” about his individual 2023-24 season, saying he felt like he left a pair pages empty and that he could’ve done more.
A pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer, Miller’s upcoming campaign will determine what his next contract looks like.
Amid Jones cracking the highest six for the primary time, Trouba’s down yr and Lindgren’s injury, the Rangers will look to Miller and Fox to set the tone for the defense.
Key rookie
There aren’t a variety of players who could make as much of an impact on a team, a city and a league as Rempe did in only 28 total games between the regular season and postseason.
The frontrunner of potential rookies in the combo, Rempe has put his labor this offseason on display in training camp.
His skating, body control and overall sense for the sport have improved tremendously.
The highlight on No. 73 is a vivid one, and he still has to prove he might be an 82-game NHL player.
For the reason that Rangers will open the season in Pittsburgh likely without Vesey, and their injury luck hasn’t been one of the best, Edstrom could also develop into a crucial rookie.
Key coaching decision
There haven’t been too many big calls to make this training camp, however the power-play unit arrangements clearly have Laviolette’s attention.
We haven’t seen much of the same old five (Fox, Panarin, Kreider, Trocheck, Zibanejad).
As an alternative, several mixtures have taken reps in each practice and the exhibition games.
It’s likely Laviolette sticks with what works.
If the outcomes aren’t immediate and Lafreniere is in need of a chance to expand his role, nevertheless, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly Laviolette is willing to make a change.
The identical applies to the de facto Kreider-Zibanejad alignment.
Prediction
With largely the identical team as last season, the Rangers should make it just as far — if not further — than last season’s Eastern Conference Final finish.
Perhaps they’re fueled by the potential for it being the Last Ride together and are capable of see their goal of winning the Stanley Cup through.
The ‘Cup or Bust’ narrative that has hung over this Rangers team for a pair years now has a unique feel to it this season.
It’s not a difference in pressure or expectations or standard of play, but there may be this latest presence of an understanding.
The Blueshirts got here awfully close to creating just a few major changes this offseason, and it has develop into clear those changes can’t be delay for for much longer if the organization’s Stanley Cup drought goes any further into its third decade.
The clock has been ticking on this core.
“In all likelihood, this can probably be the last crack for this core,” said captain Jacob Trouba, who was imagined to be a casualty of certainly one of those major moves. “I don’t think that’s a secret by any means. We’re a gaggle that’s grown together, spent some years together here and we’ve something we wish to perform.”
Attention has been focused on rookies attempting to make the opening-night roster for the primary time, like Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, Brennan Othmann and Victor Mancini.
That’s because, for the veterans and everybody else, it’s been pretty establishment.
The Rangers are expected to be a serious contender for the Stanley Cup, returning 21 players who were either lineup regulars or with the club for an prolonged time period during last season’s Presidents’ Trophy-winning tour de force and Eastern Conference Final finish.
This training camp has felt more like a continuation of 2023-24 than it has a brand latest campaign.
Injuries to Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey have only made it feel more so.
Whether it is indeed a continuation, the Rangers need to alter the ending.
If that is the core the Rangers wish to win with, the time could also be now or never.
Thirteen current players will need latest contracts next summer and that creates opportunity for significant alterations.
Nothing can last endlessly in a results-driven and hard-salary-cap league.
It’s meant to be an open secret.
Tick, tick, tick.
Offense
Rating seventh within the NHL in goals (278) and goals per game (3.39), the Rangers had a sturdy offensive game last season.
They beautiful consistently threatened on the facility play and the penalty kill, each ranked third, while generally thriving offensively in late-game situations.
Artemi Panarin, Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck are all coming off profession years while skating on a line together, with the star Russian wing leading the best way with a 120-point season.
They’ll remain intact while Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad attempt to make it work with newcomer Reilly Smith to round out the Rangers top six.
The hope is that Kaapo Kakko, and the remaining of the third line, can begin producing usually to assist alleviate a number of the scoring pressure on the highest six.
Defense
Amid Lindgren’s upper-body injury, the defense corps will look a bit different than expected to begin the season.
Adam Fox, in search of a more stable campaign after he struggled to get his feel for the sport back after a stint on injured reserve last yr, could open the season alongside K’Andre Miller, who’s seeking to have a more impactful yr ahead.
Braden Schneider should get top-four minutes and Trouba will look to bounce back from a tricky season and summer.
Moreover, Zac Jones is primed to be within the opening-night lineup for the primary time after proving he’s ready for it this preseason, while Mancini made his first big impression and presumably earned a minimum of a call-up sooner or later this season.
The Rangers probably don’t want to provide up as much as they did at times last yr — noisy possibilities, as Peter Laviolette calls them.
Perhaps a number of the anticipated movement with the D pairs could make for a more formidable unit.
Goaltending
Igor Shesterkin entering the season and not using a contract extension isn’t the top of the world, but it surely’s definitely something to watch.
The star Russian netminder is such a mentally focused player, and that’s partially why there is anticipated to be no negotiations through the season.
Despite a pair shaky patches last season, Shesterkin still finished in a three-way tie for the fifth highest save percentage at .913 amongst goalies with a minimum of 40 appearances. His 2.58 goals-against average was good for tenth.
It’s hard to assume Jonathan Quick having as strong of a season as he did last yr, but there’s also no reason why the 38-year-old can’t.
Quick played a significant role in keeping the Rangers afloat while Shesterkin reset across the All-Star break.
Coaching
Entering his second yr with the Rangers, Laviolette has seemingly picked up where he left off with the group last season.
Each the intensity and pace of practice are the identical, as are his philosophies and approach to the team.
Laviolette led the Rangers to their first Presidents’ Trophy-winning campaign since 2014-15 last season.
So long as his message remains to be resonating throughout the room, it worked once and it should work again.
Most vital offensive player
A completely healthy season from Filip Chytil is arguably one of the crucial necessary points of the Rangers season for a myriad of reasons.
Not only do the Rangers need to know what Chytil’s future could appear like, but a scoring third-line center could be a welcome addition.
After breaking through for 45 points (22 goals) in 74 games in 2022-23, Chytil registered just six assists in 10 games before he sustained the fourth suspected concussion of his profession and missed the remaining of the regular season.
The Rangers were successful without him, but may very well be even higher off with him if he delivers.
Most vital defensive player
Miller said he wasn’t “too comfortable or too thrilled” about his individual 2023-24 season, saying he felt like he left a pair pages empty and that he could’ve done more.
A pending restricted free agent with arbitration rights next summer, Miller’s upcoming campaign will determine what his next contract looks like.
Amid Jones cracking the highest six for the primary time, Trouba’s down yr and Lindgren’s injury, the Rangers will look to Miller and Fox to set the tone for the defense.
Key rookie
There aren’t a variety of players who could make as much of an impact on a team, a city and a league as Rempe did in only 28 total games between the regular season and postseason.
The frontrunner of potential rookies in the combo, Rempe has put his labor this offseason on display in training camp.
His skating, body control and overall sense for the sport have improved tremendously.
The highlight on No. 73 is a vivid one, and he still has to prove he might be an 82-game NHL player.
For the reason that Rangers will open the season in Pittsburgh likely without Vesey, and their injury luck hasn’t been one of the best, Edstrom could also develop into a crucial rookie.
Key coaching decision
There haven’t been too many big calls to make this training camp, however the power-play unit arrangements clearly have Laviolette’s attention.
We haven’t seen much of the same old five (Fox, Panarin, Kreider, Trocheck, Zibanejad).
As an alternative, several mixtures have taken reps in each practice and the exhibition games.
It’s likely Laviolette sticks with what works.
If the outcomes aren’t immediate and Lafreniere is in need of a chance to expand his role, nevertheless, it’ll be interesting to see how quickly Laviolette is willing to make a change.
The identical applies to the de facto Kreider-Zibanejad alignment.
Prediction
With largely the identical team as last season, the Rangers should make it just as far — if not further — than last season’s Eastern Conference Final finish.
Perhaps they’re fueled by the potential for it being the Last Ride together and are capable of see their goal of winning the Stanley Cup through.
