A high-pressure season is about to begin for the New York Rangers. They still have an array of stars, led by Igor Shesterkin in goal, and they have surrounded that core with a handful of serviceable veterans in the hopes of having a team with a little more veteran savvy and situational awareness than in recent seasons. Plus there’s new coach Peter Laviolette, also on hand to instill more discipline in the team’s playing style.
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Here are some bold predictions — maybe a couple not so bold, but predictions are predictions after all — as we get set for this season:
Igor Shesterkin will be the Vezina Trophy runner-up
Laviolette will have the Rangers playing a more aggressive style at times, particularly in their own end. That could mean less reliance on Shesterkin, who followed up his Vezina-winning 2021-22 season with a very good 2022-23, though one that did not meet his high standards. Count on some adjustment time for the team defense and some Shesterkin magic in the first two months of the season, which means he’ll be in the running for another Vezina. This time he’ll lose out — maybe to his BFF, Ilya Sorokin.
Adam Fox will be the Norris Trophy runner-up — again
Fox is now a defenseman who will always get Norris Trophy votes for doing what he does, which is play the game at the highest level and produce gaudy scoring numbers. He’ll do that again, since he’ll be as active as ever getting out of his own end and dominating the chance numbers while on the ice. He’ll get the door prize for a second straight season, though, this time to the Dallas Stars’ Miro Heiskanen.
It’ll be a fourth 90-point season for Panarin, which would make him the first Ranger ever to do that. That won’t be enough to quiet the doubters, of course, because it’s the postseason where Panarin needs to improve. But still a notable feat.
Lafrenière started training camp on the top line. He will get a look in the top six this season but will play mostly on the third line yet again, this time without his favorite linemates Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil. And he will end up being a healthy scratch at some point this season, as he was last season under a different coach. Maybe that will light a fire under the former No. 1 pick and maybe this won’t be a lost season, but the early evidence isn’t pointing in that direction.
The Rangers will finish the season with a different backup goalie
Speaking of early evidence, Jonathan Quick’s preseason has reflected what was already known about the 37-year-old before the Rangers signed him right off the opening bell of free agency — that his acrobatic, reactive style just isn’t suited to technical coaching, even from a legend like Benoit Allaire. Quick will get a long leash to prove he can be an adequate No. 2 but expect a change — and we’ll go with 21-year-old prospect Dylan Garand as the backup to the backup down the stretch.
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Will Cuylle, Brennan Othmann and Zac Jones all get some NHL time this season
Cuylle is an easy call since he made the opening roster and looks to be in the lineup for Thursday’s game in Buffalo. His versatility gives him a leg up to stay with the Rangers for a long while; he’ll be joined for a shorter spell by Othmann, who had a solid camp and showed he could be a worthy third-liner in a call-up situation. Jones had a sneaky good camp as well and his ability to play the right side means he could get games no matter who is out, which will help his chances of making an impact.
The Rangers trade for an old friend — no, not that guy
No three-peat for Tyler Motte, no flashy return for Patrick Kane (pure guess, he signs with the rival Hurricanes next month). No, we’ll go further back and say the Rangers swing a deal in February for Anthony Duclair, who had a decent playoff run with the Florida Panthers in the spring and signed a one-year deal with the lottery-bound San Jose Sharks this season. Duclair would give the Rangers some speed on the wing that they’ll need in a potential playoff matchup with the New Jersey Devils or Carolina Hurricanes and won’t cost a ton.
The Rangers make the playoffs, but it’s a dicey stretch run
They barely beat out the Islanders for fourth in the Metro, behind the Hurricanes, Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins. The stars play well, but the Rangers’ depth gets tested by some nagging injuries to their older bottom six and an offense that isn’t as effective as recent years. So it’s a fight to the finish, but the Rangers end with 99 points and a date with the Canes in the opening round.
Another first-round exit
It’s not the up-and-coming Devils this time but the Stanley Cup favorites in Carolina who close the door on the Rangers early in the spring. This one isn’t likely to feel like a letdown the way last season did, just a better, more complete team taking down a team it’s supposed to beat.
And that leads to …
Another bold predictions piece in May! Seriously, though — Laviolette just came in and Chris Drury still has the owner’s favor, so it’s hard to see any kind of housecleaning. Kids like Cuylle and Othmann should be ready for bigger, regular roles in 2024-25, so the summer after another disappointing playoff exit could see a big name or two going out the door. Chris Kreider’s and Jacob Trouba’s no-move clauses turn to partial no-trade clauses on July 1, and if Lafrenière has a rough year he could be on the move.
(Top photo of Artemi Panarin: Andrew Mordzynski / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
