Bounce Back Blueshirts: How Far Can the Rangers Go?
The 2024-2025 New York Rangers were given high hopes once again before the start of the season. As New York looked to begin the new season mostly unchanged from last season, fans stayed optimistic of another Eastern Conference Finals appearance. Even as the season started, the Rangers stood out as a team to fear in the Metropolitan Division; boy, did things go downhill. The season went on, and the Blueshirts soon began disappearing before their fans' eyes, bidding farewell to players like Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil. New York attempted to fight their way to the postseason but failed, making it the second time in their history and the fourth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs a season after winning the Presidents' Trophy. The changes New York has made this offseason, including a brand-new coaching staff, make it clear that these Rangers are looking for a bounce back, but how far can they go?
While it's clear this team is nowhere near as strong as it was when it began last season, there are still pieces that suggest a team worthy of the postseason. Although their bottom six doesn't inspire confidence in most fans, the other six can still be dangerous. Though it's not clear which line will be first or second just yet, the line consisting of Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafrenière needs a serious bounce back. A line that was feared during the 2023-2024 season has gone into quite a slump, mainly due to Lafrenière and Trocheck both having off years.
The projected top line, consisting of Will Cuylle, Mika Zibanejad, and J.T. Miller, is expected to be the most dangerous, especially with Cuylle coming off an outstanding season. Though Zibanejad has not been quite the same for the last two seasons, a shot like his will still be needed, especially with him beginning his first season in quite some time without Chris Kreider. J.T. Miller may have come in late, but he stands as one of the pieces that made this team close to a playoff spot last season. Two lines that can surely lead this team to a playoff spot, but now let's step into what really caused this Rangers team to crumble last year.
The top defensive pair of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov is not what worries most fans; it's the other two. As the team departed with K'Andre Miller, Braden Schneider is projected to be paired with Urho Vaakanainen, while Will Borgen is projected to be paired with Carson Soucy. Schneider may have the hearts of New York fans, possibly Borgen as well, with what he did last season, but the other two don't scream a postseason defense. While their brilliant netminders, Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick, will most likely continue to keep the Blueshirts in it, the defense in front needs to help if this team is to improve. A dangerous top six and a questionable bottom six, followed by some questionable defensive pairs, all that's left is to wonder how far this team can climb.
Projected as the team that missed the postseason last year, most likely to make it this year, it's no surprise that this team may not be projected to go very far. For all fans know, their goaltending could be a significant contributing factor to this season's success, meaning a potential wild card spot is likely due to Shesterkin and Quick. Entering the playoffs as a team that relies heavily on goaltending rarely ends well; most New York fans should be aware of this. However, this team still consists of a few veterans who could give them a fighting chance. An Eastern Conference Finals appearance alone seems like a dream for fans, although it's really the first round that determines whether this season is successful or not. Igor Shesterkin may be able to carry his team through a round, but anything farther than that simply doesn't look feasible. Next season is practically a blink of an eye away, and for now, New York fans hope this team still has it in them to bounce back and prove they are still a team worth competing for the Stanley Cup.
