Rangers Season Expectations

Against all odds, the New York Rangers made an amazing run to the Eastern Conference Finals where they lost to the back-to-back champs Tampa Bay Lightning. And so due to this expectations are very high. Although what are the fair and realistic expectations for this team heading into the 2022-23 season?

The first is to briefly review who the Rangers lost and who they signed over the summer. The Rangers lost a few key pieces to the playoff run this past summer. Mainly Andrew Copp, Frank Vatrano, and Ryan Strome. As well as Alex Georgiev and Tyler Motte.

To replace Strome they signed center Vincent Trochek. As well as signing center Ryan Carpenter to replace Motte. And veteran Jaroslav Halak to replace Alex Georgiev as the backup for Igor.

To replace Copp the Rangers hope that Kaapo Kakko will take a step this season next to Panarin, and Trochek. When it comes to Vatrano who spent a lot of time on the first line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider the team hopes for the same type of production from Lafreniere.

Now that it is established what the holes are and how they’re going to be patched let’s look further into the expectations. The main expectation is the team is going to at the minimum make it back to the ECF. Then the dream is obviously the illustrious 16 wins to the cup.

With all those holes now though we have to establish who the lines are going to be with the news acquisitions as well as some young stars getting an opportunity.

Chris Kreider-Mika Zibanejad-Alexis Lafreniere

Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trocheck-Kaapo Kakko

Sammy Blais-Filip Chytil-Vitali Kravtsov

Barclay Goodrow-Ryan Carpenter-Ryan Reaves/Dryden Hunt

Adam Fox-Ryan Lindgren

Jacob Trouba-K’Andre Miller

Zac Jones-Braden Schneider

Matthew Robertson

Igor Shesterkin

Jaroslav Halak

I’m not 100% sure whether the fourth line is finished with Reaves or Hunt. I think it’ll ultimately end up being a game-to-game basis. Although it will be nice to have the extra player waiting in the wings if there happens to be any sort of injury in the lineup on the lines above them. Also with the possibility of Jimmy Vesey maybe making the team then they’ll have some decisions to make when it comes to that bottom line setup. Although otherwise, I believe the top 9 is set assuming the players on those lines ca perform to that potential. Mainly being Kakko, Lafreniere, and Kravtsov.

Regarding defense, I believe Matt Robertson is most likely the best option to be the extra man there. Jones has NHL experience and has been kind of waiting for a spot in the lineup to open. Now with Nils Lundqvist requesting a trade before training camp it’s Jones’ spot to lose. Robertson is a big body with good experience and should be a good fit if injuries hit the defense core.

I also wouldn’t mind signing a veteran defenseman to a cheap one-year deal. Somebody like Justin Braun who slotted in last season in the playoffs as the 6th/7th defenseman. Libor Hajek is also an option but I think we’ve seen what he is and he’s not great.

Some options on the UFA market are PK Subban if he’s willing to sign cheap. Anton Stralman, Dean Kukan, Scott Harrington, Danny Dekeyser, and Calvin de Haan. After that it is very slim pickings and there isnt much of interest and really nothing I’d think is better than the options internally. Especially considering how little cap this team has going into the seasons.

So with all that said what are my expectations for this season? It is hard to really say because I haven’t seen the team play yet. Obviously. Although I do think this team can make it to the Stanley Cup Finals. I think the acquisitions they made were great and filled the holes we had. I think it will be hard to replicate the production of deadline acquisitions Andrew Copp and Frank Vatrano. I do think that Kakko and Lafreniere can fill these roles although I am not so sure of Kravtsov as we’ve only seen just a few games of him at the NHL level.

So my prediction for this season is the team will easily make the playoffs. And at the minimum make it to the Eastern Conference Finals. Assuming Igor Shesterkin continues to play out of his mind it is entirely possible that the New York Rangers can win the Cup.

This team has Cup aspirations and in my opinion rightfully so. The Rangers are looking to be a top team in the east and may very well win it all. The season can’t come any sooner. I can’t wait.