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NY Rangers: A Reset in the Spotlight
After a season that showed much promise but ended in first-round disappointment, the New York Rangers are back with key changes and high expectations. Their 2022-2023 performance put them solidly in the playoff picture, but that picture shattered quickly, raising questions about the team's true capabilities. As we look to the 2023-2024 season, the Rangers seem poised to make another attempt at deep postseason success, but can they overcome the hurdles?
A Retrospective: The 2022-2023 Campaign
Last season, the Rangers finished third in the Metropolitan division with an impressive 107 points and a +58 goal differential. They even bolstered their roster with high-profile trade deadline acquisitions Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko. However, despite a strong regular-season showing, they were ousted in the first round of the playoffs by the New Jersey Devils in a seven-game series that left many fans scratching their heads.
The season saw veterans Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Chris Kreider carry much of the offensive load, while younger talents like Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere struggled to break the 20-goal mark. Their ESBC Power AI metrics were solid and saw an uptick later in the season, but this wasn't enough to translate into playoff success.
Offseason Changes: A New Bench Boss and Roster Tweaks
In a somewhat controversial move, the Rangers parted ways with head coach Gerard Gallant and brought in Peter Laviolette, a Stanley Cup-winning coach whose recent track record has divided opinions. Trade deadline acquisitions Kane, Tarasenko, and Niko Mikkola departed in free agency, but the team added seasoned players like Blake Wheeler, Erik Gustafsson, and Nick Bonino.
In goal, Jaroslav Halak left the team and was replaced by veteran Jonathan Quick. Given Quick's recent struggles, much will depend on a rebound season from starting netminder Igor Shesterkin.
Season Outlook: Cautious Optimism
Despite the loss of trade deadline acquisitions and a coaching change, the Rangers could be a slightly better team this year if their young stars continue to develop and if new additions like Wheeler can make an impact. But this improvement could be marginal, given the quality of the Metropolitan division teams like Carolina and New Jersey.
Coaching Concerns: The Laviolette Factor
The hiring of Peter Laviolette has been met with mixed reactions. While he won the Stanley Cup back in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes and went to the finals with Nashville,, his recent stints haven't been overly impressive. How Laviolette manages this roster could be a decisive factor in the Rangers' success or lack thereof.
The Final Verdict: Playoff Contenders, But Are They More?
The Rangers have all the tools to be a 100-point team again this season, but whether they can go beyond that and compete with the likes of Carolina, Toronto, or even New Jersey remains an open question. It will be a season of high stakes and high scrutiny, where every game could be a litmus test for a team seeking to re-establish itself as a serious contender. One thing the Rangers have going for them is the goaltender Igor Shesterkin. While his last season was a bit mediocre by his standards, he still has the skills to steal every game he starts.
For Rangers fans and analysts alike, the 2023-2024 season promises to be a fascinating study in whether a team can transition from good to great, or whether they will remain stuck in the cycle of 'almost there'.
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