Rangers 2023-2024 Season Primer

Lineup:

Kreider -Zibanejad-Kakko

Panarin-Chytil-Lafreniere

Cuylle-Trocheck-Wheeler

Bonino-Goodrow-Pitlick

Lindgren-Fox

Miller-Trouba

Schneider-Gustafsson

Shesterkin-Quick

Extra: Jones, Vesey

The Laviolette Way: Peter Laviolette’s system integration is thorough as he conducts a group hungry for a gear shift. It came with a few bumps in the road. No matter how little stock is placed in the preseason, a single victory doesn’t reflect very well in any competitive circuit.

The trade-off of learning a new system was focusing heavily on the defensive zone and neutral zone. That led to a preseason of loose play that tightened up after some time and the Ranger's offensive motor humming on low. Alas, the New York Rangers are adjusting, and the speed of their decision-making has hit a new level. 

From the first day of skate tests to the finalization of a competitive roster, the new calculated coach has a fat stack of dollars from his roster buy-in. That fairs well for players like Igor Shesterkin, who deems his performance last season as a failure.

The offense is the final step in preparation for Thursday's season opener and should be rounding out with this roster's talent.

Lofty Expectations for Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere: This combination of words may require a hotkey soon. The back-to-back top draftees will need habituation. It won't happen overnight. 

For Kakko, he’s fought off a removal from Zibanejad's flank. As for Lafreniere, he started camp on the first line and finished the preseason on the third line. The 2023-2024 campaign will reveal their true colors. 

Cuylle Wills His Way: The Rangers rebuild has seen a number of rookie skaters take camp by storm and win starting lineup positions. Take a look at Brett Howden and K’Andre Miller. They were players who had a chance in camp but didn’t have the star power of Adam Fox or the draft stock of Lafreniere. Yet, they cracked the lineup. 

Enter Will Cuylle, a 6’4 winger whose sandpaper edge and multi-dimensional game could see him climb the depth chart by the All-Star break. His performance in the last number of weeks was that impressive. 

Did July 1st Pan Out?: Only time will tell but the on-ice product reflected exactly what the organization desired in free agency. 

Peter Laviolette called Tyler Pitlick a “bull in a china shop” following the Ranger's defeat of the Islanders on September 26th. The 31-year-old journeyman has made enough of an impact to play on the fourth line opening night over Jimmy Vesey. 

Blake Wheeler turned a corner in the preseason finale against Boston after a few forgettable preseason matches. He may not be as effective as he was during the Jet's heyday, but he will be crucial to the club's success overall if he adapts. Was the contract shift of 10 times less pay from last season to this season a sign of the times, or a steal? Following the preseason, the terms "slowing down" and "steal" were both evidenced and applicable in different moments.

Jonathan Quick struggled in the preseason. On many occasions, he was left out to dry while the team in front of him surrendered odd-man rushes and multi-rebound sequences leaving the 37-year-old netminder without much help. Albeit, the three-time Stanley Cup champion's performance was lackluster. The Rangers may have a different backup by the end of the season.

Erik Gustafsson is the offseason home run, showing incredible offensive instincts while smooth in transition. The club now has a reliable, point-producing rearguard on the third pairing. They have not featured a player in that roster spot in a few seasons, a turnstile of Nils Lundkvist, Jarred Tinordi, Patrick Nemeth, Justin Braun, and Niko Mikkola among others logged time in the position. It's a breath of fresh air for a club desperately needing to shore up its defensive depth.

Most Valuable: 

Defenseman: Adam Fox will now perenially be a Norris Trophy candidate. Fox has been the anchor of the powerplay and is third in points by a defenseman in the last two NHL seasons. Fox just had an "A" stitched onto his sweater and his on-ice capabilities are not all the 2021 Norris winner has to offer. The dual-threats value to the organization is off the charts, and a new system may fuel his game tenfold. 

Goaltender: Igor Shesterkin is his own biggest critic. The 2022 Vezina winner was harsh on his play last season, and we may see a new version of the netminder in the new year. 

Forward: Artemi Panarin is fourth in the league in points over the last four seasons. That is the entirety of his tenure in New York. The playoff struggles don't paint the whole "Bread Man" picture as the engine for the club's offense in the regular season (i.e. 2022-2023: 29-63-92). He's the team's most valuable point producer.

X-Factor: Blake Wheeler is the Ranger's X-Factor. If the worst-case scenario with Kakko and Lafreniere comes to fruition, the Rangers are going to need Wheeler to step into a top-six role and contribute. He's the most reliable offensive threat outside of the team's core and will need to be just that. 

Prediction: The New York Rangers will finish between 2nd and 4th place in the division. Their ceiling is competing in the Stanley Cup Final, and their floor is losing to a rival in the 1st round (again). 

The New York Rangers take on the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday, October 12th at 7:00 P.M (ET). The team plays in Columbus on Saturday, October 14th at 7:00 P.M (ET), before the club's home opener on Monday, October 16th at 7:00 P.M (ET). 

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