Despite not winning the Stanley Cup last season, the New York Rangers had what you would call a perfect season.
They finished first in the Metropolitan Division, first in the Eastern Conference, and first in the entire NHL in the regular season. While doing so, the team set franchise records in wins (55) and points (114).
The club also had some success in the postseason. They became the first team since the 2007-08 Pittsburgh Penguins to win their first seven games of the playoffs while also becoming the first Presidents’ Trophy team in close to a decade to advance to the second round, something that they also did in 2014-15.
One would think that despite accomplishing all of that, there would be a lot of excitement heading into the upcoming season. While there is certainly some enthusiasm, there are a lot more questions than answers about this Rangers’ hockey club as they get set to go on another journey to capture their first Cup in 31 years.
For starters, one has to wonder why Kaapo Kakko is still on the team. Since being taken as the second overall pick in the 2019, Kakko, 23, has not produced in the way that he should be despite being given numerous chances to do so.
Both the Rangers and Kakko know that this season must be the last straw. The fact that he is being given another chance is puzzling, so Kakko needs to find a way to take advantage of it.
Secondly, is Reilly Smith really the kind of first liner that will excel playing with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad? While he has put up 513 points (213 goals and 300 assists) in 840 career games, Smith, 33, has done so in a supporting role.
Yes, those numbers show that Smith can produce, but the Rangers have been struggling to find someone to play with Kreider and Zibanejad since they traded Pavel Buchnevich. Smith is going to need to show he can play top line minutes and put up points on a consistent basis.
The elephant in the room is team captain Jacob Trouba. Earlier in the offseason, team general manager Chris Drury tried to trade Trouba, 30, to the Detroit Red Wings and that did not exactly sit well with Trouba, which is understandable.
While both management and Trouba are saying all the right things now, one has to wonder how long that facade is going to last. There is no doubt that Trouba’s play has slipped in recent years and that he is no longer a top four defenseman, despite being paid like one.
Lastly, one thing that will be on everyone’s mind is goaltender Igor Shesterkin’s upcoming free agency. Shesterkin has been the team’s backbone since jumping between the pipes in the 2019-20 season, so they cannot afford to lose him.
With that said, Shesterkin is going to cost a pretty penny to keep. It would be wise for management and Shesterkin to come to an agreement before the season starts, so that it will not end up being a constant distraction during the season.
As one can see, there are several unknowns for the Blueshirts heading into this season. It will be interesting to see how everything plays out and if they can continue to be a Cup contender.
