As the number of previews grows, the closer we get to talking about playoff-calibre teams. Last season, this team came within a shootout loss of making the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. However, with the moves that they made in the off-season, I truly believe that the New York Rangers are going to be a playoff team this season.
For the first time in a long time, the Rangers decided to avoid the temptation of making the big-name signing and added to their team by bolstering the depth of their backups and lower lines. It’s not like the Rangers to avoid the summer spotlight and let other franchises get more of the publicity, but after many failed summer signings, they may have finally learned their lesson.
However, with all the talk about their additions, the Rangers have to solve their inability to score goals last season. Marian Gaborik was a big surprise by playing 76 games and picking up 86 points last season, but the next highest point total on the team belonged to Vinny Prospal with 58 points. They have to hope that someone else can step up to be an elite scorer alongside Gaborik. The forward lines have more depth and balance with the additions of Alexander Frolov, Tim Kennedy and Derek Boogaard.
Defensively, the Rangers have a good young core of guys that they are going to rely on for the next handful of years. Michal Rozsival and Dan Girardi may be listed as the top pairing on this hockey club, but the Rangers defence will be better because the young trio of Marc Staal, Dan Gilroy and Michael Del Zotto should be more mature and more prepared to handle NHL competition for a full season.
The goaltending is always going to be solid as long as Henrik Lundqvist is between the pipes, but the Rangers made another under-the-radar move right at the start of the free agency period as they picked up Martin Biron at 12:01 p.m. on July 1st to be the back-up to King Henrik. Lundqvist had to play 73 games last season and picked up 35 wins, a 2.38 GAA and a .920 save percentage. But they had to do something to get his minutes and games played down.
Two players to watch out for in camp are Alexander Frolov and Wade Redden. Remember the question of whether someone could elevate their game to score as many points as Gaborik did last season? Well, if Frolov can find his game on Broadway, he would be that guy to help out the offense. Frolov had a career-high 71 points in 2006-2007, but his numbers have declined ever since. As for Redden, there are rumours that he has to show enough in training camp to avoid being dropped from the big club in one way or another. His best days are clearly behind him, but has he dropped off so much that they’re willing to pay him to go away?