Are the Rangers a serious playoff contender?

[Jon Bonham]

Without a doubt. They'll be one of the wild card teams. However, Henrik has to be better than he was last year. But I think he will be.

What? I thought they had a hall of fame backup goalie?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Maybe im biased. But on paper that is a dreadful lineup.

Not sure about dreadful but there are a ton of question marks.

 

[wetcoast]

How long ago was the letter sent to Ranger fans??

Panarin — Zibanejad — Kakko
Kravstov — — Buchnevich
Chytil — Andersson — Fast
Lemieux — Howden — Strome

Trouba — Skjei
Fox — Shatty
TDA — Staal

Hankie
Georgie/Shesty

Finish up a 2c. Can they put up a nice run? What a beauty Gorton/Sather has done with this organization

Do you really think 2 rookies in the top 6 will make this team a playoff contender?

Also centers are easily bottom 5 in the league and that's a huge problem

Proabably a year away from the playoffs even with Panarin in the fold.

 

[ZestyMest]

Maybe im biased. But on paper that is a dreadful lineup.

It is bad because its like half prospects. They're very good prospects, but sophomore/rookie players don't make a cup contender. In like 2-3 years a lineup with most of the same names (obvious the absolutely fearsome Marc Staal and similar old men will be gone at this point) will probably be scary

 

[JoelWarlord]

Probably a dark horse given the forward depth but Panarin alone will give them an elite 1st line and if Kakko is good enough from day 1 to drive a 2nd line they could make some noise. I think they probably aren't a serious contender if only because I expect Namestnikov and Kreider will be dealt and that's just asking a ton of younger players to run the middle six.

Defense is great, Trouba gives them a legitimate top pair for the first time since prime McDonagh, and even if Fox can't quite handle 2nd pair duties right away just the fact that they have a legit top pair should make Shattenkirk more effective as a 2RD.

 

[BrindamoursNose]

Which year are we talking about?

 

[NYRFAN218]

Maybe im biased. But on paper that is a dreadful lineup.

It's not really dreadful as much as it's young and unproven which is why you can't consider them a true contender. A lot of those names (Chytil, Kravtsov, Kakko, Fox) can be serious players come the 20-21 or 21-22 season and by that point, the Rangers will shed themselves of some of the bad contracts they have with the Smith/Shattenkirk/Staal/Lundqvist contracts expiring after the 20-21 season which amounts to $25.2 million assuming none are traded or bought out before then.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

It is bad because its like half prospects. They're very good prospects, but sophomore/rookie players don't make a cup contender. In like 2-3 years a lineup with most of the same names (obvious the absolutely fearsome Marc Staal and similar old men will be gone at this point) will probably be scary

Okay but no one is arguing they we are a cup contender. The thread asks if the Rangers are a playoff contender, and I think yes we can challenge for a WC spot

 

[ZestyMest]

Okay but no one is arguing they we are a cup contender. The thread asks if the Rangers are a playoff contender, and I think yes we can challenge for a WC spot

me you and the guy I quoted aren't in disagreement unless one of us is unaware of the NHL's high parity level

 

[LGBlues]

Yes for playoffs and I hope to see Shatty and Panarin on the same PP - might be amazing (have not given up on Shattenkirk yet).

 

[charliemurphy]

Once Miller arrives the team will take off.

 

[WHISTLERNATE]

They are absolutely a playoff contender. They may not make it in, but should be in contention pretty late in the season.

 

[yeaher]

How can a young team that is 17 months into their rebuild make the playoffs but be considered a disappointment?

For the Rangers to be a playoff team this quickly it meant a lot things went right with our young guys and older core of vets (Trouba, Skjei, Shatty, Panarin, Zibanejad and Lundqvist, these guys each individually have a lot to prove) and will be able to ride that momentum to Cup contention in 2020-21.

Any improvements we make this upcoming season is gravy. Even if it ends in getting swept out of the playoffs in round 1

They look good for a few months every one calls them a playoff contender and then they miss the playoffs.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

This is a low-end playoff team for next season.

Buchnevich-Zibanejad-Kravtsov
Panarin-Chytil-Kakko
Lemieux-Howden-Andersson
Strome-Nieves-Fast
McKegg

Skjei-Trouba
Staal-DeAngelo
Rykov/Hajek-Shattenkirk
Lindgren

Lundqvist
Shestyorkin
Georgiyev

We have to trade Kreider and Namestnikov without any retention. We likely have little leverage in either trade, but I think we can get a first back for Kreider, and at least a late rounder back for Namestnikov. Then we should be cap-compliant without buying anyone out. Burying Smith's contract in the minors likely helps with that, but if we have cap room without that, he can be the 7th D ahead of Lindgren.

There's no point in buying out Shattenkirk this season, as we can make sure we don't pay a 2nd round pick to Carolina for Fox, if he doesn't hit 30 games. Let him be the 4th D on the right side, and play 25 games with the rest of his season coming in the AHL. Shattenkirk likely also gives us a better player this season in that spot, and maybe he ups his value some, and we can trade him after this season.

There's not many other position battles here. Rykov/Hajek is one battle, the other starts in Hartford. Kravtsov probably won't be NHL ready, but with the need to get rid of some wingers because of the Panarin signing, he might have to start in the NHL. I guess there's also a conundrum in goal. Hopefully this is based on merit, and Lundqvist doesn't get to play, if he doesn't play well. Either way, we could have three good options, so there should be no reason why we are regularly playing an ineffective goalie.

In another season or two, Lundqvist, Staal, Shattenkirk and Smith come off the cap, we have nearly 30M with a very deep prospect pool, and we can package a few of our defensive prospects (Miller, Lundkvist, Robertson, Jones, Rykov, Hajek, Reunanen, Keane, Lindgren) for a top pairing defensemen on the left side. At that point, we should be ready to compete for the Cup.

You still want Gorton gone? He's done an amazing job with the rebuild. Deepest prospect pool we have ever had.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I don't think they make the playoffs this year which is fine. Develop the young guys. 20-21 they are a playoff team, the year after that a serious contender.

 

[ZestyMest]

They look good for a few months every one calls them a playoff contender and then they miss the playoffs.

I don't think anybody thought they were a playoff contender last year. The year before was the crash and the letter.

 

[chethejet]

Lots of teams in that glass half full category. Devils, Flyers, Panthers, Habs, for a couple of spots. But signing Panarin makes them a legit contender.

 

[pld459666]

How long ago was the letter sent to Ranger fans??

Panarin — Zibanejad — Kakko
Kravstov — — Buchnevich
Chytil — Andersson — Fast
Lemieux — Howden — Strome

Trouba — Skjei
Fox — Shatty
TDA — Staal

Hankie
Georgie/Shesty

Finish up a 2c. Can they put up a nice run? What a beauty Gorton/Sather has done with this organization

Short answer: No

Long answer: Noooooo

 

[Hockeyplayer99]

What makes the devils move up so much. They were just as bad as rangers last year and all of a sudden they are equal to islanders in chances to win. They added pk suban and hughes. We adsed trouba and kakko to match plus panarin.

 

[Face Of Bear]

What makes the devils move up so much. They were just as bad as rangers last year and all of a sudden they are equal to islanders in chances to win. They added pk suban and hughes. We adsed trouba and kakko to match plus panarin.

Devils have more depth up front and on defense. Rangers have better goaltending but most of their forwards are unproven and half their D need to be flipped before they can be taken seriously

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You still want Gorton gone? He's done an amazing job with the rebuild. Deepest prospect pool we have ever had.

Offseason champions. Let’s see some success when the games start. He took over the summer after we were a game from the Cup final. The season prior we were in the Cup final. A few seasons later, mediocrity after he tried to contend. His big signings, were awful and didn’t make any positive difference towards contention, so he smartly reversed course. He’s made some good moves as GM, but a lot of bad moves, and I give no credit for the team acquiring the second overall pick.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Offseason champions. Let’s see some success when the games start. He took over the summer after we were a game from the Cup final. The season prior we were in the Cup final. A few seasons later, mediocrity after he tried to contend. His big signings, were awful and didn’t make any positive difference towards contention, so he smartly reversed course. He’s made some good moves as GM, but a lot of bad moves, and I give no credit for the team acquiring the second overall pick.

He's done a great job. Every GM is going to have some bumps along the way. Shatty and Smith haven't worked out, granted. The rebuild has gone as well as can be expected to date. Have you looked at the quality and depth of prospects that has been accumulated in just 2 years. It's insane. Long live GMJG.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

What makes the devils move up so much. They were just as bad as rangers last year and all of a sudden they are equal to islanders in chances to win. They added pk suban and hughes. We adsed trouba and kakko to match plus panarin.

Because pretty much every impactful player on the team missed a significant amount of time last year?

 

[BrockLobster]

What makes the devils move up so much. They were just as bad as rangers last year and all of a sudden they are equal to islanders in chances to win. They added pk suban and hughes. We adsed trouba and kakko to match plus panarin.

Plus Taylor hall is back.

 

[ucanthanzalthetruth]

Great summer, too many question marks and too raw. Couple years away.