Henrik Lundqvist’s injury may have you feeling otherwise, but the Rangers remain in excellent shape to make the postseason. With an eight-point cushion over ninth-place Florida, securing a wild card berth shouldn’t be difficult even if overtaking the Penguins and Islanders for the Metro Division title may now be unrealistic.

Of course the team’s playoff hopes are pinned to Lundqvist, but there’s reason to believe the best is still ahead for the 2014-2015 Blueshirts – and it’s not because they’re sure to add an impact player by the trade deadline.

When you stop to think about it, how many players are really having standout seasons? Rick Nash, obviously. Kevin Klein has certainly exceeded expectations. Derek Stepan has been a point-per-game player when healthy. And Kevin Hayes has been a pleasant surprise as a rookie.

Beyond that though, many of Alain Vigneault’s most important players are having down years. On defense, Dan Boyle and Dan Girardi look like shells of themselves, and captain Ryan McDonagh doesn’t look much like the Norris Trophy contender we expected.

Up front, Martin St. Louis and Mats Zuccarello have suffered through prolonged slumps and Chris Kreider’s development continues to be a slow process.

Those are some key contributors that really haven’t delivered. In the cases of Girardi and Boyle, what you see is probably what you’re going to get. But McDonagh, Zuccarello, St. Louis, and Kreider, all should have more to give. We’re seeing signs now that Zuccarello and Kreider might be awakening. If a few of those guys can right the ship in the second half, New York will be in excellent shape.

Again, this will all be moot if The King cannot reclaim his throne this year, but if Lundqvist is ready to go for the stretch run, the Rangers may already have the players on their roster to push them to the next level.

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