Last year the New York Rangers surprised everyone by missing the playoffs after a trainwreck of a season. This year, it’s likely the Rangers will improve and pretend that never happened and find their way back to the playoffs. With the Metropolitan Division favorites all looking to be ahead of the Rangers, New York has plenty of work to do to catch up and prove to people they’re still one of the teams to beat. But there are many reasons to believe the Rangers will improve and perhaps surprise a few folks come April and/or May.

Last season was so jarring that it’s understandable for many to struggle to believe that the Rangers will improve and can come back from such a season. However, failing to believe the Rangers will improve and become a brand new team is discounting some of the changes the Rangers have made.

Here’s four reasons the Rangers will improve and surprise even the staunchest deniers 

1. A full season of J.T. Miller

J.T. Miller didn’t start the season with the Rangers last year, though he eventually was traded to the Rangers for a package that included draft picks, Filip Chytil, and Victor Mancini. Miller renewed his former love affair with Rangers fans and proved his mettle, eventually being named captain of the Rangers for this upcoming season.

Miller was named captain not only for his bold and brash leadership style, but also for his on-the-ice ability. Miller’s combination of rough and tough play mixed with his scoring ability is a difficult combination to find elsewhere in the NHL, better yet on the Rangers roster alone. Having that for a full season on the Rangers will be a huge boon, especially if Mika Zibanejad can return to form at the center position and form a trio with Miller and Vincent Trocheck to make one of the best center groups in the league.

2. Mike Sullivan is now the Rangers coach

I never thought the Peter Laviolette era would end how it did. Laviolette is a typically good coach who, for whatever reason, just completely collapsed as the Rangers coach. It probably has to do with the locker room mess, something that tanked the season and wasn’t anything he signed up for.

Due to this, last season was a complete disaster for the coaching staff as well, one that won’t be repeated by the new coaching staff led by Stanley Cup champion Mike Sullivan. Sullivan can’t possibly do any worse than Laviolette did last season, and already has the Rangers committing to improved defensive play, a true team identity, and winning hockey. Everything may not get fixed over the course of one season, but Sullivan certainly knows what he’s doing. Live From the Blue Seats has been beating this drum, that the Rangers will improve if only because of Sully.

3. The Kids will improve, thus the Rangers will improve

How many seasons in a row now have we spoken about some variation of “the kids” for the Rangers? It feels like every year it’s a conversation topic. This year, the group includes Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle, Gabe Perreault, Noah Laba, and Scott Morrow. Lafreniere, Cuylle, and Laba are already contributing in their roles, while Perreault and Morrow are honing their game until they get promoted. Once they do, these five regulars will provide sparks for a team that sorely needs them. Look for Perreault specifically to give the team a jolt when he gets promoted.

Brett Berard is a wild card. Given the current third line with Conor Sheary and Taylor Raddysh, the Rangers will improve by replacing one of them with Berard, should he be given the chance and call up.

4. Lower Expectations

Last year was a Stanley Cup or bust year for the Rangers. This year is essentially an anything goes kind of season. We want the Rangers to make the playoffs, but if they miss them, no one will be picketing or asking for wholesale changes. Given how mentally fragile this group was last year, taking a lot of the pressure off of their backs could be a huge plus as the team tries to return to the playoffs.

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