The New York Rangers offseason has been absolutely fascinating. Though Chris Drury went into the Rangers offseason claiming he wanted to add to the bottom six, the Rangers have primarily added speed and skill to the lineup. The difference brings a welcome new dynamic to the roster, with New York looking like an improved unit heading into next season.
Though the Rangers offseason is mostly complete, there’s still plenty of work to be done and plenty of time.
Was this Rangers offseason a Chris Drury masterclass?
By no means did Chris Drury fix all of the problems he’s created in his time running the Rangers, but he’s certainly made plenty of improvements during this Rangers offseason. As previously mentioned, Drury claimed he wanted to add grit and bottom-six talent, then went ahead and did the opposite, which is what the Rangers actually needed.
Who knows what Drury’s original intentions are, and quite frankly, who cares. Drury had a strong offseason and assuming he is truly here for the long haul, that matters.
Realistic expectations
Let’s be real, this team is not a Stanley Cup contender. That’s fine, but anyone who’s saying that the Rangers are suddenly going to be one of the top teams in the league is sorely mistaken. Still, New York fixed a lot of their major concerns, while keeping franchise pillars like Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox. The Rangers could use more scoring, but I would not be surprised to see them sneak into the playoffs as an 8 seed.
Will Cuylle is a wildcard
The Rangers could have a real advantage in Will Cuylle playing on the third line if they play their cards right. Mike Sullivan will need to optimize the lineup to make this work, but Cuylle is a very, very good third liner and a below average second liner. Last season, Cuylle spent the majority of his time on the second line and expectedly couldn’t handle the load. Now, New York has enough talent to play in the top six and keep Cuylle where he belongs. I’m curious to see how much of a boost that gives him and the team.
The future is in the consistency
The Rangers are not going to win it all without a genuine star forward. I fully believe this, while also believing the Rangers do not have a genuine star forward in the organization at this moment. That means New York has to step it up and compete in a real way to start attracting the likes of Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and whoever else may one day become available. Nobody wants to join a losing team, even in New York.
All the work this offseason has provided the infrastructure for the Rangers to work toward enticing a top player. Now the team needs to deliver.
More About:Musings