We’ve seen rebuilds go horribly wrong and teams crumble before our eyes. But what happens when we see a rebuild go horribly right? The New York Rangers seem to be knocking this rebuild out of the park, but what exactly are we in for? Let’s preview the Rangers’ upcoming season:
Notable Players In: Kaapo Kakko, Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba
Notable Players Out: Neal Pionk, Kevin Shattenkirk
First Key Game: Washington Capitals – October 18th.
This game will be the first big challenge for the growing Rangers. They play a few divisional rivals beforehand but a road game against a recent Stanley Cup champion will put this team to the ultimate test.
Odds to win the division
10:1 (7th overall) (via Betway)
Is this a bet worth taking?
This team is possibly the most volatile in the league in terms of divisional standing. They could go off with an astounding run and mesh as a unit very well, or they could fall apart at the seams at literally any moment. The only way we will find out is to wait and see. I personally would not take this bet. This is a high risk, high reward bet on a team of the same scope. The question of whether or not this is a bet worth taking is ultimately undefinable. The Rangers are possibly the biggest wild card of the league this upcoming season.
Keys To The Season
Story to watch
The Rangers are undergoing an incredibly fast, and very pleasant looking rebuild, Their drafting in the past view years has given a look of hope for the future, and their free agency and trade deadline acquisitions haven’t hurt them at all. The biggest story to watch for them is this rebuild and how well their first year of hardcore recovery acquisition has paid off and how it may look heading forward. How can this current unit mesh and will there be any cracks in the newly laid foundation in their young core? The team’s immediate future and possibly the foresight of their impending success or failure depends on this season.
Player to watch
Players that come to mind to look out for in Madison Square Garden this year are very clear. The young Kaapo Kakko and the exciting Artemi Panarin will be pivotal pieces of this roster this season. The team’s scoring department needed this jolt and as we know Panarin will be able to produce, Kakko will need to step up in his debut season.
On the other end, can Panarin step up and show the tenacity and leadership to captain this team into the future? These two players will be equally exciting to watch coming into the 2019-20 season, as one adjusts to a new environment, and the other to a whole new world.
Biggest need
The Rangers are built like a brick wall in goal, boast a powerful top pair in the back, and their top 6 are looking pretty deadly. But the buck stops there. There in feels an ineptitude , a lack of depth. The bottom six forwards, and bottom four defense are a modest bunch to say the least. They have pieces that fit and do their part, but the likes of Boo Nieves and Brendan Lemieux aren’t quite who comes to mind to round this team out when thinking of role players and 4th line grinders. But good things come to those who wait. Potential pickups in waivers, call ups, and the trade deadline may prove fruitful for this potential hopeful.
If the Rangers were an animal, what would they be?
A tough one to call as we quite don’t know what the Rangers are as a team, we don’t know what kind of animal they are.
Similar to a hibernating bear, they are a beast in repose, waiting until its time to once again be seen by the world refreshed and renewed. And hungrier than ever.
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