The New York Rangers look like the team to beat in the Eastern Conference through four games. Again it is only four games, but the Rangers look like an offensive juggernaut that is ready to take the NHL by storm. Many expected the Rangers to take the next step this season after an incredible trip to the Eastern Conference Final last year. However, this year the bar has been raised inside the locker room. And so far the Rangers are living up to those expectations, as they are on a mission to win it all.
New York Rangers Expectations Are Much Higher Than Last Year
Last season, many did not expect the Rangers to make the playoffs. Most had them missing the playoffs. However, if you followed the team’s trajectory under the previous regime before Chris Drury took over as general manager, the Rangers were trending in the right direction. And when the Rangers did make the playoffs it was not a surprise. That was the next step they needed to take.
-
Ep 68: Auston Matthews Extension, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Much More
by Full Press Coverage on September 1, 2023 at 2:23 am
Jim and Chris are back to chat about the Auston Matthews extension, the […]
Drury did an incredible job of reshaping the Rangers heading into the 2021-22 season. Thus, the Rangers made the playoffs and finished second in the Metro Division. New York needed two seven-round series playoff victories to make it to the Eastern Conference Final. There they ran into the Tampa Bay Lightning, but if things fell into place, the Rangers might have made it to the Stanley Cup Final.
This year, however, the Rangers know they are no longer the hunter, but the hunted, thus the higher expectations.
“It was easy last year when no one expects anything out of you and you kind of rally around that almost, it’s easy to get up when teams are saying the other team is going to beat you and everything like that,” Adam Fox said to the media following practice on October 10th.
“So now to have a little bit of expectation – call it a target on your back – I think obviously that builds a little motivation as well,” Fox continued in a post-practice interview with the media. “You want to be able to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke and that we do have the team to do that and get to that point.”
So far, the Rangers are off to a good start. Again it is just four games, but it is clear this team is on a mission. It is just not about making the playoffs this year. The Rangers goal is to win the whole thing.
Learning From the Past
Teams that are on the rise usually have to go through failure. And those teams learn lessons from that failure. This season, the Rangers look like a team that failed to live up to their own championship aspirations last year. When a team gets that close and fails, it lights a fire inside the team to go out and win the following year.
Just look at the San Antonio Spurs after they lost to the Miami Heat in 2013. The following year nobody was stopping the Spurs from winning. The Rangers have that same feel through four games. Colorado had that look last year too.
“We’re a hungry group, we’re young and want to get back to where we were last year,” Fox added when speaking with the media following practice on October 10th.
Nothing is more dangerous than a hungry team. And this Rangers’ team is hungry. Each player is a year older, but a year wiser as well. And they all want to win. That starts with management and works its way down to the players. Everyone has to buy into the message, which is the case for the Rangers. Again, it is just four games, but the Rangers are clicking especially on offence.
Around Full Press Coverage
NHL: Top Five Storylines To Watch This 2022-23 NHL Season
NHL Rumors: NHL Rumors: Ottawa Senators, Minnesota Wild, New Jersey Devils
NHL: After An 0-2 Start, It’s Not Time To Panic, Yet For The Senators
NFL: Best Bets For 2022 NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year
Full Press Bets: Early 2022 NFL MVP Odds: Bills’ Josh Allen Favored
PODCAST: Full Press Hockey Weekly Ep 38: NHL Season Preview: Golden Knights, Maple Leafs, Johnny Gaudreau
Pushing the Right Buttons
One of the most intelligent decisions Chris Drury made as general manager was to hire Gerard Gallant as the New York Rangers head coach. Gallant made an impact on the team right away, especially the young kids like Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil. The “Kid Line” was instrumental to the Rangers making the Eastern Conference Final last year.
During the season, Gallant gave these younger players a bigger role on the team and they flourished. Though the way it ended for the Rangers and Kakko not playing left many scratching their heads. It is a decision only Gallant knows and eventually we will find out. But the Rangers have moved on and both Lafreniere and Kakko have looked strong in the opening four games of the season.
With Vitaly Kravtsov getting hurt in the first game of the season, Gallant had to work his magic in the next contest against Minnesota. He moved Lafreniere up to the second line with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. The Rangers signed Trocheck in the offseason to be their second-line center behind Mika Zibanejad. And that line of Trocheck-Panarin-Lafreniere has clicked. That energy carried into Monday night’s game against the Anaheim Ducks.
Though it is only four games, having young players in a position to succeed is vital to a team’s success. Not to mention, it is the third season for Lafreniere and the fourth season for Kakko. Both look like the players they did during their draft years. Also, having your depth players score in addition to the top guys makes the Rangers a better team. But this is just another example of Gallant pushing the right buttons for this team to succeed. They’re not resting on their laurels and are going out and being better than the previous year.
Repeat Performances
A big reason why outside of the “Kid Line” the New York Rangers were successful was the play of Igor Shesterkin and Chris Kreider. Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy last year and there is no reason why he can’t do it again. He played a big part in why the Rangers got as far as they did. Shesterkin was there to make the big save and keep the Rangers in games despite their poor analytic defensive numbers. He will have to repeat that performance again of posting a record of 36-13-4 with a 2.07 goals-against average and .935 save percentage (both first in NHL). There is no reason why he can’t
Kreider led the team with 52 goals, the most in his career. 26 out of the 52 goals came on the power play. Also the most on the team. Both way over his career highs. But it is not out of the question for him to have a similar performance this season. Just look at who Kreider is paired with on the power play. Mika Zibanejad and Panarin. That is a deadly combination. If Kreider is not scoring there are Panarin and Zibanejad to rifle the puck home.
Moving Forward
The New York Rangers were a Stanley Cup favourite to begin the season. Through four games nothing has changed except maybe their odds to win the Stanley Cup. However, one thing is clear, this team can handle the pressure of being a favourite as they look to complete some unfinished business.
-
Ep 68: Auston Matthews Extension, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Much More
by Full Press Coverage on September 1, 2023 at 2:23 am
Jim and Chris are back to chat about the Auston Matthews extension, the […]
-
Ep 67: Karlsson Trade, Matt Dumba Signs, NHL News and Notes
by Full Press Coverage on August 11, 2023 at 2:21 am
Jim and Chris discuss the big Erik Karlsson trade to Pittsburgh, the Matt […]
-
Ep 66: Vladimir Tarasenko, Patrice Bergeron Retires, RFAs, and More
by Full Press Coverage on August 3, 2023 at 11:59 pm
Jim and Chris return to discuss Vladimir Tarasenko signing in Ottawa, […]
-
Around the NHL: Mike Babcock Resigns as Head Coach In Columbus
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Vox Media NHL Analyst Bruce […]
-
Around the NHL: From Columbus to Montreal To Calgary To Atlanta
by Full Press Coverage on September 16, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Vox Media NHL Analyst Bruce […]
-
California Dreamin' in Los Angeles with Daryl Evans and the Kings
by Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Kings Radio Color Commentary […]
-
Ep 86: David Krejci Announces Retirement
by Full Press Coverage on August 14, 2023 at 10:28 pm
Ian and Chris react to David Krejci's retirement. Learn more about your ad […]
-
Ep 85: Offseason Reset: Lucic, Bergeron, Krejci, and More
by Full Press Coverage on July 23, 2023 at 2:10 pm
Ian and Chris discuss the changes the Bruins have seen over the last few […]
-
S5Ep3 - Mike Babcock Out in Columbus and Steven Stamkos Drops The Hammer in Tampa
by Jim Biringer on September 22, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back for the fifth season of the Final Word on Hockey […]
-
S5Ep2 - What Carey Price Meant to the Montreal Canadiens
by Jim Biringer on September 19, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back for the fifth season of the Final Word on Hockey […]
-
Minnesota Wild Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 22, 2023 at 4:10 pm
Hunter Logan Previews The Minnesota Wild Stack the Pucks gives a […]
-
Dallas Stars Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 21, 2023 at 3:45 pm
Hunter Logan Previews The Dallas Stars Stack the Pucks gives a breakdown […]
-
Colorado Avalanche Preview
by Broken Controller Media on September 20, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Hunter Logan Previews The Colorado Avalanche Stack the Pucks gives a […]
-
Episode #144: 22-23 AHL Awards Show
by Full Press Coverage on July 14, 2023 at 10:00 pm
The 2022-23 AHL season has come to a close, and what better way to […]
-
Episode #143: Dessert > Desert
by Full Press Coverage on June 24, 2023 at 5:54 pm
On this episode of The Calder Farmstead, Sean and Sarah wrap up the […]
-
Full Press Wild - 9-22 - Recapping prospect camp and a player signing.
by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Prospect camp, signing, Jujhar Khaira Learn more about your ad choices. […]
-
Full Press Canadiens 9-22 - Intra-squad scrimmages
by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Josh Gosse and Jesse Poirier speak about the latest Montreal Canadiens […]
-
Leafs Digest - 9-22 - Nylander MOVED to Center, Murray and Muzzin OUT for Season | Toronto Maple Leafs News and Updates
by BCM on September 22, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Zack Phillips reacts to Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach, Sheldon Keefe, […]
-
ROP Special Commentary: The Case For Karl
by Charlie Saunier on September 22, 2023 at 5:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Special Commentary: The Case For Karl Learn more about […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 9-21 - Training camp, Prospects, Preseason
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 4:00 pm
Previewing training camp, looking at prospects. Learn more about your ad […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 9-21 - Kyle Davidson’s Presser Takeaways
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 3:00 pm
Reacting to what Blackhawks general manager, Kyle Davidson said to media, […]
-
9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John discuss the 49ers win over the Giants on Thursday Night […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talk
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
-
9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teams
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
-
9/18 - Week 2 Headlines; Monday Night Football Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines from Sunday's action, some […]
-
9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John discuss the 49ers win over the Giants on Thursday Night […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talk
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
-
Ep 183: Week 3 Preview vs Saints
by Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:11 am
In this episode, Kyle Senra is joined by Courtney Burrows (luvtractor3) […]
-
Ep 134: NFL Week 2 Studs And Duds
by Full Press Coverage on September 20, 2023 at 7:07 pm
Ian and Braden give their Studs and Duds for the second week of NFL […]
-
9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teams
by Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
-
9/18 - Week 2 Headlines; Monday Night Football Predictions
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines from Sunday's action, some […]
-
Ep 133: Week 2 Overreactions
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:03 pm
Ian and John overreact to what they saw in Week 2 of the NFL. Learn more […]
-
Ep 182: Week 2 Instant Reactions
by Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 1:52 am
The Green Bay Packers lost a close 25-24 game at the hands of the Atlanta […]
Comments 1