The lack of any significant roster changes certainly wasn’t due to a lack of trying.
A brilliant yet cutthroat piece of business.
They were crafty enough to ship Goody.
Troubs was crafty enough to keep him & his family where he wanted them to be.
Sometimes the team wins & other times the player does.
That’s the business.
With that potential cap flexibility lost, the opportunity for a big splash addition was lost as well.
That’s not to say Reilly Smith is garbage.
He’s a solid skater with a responsible two-way game similar to his assumed new linemates.
He won’t play timid or constantly look to defer like prior options in that position have.
That’s elite even-strength production.
I’m talking point-per-game status.
Another player for fans to be pumped about is the return of a healthy Filip Chytil.
Injuries have kept the talented pivot from doing anything other than teasing glimpses of becoming a legitimate offensive weapon.
He suffered another concussion just six games in.
Rounding out the forwards is a solid group of reliable vets, size & talent.
That opens the door for a couple of giants.
Rempe throws loud hits and heavy fists.
There wouldn’t be a need to shelter Edstrom nearly as much as Lavi had to do with Rempe.
On defense, not much has changed in terms of personnel.
He’ll miss the start of the season.
Miller’s been a roller coaster with some pretty incredible highs followed by some head-scratching lows.
As for Schneider, he’s expected to leapfrog the captain and assume a significant boost in responsibility.
“Baby Trouba” should be fine but he’s gotta prove he can handle it.
Am I an idiot for believing in Jacob Trouba this year?
He had a rough season.
Suffered an ankle injury that certainly didn’t help.
His organization wanted to get rid of him.
Finally he gets his chance.
I’ve said for years that Jones projects like an Adam Fox-lite.
Foxy’s biggest advantage is his brain.
No one is as cerebral.
Without elite speed & quickness he still plays the game 5 steps ahead.
For Jones, skating is his weapon.
I’m legitimately excited to see this tandem get work.
And finally, of course, goaltending.
And, as it has been for the last 15 years, the Rangers have the absolute best.
Down the stretch though he absolutely dominated.
17-5-1 with 2.20/.930 peripherals from February on followed up by a 2.34/.926 ECF run.
All the questions surrounding Shesty’s upcoming payday shouldn’t have any bearing on this season.
What’s absolutely certain is he’s not getting traded and another stellar year only strengthens his negotiating position.
With all that being said - these next 82 games kinda don’t even matter.
Barring a catastrophe, the Rangers will easily be a playoff team.
12 playoff wins at minimum.
Their core is still there and still dangerous, but they’re seemingly not as penetrable as last season.
They’ll still be tough but again, on paper, they went backwards.
The Rangers improved via addition by subtraction by losing Goodrow, plus adding Smith and a healthy Chytil.
That’s a net positive.
The Devils will almost certainly join the cream of the Eastern crop though.
Last year was a fluke.
Zero goaltending and injuries galore kept this squad out of the playoffs but that won’t happen again.
Markstrom is one of the most important additions across the entire league.
Pesce & Dillon solidify a back end that will also be welcoming back a healthy Dougie Hamilton.
This team could be flat out scary, but they still gotta prove it.
The Rangers have the best goalie in the league.
The best blueliner in the conference.
Last year’s 4th leading scorer.
This is, finally, the year.
VIVA LA BLUESHIRTS!!
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