Rangers coach Alain Vigneault knows how quickly the window can close for a team with championship potential. He experienced it with the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver reached the Western Conference Semifinals in 2009 and 2010 before going to the Stanley Cup Final in 2011, when it lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games. The Canucks didn't win another playoff round under Vigneault, who was fired after the 2012-13 season. Vigneault has since coached the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 and Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final last season after finishing atop the NHL standings with 113 points. Those resulted in two banners for Madison Square Garden, neither of which represent a Stanley Cup championship. Instead they're for an Eastern Conference championship and a Presidents' Trophy, better known as consolation prizes. So the window question, whether it's wide open or closing, is legitimate for the Rangers. How many chances does a team get before the bottom falls out? Does getting close put even more pressure on the Rangers to win the Stanley Cup this season?
Vigneault understands the queries, but he's not concerned with them because he sees the Rangers as a contender regardless of what they have done, or not done. The Rangers should be in their window for the reasons Vigneault outlined, and many others. They should see themselves as contenders because their core is intact and in its prime.
Henrik Lundqvist will turn 34 this season but should be able to maintain his status as an elite goalie for several more seasons because of the shape he stays in and the way he maintains his body and mind throughout the season. He is entering the second year of a seven-year contract.
Defenseman Ryan McDonagh is a 26-year-old captain with four years remaining on his contract. Defenseman Marc Staal is 28 and entering the first year of a six-year contract extension. Defenseman Dan Girardi is 31 and has five years left on his contract. The rest of the Rangers' top-six defensemen from last season are back, with Dan Boyle (39) and Keith Yandle (28) the only ones in the final year of his contract. Kevin Klein (31) is signed for three more seasons.
The veteran core forwards include Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Rick Nash and Mats Zuccarello, all signed through at least the 2017-18 season. Stepan, 25, signed a six-year contract this offseason. Brassard and Zuccarello will be 28 by the time the season starts. Nash is 31 and coming off an NHL career high 42 goals.
The Rangers feel better about their chances because of the improvement of their next generation of forwards: Kevin Hayes, Chris Kreider, Jesper Fast and J.T. Miller. Every team in the salary-cap era needs its younger players to make an impact when they're on their first or second contract. New York has that in those four.
Offseason changes could help the Rangers, even if one of them is the retirement of forward Martin St. Louis, who was a key player on the ice and voice in the dressing room. Jarret Stoll, signed as a free agent, is a veteran center who should make the Rangers better on faceoffs and could push Hayes to the wing. Forward Emerson Etem, acquired in a trade from the Anaheim Ducks, might be able to play the same role Carl Hagelin did as a third-liner with speed, offensive upside and penalty killing. Vigneault said he expects forward Oscar Lindberg, one of the top players in the American Hockey League last season, to compete for a roster spot. He'll push, among others, Viktor Stalberg, who signed as a free agent.
It's unlikely Rick Nash will score 40+ goals in a season again, at least if you go by his history. Nash scored an NHL career-high 42 goals last season, but it was the first time since 2008-09 he scored at least 40 and the third time in his 12 NHL seasons. It's more likely that Nash will score in the 30s, which would be a good season for anyone. However, if his goal production dips, it means other Rangers will have to make up the difference. They also have to make up for the 21 goals and 52 points that Martin St. Louis scored last season (he retired in July). Mats Zuccarello and Chris Kreider are the first two players New York should look to for increased production. Kreider scored 21 goals and had 46 points last season; 30 goals and 60 points are realistic goals. Zuccarello dropped from 19 goals and 59 points in 78 games in 2013-14 to 15 goals and 49 points in 77 games last season. A big reason is he played 50 fewer minutes on the power play compared to two seasons ago. His power-play time should go up with St. Louis gone, so Zuccarello's production should climb too.
Kevin Hayes was the Rangers' No. 3 center for the majority of last season because they were thin in the middle. He played the role well and finished with 45 points, fifth among NHL rookies. But he was a liability in the faceoff circle, winning 36.3 percent. It seems likely, if not definite, that Jarret Stoll and Dominic Moore will be the two bottom-six centers. Derek Stepan and Derick Brassard are locked in as the top-two centers. Hayes likely will get a chance to be a top-six right wing, the position he played for four years at Boston College.
The Rangers acquired Emerson Etem, a right wing, from the Anaheim Ducks on June 27 in a trade for left wing Carl Hagelin. Etem could be Hagelin's replacement on the third line and potentially on the penalty kill, though he hasn't been a consistent penalty killer in his NHL career (112 games). He is likely to have more offensive upside than Hagelin; he just hasn't shown it (31 points).The Rangers were three wins shy of winning the Stanley Cup in 2014 and one win from going back to the Stanley Cup Final last season. Though that may look like regression, the fact is the Rangers remain one of the elite teams in the NHL and a championship contender.
The most important reason for the Rangers' success the past two seasons is the fact their best player has typically been their best player in every game he's played. Henrik Lundqvist is unquestionably an elite goalie and easily the No. 1 reason for optimism in New York. Lundqvist has all the physical tools required to remain elite for several more seasons, but he also has the motivation to do so because of how close he has been to winning the Stanley Cup. Lundqvist is constantly talking about his desire to win the Cup, and he's well aware that his window is slowly closing; he will turn 34 years old March 2.
Young forwards, Kevin Hayes, J.T. Miller and Jesper Fast, grew into their roles last season and showed signs they can be impact players. Their improvement and development leads to bigger expectations this season. That's a good thing to have for players who are 23 (Hayes), 23 (Fast) and 22 (Miller).
Hayes was fifth among NHL rookies last season with 45 points playing primarily as the No. 3 center. He could shift to wing and assume a top-six role.
Miller had 23 points in 58 regular-season games, and eight points in 19 Stanley Cup Playoff games, including four in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Tampa Bay Lightning. His work ethic improved last season, which was a reason he stayed in the lineup.
Fast didn't produce as much (14 points in 58 regular-season games, six points in 19 playoff games) but was relied on for being in the right position and for his two-way play. He is quick on pucks and typically makes the right play when he gets it on his stick.
Chris Kreider has the tools to be the Rangers' next 30-goal scorer. Kreider scored 17 goals in 66 games as a rookie in 2013-14 and 21 in 80 games last season. He scored seven goals in the playoffs. He should maintain his top-six role and appears to have figured out how his physical style of play can work in the NHL. Kreider is the Rangers' fastest player and needs to be able to mix his speed, skill and power to add to his repertoire.
The Rangers missed Mats Zuccarello in the playoffs after he sustained a head injury early in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Zuccarello makes a big impact in the lineup with his speed, skill, creativity and vision. His loss seemed to affect Rick Nash, who did not get the same primary scoring chances without Zuccarello on his line. Vigneault said Zuccarello has been given a clean bill of health. His return should mean big things for Nash and Derick Brassard. That was the Rangers' most dangerous line when they were together. The loss of Martin St. Louis to retirement could open more power-play ice time for Zuccarello, who dropped from 17 power-play points in 2013-14 to six last season. He played almost 50 fewer minutes on the power play last season than he did in 2013-14.The Rangers are trying to pull off the difficult task of winning now while maintaining a strong prospect pool. The Rangers haven't had a first-round draft pick for the past three seasons and don't have one in the 2016 NHL Draft. They do have a handful of prospects who might be ready to make an impact in the NHL.
Brady Skjei, D
How acquired: 1st round (No. 28), 2012 NHL Draft
Last season: University of Minnesota, Big 10: 33 GP, 1-9-10; Hartford, AHL: 8 GP, 0-0-0
Skjei, 21, signed with the Rangers on April 1 and made an immediate impact in Hartford despite being wowed by the strength of professional players, director of player personnel Gordie Clark said. It was a sign to Clark that Skjei (6-foot-3, 206 pounds) is close to being NHL-ready. The Rangers are strong on defense, particularly on the left side with Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal and Keith Yandle. Barring an injury, Skjei will start the season in Hartford but should be the first call-up candidate.
Pavel Buchnevich, LW
How acquired: 3rd round (No. 75), 2013 NHL Draft
Last season: Cherepovets, KHL: 48 GP, 13-17-30
Buchnevich (6-foot-1, 176 pounds) is a year away from coming to North America because he re-signed with his KHL team even though Clark said he told him he's ready to play in the NHL and could have competed for the top-six forward spot that used to belong to Martin St. Louis. Clark said Buchnevich, 20, decided to stay in the KHL because he didn't feel he was ready to come to North America. He led KHL players 20 or younger with 30 points last season.
Oscar Lindberg, C
How acquired: Trade with Phoenix Coyotes, May 8, 2011
Last season: Rangers: 1 GP, 0-0-0; Hartford, AHL: 75 GP, 28-28-56
Lindberg had another strong season in Hartford. He was second on the Wolf Pack with 28 goals, 56 points and 10 power-play goals, and first with 214 shots on goal and six game-winning goals. He had a team-high 16 points in 15 playoff games. The Rangers are deep at center with Derek Stepan, Derick Brassard, Jarret Stoll, Dominic Moore and Kevin Hayes, who could play wing. Lindberg, 23, signed a two-year, one-way contract this summer and the Rangers believe he will make the team this season. Clark called Lindberg (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) a "safe player who skates well." The 57th pick in the 2010 NHL Draft by Phoenix has played the wing at times and would be able to make the switch.
Brandon Halverson, G
How acquired: 2nd round (No. 59), 2014 NHL Draft
Last season: Sault Ste. Marie, OHL: 40-5-2, 2.63 goals-against average, .913 save percentage
Halverson, 19, became the first Rangers prospect to win 40 games in one season of junior hockey. He led the OHL in wins, finished tied for first with six shutouts, was third in goals-against average, and seventh in save percentage. He played for the United States in the 2015 World Junior Championship, stopping all 14 shots he faced in his only appearance. Halverson is the favorite to be the goalie for the United States at the 2016 World Juniors. Halverson (6-foot-4, 185 pounds) might not be ready for NHL duty for three more years, which might be when the Rangers will start thinking about grooming a potential No. 1. Henrik Lundqvist turns 34 this season.
Dylan McIlrath, D
How acquired: 1st round (No. 10), 2010 NHL Draft
Last season: Rangers: 1 GP, 0-0-0; Hartford, AHL: 73 GP, 6-11-17
Clark said McIlrath (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) hit his stride in the second half last season with Hartford and should be NHL ready. The 23-year old requires waivers to be sent to Hartford, so the Rangers will be looking to give him every possible chance to make the NHL. However, they already have seven NHL defensemen with McDonagh, Staal, Yandle, Dan Girardi, Dan Boyle, Kevin Klein and Raphael Diaz. Plus, Skjei's development could impact McIlrath's chances. If he can't make the roster this season, a trade could be in order.
Predicted Lines
61 Nash - 16 Brassard - 36 Zuccarello
20 - Kreider - 21 Stepan - 13 Hayes
# Stalberg - 10 Miller - # Etem
15 Glass - 28 Moore - 19 Fast
27 McDonagh - 5 Girardi
18 Staal - 93 Yandle
22 Boyle - 8 Klein
30 Lundqvist - # Raanta
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