The New York Rangers are back this season, hoping to end it with a Stanley Cup as the window continues to close very rapidly. The New York Rangers lost in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals last season to the Tampa Bay Lightning. The loss in Game 7 last year was the first time the Rangers lost in a Game 7 at home in franchise history.  

The New York Rangers offseason was an interesting one as they made a few major changes. The biggest addition for the Rangers was trading fan favorite and unfortunate salary cap casualty Carl Hagelin to the Anaheim Ducks for Emerson Etem. They also traded star backup last season, who helped the Rangers win the President’s Trophy after Henrik Lundqvist’s injury, Cam Talbot to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for picks in the 2015 NHL Draft. The Rangers are also giving Jarret Stoll a chance on the roster after his arrest in April for drug possession. They also traded for Antti Raanta as the backup goalie to Lundqvist. Off the ice far and away the Rangers biggest move was promoting Jeff Gorton as the new General Manager from assistant General Manager after Glen Sather stepped down from the position.

The Rangers have Henrik Lundqvist, which of course is always an advantage over every other team in the NHL, but the window to win a Stanley Cup is closing very quickly. The Rangers had the best season in franchise history last season, setting records for wins and points in a single season. In the preseason the Rangers played well compiling a 4-1-1 record. One of the most exciting moments in the preseason was when in the Rangers were playing Boston one of their 3 goals in a 4-3 loss was by Mats Zuccarello who was playing in that game as his first game since the scary head injury in Game 5 of the first round series - the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Two of the Rangers offseason signings Jayson Megna and Raphael Diaz were sent down to Hartford. The Rangers also sent down some big prospects such as Brady Skjei, Adam Tambellini, Ryan Bourque and Ryan Graves. Earlier in September the Rangers named former Captain Chris Drury the director of player development.

The Rangers got Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes a day before the trade deadline last year and he was immediately thrown into meaningful games, something that didn’t happen to him for a few years. The Rangers have played more games combining regular season and playoffs than any other team in the NHL over the last two years but they have only two banners hanging in the Madison Square Garden rafters. The two banners are from their President’s Trophy last season and their Eastern Conference title from 2014.  

The Rangers and their fans including yours truly still have faith that they will have a parade in June down the Canyon of Heroes in New York City. They will have to have another great season to do that, and maybe coming in under the radar compared to being the hunted like they were last year will help them. 

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About the author
Max ONeill
My name Is Max ONeill, I am currently a Senior at York Prep in NYC, I have written for multiple years for my own blog, Max2theMax. I love NYC Sports including the Yankees, Knicks, Rangers, and Giants. Ithaca College Bound!!