2014-15 record: 53-22-7 (113 points)
Lost to Tampa Bay in Conference Finals
Captain: Ryan McDonagh
The New York Rangers dealt with the adversity of not having one of the best goalies in the NHL for a quarter of the season, yet were able to come away with the Presidents' Trophy. However, any and all magic that could have carried them to a second straight Stanley Cup Final disappeared before they could get there, as they were eliminated by Tampa Bay at the doorstep. A few tweaks here and there, and the Rangers figure to be near the top once again.
Up front, they lose Martin St. Louis to retirement and traded away Carl Hagelin to Anaheim. Replacing them is Viktor Stalberg, who was last seen in Milwaukee of the AHL, and Emerson Etem, a developing talent that has goal scoring potential, but was unable to unlock it in Anaheim. Finding pieces to fill the depth there will be a challenge, as the Rangers had to get a little creative with the salary cap to re-sign Derek Stepan. The biggest unknown here is how Mats Zuccarello will be after injuries cut his playoff run short after the opening round against Pittsburgh. Defensively, a great unit got better with Keith Yandle arriving at the trade deadline, and having him for a full season should offer balance to a team that is already great in its own end. A player to watch is Brady Skjei, who is likely ticketed for Hartford, but could crack the NHL roster at some point, particularly if Dan Boyle struggles to get out of the gate again. In goal, Lundqvist missed time because of injuries, but was still the player the Rangers are accustomed to seeing when healthy. Antti Ranta will have a tough act to follow, as he replaces Cam Talbot and his 16-4-3 record while Lundqvist was out as the backup.
Though the penalty kill slipped in the playoffs, it was great in the regular season, and figures to be so again despite losing Hagelin. The power play should be better with a full season of Yandle, as they struggled for much of the season.
Prediction: 2nd in the Metropolitan Division
The Rangers will always be near the top of the division for as long as their defense and goaltending hold true to form. Their third ranked offense was a bit of a surprise, though having Rick Nash discover his elite scoring touch had much to do with it. How the Rangers handle the grind over the season will determine if they make the Stanley Cup Finals for the second time in three years.
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