Season Outlook and Predictions
The New York Rangers may be rebuilding, but that doesn’t mean they will not be competitive. Expect head coach David Quinn to instill confidence and motivation into a young team that will play with a nothing to lose attitude. The Metropolitan division may be the toughest in the NHL, but the Rangers have a chance, if they play well from seasons start, to grab a wild-card spot and possibly a Stanley Cup Final run.
Their elite players such as Mika Zibanejad, Cheri Kreider, Brady Skjei, and Kevin Hayes will all need to play consistent hockey throughout the season for the playoffs to be a possibility. It goes without saying that Henrik Lundqvist will not need to lead the team out on the ice almost every night for all this to come together, it has to be a group effort.
The new leader of the team, David Quinn, will have all the eyes of the hockey world and Rangerstown fixed on him as he takes his new place behind the Ranger bench. This will be his time to show why he was the right hire by general manager Jeff Gorton. A rookie NHL coach right out of Boston University, what could go wrong?
- Pittsburgh 105 PTS
- Washington 103 PTS
- Columbus 101 PTS
- Philadelphia 99 PTS
- New Jersey 93 PTS
- Rangers 81 PTS
- Carolina 80 PTS
- New York Islanders 79 PTS
Staff Picks
- Final Record: (39-34-9, 87 points), sixth place in the Metro
- Team MVP: Chris Kreider
- Goals Leader: Pavel Buchnevich
- Assists Leader: Mats Zuccarello
- Points leader: Mika Zibanejad
- Rookie of the Year: Brett Howden
- Playoff Prediction: Rangers will not make the playoffs
- Final Record: (35-36-9, 81 points), sixth place in the Metro
- Team MVP: Mika Zibanejad
- Goals Leader: Chris Kreider
- Assists Leader: Mats Zuccarello
- Points leader: Pavel Buchnevich
- Rookie of the Year: Filip Chytil
- Playoff Prediction: Blueshirts will miss the playoffs for consecutive years
Yes, there is a possibility that the Rangers can make a run for the playoffs. But, in order for that to happen so many things need to go right. The chances of everything going their way does not seem likely, especially with the powerhouse of a division the Metropolitan Division is. Expect the Blueshirts to be competitive, but, fail to reach the playoffs for consecutive seasons.
- Final Record: 40-30-12 – 92 points, sixth for the Metropolitan Division
- Team MVP: Henrik Lundqvist
- Goals Leader: Pavel Buchnevich
- Assists Leader: Mika Zibanejad
- Points Leader: Mika Zibanejad
- Rookie of the Year: Alexandar Georgiev
If the New York Rangers clinch a berth for the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs the team won’t advance past the first round. But, expect the Broadway Blueshirts to put up a good fight and potentially force a Game 7 before being eliminated by a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
