Will the New York Rangers Win the Stanley Cup in 2016?

The New York Rangers were heart-wrenchingly close to winning the cup in 2014 and 2015, but fell short in the end, leaving a bad taste in everybody’s mouth.

May 29, 2015; New York, NY, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) and his teammates skate off the ice after game seven of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2015 Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time in what seems like a century, the Rangers didn’t make front page news over the summer, instead sticking to the game plan and not fixing what isn’t broken. Glen Sather stepping down from the general manager position was arguably the most newsworthy announcement that was released by the organization, and even then it shouldn’t have come as a big surprise, as speculation of Gorton taking over the position had been rumbling for quite some time.

Necessary deals were made without disrupting the fundamental core of the roster, and cup-winning veteran depth was brought in to teach the young guns a thing or two about how it feels to lift that 35 pound trophy over your head.

The Rangers were the best team in the NHL during the regular season last year, and were one win away from returning to the Stanley Cup Final. Little needed to be done in the offseason to improve the team. Therefore, staying mostly pat was the smartest path to take.

However, teams like the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Washington Capitals made headlines by acquiring Phil Kessel and T.J. Oshie, respectively. This was done in an effort to get them over their early exits from the playoffs, and to raise their games to the next level.

And that’s precisely the reason why the Rangers didn’t follow suit. They’ve already surpassed that hump, and now they just need to finish the job.

New York Rangers /

New York Rangers

J.T. Miller now has a solid role on this team after being on a short leash for the first half of last season, as does Jesper Fast. Kevin Hayes‘ transformation from a hesitant rookie to a dynamic force with top-six potential was an astonishing and relieving sight to see, making Anthony Duclair expendable.

The argument can even be made that he could be slotted on the right-wing, prevously occupied by Marty St. Louis. The young core is now a year older, and more experienced for the tough stretches that lay ahead.

Henrik Lundqvist is still the King of the crease. Rick Nash regained his all-star form. Brassard exceeded all expectations with 60 points in 80 games last year. The Rangers have their six best defenseman back, and Raphael Diaz could provide depth in the event a defenseman goes down.

The Rangers are a dominant force in this league, and they’re probably the favorites to win it all this year. With the tune-ups and maturing this squad has done, they will get it done in 2016.

The Cup will be coming back to the Big Apple.

Next: Weekly Wrap Up: The Wide World of Rangers Hockey

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