New York Rangers: Five fears every fan should have this season

4. Henrik Lundqvist continues to decline

Last year was a difficult year for Henrik Lundqvist. Lundqvist being out for extended time is a fear we talked about. But last year, Lundqvist sat out at one point during the season for a different reason. A rough stretch in January forced Alain Vigneault to start then backup Antti Raanta as a struggling Lundqvist rode the pine.

As a result, Lundqvist put up the worst numbers in is career. In 55 games started, Lundqvist went 31-20-4 with a .910 save percentage, and a 2.74 goals against average. Those numbers may stack up against league averages, but Lundqvist was never known to be average.

When Henrik Lundqvist gets in a slump, most of his errors are mental. However, at 35 years old, Lundqvist will surely struggle to keep his physical condition in tip top shape. Was his dip in numbers a result of his age? Will it continue?

Time will only tell if Lundqvist can return to form. He had a strong series against the Montreal Canadiens in round one, but once again struggled when he faced the Ottawa Senators in round two. A strong start to the 2017-2018 is crucial, especially considering he will have a better defense playing in front of him.