New York Rangers: Five opposing players to keep an eye on

Derek Stepan

Stepan, a core part of the 2014 New York Rangers’ roster that went to the Stanley Cup Final, was traded to Arizona this offseason along with Antti Raanta. There were mixed emotions about his departure, but no one can deny that he is a good player.

And that is exactly why the Rangers need to be careful when playing the Coyotes this next season. While, as a Western Conference team, they don’t have too much of an impact on the Rangers, they are still competitors.

And with the intensity of the regular season, every 2 points is important. Getting a playoff spot is never easy, so even these teams are important to win against.

Stepan is more than capable of posting a 50+ point season, which means he can certainly use his talents against his former team when they play. Although emotions will definitely run high when the Rangers face off against Stepan, they need to be careful.