1. Henrik Lundqvist’s Big Year
The majority of fans and analysts would agree that last year was the worst season of Henrik Lundqvist’s career. While I’m more inclined to blame the players in front of him (*cough Dan Girardi cough*) the reality remains that last year was a rough season for New York’s netminder.
Considering Lundqvist is the present and future between the pipes for the Rangers, it’s essential that he does not enter a steep decline. Last season may have been a sign of Lundqvist’s entering the decline, or it could have been a signal that no human could perform above expectations with the defense the Rangers iced last season.
This year must be a different story. Regardless of what happened last year, the Rangers now have one of the better defenses in the league. The forward depth still looks strong enough to help out Lundqvist, especially with Tanner Glass out of the lineup. New York has armed Lundqvist with the weapons to succeed, so it’s his time to take advantage of those and have an excellent season.
If not, the Rangers and Lundqvist may be in trouble.