New York Rangers: Five rivalries that could grow this season
5: Buffalo Sabres
The New York Rangers have never really had a rivalry with the Buffalo Sabres. This is for a variety of reasons, one of them being that the Sabres never really excelled enough to compete with the Rangers. However, in recent years, they have started to show signs of growth. Since 2013, they’ve been drafting significantly talented players like Sam Reinhart, Jack Eichel, and Alexander Nylander.
Reinhart put up 42 points (23 goals and 19 assists) in his rookie year (2015-2016) after being selected second overall in the 2014 draft. Last season (2016-2017), he exceeded that number by 5, notching 47 points (17 goals and 30 assists.)
Eichel also made his debut in the 2015-2016 season, after, like Reinhart, being selected 2nd overall in the draft the year before. In two seasons since then, he has recorded 56 points (24 goals and 32 assists) in his rookie year and 57 points (24 goals and 33 assists) in his sophomore year.
Nylander, selected 8th overall in the 2016 draft, had an outstanding 2015-2016 season for the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL in 2015-2016, putting up 75 points in 57 games. Though his 2016-2017 season in the AHL wasn’t as impressive (28 points in 65 games), he has still shown promise.
These younger players are looking to improve the Sabres as a team, which hasn’t worked that well yet. This youth movement means trouble for the Rangers. Although they aren’t in the same division, the two New York teams will play each other in the Winter Classic, which could spark a rivalry.
In addition to the outdoor game, both teams are taking similar approaches when it comes to rebuilding, with the Rangers trusting younger players like Jimmy Vesey and Brady Skjei. If the Sabres finally make evident success, the Rangers may have to start seeing them as a threat.
4: Carolina Hurricanes
Much like the Buffalo Sabres, the Carolina Hurricanes simply haven’t been successful enough in recent years to compete with the New York Rangers. They haven’t made the playoffs since the 2008-2009 season. Additionally, they haven’t earned above 90 points since the 2010-2011 season, though they came close last year.
This season may be the year that they can finally contend in the league. Older players like Justin Faulk and Jordan Staal have continued to show their worth. This year they were finally recognized for this, being named co-captains for the 2017-2018 seasons. Jeff Skinner has gone from just a rookie sensation to a real leader in the locker room in his seven seasons in the NHL. In addition to veterans, the Hurricanes also have many younger players that are establishing their presence on the team.
Last year, he matched a career high of 63 points and reached a new career high in goals (37.) Sebastian Aho blew fans away in his rookie season, scoring 49 points (24 goals and 25 assists) in 82 games, and it looks like he’ll only improve. The Hurricanes have also benefited from the Chicago Blackhawks having to stay under the salary cap, picking up skilled former members of the team like Trevor van Riemsdyk, Marcus Krüger, Scott Darling and Teuvo Teräväinen.
This is a similar situation to the Sabres, with the Hurricanes finally looking like potential contenders in the league. The Rangers probably won’t be able to sit back and relax when they play the Hurricanes, especially because both teams are part of the powerhouse Metro Division.
3: Tampa Bay Lightning
Unlike some of the other teams on this list, the Tampa Bay Lightning aren’t seen as an underdog by most fans. With the exception of last year, they have been a consistent threat in the playoffs, making it to the third round in the 2015-2016 season and the Stanley Cup Final in the 2014-2015 season. They did not qualify for the playoffs last year, but star player and captain Steven Stamkos also only played 17 games.
When healthy, the Lightning are an extremely dangerous team to play against. The team has more star-quality players than they are given credit for, including Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman, and Ondřej Palát. Former New York Rangers captain Ryan Callahan joins these talented players, and he hasn’t exactly left New York’s fans with the best feelings towards him.
Another former Ranger joined the Lightning this season, Dan Girardi. The Rangers bought him out over the 2017 offseason, and Tampa Bay signed him to a two-year contract with an annual value of three million dollars. It is always difficult for players to face former teammates, but both Callahan and Girardi meant a lot to the fans as well.
Girardi fought through the Tortorella years, and countless shots were blocked by him every game. Callahan was probably one of the most beloved captains in New York Rangers history. While the fanbase has had a few years to heal from losing Callahan, the wound that Girardi left is still fresh.
Even though these were decisions that make the team better, and fans are quick to remind each other that this is a business, it’s not very easy to lose players that were such a huge part of the team. Fans already see the Rangers and Lightning meet in the playoffs quite often. The games aren’t exactly a relaxing experience.
Despite these factors, there has never been a true rivalry between the two teams. With the combination of the extremely skilled team and the heart-wrenching presence of former New York Rangers, a true rivalry could be exactly what forms during this season.
2: Columbus Blue Jackets
The Columbus Blue Jackets had a drastic difference between their regular season performance and playoff performance last year. They reached 50 wins in one season for the first time in franchise history. They also set a franchise record for points with 108. Like other teams, they suffered from the insane competition in the Metro Division. The Jackets finished third in the division as well as third in the Eastern Conference.
Though many expected them to make a deep run in the playoffs, the eventual Stanley Cup Champions eliminated the Jackets. The Pittsburgh Penguins defeated them in five games. The team has only made the playoffs in three of their 16 seasons as a franchise. They still have never won a playoff series. Could this year be the season that they finally break out? It’s quite possible.
Many talented players make up the roster, like Cam Atkinson, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Nick Foligno. Many young players are making names for themselves in Columbus as well, like Seth Jones Zach Werenski, and Pierre-Luc Dubois. Their roster also includes former Ranger Brandon Dubinsky.
One of the most memorable moments of the 2016-2017 season was the team’s 16 game winning streak, one game shy of the NHL record. Artemi Panarin joined the team in the offseason, improving the team even further. Although they have never been able to truly maintain consistent success, the Blue Jackets look to be getting significantly better.
All of these components point to another great season for the team. This will definitely be a roadblock for the New York Rangers. The Blue Jackets won’t be just another team to look over this season, and the Rangers will have to work hard to get past them this year.
1: Pittsburgh Penguins
This one certainly isn’t a new. The Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers have never been friendly towards each other. It appears that the rivalry will only get more intense this year. The Penguins have just won back-to-back Stanley Cups, and don’t show any signs of slowing down.
Despite losing their first two games, the Penguins bounced back in a big way. They defeated the Nashville Predators 4-0 in a Stanley Cup Final rematch for their third game of the season. Although a Rangers-Penguins rivalry already exists, there is no doubt that it will grow this season.
The Penguins have been a consistent threat in the NHL for many years. They will most likely be a threat for years to come. It doesn’t help that they’re in the same division as the Rangers. Most of the time, the Penguins destroy the Rangers in the regular season.
In the 2016 playoffs, Pittsburgh crushed New York in five games and went on to win the Stanley Cup. The Rangers have gotten significantly better this offseason. Fans can expect games between these two teams to be more evenly matched this year.
Numerous talented players fill the Penguins’ roster, from Sidney Crosby to Evgeni Malkin, and the list goes on. Now, the Rangers can rival that with the likes of newcomer Kevin Shattenkirk. The relationship between these two teams could become more of a rivalry, and less of the Penguins playing a team they’re better than.
Next: New York Rangers: Bold predictions for the 2017-2018 season
Rivalries are some of the most exciting parts of being a hockey fan. They will only get more intriguing this year. While the Rangers improved over the summer, many other teams did the same thing. Will “underdog” teams become a serious threat to the Rangers? Will consistently talented teams continue to see the Rangers as a rival? Luckily, the season is finally underway, and fans will soon get answers to these questions.