New York Rangers: Building an Identity

The 2020-2021 season

Housed in the Metropolitan Division, which is arguably the most competitive Division in the league, the Rangers face a few added obstacles in their current push. The club is approaching a 26-year anniversary since they claimed the Cup and the game of hockey has greatly evolved in that Cup-less span.

Since the 1993-94 season when the Rangers won the ultimate prize in hockey, the team has missed the postseason ten times, been eliminated in the first round four times, sent home in round two six times, and failed to advance in the Conference Finals three times. Throughout these years, it’s been an agonizing ride for fans since that famed year, the fear of another 54 year drought (or longer) may linger with some.

Although next season shouldn’t carry expectations of a Cup, it should propel the club another step in the right direction. With veteran forward and lifelong Ranger, Chris Kreider secured for the next seven seasons teamed with red hot Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin, the Rangers have their core of seasoned talent solidified.  It just comes down to focusing on the kids now.

There have been many Rangers kids who have stolen the spotlight this season and as any Rangers fan knows, the team likes to keep it interesting. It’s an exciting time to be a Rangers fan, they’ve nearly completed a whole roster renovation in under three seasons. Their vision of a Cup seems to be renewed.

Although they had been playing as a more competent group of individuals, there should be no reason to rush the development. As mentioned with the locked-down veteran core, the next couple seasons should still have the “test drive” mentality in place. If the team can advance into the playoffs, that’s great. The kids will learn insurmountably from their playoff experience, but that shouldn’t be the immediate goal to avoid rushing assets.

The organization has put themselves in a great position for success, they just need the stars to align, but it can’t happen overnight.