Expectations for the 2020-21 New York Rangers: Part 4 – The Team
The New York Rangers rebuild officially began on February 8, 2018 when the organization sent out its now infamous “letter to the fans”. They would finish that season last in the Metropolitan division with 77 points and a .470% points percentage. The next year, after having sold of many of the team’s veteran leaders, the team finished in seventh place in the division with 78 points and a points percentage of .476%. Last season, in 12 fewer games played, they again finished in 7th place, but with 79 points and a points percentage equal to .564%.
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Had the 2019-20 season not been suspended due to the pandemic, the Rangers were projected to finish with 92 points. Would that have been enough for a playoff berth last season? In truth, we will never know, but in all honesty it does not seem likely. The New York Islanders were in a tailspin, losing 11 of their last 13 games and seven straight to end the season. They had already fallen out of a playoff spot, and likely to fall further, but were still one point ahead of the Rangers with two fewer games played. If any team benefited from the restart, it was the Islanders.
The Columbus Blue Jackets were equal to the Rangers in games played at 70, but had a two point lead, holding on to the final wild card spot. The Blue Jackets were treading water, but lead the league with 15 overtime losses. Down the stretch, when every point was critical, they went to overtime in seven of their final 14 games. Those extra points were crucial when considering the Rangers had four more wins overall with six more in regulation to secure the first tie-breaker.
The Carolina Hurricanes were also two points ahead of the Rangers, holding onto the first wild card spot. They had fallen back, allowing the Rangers to catch them, in part because the Rangers won the season series four games to none. But, by the time the season was paused, Hurricanes had leveled off their play, winning their final three games. Add in they had two games in hand and it makes it unlikely the Rangers would have been able to pass them.
From January 4, 2020, the Rangers went on a 13-7-0 run to put themselves into the playoff conversation. However, in their final 10 games, they had leveled off to a modest 5-4-1 record. Playing at just above .500 was not going to get them in, as they needed to pass two of the four teams ahead of them. And if their performance in the Stanley Cup Qualifier was of any indication, they were simply not ready.