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It’s Christmas! Some gifts the Rangers could be wishing for

By Jake Mozarsky

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Pavel Buchnevich #89 (l) of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers and is joined by Chris Kreider #20 (c) and Mika Zibanejad #93 (r) at Madison Square Garden on October 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: Pavel Buchnevich #89 (l) of the New York Rangers celebrates his first period goal against the Philadelphia Flyers and is joined by Chris Kreider #20 (c) and Mika Zibanejad #93 (r) at Madison Square Garden on October 6, 2016 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 31: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers shoots for the open net against the Detroit Red Wings during the final minutes of play in the third period at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Red Wings 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 31: Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers shoots for the open net against the Detroit Red Wings during the final minutes of play in the third period at Madison Square Garden on January 31, 2020 in New York City. The Rangers defeated the Red Wings 4-2. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The goalies

The Rangers have a strong 1-2 goalie combo, starting with rookie of the year candidate Igor Shesterkin and a starting-caliber backup in Alexandar Georgiev. The two netminders wish for different things.

Igor Shesterkin: National goalie recognition

Last year Shesterkin flew under the radar of many due to the “emergence” of Carter Hart. Hart was a golden boy type goalie in the NHL, and it seems like there’s one of those every year, Jordan Binnington being the year before. We can hope for Shesterkin to take that role this season.

Shesterkin is currently the favorite to win the Calder Trophy, and while it can be a goal to win it, it should not be primary, the same goes for Alexis Lafrenière . Shesterkin was 10-2 in his 12 starts and the team is completely different when he is on the ice, and hopefully he gets the recognition he deserves, both for his own sake and New York’s.

Alexandar Georgiev: 20 games

Georgiev is the backup and that is not really a question up for debate, Shesterkin was just too good. But, Georgiev also has star potential. Getting 20 games in a shortened, condensed season will help him build his own stock and be a major piece for New York on their race for a playoff birth.

New York Rangers: A playoff birth

This team is very exciting, but the division is extremely difficult. There are stars that we need to watch out for and don’t get me wrong this is going to be an exciting season, but they are still not at the level to be a Stanley Cup contender.

In an ideal year, the Rangers will be a top four team in the division, clinch a playoff birth, while also seeing the same production from Panarin and Zibanejad, more from Kreider and Buchnevich, emergence of young stars such as Lafrenière and Kakko, and hope for the future.

Let’s see how it all unfolds.

More. The Lafreniere decision was the right one. light

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