What’s a successful season for the New York Rangers?

With the New York Rangers being placed in the hardest division in hockey, how should we define success this season?

Let’s face it–the hockey gods giveth, and they taketh away. The New York Rangers were blessed to win the draft lottery and to take left wing/number-one-overall prospect Alexis Lafrenière. But, to pay for this gift, they were banished to the hardest division in the NHL in the realignment due to COVID. The Rangers face the Sisyphean task of playing their division opponents the Boston Bruins, Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Washington Capitals each eight times this season, with the top four teams qualifying for the playoffs.

So, a playoff berth for the Blueshirts may not be in the cards for this season. If that’s the case, can the New York Rangers miss the playoffs and still have a successful 2021 season? Yes. Here’s how:

Igor Shesterkin proves why he was the heir apparent

Igor Shesterkin looked every bit like the future of the franchise in his 12 games last season where he posted a .932 percent save percentage. Can he sustain that level of play over the whole course of a season, even with a suspect defense in front of him?

Filip Chytil gets meaningful minutes as the number two center

Look, Filip Chytil is still only 21 years old. Having said that, the Rangers still don’t have a clue if he’s a top six center or not. So, if making the playoffs is very unlikely–which it is, considering how tough the division is–then Chytil needs to be given time as the second-line center. This will give Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton the information he needs so he can figure out if trading Ryan Strome is a possibility.

Quinn throws away the leash

The past two years have seen the New York Rangers draft at number two overall (Kaapo Kakko) and number one overall (Alexis Lafrenière). Kakko was sheltered throughout his underwhelming first season, but looked like a different player in the qualifying tournament. Lafrenière is reportedly a special talent. Therefore, Quinn can’t try this tightrope act where he says he’s a development coach, yet he doesn’t give his youngsters meaningful minutes in important situations.

Both these two players in particular have to be thrust into prominent roles. Before you say, “But, but, but…they gotta earn it!” look, our franchise lives or dies by these two now. If they both aren’t as advertised, we’re not going to be a Stanley Cup team. Period. Hard stop.