Five burning questions for the New York Rangers this season

Question #1: Can Igor Shesterkin win the Vezina Trophy again, or even the Hart Trophy?

Shesterkin was one of the best players in the league last season and was a runaway for the Vezina Trophy for the best goaltender in hockey. Furthermore, he was a finalist for the Hart Trophy, given to the most valuable player in the NHL. The question going into this season is can he win the Vezina again, and even win the MVP?

The short answer is of course. Shesterkin enters the season one of the best (if not the best) goalies in the league, and he is one of the odds-on favorites for the Vezina Trophy. If he replicates his play from last season, he will no doubt be a finalist for the Vezina. If the Rangers are at the top of the league again, much of the success can be dedicated to the netminder, and this can give him MVP honors.

The long answer: it is incredibly hard for a goalie to win the Hart Trophy, so it is unlikely. There have only been six in NHL history that have actually won it (Roy Worters, Chuck Rayner, Al Rollins, Jacques Plante, Dominik Hasek, and Jose Theodore). Shesterkin was the first goalie to be named a finalist since Carey Price, which is an honor in itself.

Vezina? He should no doubt be in the conversation. Hart? Don’t expect him to win it.

Question #2: Who will be Artemi Panarin’s right wing for the majority of the season?

This has been a question throughout the Breadman’s entire Rangers career. Think of some of the names that have had the privilege to play with Panarin: Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere, of course, but then Dryden Hunt, Jesper Fast, Sammy Blais, and Colin Blackwell. The Rangers need to find an answer to this.

To start the season, we’re looking at either Vitali Kravtsov, Alexis Lafreniere, or Kaapo Kakko. In training camp, Gerard Gallant has opted to keep Lafreniere and Kakko on the kid line with Filip Chytil, and this makes Kravtsov seem like the favorite. He has been spending time with Panarin before, after, and during practice, and after another year in Russia he should be improved.

As the season progresses, this question will become more intriguing, especially if the Rangers make a trade. This brings us to our next question…

Question #3: Who will the Rangers bring in at the trade deadline?

New York is sure to be an active team at the trade deadline. Here are a few names that should be in the mix:

The first is obviously Patrick Kane. The forward has a great relationship with Artemi Panarin (and can be his right winger), his contract ends in Chicago this year, and New York would love to have him as a rental. Kane is owed a salary of $10.5M for this season, but after that, the Rangers would not need to do anything else, allowing them to extend players like Alexis Lafreniere and K’Andre Miller this offseason.

Other names that will appear include Jakob Chycrun from Arizona, Jesse Puljujarvi from Edmonton, and dare I say it, Anthony Beauvillier from the Islanders. More names will pop up and Chris Drury should have a busy few months ahead.

Question #4: Which of the young Rangers players will emerge as stars?

If the Stanley Cup Playoffs were any indicator, the Rangers have something special in Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil. All three had impressive playoffs, but the question is still if they can put together a complete regular season and emerge as fundamental players for New York.

With the departures of offensive players like Andrew Copp and Frank Vatrano, the kids should have more of a role offensively. For now, Lafreniere, Kakko, and Chytil are staying together on the kid line, but this is subject to change, as there is uncertainty on the first and second lines as well.

Then there is this concern: If the kid line stays together, how much ice time will they get? Would someone really expect them to play late in the game instead of Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, or Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trochek? This is why they might be split up, as they have the offensive potential to thrive with this veteran core.

All three of these players can make a case for a place in the top six, and they will get it during the season.

Question #5: How far can the New York Rangers go this year? Can they win it all?

After their exit in the Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay and a busy offseason, the Rangers are ready for a new season to come and exercise the demons from last year. New York exceeded expectations this year, but now the Eastern Conference Finals, winning the Metropolitan Division, and the Stanley Cup should be in their eyes.

Positively, New York has one of the most talented rosters in the league, led by one of the best goalies in the league, has one of the best defensive corps in the league, and a veteran forward core with young players that can be stars. If all goes well, the Rangers should be at the top again.

A successful season for the Rangers should see them playing games in late May, or early June. Fans want the cup and the team’s championship window is open.

But, in the NHL, things can go wrong. There are injuries, underperforming teams, and so many factors that can make the Rangers fall below what people think they are. Also, the Eastern Conference is the better conference: New York will have a tough road if they make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This team is built on hope and dreams. The fans need to think the same. Enter the season with optimism and see how it goes.