The New York Rangers may have pulled off a solid offseason, and the possibilities for the 2026-27 season are endless. From contenders to a lottery pick, there is no telling where this team will end up in April of next year.
One thing is for certain: they will once again be must-watch TV for Blueshirts fans, and there are multiple things to pay attention to this upcoming year. Let's go over a few of them here.
Dorofeyev's emergence on Broadway
The biggest move this summer was the trade and signing of Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas. With a back-to-back 30+ goal resume, he has been brought in to light the lamp at Madison Square Garden. With the departure of Artemi Panarin, it is now on the newcomer to become the face of this franchise for the forward group.
Another name that is affected by the arrival of Dorofeyev is Gabe Perreault. He can benefit from his arrival, or he can be forgotten due to his potential success.
New defensive unit should shine
More additions to the blue line is going to be a main focus for the Blueshirts. Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson are expected to completely revitalized the defensive side of the ice, and that should make things go a lot smoother in 2026-27.
There is also the drafting of Alberts Smits, who was selected in front of Chase Reid in a controversial call on draft night. Smits is expected to fight for a spot in training camp and the preseason, and that could make for some interesting roster battles over the next few weeks. If he does not make it out of camp, expect him to really shine wherever the Rangers decide to put him, and a mid-season call-up is definitely possible.
A revitalized defensive unit will make this team a lot more competitive next season.
Shesterkin returning to Vezina form
Igor Shesterkin had a good year in 2026-27. He just did not get the help that he needed to help this team finish the season in a better standing. Expect that to change next season, and his willingness to really bring this franchise back from the depths of the NHL will be the most interesting storyline to watch.
Joonas Korpisalo was brought in with a trade from Boston, and Dylan Garand is also awaiting his turn to get some reps behind Shesterkin. Obviously, the Rangers are not going to sit No. 31 for any reason other than injury, but having two capable backups should add some pressure and also help his workload.
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