New York still has more to get out of its youth
Going into next season, while the Rangers have an established veteran core, they also have youngsters who can take the next step. It starts with Alexis Lafreniere, who had a disappointing year for the Blueshirts.
Lafrenière had a career season in the 2023-24 campaign, tallying highs with 28 goals, 29 assists and 57 points. In the postseason, he was one of New York's top scorers, providing moments of brilliance en route to the Conference Finals. That's why New York gave him a seven-year, $52.15 million in October 2024.
While Lafrenière did not provide as much of a spark in the 2024-25 campaign, barely any of the Rangers took a step forward. There's still optimism when it comes to the 2020 No. 1 overall pick.
Outside of Lafrenière, the Rangers have youngsters who took steps forward, such as Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe, Braden Schneider. They also will have Gabe Perreault, the Boston College star who played a few games for the Blueshirts at the back end of the season, along with Brett Berard and Brennan Othmann, all of whom will be itching for the opportunity to be a full-timer.
The Rangers' youth can make them a much better hockey team starting immediately, and it can last years. It would be huge for New York's organizational health.