Five bold predictions for Rangers 2024-25 season

The New York Rangers have gotten off to a great start in 2024-25. With a dominating 6-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the first game of the year, they solidified themselves to the rest of the NHL that they are still the same team that won the Presidents' Trophy.

So, with that said, what kind of bold predictions can you think of with 81 games remaining? Let's take a look.

The Rangers Win Stanley Cup

The first bold prediction on our list is that the Rangers will ultimately win the Stanley Cup. It looked like things were going that way last season, with it being the 30th anniversary since the Rangers last won the most coveted trophy in sports, but it was just delayed by a year.

This team is on its last-ditch effort to win the Stanley Cup. The salary cap plays a big factor after this season comes to a close, and the Rangers will look a lot differently next season. So it is a now-or-never situation.

For argument sake, even the NHL 25 video game has the Rangers taking home the Stanley Cup this season, in seven games over the Edmonton Oilers. What a fun series that would be.

Igor wins Vezina, signs at $12.5 Million

The most talked about topic this offseason has been Igor Shesterkin and this looming contract situation. Things were going steady, up until the Rangers decided to throw a monkey wrench into the whole thing by offering him an eight year deal worth $11 million AAV. Shesterkin declined it, sending the rumors flying over whether or not he should remain a Ranger after the 2024-25 season.

After the first game of the 2024-25 season, Shesterkin continues to prove that he is worth every single penny he will eventually get. With a 29-save shutout against the Pittsburgh Penguins, he is well on his way to winning his potentially second Vezina trophy in just six seasons in the NHL. He did so well, he earned an excellent grade in his outing of the year.

No matter the final result of this season, whether it is a Vezina trophy or even the Stanley Cup trophy, the Rangers will re-sign Shesterkin at $12.5 million. No matter how much salary cap space it eats up, it is a necessary expense for a Stanley Cup-contending team, year in and year out.