New York Rangers top the Metropolitan Division standings early in 2024

This season for the New York Rangers has been incredibly fun to watch. They've been electric on the ice, and have gotten to the point where the Blueshirts sit comfortably at the top of the division, ahead of the Carolina Hurricanes. It's been a good season so far for the Blueshirts, one that saw them enjoy a double digit winning streak, and sustain success despite the recent heavy losses. This team doesn't seem to lose tight games.

With that all said, the Rangers still comfortably lead the division. Through 37 games, the Rangers have collected 53 points. That is good enough for a .716 points percentage. They sit five points ahead of the Canes, with two games in hand on the hot divisional opponents. If you want to be extremely positive, the Rangers are 10 point clear of the first team that isn't in a playoff spot, and that is the Tamp Bay Lightning. It's a chaotic year in the east, and right now the Rangers are getting away from the chasing pack.

In the overall league standings, only the Winnipeg Jets have more points than the Blueshirts, and they have played a game more. A win in Montreal will see the Rangers leapfrog the Jets and into first place overall in the standings early in 2024. This is a serious cup contender, and they will be looking to raise a fifth Stanley Cup Championship banner to the rafters of Madison Square Garden this summer.

What is most impressive about where the Blueshirts sit right now is that this is a team that has had extreme injury concerns. Filip Chytil hasn't played a game since early November, Kaapo Kakko had a scary leg injury and they will both continue to be out long-term. Adam Fox spent time on LTIR, Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick were both hurt at the same time! Louis Domingue came up and was backed up by Dylan Garand at one point. They won that game too, because this team is overcoming all sorts of adversity.

Going into the back-half of the season, the New York Rangers will have one task. Sustained success. Losing in round one last year isn't good enough. Win a couple of rounds, and get to the conference finals. From then on, it's a complete crapshoot. New York could win the cup, they could be injured so badly the Hartford Wolf Pack are playing NHL games, or there could be other stories. Time will tell, but the expectations for this core has never been higher.