Rangers done in five; Offseason questions; Draft outlook
Today's New York Rangers notes
What happened on Saturday afternoon will not go down as the most memorable playoff moment for us Rangers fans, but as icing on a series that many might want to forget. In the past few years we've seen multiple strong playoff runs end empty handed, but with a positive outlook moving forward. This years ending was different though, as the attitude towards what happens next for the Rangers has brought on an unusual vibe.
For those who were able to stick around for the final minutes when the Penguins pushed New York into an early offseason, it was not an easy thing to watch. It is also understandable if after two periods, you had seen enough. In case you're still interested in seeing how the full game turned out, here are some recaps of the Rangers final 2015-16 game. [Blueshirt Banter] [NY Post] [ESPN] [Newsday] [Blueshirts United] [Ranger Rants]
Unfortunately, this might have been Rick Nash's best playoff performance since joining the Rangers. In a small five game sample, he finished the series with two goals and four points. Derick Brassard (four points) and J.T. Miller (three points) finished with the next best post season point production on the team.
With the immediate transition into the Rangers' offseason, questions loom as to what is next for the team. [NY Post] [Newsday] [NY Daily News] [Blue Seat Blogs]
Since the Rangers earned a playoff berth and do not have a spot in the draft lottery, it is almost certain they will be without a first round pick again. If that is he case, New York will start their selections in the third round and have another four picks in the rounds that follow. Here is the Rangers' draft and salary outlook. [GeneralFanager]
Finally, in case you missed it, the New York Rangers 2016 eulogy. [Blueshirt Banter]