Blueshirt Banter 2026-27 Season Preview Roundtable

Welcome back to New York Rangers hockey.

The last two seasons weren't what anybody wanted. And we've seen a significant amount of change to this hockey team over that time. After releasing The Letter 2.0 last season, several long-time Rangers are now playing elsewhere. New Rangers have joined the team, either via trade like Pavel Dorofeyev, or from the draft, like Alberts Smits.

Can the team rebound and make the playoffs this season? Here's what the Blueshirt Banter crew thinks.

Part One: Questions

1) As bad as the 2024-25 season was, the Rangers somehow finished even lower in the standings in 2025-26. What are your expectations for the Rangers this season?

Joe Fortunato: I think the Rangers are firmly a playoff team that will make some noise. Noise being either a tough first-round exit or maybe dancing its way into the second round. There could be another gear within this team—the top four is massively improved and will help fix a lot of problems from last year—but I have seen this movie too many times before to not hedge my bets here some.

Eric Kohn: They're a wild card team. I think that would be success for this season and evidence that the retool is working. They've clearly improved the roster, and are deeper on defense than they've been in years. The two biggest questions are, who will drive play, and can they stay healthy? The Rangers need to hope that what we saw from Gabe Perreault and Alexis Lafrenière at the end of last season carries forward into this one. But with the improved top six, Adam Fox, and Igor Shesterkin, that should be sufficient to get them back into the playoff picture.

Chip23: Two years ago, they nearly made the playoffs after players tanked for six weeks and the coach went into a hole for another six weeks. Last year, they were playing good hockey right up until Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox got injured, and then the wheels fell off. I'm not going to sit here and call for them to be in the Eastern Conference Final again (like I did last year), but they'll be in the playoffs and a tough out.

Jake DiBlasio: My expectations are frankly pretty similar to what they were last season. The Rangers should be a fringe playoff team that beats lesser teams. The Rangers are no doubt not without talent and have some young players who, if they take a step forward, can help the team push into the postseason. However, they are thin down the middle, and an injury or another down season from J.T. Miller or Mika Zibanejad could cause this team to implode. The health of Shesterkin and Fox is also vital to this team's success, and without them, the Rangers may not stand a chance.

Tom Dianora: The Rangers will be on the edge of the playoff hunt all season. I think they will squeeze in as a wild card team, thanks largely to a better, puck-moving defense corps. I do worry a bit about where the play-driving is going to come from up front, which is why it's so important to see Alexis Lafrenière and Gabe Perreault take major steps forward.

Chris Feldman: I'm expecting the Rangers to be a wild card team at an absolute minimum. They're coming off back-to-back disastrous seasons, they clearly improved on paper, and at full health there is no reason for them not to be competitive. Their own improvements aside, I'm not convinced any teams in the Metro improved all that much, with the exception of the Washington Capitals.

Keegan Jarvis: The Rangers had a strong offseason, highlighted by acquiring star winger Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights and selecting defenseman Alberts Smits fifth overall. The team looks significantly improved heading into the 2026-27 season and will be a contender for a wild card spot this year.

Drew McCaffrey: The revamped defense will be a major factor in a turnaround … to fighting for a wild card spot in April. Whether they get that last playoff berth will depend on Shesterkin's health.

Snark Messier: I'm going to remain cautiously optimistic about the New York Rangers this season. I think they made some strong offseason additions, particularly Marcus Pettersson and Dorofeyev, but they weren't the only team in the Eastern Conference that improved. On top of that, the Rangers have been handed one of the toughest schedules in the NHL, with little room for prolonged slumps or inconsistency. I'd love nothing more than to see them succeed, trust me, but I also wouldn't be remotely surprised if they missed the playoffs yet again.

Roberto Solis-Byxbee: Last year I went all in and embraced positivity for the sake of wanting to speak my hopes into reality. This year, I'll embrace logic and tell you I think where the Rangers end up is impossible to guess. Is this a cop-out? Eh, maybe a little bit. The team has several highly skilled players across its lineup, and with some luck in avoiding drastic injuries, if multiple players click and have productive seasons, it could prop the Rangers into contention as one of the better-performing teams in the Eastern Conference. On the other side of that, however, is the opposite result, where the Rangers could suffer setback after setback. A lot has to go right for the team to be a contender. It's hard to feel confident in that scenario executing flawlessly, so I place the Rangers firmly in the category of somewhere in the middle, with the potential to be much higher or much lower.

Charlie Vidal: I expect the Rangers to make the playoffs as a wild card team. The defense is significantly improved, Fox and Shesterkin will hopefully be healthy, and a combination of improvement from Perreault and the addition of Dorofeyev should help mitigate the loss of Artemi Panarin. That being said, I don't expect the Rangers to be especially fun to watch. An improved defense, an elite goaltender, and a lack of top-level scoring talent mean that head coach Mike Sullivan will try to have the Rangers playing tight, defensive, low-event hockey. I expect the Rangers to be one of the lower-scoring and better defensive teams in the league, so they might not be the most exciting to watch.

Ultimately, I don't think the Rangers are talented enough to go on a deep postseason run. My projection is that the Rangers lose in the first round in six games to either Carolina or Florida, with Shesterkin stealing a game to even get it to that point.

2) Where will the Rangers finish in the Metropolitan Division standings?

Joe: Third. I'm not totally terrified of the Metro, and I think there are a lot of teams that are going to be jockeying for those final playoff spots. I think Carolina is an easy winner of the division, with Washington behind them. I'm not sure anyone else is better than the Rangers in that remaining group.

Eric: Fourth. Carolina will remain Carolina. Washington is improved enough that I'm bumping them up to second. I have a hard time clocking Pittsburgh. I wouldn't be surprised if they finished as high as second, nor would I be shocked if they completely fell out and missed the playoffs. But that (incredibly annoying) Sidney Crosby magic is a thing, so I have them penciled in at third place in the Metro. I don't really believe in what they're doing in Philadelphia, and I'm expecting them to fall off from their performance last season. The only other team to keep an eye on is New Jersey. I like some of what they've done, but I need to actually see Jack Hughes stay healthy for an entire season, and I don't trust the goaltending timeshare of Jake Allen and Nico Daws at all.

Chip23: Second or third. I will give the Carolina Hurricanes the respect owed to a Stanley Cup champion and say that they will, at the very least, win the Metropolitan Division. Behind them? Who knows. The Capitals are vastly improved (annoyingly so), but are the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, New York Islanders, or New Jersey Devils better than the Rangers? I don't think so, Tim.

Jake: I believe the Rangers will finish fourth in the division. I have the Hurricanes, Devils, and Capitals finishing ahead of the Rangers. Carolina just won the Cup, and both the Devils and Capitals made moves that have improved their rosters. I think both Pennsylvania teams will take a step back. Outside of Porter Martone, the Flyers don't have a lot that wows me and they didn't add much. Pittsburgh is in a similar spot with a lot of older players. I don't love the Pete DeBoer hire for the Islanders, and I can see them stalling out if their young players don't pan out. Lastly, Columbus is Columbus.

Tom: Fourth, which places them in the hunt for one of the Eastern Conference's two wild card spots, which I believe they will claim. I have the Hurricanes and Capitals firmly ahead of the Rangers, and I think the Devils will take a step forward as well. But other than that, I don't believe in any of the other teams in the Metro.

Chris: I want to say last just to have a sort of reverse-jinx effect, but my brain and heart both say third. On paper, there are really only two teams in the division that I look at and can confidently say are better than the Rangers. This team desperately needs to turn things around and have a good year from start to finish. No one aside from the Capitals really got miles better this summer. The Rangers have no reason not to get back into a playoff position.

Keegan: Fourth, putting them in a wild card spot. The Hurricanes are the defending Stanley Cup champions and are the team to beat not only in the Metro, but in the entire NHL. I also think the Capitals improved and should claim second in the division. Outside of that, the Metro is up for grabs, but I'll remain conservative for now.

Drew: Fourth place seems right.

Snark: Fifth—Carolina, Washington, New Jersey, and Pittsburgh are my picks to finish ahead of them in the standings.

Roberto: I think they'll place fourth in the Metropolitan Division but secure a wild card spot to return to the playoffs. I think the Rangers got dragged a bit too hard by some of the analysts and sports journalists, and while I certainly don't think they're near the top of their division, they have a lot of potential to make some noise and surprise people, so placing fourth for the middle position in the division feels just right.

Charlie: I predict the Rangers will finish fourth in the Metropolitan Division. After the Hurricanes, every team in the division has significant question marks, and I think the Rangers will scratch out enough points in ugly, low-scoring games to sneak into the playoffs as a wild card team.

3) Who will have a breakout season?

Joe: Perreault is my biggest riser simply because we didn't get a full season of him last year, and everything is going to be new and exciting. I think Lafrenière will also have a breakout year.

Eric: The easy answer here is Gabe Perreault, who will beat the ludicrous accusations that he's nothing more than warmed over Matias Maccelli (seriously, how does Corey Pronman have a job?). But, at the risk of making the wish the father of the thought, I'm going with Alexis Lafrenière. He's been in our lives for so long now that it's easy to forget he's still only 24-years-old. The "he's still young" excuse, however, is just about expired. I really do think there's something to him being separated from Artemi Panarin that helped facilitate his very successful end of last season. Panarin is an amazing player, but we've certainly seen that not every player can play with him. I think Lafrenière will benefit from having some different linemates who play a more predictable style.

Chip23: On this roster, the only two options really are Perreault or Lafrenière. I'm going with both. Chris is right, though, when he says that Perreault's breakout is going to cost the Rangers a lot of money.

Jake: Perreault will be the popular answer, and I agree, but to diversify things, I'll go with Eeli Tolvanen. His underlying numbers were strong with the Seattle Kraken during the 2024-25 season. During that season, he recorded 41 points despite the dumpster fire that Seattle is. His physical play will likely make him a favorite within the organization, and I think that, paired with a good start, could get him some extra opportunities when injuries occur.

Tom: I think Lafrenière will take another step forward to become a player in the range of 70 to 80 points. But Perreault could be poised for an even bigger breakout, at least relative to what he's done so far (27 points in 49 games last season). I could see him breaking the 50-point mark, which would be a major jump, and also something the Rangers need as a team that has some finishing talent but not enough drivers and creators of offense.

Chris: Perreault, and considering Fraser Minten is making north of $7 million a year for the next seven years, his breakout year is going to be expensive for this organization.

Keegan: I'm choosing the popular answer in Perreault. He was a joy to watch during his brief stint in Hartford last season, and he translated his skills well to the NHL game. If he can keep the same chemistry he found with Zibanejad and Lafrenière last season, Perreault will be a featured player for this team.

Drew: My hottest take of the season is that Lafrenière will score more points than Panarin.

Snark: Perreault seems to be the popular answer, but I think the smarter bet is Noah Laba. Sullivan has already praised his skating, size, defensive growth, and feel for the game, and the Rangers appear comfortable giving him some of the difficult minutes Vincent Trocheck used to handle. What makes Laba especially interesting to me is that he doesn't necessarily need a massive offensive explosion to have a breakout year. If he establishes himself as a reliable third-line center, earns Sullivan's trust in important situations, and starts contributing more consistently offensively, his role could grow quickly. He has the combination of opportunity and responsibility that can turn a relatively unheralded young player into one of the Rangers' biggest surprises this season.

Roberto: It feels fated that Perreault is going to pop off this year, but I think he'll drag Lafrenière into the upper atmosphere with him. Lafrenière will score 30 goals and more than 70 points because of Perreault's first step into stardom.

Charlie: Lafrenière. I planted my flag in the ground when I wrote my player preview and said that he'd beat his previous career high of 57 points by putting up 74. While he won't quite be a point-per-game player, this will be the season that his finishing and power-play time finally allow his top-line numbers to match his underlying metrics.

4) Who will end up as a scapegoat if/when things go wrong?

Joe: The only answer for the masses is president and general manager Chris Drury, so Drury. Same thing for Fox, so Fox.

Eric: At the risk of being pedantic here, the answer can't be Chris Drury. A scapegoat is someone who is unfairly blamed, and at this point, if this season is a disaster, the blame that Drury will receive will be entirely fair. It's a toss up to be between J.T. Miller and Adam Fox, but Fox more accurately fits the scapegoat definition. He'll be as good as he always is, and it still won't be enough for some people who are determined to be miserable.

Chip23: Drury, for assembling this roster.

Jake: Miller is the obvious choice, and rightfully so. I mentioned how the Rangers are thin at center, which makes it hard for someone else to pick up the slack if he underperforms. The team is deep at both wing and defense, so if someone like Fox or Dorofeyev struggles, there is the potential for others to help compensate. Miller is also coming off a poor season, which always makes it easy to point to someone.

Tom: Drury is on thin ice with this fan base, and for good reason. So he is the obvious person to blame for the decent-but-not-elite roster he has built. However, the term "scapegoat" implies that the blame is unfair. It's totally warranted with Drury. So to pivot to someone else: There are many candidates, but I'm going to go with Dorofeyev, if his goal total dips slightly versus the previous two seasons and/or the Rangers' offense still struggles. He is an elite finisher, but he needs play drivers around him. The Blueshirts might not have enough of those, but since Dorofeyev is the shiny new toy, the honeymoon phase could end quickly if the team struggles to score despite his efforts.

Chris: Knowing this fan base, it's always going to be one of Fox, Shesterkin, or Zibanejad. If things go south, people are going to say Fox stinks, or Shesterkin is overpaid, or Zibanejad is too soft. However, I'm going to go with Dorofeyev for my final answer to this question. There's going to be lots of pressure for him to be a saving grace of sorts for this team. If he doesn't have a big year, the discourse around him is going to be rough.

Keegan: Miller is the captain of the team and is coming off a disappointing season last year. If he struggles again, he'll hear it.

Drew: The captain, as usual. If things go wrong this season, it'll almost certainly be because Miller can't rediscover his form.

Snark: Drury, obviously. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see plenty of blame thrown at Sullivan, Miller, Zibanejad, known milk connoisseur Fox, and, of course, Shesterkin as well. In other words, the usual suspects whenever things go sideways on Broadway.

Roberto: Miller, no questions asked. The only way he can shirk this burden is by personally posting more than 80 points.

Charlie: Fox will undeservedly be the scapegoat if things go wrong. A subset of the fan base believes that he isn't an elite defenseman, despite sustained evidence that he is one of the top defensemen in hockey. The second the Rangers go through a rough patch, the idiots in the fan base will be out in droves declaring that he's a terrible skater, too small, and overpaid.

5) Who will be the team MVP?

Joe: Fox or Shesterkin. If I am feeling particularly risqué, then Perreault.

Eric: Again at the risk of making the wish the father of the thought, I'm going with J.T. Miller. If Miller is the team MVP, than they Rangers might be even higher than a wild card team. But the real answer will probably be Igor.

Chip23: Who will be the team MVP? Shesterkin or Fox. Who will fans think is the team MVP? Tye Kartye, because he's a fun glue guy.

Jake: I think Shesterkin will be the team MVP. The past few seasons, the Rangers have had an extremely thin blue line and are constantly getting outshot. Yet he continues to keep them in games, and he received Vezina Trophy votes last season, which was a step back in the right direction after a down year in 2024-25. With the improvements in front of him, and by staying healthy, I think he will once again be the team's MVP.

Tom: Fox, but he will somehow still be underappreciated across the league and non-Rangers media.

Chris: Dorofeyev is going to rise to the occasion and get this team back to the postseason.

Keegan: Shesterkin and Fox are two of the premier players at their respective positions, so it's hard not to choose them. However, I'll be a bit different and say Dorofeyev. If he scores at the rate he did in Vegas, the Rangers will be in a great spot to make noise in the playoff hunt.

Drew: Fox.

Snark: Zibanejad. Yes, you read that correctly—Mika Zibanejad.

Roberto: This team will live and die by Shesterkin.

Charlie: Fox is going to be the best player on the Rangers this season, and only Shesterkin will come close in terms of importance to the team.

6) Who will be this team's unsung hero?

Joe: I think Pettersson is going to be the guy who isn't as flashy as everyone else but continues to make things happen on the back end. I can also see Vladislav Gavrikov getting a nod here.

Eric: I'm tempted to break up the general consensus that it's one of the two parts of the Rangers' second defensive pairing, but I can't. I think it's Sean Durzi. Having another defenseman who can move the puck well will be a major pressure release valve for Adam Fox, who won't need to do everything himself and won't need to log as many minutes as a result. That should help keep him healthy, which is critically important.

Chip23: Sean Durzi. He's going to take a lot of the load off of Fox, which is going to allow Fox to cut back on minutes and be healthier throughout the season.

Jake: Pettersson. He won't get time on the power play and won't make super flashy moves at five-on-five that wow you, but he will do the little things right. Pettersson reminds me of a good cornerback in football; you won't be saying his name too much, and that is not a bad thing. Of all the offseason moves, this one probably received some of the least traction, which also helps make him a potential unsung hero.

Tom: Durzi. Having another defenseman besides Fox who can actually move the puck and help spark offense is going to be so critical for this team.

Chris: I'm going to go with Durzi here. I think he's going to slowly turn into a fan favorite and sneakily put up a ton of points.

Keegan: I really like Durzi for this team. He's a strong puck mover and should significantly improve the second power-play unit.

Drew: Durzi.

Snark: Although I'm not quite as high on him as some of my colleagues, I'll go with Durzi as well. He has a certain je ne sais quoi that Rangers fans tend to latch onto pretty quickly.

Roberto: I think Pettersson is going to be the stability the team has wanted on the second pair for years. He won't post a lot of points, but he'll kill a lot of penalties and get sent onto the ice for most of the team's defensive-zone faceoffs.

Charlie: Fox will be the team's unsung hero. Shesterkin will have one of the best statistical seasons of his career, if not the best, and win the Vezina Trophy, but it will be on the back of Fox's work driving play and producing on the power play that the Rangers are able to score enough goals to make the playoffs.

7) Will the Rangers be buyers, sellers, or somewhere in between at the trade deadline?

Joe: I don't think they will be major buyers or sellers at the deadline. I think Drury will continue to try to make bigger things happen, but it's not going to happen at the trade deadline, if it happens at all.

Eric: The only way they're sellers is if everything goes to hell in the first half of the season, and I'm not putting that evil out into the world. I don't think they'll be aggressive buyers. They're going to be improved and you're going to want to reward them by adding to the team, but I don't think they're going to be good enough that you go all-in on a Jake Guentzel-like acquisition at the deadline that says "we're going for the Cup." So, let's say they'll be cautious buyers.

Chip23: I'm going to say somewhere in between. They're not going to want to part with guys like Liam Greentree or Cole Beaudoin, and they have already dealt their 2028 and 2030 first-round picks (and because of the terms of those deals, cannot use their 2029 or 2031 first-round picks). If Greentree or Beaudoin force the issue, you could see guys like Oliver Bjorkstrand, Tolvanen, Taylor Raddysh, or the like dealt.

Jake: I think the Rangers will be neutral at the trade deadline. They don't have a ton of assets to work with to bring in talent, but they do have a lot of one-year deals. If they are just on the outside looking in on the playoff race, I don't see Drury trading those guys away unless a younger player like Greentree gets called up for an injury and plays lights out. If they are in the same spot as they were last season, I expect a lot of the players on one-year deals to be traded.

Tom: Since I project the Rangers to be in the playoff hunt, I think they will be buyers. That said, they used up some of their prime draft capital in the offseason, so I see them more so tinkering around the edges. The only big trade I could see would almost have to involve fairly prominent names going out the door (e.g., Braden Schneider, Will Cuylle) if a young, top six scorer becomes available.

Chris: I'm expecting them to be a wild card team, or at least knocking on the door of a playoff spot, and as such, I predict them to be conservative buyers. They're not going to give up another first-round pick to acquire someone in or around the age of 30 who helps them now, but Drury is going to find a way to turn either Schneider or a second and a fourth into Connor Zary or Morgan Frost. The only way trading a first should be on the table is if Jason Robertson or a player of that caliber is up for grabs.

Keegan: It depends on where they are in the playoff hunt come March. I can't see them parting with top prospects like Greentree, Beaudoin, or Drew Fortescue, so I wouldn't say they're buyers. I also can't see them dealing players like Shesterkin or Fox, so they won't be true sellers. I could see them flipping players on expiring deals, like Bjorkstrand or Tolvanen.

Drew: Somewhere in between.

Snark: I'd like to believe that, based on his recent acquisitions, Drury will be a calculated buyer at the deadline and add another player or two who can help accelerate this retool. Then again, it is Chris Drury. So I'll hope for calculated aggression while mentally preparing myself for a move that leaves me staring at my phone in complete silence for the better part of 10 minutes.

Roberto: I think they'll be lower-tier buyers. What I mean by that is Drury will look to add subtle pieces and depth and not swing for the fences with a big acquisition. This is me secretly praying they retain their first-round pick in the upcoming draft for purely selfish reasons.

Charlie: The Rangers will be buyers on net, but I think Drury will trade roster players who don't have a long-term spot on the team. This will especially be the case with the glut of bottom-pairing defensemen and bottom six forwards.

8) What player currently on the roster is most likely to be traded before the trade deadline?

(Editor's note: These answers were submitted before Taylor Raddysh was waived.)

Joe: The only real answer as of this moment is Raddysh.

Eric: I'm genuinely surprised Scott Morrow is still on the roster, and don't think he's long for the Rangers because he can't defend and doesn't have a spot with Sean Durzi taking up the role of other puck-moving defenseman on this roster. He'll be traded if someone is willing to give the Rangers anything for him. If not, he'll be waived sooner rather than later. The more meaningful answer is Braden Schneider. Mostly because that's what I want to have happen.

Chip23: Raddysh is the easy answer, but I'm going to give a not-so-easy answer and say Cuylle. In a world where Justin Sourdif is getting north of $6 million per year, Cuylle is due a massive raise, and I don't know if the Rangers are going to pay it.

Jake: Schneider. The contract, depth at the position, and disappointing performance all factor into why he is most likely to be traded, on top of the demand for right-handed defensemen. If the Rangers had wanted to lock him up longer term, it would have happened this offseason, but clearly they did not get a trade offer they liked. When teams are desperate at the deadline, Drury might get the value he is hoping for.

Tom: Raddysh is the obvious answer. Schneider, who is on a mere one-year contract extension, could be the next to go. I am pretty sure the organization loves Cuylle, but he might be a good trade candidate to put in a package for a burgeoning young scorer, if such a player becomes available. (The Rangers should look into a package of Schneider/Cuylle/something else to trade for Kirill Marchenko right now, but I don't see that happening, unfortunately.)

Chris: Boring answer, but it's Raddysh. There just isn't a place for him on this team anymore, and I'm pretty surprised he's still here. Especially with his brother now being in Toronto, a Raddysh-for-Michael Pezzetta one-for-one just feels like such a Rangers move.

Keegan: Like others here, I'd say Raddysh is the easy answer. To choose a different answer, however, I'll say either Matthew Robertson or Scott Morrow. Both have put up strong preseasons, and getting anything of value for them would beat losing them on the waiver wire.

Drew: Schneider.

Snark: Raddysh, for sure. Morrow deserves some consideration as well, but as of right now, Raddysh is the clear favorite for me.

Roberto: Matt Rempe for future considerations. I'm sorry, everyone, but Rempemania is over.

Charlie: Schneider. I don't think he has a long-term spot on the team, given the aforementioned glut of bottom-pair defensemen and the summer additions of Durzi, Pettersson, and Smits.

9) Will any Rangers take home any major regular-season awards?

Joe: No.

Eric: In a rookie class that didn't include all of Gavin McKenna, Porter Martone, and Ivar Stenberg, I think Alberts Smits could get, and probably would deserve, some real consideration. But he's not the profile of player who wins the Calder anyway. So, it's either Igor winning the Vezina or nothing.

Chip23: Nah, probably not.

Jake: I think Shesterkin can take home the Vezina Trophy for the reasons I explained before. Another reason this could be the case is the changing competition at the position. Connor Hellebuyck is currently suspended, Jake Oettinger underperformed, and it is highly unlikely Dan Vladar has a performance similar to last season. Again, this is contingent on Shesterkin staying healthy.

Tom: Shesterkin for the Vezina is the best award candidate the Rangers have, but I'm going to say not this year.

Chris: Even if Fox or Shesterkin have big years, they won't be nominated. Everyone is sleeping on the Rangers right now.

Keegan: If Smits can continue his strong camp, he could get Calder Trophy votes. Other than that, none.

Drew: With a healthy season, Shesterkin will win the Vezina for the second time.

Snark: No.

Roberto: I think Fox will get some Norris Trophy votes, and Shesterkin will even be a finalist for the Vezina, but ultimately I believe no Rangers will take home an award this year.

Charlie: Shesterkin will win the Vezina Trophy. The Rangers' defensive prowess and desire to play low-event hockey will bolster Shesterkin's goals-against average and save percentage. With Hellebuyck starting the season holding out while demanding a trade, Shesterkin will have a larger body of work to make a more complete case to voters.

10) Who will win the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award?

Joe: I'm gonna go bold here and say Perreault.

Eric: Tye Kartye. That guy has Extra Effort Award winner written all over him, and a chance to be one of the best waiver wire pick ups in recent memory.

Chip23: Kartye feels like the right guy for this award. Maybe Cuylle.

Jake: Smits easily wins this award, in my opinion, if he plays most of the season with the Rangers. He is a young player eager to prove himself in the league and plays a physical game. This fits the mold of the type of player who wins this award, especially when the team performs poorly.

Tom: Even if his point total takes a slight dip since he'll likely be on the third line, Cuylle ... assuming he's not traded first (see my above comments).

Chris: If Kartye can bring what he brought to the table last year for close to an 84-game campaign, he's an absolute lock for this.

Keegan: Kartye was made for this award.

Drew: Laba.

Snark: Kartye, and honestly, it's not particularly close.

Roberto: Laba is going to make an even bigger impression this season and win the hearts of New York City more than ever.

Charlie: Cuylle. He is going to at least match the career-high 45 points he posted in 2024-25 while playing smart and tough hockey. He will continue to endear himself to the fan base and be voted the Extra Effort Award winner.

Part Two: Over/Under Lines

Over/Under 60 points for Alexis Lafrenière

Joe: Over.

Eric: Over.

Chip23: Over.

Jake: Over.

Tom: Over.

Chris: Slamming the over.

Keegan: Over.

Drew: Smash the over.

Snark: Over.

Roberto: Over.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under 20 power-play points for Alexis Lafrenière

Joe: Over.

Eric: Over.

Chip23: Over.

Jake: Over.

Tom: Over.

Chris: Over.

Keegan: Over.

Drew: Is there an echo in here? Over.

Snark: Over.

Roberto: Over.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under 70 points for J.T. Miller

Joe: Over.

Eric: I said he'd be the team MVP, so have to say over.

Chip23: Over. He's going to be a point-per-game player.

Jake: Under.

Tom: Slightly under.

Chris: Under, and for extra credit, I'm going to say that 35 percent of his points are going to be secondary assists.

Keegan: Slightly over.

Drew: Under.

Snark: Under.

Roberto: Over, but barely. I bet he comes in at 72 points.

Charlie: Under.

Over/Under 35 goals for Pavel Dorofeyev

Joe: Over (just).

Eric: Over.

Chip23: I think that's the right number right there.

Jake: Over.

Tom: Push.

Chris: Hot take incoming: Over, and it's going to be 50.

Keegan: Slightly over.

Drew: Over.

Snark: They don't call him "Scorofeyev" for nothing. Give me the over, Bob.

Roberto: Over. I bet he approaches 50.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under 45 points for Gabe Perreault

Joe: Way over.

Eric: Even Matias Maccelli had a 57-point season. Over.

Chip23: Over (and cha-ching for him).

Jake: Over.

Tom: Over. (Take that, Corey Pronman.)

Chris: Over.

Keegan: Hammer the over.

Drew: Over.

Snark: Over, but not by too much.

Roberto: Way over.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under 10 power-play points for Gabe Perreault

Joe: Over.

Eric: Under. I don't see a path short of injury to him getting on PP1, and even if that happens, he'll get bumped down when the injured player returns. Which will make him netting over 45 all the more impressive, because the majority will be at 5v5.

Chip23: Right now he's on the second power-play unit, so I'm saying under.

Jake: Over.

Tom: Just under. He's going to be one of the Rangers' most effective even-strength players, though.

Chris: Under, because I don't see a world in which he's on the top power-play unit unless injuries arise.

Keegan: It depends how much the second unit is used. Push.

Drew: Under.

Snark: Under.

Roberto: Barely over, because he will find success on the second unit. Perreault is that good.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under 70 points for Adam Fox

Joe: Over.

Eric: Over. Devastating for the haters.

Chip23: Over.

Jake: Just under.

Tom: Over.

Chris: 75 on the dot (over).

Keegan: Over.

Drew: Over.

Snark: Udder—wait, no, over.

Roberto: Over.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under 21 goals for Will Cuylle

Joe: Under.

Eric: Under.

Chip23: Good question. I'll say over, but not all for the Rangers.

Jake: Over.

Tom: Slightly under.

Chris: If all goes as it should, Cuylle's going to be a staple on the third line. I'm going under here.

Keegan: Slightly under.

Drew: Under.

Snark: Over.

Roberto: I think Cuylle tops out in the high teens.

Charlie: Under.

Over/Under 9 games played for Alberts Smits

Joe: Way over.

Eric: The only way this doesn't happen is if he somehow, someway looks so completely out of sorts in the first several games of the season and they opt to send him down to Hartford. Given what we saw in the preseason, I really can't imagine that happening. Way over.

Chip23: He's made the opening night roster, so I'll say over.

Jake: Over.

Tom: Over.

Chris: I'm all in on this kid. He didn't make anyone think twice about him belonging in the NHL, and he's not going to Hartford anytime soon. Slamming the over.

Keegan: I've been a big proponent of starting Smits in the AHL, but it certainly looks like he's played his way onto the NHL roster. Over.

Drew: Over.

Snark: Over—like, way over.

Roberto: Over. The kid is a stud, and the future is exciting.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under .912 save percentage for Igor Shesterkin

Joe: Around. (I'm cheating.)

Eric: Over. I'm expecting a big season from Igor.

Chip23: Over. Which obviously means that Rangers wins won't count, because wins don't count if your goalie plays well.

Jake: Over.

Tom: Over.

Chris: Now that he has a seemingly competent defense corps in front of him? Over.

Keegan: Slightly over.

Drew: Over.

Snark: Over—I'll say .926.

Roberto: With the new arrivals, Shesterkin will have an excellent year and be well over here.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under 20 starts for Dylan Garand

(Editor's note: These answers were submitted before Dylan Garand was waived.)

Joe: I'm not even sure he's going to be on the team this year. I'm going to say over to be optimistic.

Eric: Under. Stupidly under.

Chip23: Under.

Jake: Under.

Tom: Under. Assuming this means "for the Rangers."

Chris: I sincerely hope over. I just don't understand why the Rangers went through the trouble of acquiring Jonas Korpisalo when they already have Spencer Martin under contract. Are they really going to waive a guy like that? I'm going under.

Keegan: I certainly hope it's over.

Drew: Under.

Snark: Under.

Roberto: I fear this is under. I am still trying to get past my devastating anxiety about Korpisalo making the team over him.

Charlie: Under.

Over/Under 95 points for the New York Rangers

Joe: Over.

Eric: Slightly under.

Chip23: 98.

Jake: Over.

Tom: Push.

Chris: Just over.

Keegan: Slightly under.

Drew: Under.

Snark: Under.

Roberto: Over 95 points but under 100 points.

Charlie: Over.

Over/Under 4 trades by Chris Drury within a week of the NHL trade deadline

Joe: Under.

Eric: Under.

Chip23: Under.

Jake: Under.

Tom: Under.

Chris: Under. Drury is only going to make one or two moves the week of the deadline.

Keegan: Under.

Drew: Under.

Snark: Under.

Roberto: I'm getting extra crazy here and guessing Drury lands on four trades exactly.

Charlie: Over.

Part Three: Final Thoughts

Joe: It's time to once again ride the roller coaster that is the New York Rangers experience.

Eric: I'm cautiously optimistic about this season. At a minimum, I think this team is going to be more plucky and fun than the last few and they're going to put a lot of that (self-inflicted) disfunction behind them.

Chip23: Here's hoping the Rangers are more entertaining than my imaginary sister.

Jake: Drury likes to say he isn't putting a timeline on his retool, but trading a 2028 first-round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights does mean they need to get back on track soon. The Rangers have added young, talented players, and the most important part of their season should be developing them. By the end of the season, we need to know what we have in Perreault, Lafrenière, and other core pieces of this team. Honestly, though, I just want to enjoy watching the Rangers again. I want similar vibes to the 2023-24 season. I want to watch competitive hockey at Madison Square Garden and not dread watching a terrible team play by the 60th game of the season.

Tom: I, normally a pessimist, have optimism that this will be a more fun season than either of the previous two. Of course, that's not a high bar to clear. The Rangers are a bit more well-rounded now, but they still lack enough top-end play-driving talent up front to be true contenders. I hope that this season is a step in the right direction, and that the upward trajectory will make them an attractive destination once again, so they can augment down the line rather than sitting in no man's land for the next few years. That's what they have to hope for as well, because they've refused to rebuild properly.

Chris: As Chance the Rapper once said, "let's do that hockey!" Let's go Rangers.

Keegan: The Rangers significantly improved their team over the offseason. They acquired a true goal scorer in Dorofeyev and completely reshaped their defensive corps. They've also got a lot of intriguing prospects in Hartford that you can read about on this very site (shameless plug). I think this season will be a step in the right direction.

Drew: This is going to be a refreshing change of pace from the last two years. Even if the offense ends up being fairly anemic and carried by the power play, a better-than-just-functional—maybe even good—second pair of Durzi and Pettersson is going to be the linchpin for solid underlying numbers and more one-goal wins for Shesterkin. We're back.

Well, maybe not all the way back. But kinda back.

Snark: In the words of Dr. Foster in Season 8, Episode 8 of The Simpsons, "Hurricane Neddy": "May God have mercy on us all."

Roberto: Cue the line from Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas: "Ah shit, here we go again."

Charlie: The past two seasons have been massive disappointments for the Rangers. A Presidents' Trophy team that regressed by 29 points to miss the playoffs and cost Peter Laviolette his job. A team that was supposed to bounce back and at least be in the postseason conversation instead further regressed and came closer to being the worst team in hockey than a playoff team. The team that made the Eastern Conference Final twice in three seasons and felt like it was building toward a Cup run has mostly been dismantled, with only seven players who were on the roster for the 2024 Eastern Conference Final still with the team.

The New York Rangers are a better team now than they were at the end of last season. Even if Smits isn't an impact player right off the bat, the smart additions of Dorofeyev, Bjorkstrand, Durzi, and Pettersson will bring talent and depth to a lineup sorely lacking those attributes. The Rangers in many ways feel like they're squarely in the mushy middle: too good to get a high draft pick but not good enough to truly contend for the Cup. The defense has improved and Shesterkin remains one of the best goalies in the world, but the team lacks elite forwards. The Rangers should be good enough to make the playoffs but not good enough to go on a deep run unless Shesterkin steals enough games to drag them a round or two deeper than they deserve to go. Ultimately, I project that the Rangers will make the playoffs and lose in the first round to one of those teams that is talented and complete enough to compete for the Stanley Cup. After the past two seasons ended with us watching meaningless hockey down the stretch, I'll take that.

The puck drops on the 2026-27 New York Rangers tomorrow night in Boston. Enjoy!

And, Let's Go Rangers!