It has been frustrating as of late to be a Blueshirts fan. Two six-game Eastern Conference Final losses in the past three seasons, a recent Vezina-winning goaltender and James Norris-winning defenceman, and a 2024 President’s Trophy as the league leader in team points. But no Stanley Cup since 1994, or even a Prince of Wales Trophy as the Eastern Conference Champion since 2014. At the end of the last three regular seasons, the New York Rangers finished amongst the top three teams in the Metropolitan Division. In 2024, they finished as division champs. They have been “almost” winning – but let’s take a look at things they can do differently, and things that can work out in their favour, to help them go from “almost winning” to a Rangers Stanley Cup.
Things That Improve the Odds of a Rangers Stanley Cup
An Injury-Free Roster
We can all breathe a sigh of relief since Filip Chytil is thankfully good to go, Mollie Walker of The New York Post reported. The 25-year-old Czech centreman missed most of last season, only playing 10 games in the regular season and six in the playoffs. He had his fourth documented concussion.
“Nothing holding him back, which is great news for everyone.” Rangers general manager & president Chris Drury told The Post.
This is truly good news, since Chytil scored 22 goals and 45 points in 74 games during his 2022-23 season with the Blueshirts. Our fingers are crossed he stays healthy, and works well on the third forward line with fellow young guys Will Cuylle and Kaapo Kakko. Welcome back!
Another significant Rangers injury last year was the now 23-year-old Finn right-winger Kaapo Kakko’s lower-body injury. Kakko played only 61 games last regular season as a result, and notched 13 goals and six assists. The Daily Faceoff projects both these young guys to play on the third forward line together along with left-winger and fellow youngster Will Cuylle. The 22-year-old Toronto native Cuylle brings physicality, with 249 hits in 81 games last regular season, as well as 13 goals and eight assists.
As for Chytil, his 2022-23 goal-scoring was not the only highlight – he notched a 12.4 shooting percentage that year too, and four game-winning goals, the most in a season of his NHL career.
And Kaapo Kakko is 23 years old and the second overall draft pick in 2019, so everyone should give him a chance. Odds are, he can improve this year and help the Rangers get offensive production all the way down the lineups. This makes sense since he scored 18 goals and 40 points in 82 games during his 2022-23 season with the Blueshirts.
Keep Developing Alexis Lafreniere
The 22-year-old left-winger Alexis “Laffy” Lafreniere, the first overall pick in 2020, is seeing his NHL career kick off. The Daily Faceoff projects him to be on the top forward lineup alongside star forwards Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, one of the best offensive lines last season. The 2023-24 year marked Laffy’s first 20+ goal season, with him scoring 28 in 82 games, plus 29 assists. He also notched his first NHL hat trick during the Blueshirts 8-5 win over the Arizona Coyotes in the desert this past March. Lafreniere also notched a couple assists to become the Blueshirts seventh player in history with five points in one game while aged 22 or younger. The last Blueshirt to do it was legendary blueliner and hall-of-famer Brian Leetch who did it on Feb. 17, 1989. Keep going up, Laffy!
Grit and Toughness to Notch a Stanley Cup
The popular young Blueshirts forward Matt Rempe, aged just 22, recently trained with former enforcer Georges Laraque to improve his fighting skills. Rempe already notched 50 hits in 17 regular-season games with the Rangers in 2023-24. That would be about 241 hits at an 82-game pace. That, plus his huge size of 6’7 and 241 pounds, would render him a large, intimidating, and confidence-boosting on-ice presence to keep his team feel safe and protected. Another bottom six forward who can provide physicality and grit is the 22-year-old, 6’3, 210-pound Will Cuylle, who, as we said, notched a remarkable 249 hits in 81 games with the Rangers last season. This would outpace Rempe at an 82-game pace.
This grit may be another recipe for the Rangers to win another Stanley Cup.
Main Photo: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images
