BY: Mitch Beck, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The 2017-2018 hockey season is almost upon us.
EVERYWHERE, fans, prognosticators, supposed experts are all making their predictions and fans are boasting of a big season for their favorite team.
We’re no different.
After the last five years of struggles up in Hartford, New York Rangers General Manager Jeff Gorton decided that it was time to make some serious sweeping changes and he has done just that.
Out are General Manager Jim Schoenfeld, who will concentrate on his AGM duties at MSG and head coach Ken Gernander. In their places are Connecticut hockey legend, Chris Drury as GM and Keith McCambridge will take the helm behind the bench after being an assistant under Gernander last season.
Aside from what went on in the front office, an entirely new ice-making system, and playing surface, glass and boards will be used in an evolving XL Center.
In terms of the roster itself, there have been sweeping changes. Most of the team from last season is gone. In their places are some fascinating prospects and some veteran faces including Joe Whitney, who will center the Pack’s first line.
It’s almost impossible to predict at this point where the Pack will end up because frankly, the team hasn’t been assembled yet, but based on the names and the prospects the Rangers have procured by various means, it is looking like this year could be a very promising season in Connecticut’s capital.
In New York, the Rangers have seen another core member depart as Derek Stepan was traded to the Arizona Coyotes. The biggest signing in the off-season has been that of a local boy returning home, Kevin Shattenkirk.
Some of their “younger players” are now in the veteran years of their careers and will be expected to pick up their games. Among those are Chris Kreider, captain Ryan McDonagh, Kevin Hayes and JT Miller.
The moves this team made took them from being a sketchy team that relied on goaltender Henrik Lundqvist to win them games, to now a deep and talented team. But they too are not without question marks.
While the Pittsburgh Penguins remain the overall favorite to “Three-Peat” this upcoming season, many have given The Rangers 18/1 odds to lift the Stanley Cup.
If the Rangers can solve who they are going to play down the middle, and the youngsters play up to their reputation and the team gets another stellar season from Lundqvist and players like Mats Zuccarello, Kevin Nash, Michael Grabner, Brady Skjei, and Mika Zibanejad can play up to what is expected of them this team has a good chance of finally breaking a now 23-year-old Championship drought.
Howlings prediction?
The Wolf Pack return to the playoffs. How far they go is anyone’s guess, but with the hiring of Stanley Cup winners Brad Richards and Rangers legend Brian Leetch, joining another CUp winner in Drury on the ice with the prospects along with the veteran coaching experience they have with McCambridge, a deep run would be no surprise.
As for the Rangers, there just seems to be too many variables to make a clear prediction. Lots will depend on if they can stay healthy if Lundqvist’s game remains solid. If the youngsters are as talented as they appear to be and if the vets can contribute. Nash, in particular, has a lot to play for as this is the final year of his $8M contract. If he fails to impress, he could be moved at the trade deadline, but if that happens, it means the Rangers have self-destructed. Being an optimist and seeing the good that this group has put together, with a couple of breaks going their way, this could be the season the team gets to the promised land.
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