The New York Rangers boast a different lineup heading into the new season compared to last. Gone are the days of New York having players like Will Borgen eating important defensive minutes, and here are the days of a true second pairing. For the Rangers to make the playoffs, though, every player will need to chip in. Much improved, the Blueshirts will need contributions from everyone, but some more than others. Let’s continue with Part 2 of the most important Rangers heading into this season (read Part 1 here).
10. Igor Shesterkin: Again, this is where I want to emphasize this list of the most important Rangers is not based on talent or importance to the team, so much as the need to have a career season. If Shesterkin is his usual self, the Rangers will have excellent goaltending and all will be well. If Shesterkin has a career season it will be great, but it’s less of a need and more of a bonus if it happens. With Shesterkin, there’s very little to worry about.
9. Will Cuylle: Perhaps my personal favorite development of this offseason is that Will Cuylle is potentially out of the top six. Cuylle is an awesome third line forward who provides an advantage when he plays there, but he’s miscast as a top six forward and showed that last season. Now that the Rangers are doing their part by putting Cuylle back where he belongs, it’s time he does his part by bouncing back from a minor step back last season.
8. Oliver Bjorkstrand: This is an interesting one for me because Bjorkstrand is one of the forwards who can help prevent Cuylle ever needing to be in the top six. As long as Bjorkstrand is in line with his career norms, he will be a fine top six forward. The best case scenario is Bjorkstrand performs and keeps Cuylle on the third line. The worst case scenario is he brings back a decent draft pick at the trade deadline if New York’s season doesn’t go as planned. Bjorkstrand struggled last season, so there is a bit of uncertainty, but the Rangers are banking on a bounce back season.
7. Marcus Pettersson: Pettersson was an unexpected addition when the Rangers brought him over from the Vancouver Canucks this offseason. He cost New York a first round pick in 2030, a real package for a legitimate second pair defenseman. Pettersson is one of the most important Rangers on the blue line this season, as he is being counted on to stabilize a second pairing that was atrocious last season. If Pettersson can play like his usual self and partner Sean Durzi does the same, New York could have the defense as a strong suit for the first time since….ever?
6. Adam Fox: Fox has been a tricky one for me to place because despite all of the hoopla around his season last year, he was quietly awesome despite his injury concerns. Fox is placed here because he must continue his stellar play and also quiet some of those critics, while most importantly managing to stay healthy. If injuries become a major concern with Fox, New York’s organizational outlook becomes a lot murkier. Fox is probably the most important Ranger in the grand scheme of things, but in terms of needing a career year out of him, as long as he’s his normal self and healthy, that’s all they need.
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