The New York Rangers might have lost in the first round to the New Jersey Devils this past season, but it is time for a new year and a new look roster in New York.
The Rangers are looking to make the playoffs for the third year in a row this upcoming season. While exiting in the first round might not provide as much confidence as a conference final exit in 2022, there are still a lot of reasons to be hopeful entering the 2023-24 season.
New York will have a new head coach this upcoming season. Peter Laviolette was hired this past offseason to replace Gerard Gallant after just two seasons in New York. Personally I am a big fan of Gallant, but Laviolette is also a great coach.
He a veteran coach who has taken three different teams to the Stanley Cup Final and has even won a cup. While his last coaching stint in Washington might not have been that great, Laviolette is someone who could elevate the Rangers this season and help get the players producing on a higher level all season long.
The Rangers will look a little different when October comes around in a little over a month. But at the end of the day success in New York could be determined by a few make or break players.
Three players who can make or break the New York Rangers season
In this group we have three players in drastically different positions in their career. We have a franchise altering goaltender, a star winger and a young first overall pick still trying to find his game.