Five New York Rangers who still have a lot to prove throughout the preseason

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Hunter Bowman
September 26, 2024 (11:59 PM)

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The counterintuitiveness of a New York Rangers team that scored 114 points, and won the Presidents Trophy doesn't escape us.

Multiple key players had underperformed in 2023-2024, despite winning 55 games and coming within two victories of a Stanley Cup Finals trip.

If the Rangers are to push into the last 6 wins needed to secure a Stanley Cup, they will need a return to form, for many key players.

Many of these players are in their prime, so in addition to young players stepping up, the superstars need to play, like superstars once again.

Mika Zibanejad

Calling 72 points a disappointment for the Rangers #1 is center could be considered a bit of a stretch. But he simply hasn't played as he did the four seasons prior from 2019-2023. The two seasons prior has scored 172 points total, and scored only 12 of 26 goals on the power-play, and only 19 of his 46 assists were on the man advantage as well.

The Rangers need him to produce reliably at 5v5. He'll have to find his dynamic offensive game, that put him in the #1 Center role for the team. 5v5 scoring is a current Achilles heel for the team and will need to deliver more than 14 goals at even strength.

Adam Fox

Adam Fox would miss ten games in 2023-2024, which didn't help him mobility-wise. Despite scoring 73 points in 72 games, he looked worn down at the end of the regular season, and when they needed him the most, he was tanked. While his 5'11" 182-pound frame hasn't been an issue for the elite defenseman, it's possible an 82-game workload, with an average of 23-24 TOI per night might have negative effects on his long-term play.

They'll need him back and healthy, ready to go for the 2024-2025 season, if they are to have any hopes of a Stanley Cup.

Jacob Trouba

The Rangers thought Trouba would be a consistent top-pairing defenseman, but has seen himself demoted to the third pair. This wasn't what was expected of Trouba in 2019 when he signed here. He will likely find himself here again, as Braden Schneider has jumped over him in the depth charts and he carries an expensive cap hit at $8 Million the next two years.

The 30-year-old has refused a trade thanks to his NTC, and his decline in play could be a concern for the Rangers yet again in 2024-2025.

With his last injury in 2023-2024, Trouba could become a major liability as he had struggles with mobility on the ice he has yet to reach the 50 mark in expected goal share in 5 years with the Rangers.

He will need to step up and show his physical prowess on the third pairing, should he find himself there. He will need to stabilize the bottom pairing and dominate against bottom-six forwards in order to find his game again.

K'Andre Miller

K'Andre Miller could evolve into a physical, do-it-all defenseman who can outskate, score, outmuscle opponents, and dominate in the defensive zone.

But the 22nd overall in the 2018 NHL Draft, regressed in 2023-2024 scoring only 30 points, 13 fewer than the season before. Which could be considered a hiccup in his development. The team hopes Miller has moved past his mental health issues and could find his game from the past three seasons.

They'll need Miller to combine his athleticism, and his physicality and grow into the player the team traded up in the draft to select.

The Rangers view him as a mobile, physical, and athletic defenseman who can dominate the ice they hope he can find his versatility once again.

Ryan Lindgren

The Rangers have benefitted from Ryan Lindgren's playing style, as an undersized defenseman providing the toughness needed on ice that's been needed in important times. He's been able to provide inspiration to the team, as he comes back from brutal hits that could put other players on ice for some time.

But even though he played 76 games, only 13 more games than last season Adam Fox's partner has seen his productivity in expected goal share drop considerably.

The drop was significant from 53.4 to 45.0, and he played only 51 games that season.

The Rangers' front office has to be pondering Dan Girardi's career, as they decide whether committing long-term to Lindgren would be smart or not.

Lindgren would have to have a good, and healthy year with the Rangers to get a multi-year extension with the team. As his chemistry with Adam Fox is important, the Rangers will cheer him on.