Top 5 Rangers storylines for 2024-25 training camp
Less than four months after their Stanley Cup dreams ended in the harsh reality of a Game 6 loss in the Eastern Conference Final, the New York Rangers officially return to work Thursday with the same goal in mind: To win their first Stanley Cup championship since 1994.
The core of the Rangers knows all about the 30+-year quest and the pain of coming close but falling short. The Rangers have reached the conference final twice in the past three years. However, they haven’t reached the Stanley Cup Final since 2014.
Last season, there was the historic 114-point campaign and fourth Presidents’ Trophy in franchise history. That such a great season ended at the hands of the Florida Panthers without even reaching the Cup Final added to the pain this time around.
A fresh start is there for the Rangers now with the beginning of training camp, and optimism is high. The Rangers return most of the roster from last season, but know that changes could loom next offseason when the salary cap will force some difficult personnel decisions.
Stanley Cup or bust?
You could say that. But that’s for down the road. For now, the long grind is simply beginning.
Related: 7 Rangers to watch at 2024-25 training camp, including Matt Rempe
Top 5 storylines heading into Rangers training camp
Here’s a breakdown of the top storylines for the Rangers heading into their 2024-25 training camp. We left Jacob Trouba off this list because it’s nearly impossible to think he’d take shots at the Rangers or general manager Chris Drury for trying to trade him this summer. Trouba will simply make that a non-story. Right? Right??
Igor Shesterkin’s contract extension
Until the Rangers and their No. 1 goalie agree to a contract extension, it’s going to be the elephant in the room. Where do negotiations stand? When will a deal get struck? Will he be signed before the season starts? Are the sides on the same page? How does Igor feel about being an unrestricted free agent next summer? Etc., etc.
It behooves all involved that the Rangers sign Shesterkin long term sooner rather than later. The 28-year-old, coming off a stellar postseason run, is in prime position to ask for the moon. And reportedly he is, seeking to become the highest paid goalie in NHL history, which would be more than Carey Price’s $10.5 million AAV.
Drury said Tuesday he wants Shesterkin to be a Ranger for “a long time.” Shesterkin will probably claim not to understand English when asked about contract talks at the start of camp. And neither side will be leaking any information along the way.
Actions, though, mean more than words. So, let’s see how the Rangers and Shesterkin work things out, as expected, before July 1, 2025 appears on the near horizon.
Filling the hole next to Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider
For the fourth straight season since Pavel Buchnevich was traded to the St. Louis Blues, the Rangers will try to fill the hole on right wing next to Zibanejad and Kreider. It’s not worth listing all of the players who didn’t quite click with 93 and 20, not only last season but in the ones prior.
Newcomer Reilly Smith is expected to get a look in that role when camp starts. The 33-year-old, acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, helped the Vegas Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup in 2023, is a terrific playoff performer (79 points in 106 postseason games) and has five 20-goal seasons on his resume, including 26 just two seasons ago. But he dropped to 40 points last season and is no slam dunk to find chemistry with Zibanejad and Kreider.
Rookie Brennan Othmann could get a look in that spot. The 21-year-old scored 21 goals with Hartford of the American Hockey League last season and was a first-round pick in the 2021 draft. Othmann needs to blow everyone away at camp to earn a spot on the opening-night roster and likely needs to play top-six minutes either on Broadway or in Hartford.
Kaapo Kakko could also be an option. Drury said the 23-year-old is out to show his poor play last season was a “fluke.” He failed to find any chemistry with Zibanejad and Kreider last season and ended up on the third line after a 21-game injury absence. Kakko’s got a lot to prove, so perhaps it’s a good time to give him another shot here.
And if no one, again, is an even-strength fit with Zibanejad and Kreider? Does coach Peter Laviolette explore the possibility of splitting the long-time duo up, shaking up the rest of the forward lines in the process?
Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil look to rebound
Each of these former “Kid Line” forwards is seeking to get things back on track in 2024-25. Kakko, scored 13 goals and finished with 19 points last season. He added just one goal in 15 postseason games, and was a healthy scratch for one game in the conference final. And it appeared for the early part of the offseason that the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft could be traded.
Chytil missed six months of action after sustaining what’s believed to be a concussion last Nov. 2. When he returned in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, it was impossible to judge where his game actually was because he was so behind his teammates and opposition.
So, yeah, this is a massive training camp for both Kakko and Chytil. If they’re healthy and able to recapture their 2022-23 form, the Rangers will be even more dangerous this season. Chytil had 22 goals and 45 points two seasons ago; Kakko had 18 goals and 40 points. If they team up on the third line with those kinds of numbers, the Rangers will be thrilled to have their bottom-six scoring issues fixed.
But if Chytil can’t remain healthy and/or Kakko can’t find his game still, well, that’s an even bigger story.
Zac Jones out to prove he’s ready for full-time role
Jones turns 24 nine days after the Rangers open their season against the Penguins on Oct. 9. It’ll be his first birthday as an everyday regular in the NHL. Jones replaces Erik Gustafsson (who signed with the Detroit Red Wings) on the third defense pair this season, after three years waiting his turn.
Now Jones needs to prove that he’s capable of locking down this role. At 5-foot-10, 176 pounds, will he be able to handle the day-in, day-out pounding he’ll absorb, and is he strong enough to protect the front of the net? He’s a slick puck mover and skater, but can he replace the 31 points Gustafsson had last season?
The Rangers appear to have a lot of faith in Jones, who stepped in and played well over 31 games last season when injuries hit the defense corps several times. They did not sign a veteran to challenge him, so Jones has quite a bit of runway to reward the Rangers’ faith in him before the NHL trade deadline in March.
Few roster battles
Barring injuries, the Rangers roster for opening night is just about set. Eleven of their 13 forward spots are locked in, as are six of the seven defensemen. And, of course, Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick will be the goalies.
Othmann might be the only player on the outside who could shake things up and force a big-time decision for the coaching staff and management. Otherwise, it’ll be Matt Rempe, Adam Edstrom, Jonny Brodzinski and, perhaps, a surprise like Adam Erne (on a PTO) or rookie Brett Berard, battling for the final two forward spots.
As for the extra defenseman, Chad Ruhwedel looks to have the edge over Ben Harpur, Connor Mackey, Matthew Robertson, Madison Bowey (PTO) and Casey Fitzgerald. But that could change during the preseason.
There doesn’t appear to be much, if any, room for surprises on the roster.
More About:New York Rangers Analysis
Read This Next
