Heartache and disappointment are a part of being a New York Rangers fan, and that’s very true on this century.
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Expectations are nearly at all times excessive below the intense lights of New York, with all 32 groups’ purpose to win the Stanely Cup. The Rangers have, with out query, had some nice runs over the previous decade-plus however have didn’t win the championship. Not solely has that purpose not been met within the 2000s, however the group has only one Stanley Cup previously 80-plus years.
In fact, the duty isn’t straightforward. Nearly all the things should go proper from staying wholesome to elite particular groups. However let’s look again at a few of the finest Rangers groups of the 2000s and see which had one of the best probability of successful the Stanley Cup.
2011-12
Earlier than the 2011-12 season started, the Rangers primarily had been a workforce that may barely squeak into the playoffs as soon as the Henrik Lundqvist period started. John Tortorella, who took over for Tom Renney in 2009, created an id that made them identified across the league as a hardworking, forechecking workforce that may block photographs. It was a fearless mentality that gamers purchased into. Sadly, the Rangers’ expertise wasn’t even near competing with a few of the prime contending groups.
Nonetheless, the dynamic modified when Brad Richards signed with Blueshirts as a free agent. For the primary time shortly, followers had been instilled with hope that the Rangers may need a workforce constructed to win the Stanely Cup for the primary time, maybe because the Nineteen Nineties. The 2011-2012 common season was a enjoyable one, as they gained 51 video games and secured first place within the Japanese Convention. That will assure themselves dwelling ice via the primary three rounds of the playoffs.
The one concern with the 2011-2012 workforce was the depth at forwards. Marian Gaborik was the main scorer with 76 factors (41 objectives), and Richards was second with 66 factors. Everybody else had 54 factors or much less. This was obvious after the Rangers within the playoffs within the first spherical in opposition to the Ottawa Senators had been shut out on dwelling ice in Recreation 5 to fall down 3-2 within the sequence. Notably, the dept on the wings was a priority behind Gaborik. It was skinny with rookie Carl Hagelin, Ryan Callahan, and Ruslan Fedotenko. It wasn’t ultimate.
Nonetheless, the Rangers had one massive reinforcement on the way in which—and that was Chris Kreider, the Rangers’ prime prospect on the time. He signed with the workforce simply earlier than the playoffs started out of school and debuted in Recreation 3 of the primary spherical. However he made his influence when the Rangers wanted it probably the most, scoring what can be the game-winning purpose in Recreation 6 in opposition to the Senators. The workforce would additionally come again to win the sequence in seven (from ‘Former first-round choose Kreider indicators with Rangers,’ New York Publish, April 11, 2022).
Kreider’s pace coming down the wing was dynamic and was one thing the Rangers desperately wanted. That was displayed within the following spherical in opposition to the Washington Capitals in Recreation 1 when he blasted a slapshot previous Braden Holtby for a 1-0 lead. The remainder of the sequence was forwards and backwards and will have gone both method. Nonetheless, the defining second was Richards scoring a tying purpose with 6.6 seconds left in regulation in Recreation 5 to permit Marc Staal to attain the winner additional time to present the Rangers a large 3-2 lead within the sequence.
Whereas the Blueshirts would take the sequence in seven, failing to shut it out in six might have been the start of the tip of the playoff run. The amount of video games (with back-to-back Recreation 7 sequence’) finally caught up after they took a 2-1 lead in opposition to the New Jersey Devils within the Japanese Convention Finals. The workforce ran out of fuel and didn’t win one other for the remainder of the sequence. This was a troublesome one to lose, however the lack of offensive prowess and powerplay might have value them anyway. However the mixture of fatigue didn’t assist. The 2011-12 workforce was good however lacking a giant piece.
2021-22
Lots can change in a decade. Curiously, the one participant left from the 2012 playoff workforce was Kreider, because the Rangers determined to enter a rebuild and dismantle the core in 2018 after sending this well-known letter to their followers. However issues had been lastly going their method, as they gained a draft lottery and moved as much as second general, which earned them Alexis Lafreniere and Kaapo Kakko, respectively. Then, the Rangers would commerce for Adam Fox, who would win a Norris Trophy and already had highly-touted goaltender Igor Shesterkin within the pipeline. Plus, let’s not neglect concerning the free agent signing of Artemi Panarin in 2019, which sped up the rebuild.
After Chris Drury took over as normal supervisor and introduced in Gerard Gallant as head coach, the Rangers wished to take the following step and get again into the postseason. A few of his first strikes concerned signing Barclay Goodrow and buying and selling for Ryan Reaves earlier than the 2021-2022 season started to assist enhance the veteran presence.
Whereas some questioned the transactions and the way they’d have an effect on the Rangers’ future, it helped, a minimum of within the brief time period. It was fairly clear by the commerce deadline that the Blueshirts would qualify for the postseason. Drury took motion as a purchaser and purchased Tyler Motte, Andrew Copp, and Frank Vatrano. The latter of the 2 strikes gave the highest six forwards a lift. What separated this model of the Rangers from earlier groups that certified for the postseason was the elite particular groups. Each models completed the common seasons within the prime three amongst NHL groups.
By the point the postseason started, the Rangers had a home-ice benefit to host the Pittsburgh Penguins because the second seed within the Metropolitan Division. The hope was that the group might pull out one sequence win, because the expectations of being a Cup favourite weren’t there but. However after 4 video games, the Rangers had been getting ready to catastrophe, falling down 3-1 within the sequence. However they’d rally again regardless of trailing in all three of the following win-or-go-home video games to steal the sequence in seven. The ability play and performances in elimination video games from stars together with Mika Zibanejad and Panarin had been simply sufficient to drag out an exciting sequence win. Let’s not neglect the spectacular goaltending from Shesterkin and the spontaneous child line that includes Filip Chytil, Kakko, and Lafreniere.
After which once more, in spherical two in opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes, the Rangers confronted elimination after a tough Recreation 5 loss. However the energy play can be an enormous difference-maker for the Blueshirts later within the sequence, and they’d take it in seven. Abruptly, defying expectations, the Rangers had been within the Japanese Convention Closing. And in contrast to the earlier two sequence, they dominated play early and took a 2-0 lead with home-ice benefit in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning. It regarded just like the Rangers had been off to the Stanley Cup Closing after the ability play got here up big once more with two objectives within the second interval in Recreation 3. They had been up 2-1 and 20 minutes away from taking a 3-0 stranglehold on the sequence in opposition to the back-to-back Stanley Cup champs. But it surely was too good to be true, because the workforce imploded within the third interval and misplaced with seconds left in regulation. That was the last word buzz kill, and the workforce couldn’t recuperate.
The Rangers ran out of fuel once more after two thrilling sequence that took seven video games apiece. It was a whole lot of hockey performed. Whereas the group overachieved, it’s exhausting to abdomen shedding Recreation 3 and figuring out how shut they had been to having an opportunity to play for the Cup. If that wasn’t the worst loss in franchise historical past – it’s up there. However nonetheless, as a Rangers fan, you, on the very least, needed to be optimistic concerning the future and what you noticed from Shesterkin and the child line.
2023-24
After a disappointing season wherein the Rangers went all in by buying Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko, solely to get bounced within the first spherical by their rival New Jersey Devils, the following season can be a thriller, with followers not figuring out what to anticipate. Was the workforce going to sink, or had been they going to place 2022-23 behind them and prosper?
The entrance workplace’s most vital transfer was transferring on from head coach Gerard Gallant and changing him with Peter Laviolette. It wasn’t an outside-the-box choose that energized the fan base, however he had a ton of respect across the league, with a Stanley Cup ring on his resume, and now over 1,500 NHL video games coached. Probably the most vital change from his predecessor was how hands-on Laviolette was. He runs high-intensity practices, emphasizing excessive consideration to element to his gamers. At first, it wasn’t clear if he can be the proper individual for the job – however he would get an opportunity.
The opposite problem was that Drury had scarce cap house to work within the offseason. Probably the most notable free company signing was Erik Gustafsson, who would turn into a staple on the third defensive pair. Keep in mind that Kane and Tarasenko weren’t returning, and the Rangers had been pressured to present youthful gamers like Kakko and Lafreniere extra taking part in time. In unimpressive circumstances, Laviolette was pressured to make it work, and to his credit score, he did. Lafreniere lastly grew into the participant Rangers followers all hoped the 2020 first-overall choose can be due to the expanded function the brand new teaching workers discovered them.
The season was going fantastically for the Rangers, who had been in first place within the Metro for nearly your complete season. Forward of the commerce deadline, Drury would purchase Alexander Wennberg to nail down the third-line middle function after Chytil was dominated out for the rest of the common season. The opposite transfer by the 47-year-old GM was buying Jack Roslovic in hopes that he might play subsequent to Zibanejad and Kreider on the highest line. Neither had been flashy gamers – however they each stuffed key wants.
The strikes helped the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy and get a positive first-round matchup in opposition to a a lot inferior Washington Capitals workforce, who they swept. The Capitals couldn’t compete with the elite particular groups, coupled with a generational goalie expertise. The subsequent spherical in opposition to the Hurricanes was anticipated to be tougher. And it was, even after the Blueshirts stormed out to a 3-0 lead after successful three shut video games, thanks once more to elite goaltending and particular groups. Whereas the Hurricanes would give them a scare, the Rangers would pull off a third-period comeback in Recreation 6 to keep away from the reverse sweep and host the Florida Panthers within the Japanese Convention Finals.
The issue with the Rangers was what would occur when the ability play stopped clicking. Nicely, we bought a glimpse of that within the sequence in opposition to the Panthers. It by no means felt just like the Blueshirts had management of the sequence – even when up 2-1. The Rangers had their moments however couldn’t maintain it over 60 minutes an evening. The Panthers simply had that further gear that couldn’t be matched. The heavy forecheck put relentless strain on New York and their defensemen, significantly those that couldn’t get the puck up the ice to the forwards. And Deja vu, yet one more Japanese Convention Closing misplaced after main 2-1 within the sequence. The ability play scored only one purpose, whereas the Panthers’ unit scored 5.
Make no mistake, the 2023-2024 Rangers had an ideal workforce – however the Panthers had been simply superior. Whereas it was disappointing, it’s the truth. Perhaps the sequence would have been totally different if the Rangers had one other offensive-minded defenseman or an above-average puck mover. Plus, Zibanejad and his line deserve loads of blame for failing to get something going.
2014-15
Some would possibly neglect that the 2014-15 workforce was one other lineup to win the Presidents’ Trophy this century. This 12 months was Alain Vigneault’s second 12 months as head coach, with some notable adjustments. These embrace former GM Glen Sather changing the lack of Anton Stralman with Dan Boyle and signing Tanner Glass after buying and selling Derek Dorsett within the offseason. And whereas shedding Benoit Pouliot harm, he was primarily changed by faculty free agent signing Kevin Hayes.
Whereas Glass undoubtedly made the fourth line worse, Boyle helped enhance the ability play as some extent man. Regardless, expectations had been excessive after the Rangers went to the Cup Closing the earlier season. The expertise was there to make one other run, and the Rangers lived as much as the hype.
After cruising via a lot of the common season, Sather determined to double down on his roster and add a major piece forward of the commerce deadline. That was Keith Yandle. Whereas the offensive defenseman stuffed a necessity – it was a dangerous deal that concerned buying and selling prime prospect Anthony Duclair and a future first-round choose. It was an costly worth for a participant that may play on the Rangers’ third pair. Additionally, don’t neglect the Rangers traded two first-round picks within the earlier season for Martin St. Louis. However, Sather was all in.
The Yandle commerce helped the Blueshirts safe the Presidents’ Trophy, and Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins had been up within the first spherical. Whereas it was a good sequence, the Rangers had been the superior workforce. Marc Andre Fleury, to his credit score, performed nicely. They gained it in 5 video games after Carl Hagelin scored the sequence clincher in additional time.
Spherical two in opposition to the Capitals was a slugfest for the Rangers early on. Head coach Barry Trotz had his workforce execute a sport plan that smothered New York. The Rangers discovered themselves in a 3-1 gap and confronted elimination down a purpose late within the third interval in Recreation 5 at MSG. Capitals goaltender Holtby was marvelous – for about 58 minutes. Then, Kreider tied the sport off what regarded like a innocent shot from the highest of the Capitals circle. Then it was time for a win or go dwelling (or keep dwelling, for that matter) additional time, and Ryan McDonagh got here up captain clutch to increase the season.
It regarded just like the Rangers had been useless within the water – however after snatching victory from defeat, they’d all of the momentum. The Blueshirts buzzed in Recreation 6, with objectives from their prime gamers, together with Rick Nash and Kreider, to drive a Recreation 7 at MSG. After falling behind early, rookie Hayes would knot it up on the ability play. It was a tightly defensive contested sport that took additional time. And previous the halfway level, the Rangers, one of many worst face-off groups within the NHL that season, had an offensive draw. It was a set play that concerned getting the puck again to Yandle for a one-timer to Dan Girardi. Whereas it didn’t go in, the rebound discovered Derek Stepan taking a look at a wide-open web after Holtby scrambled to seek out the puck. Spoiler alert: the Stepan didn’t miss the online, and it was one of many biggest objectives in Rangers historical past.
It appeared just like the Rangers had been destined to return to the Cup Closing. Even the workforce’s social media account used the hashtag #ChangeTheEnding. The younger however gifted Tampa Bay Lightning can be subsequent within the Japanese Convention Closing. Over midway via, the Rangers discovered themselves in a 2-2 sequence with a home-ice benefit. However Recreation 5 didn’t go their method, and the Rangers had been blanked by Ben Bishop at MSG. Whereas that was a troublesome loss that felt like it will finish their season, the workforce responded with a giant 7-3 win due to Derick Brassard’s five-point night time. However a visit again to the Cup Closing nonetheless wasn’t future, because the Rangers had been shut out at dwelling once more in a devastating Recreation 7 loss.
There have been two massive causes the Rangers failed ultimately. One was their battle to attain objectives all through the playoffs. Nash and particularly St. Louis struggled to constantly put the puck within the web. It’s robust to win when your highest-paid scorers aren’t your finest ones. And if it weren’t for Kreider’s heroics in spherical two, there can be no Japanese Convention Closing or Recreation 6 in Washington.
After which there was the harm bug – which can have been the primary purpose. For one, McDonagh broke his foot in Recreation 4 in opposition to the Lightning. Though the captain courageously performed via it, he was severely restricted afterward. He was nearly even unavailable for Recreation 7. Mats Zuccarello didn’t play the remainder of the playoffs after struggling an higher physique within the first spherical. Defensemen Girardi and Yandle performed via MCL and shoulder sprains. Marc Staal additionally performed via a hairline fracture in his ankle. And that doesn’t embrace Kevin Klein, whose damaged arm on the finish of the common season value him your complete first spherical of the playoffs.
To sum up, nearly the Rangers’ complete defensive core might hardly arise straight, and maybe their most artful winger was unavailable, interval. It’s spectacular how the beat-up group even made it to a Recreation 7. All hail King Henrik. Worst of all, this was the final respectable Stanley Cup contender this core that includes Henrik Lundqvist, McDonagh, and Nash would have. It’s a disgrace as a result of 2014-15 was nicely balanced, from five-on-five to particular groups to defensive play.
2013-14
Pound-for-pound, the 2013-14 Rangers had been one of the best workforce the franchise had because the 1994 Stanley Cup winners. Probably the most vital strikes within the offseason had been signing Pouliot to a one-year deal and changing Tortorella with Vigneault. The Quebec-born head coach preached an up-tempo tempo that concerned transitioning from defensive play within the impartial zone to a counter-attack. The important thing was to drive opponents into errors whereas getting odd-man rush alternatives up the ice.
Whereas thrilling instances would include Vigneault’s new system, the begin to the 2013-14 common season was an unmitigated catastrophe. After going 1-1 of their first couple of video games, the Rangers would lose their subsequent three, getting outscored a whopping 20-5 over that stretch. The season began to spiral, and the file dropped to 2-6. Fortunately, they’d regroup and win the following six of eight. There have been a few issues particularly that helped gas the turnaround. One was the robust play from backup goaltender Cam Talbot, who completed the 12 months with an unimaginable .941 save proportion in 21 video games.
The opposite was calling up Kreider, whose youth gave the Rangers much-needed vitality. Whereas Vigneault had loads of points with creating and discovering ice time for youthful gamers, to his credit score, that wasn’t the case with the speedy winger. Vigneault gave the rookie not solely top-six minutes for a lot of the season, however he additionally turned out to be a significant net-front presence on the ability play.
Total, it was a gradual course of, however the Rangers saved themselves within the playoff dialog earlier than taking off in January. There was just one concern alongside the way in which: the drama surrounding then-captain Callahan. The Rochester, New York native was a pending unrestricted free agent on the finish of the season, and the 2 sides had been having issue coming to phrases on a brand new contract extension. So Sather determined to commerce him forward of the deadline and package deal him in a deal for St. Louis. Whereas it value the group two first-round picks, it turned the Rangers right into a legit Stanley Cup contender.
Whereas St. Louis struggled to get issues going for the remainder of the common season as a Blueshirt, he made himself identified within the postseason. This was very true after tragedy hit the veteran and his mom handed away. When it occurred, the Rangers had been within the second-round sequence, dealing with elimination in Recreation 5 in opposition to the Penguins. St. Louis determined to play in it, and the workforce broke out with a 5-1 win. Then, it went again dwelling to MSG on Mom’s Day, and St. Louis, of all gamers, scored simply minutes into the competition to present the Rangers a 1-0 lead. The locker room rallied across the Laval, QC native, and held on for a 3-1 win to drive a Recreation 7.
However the comeback was not full but. It did, nonetheless, seem like the Rangers had all of the momentum and even scored the primary purpose of the Recreation 7. The Penguins stormed again to tie it within the second interval – however Richards answered again to present the Ranges again the lead. However you knew closing out the third interval wouldn’t be straightforward. The Penguins threw all the things they’d on the Rangers – Lundqvist simply wouldn’t allow them to rating. He performed out of his thoughts and stopped nearly all 13 high-danger possibilities in Recreation 7.
After the inconceivable comeback, the Rangers would get a positive matchup in opposition to the Montreal Canadiens within the third spherical of the postseason. The Habs’ main scorer within the common season was Max Pacioretty, who solely had 60 factors. Whereas there wasn’t as a lot depth and top-line heavy expertise in comparison with the Rangers, Carey Worth wasn’t going to be straightforward to unravel. Nonetheless, he would solely go well with up for Recreation 1 after an unlucky collision pressured him to overlook the remainder of the sequence. The matchup bought extra favorable, however Stepan additionally was pressured to overlook Recreation 4 after breaking his jaw. The Rangers had been brief a top-six middle – however St. Louis got here up with one other massive second – scoring the game-winner in Recreation 4’s additional time to place the Habs getting ready to elimination. The Rangers would then win 1-0 in Recreation 6 and had been simply 4 wins away from hoisting Lord Stanley.
The Los Angeles Kings had been up subsequent. Within the sequence, at instances, the Rangers’ pace was an excessive amount of for the Kings to maintain up with. In most video games, the Blueshirts would rating the primary purpose. Whereas Vigneault had his workforce buy-in on his model of play, there was one flaw in it. His squad would get too defensive with leads, letting the opponent dominate the offensive zone. The truth is, in all three additional time losses in Video games 1, 2, and 5 – the Rangers had a lead. The third durations had been abysmal. They didn’t rating a purpose within the final 20 minutes of every sport, whereas the Kings had been heavy on the assault whereas trailing.
What if the Rangers gained simply a type of video games? Wouldn’t it be a special end result? There have been so many shut calls in additional time, together with McDonagh’s hit publish within the must-win Recreation 5 and Kreider’s breakaway try in Recreation 2. The 2013-14 workforce was an ideal workforce that fell brief. It was one of many few Rangers groups this century that would dominate possession and generate scoring possibilities. In response to Pure Stat Trick, they ranked eighth and seventh for anticipated objectives within the common season and Corsi, respectively. The ability play proportion was common relative to the remainder of the league. It was one of the best probability to win a Cup, a minimum of for that core with Lundqvist.
As an alternative, followers can solely stay up for 2024-25 and hope that may lastly be the 12 months to finish the 30-plus-year drought. However showing in 5 Japanese Convention Finals and one Stanely Cup Closing whereas arising empty hasn’t been straightforward to abdomen. One factor is for positive—successful the Cup is a protracted and difficult journey.
