As we get nearer to the beginning of the 2024-25 NHL season, now could be the time to look again on a few of the greatest moments from the 2023-24 season. For the New York Rangers, it was an unbelievable season with a Presidents’ Trophy and one other Jap Convention Ultimate look. Whereas it didn’t finish with a Stanley Cup, there have been loads of nice moments that can final for years to come back. Listed below are the highest 5 moments from the Rangers’ 2023-24 season.
#5: The Debut and Rise of Matt Rempe
It was mid-February when the Rangers referred to as up 2020 sixth-round choose Matt Rempe from the Hartford Wolf Pack. He had solely eight targets and 12 factors in 43 video games performed within the American Hockey League (AHL), however with him being 6-foot-7 and 241 kilos, he introduced dimension and physicality to a lineup that was missing it. He made his NHL debut within the coolest means attainable, by doing it in entrance of 79,690 individuals at MetLife Stadium towards the New York Islanders. His first shift noticed him get right into a struggle with Matt Martin and he held his personal. From that day on, the rise of Rempe started and he could be talked about across the league.
He acquired into extra fights with a few of the NHL’s hardest combatants in Ryan Reaves and Nic Deslauriers. His first NHL purpose was a game-winning purpose that prolonged the Rangers’ successful streak to 10 video games. He additionally scored the primary purpose of the playoffs for the Rangers and acquired the gang at Madison Sq. Backyard excited each time he took the ice. Chants of “Rempe Rempe” stuffed the sector. He was thrilling to look at and it will likely be thrilling to see what the long run is for him as we get nearer to the start of the season.
#4: Artemi Panarin’s Historic Common Season
Coming off the 2023 Playoffs the place he had simply two assists in a seven sport first spherical loss to the New Jersey Devils, Artemi Panarin vowed to come back again and be a extra assertive and dominant participant. He shaved off his signature hair and got here into final season able to go. Whereas many anticipated him to have a superb common season as soon as once more, no person might’ve anticipated the season that he had as he shattered his earlier profession highs in lots of classes. He scored 49 targets and 120 factors in 82 video games performed. His earlier highs have been 32 targets and 96 factors. He regarded like a totally totally different participant and was very thrilling to look at because the season went alongside.
He tied Mike Gartner for fifth in targets scored in a single season by a Ranger and had the second most factors, simply three behind Jaromir Jagr. 4 of the highest 16 spots on the franchise’s all-time single-season factors leaders listing belong to Panarin. He has confirmed to be probably the greatest Rangers in franchise historical past and final season’s efficiency proved it much more. It is going to be attention-grabbing to see if he can observe it up with an analogous efficiency this season.
#3: Alex Wennberg’s OT Winner In opposition to the Florida Panthers
Previous to the commerce deadline, the Rangers traded for Alex Wennberg so he might be the third-line heart to switch the injured Filip Chytil. He didn’t present a lot offense throughout his time with the Rangers, scoring simply two targets mixed between the common season and the playoffs. Nevertheless, his one playoff purpose turned out to be crucial and memorable. In what could be the Rangers’ ultimate win of the season, Wennberg scored the extra time winner in Sport 3 of the Jap Convention Ultimate to place the Rangers up 2-1 within the collection.
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In what was a really back-and-forth sport that noticed the Rangers get dominated for almost all of it, they have been in some way in a position to squeak out the OT win and Wennberg’s defection gave the followers hope they’d find yourself successful the collection and transfer on to the Stanley Cup Ultimate. This didn’t develop into the case, because the workforce misplaced the subsequent three video games to lose the collection, however Wennberg’s purpose was magical and will likely be remembered for years to come back.
#2: Vincent Trocheck’s Double OT Aim In opposition to the Carolina Hurricanes
After successful Sport 1 of their second spherical collection towards the Carolina Hurricanes, Sport 2 was extra of a back-and-forth affair between the 2 groups. They traded targets and finally, the Rangers scored a third-period power-play purpose to tie the sport and the 2 groups went to extra time. Nevertheless, one extra time was not sufficient and a second was wanted inside MSG. Former Ranger Brady Skjei took a penalty and despatched the Rangers to the person benefit. The remaining, as they are saying, is historical past.
After Mika Zibanejad despatched a shot to the online that bounced round, former Hurricane Vincent Trocheck discovered the rebound and put it previous Frederik Andersen to ship MSG right into a frenzy. He gave the Rangers a 2-0 collection lead and as soon as once more, this was a second the place followers felt that this was the yr for the Rangers. They’d taken an enormous lead within the collection and had all of the momentum on their aspect. This was a tremendous feel-good second, nevertheless it wasn’t the perfect second of the season and even this collection.
#1: Chris Kreider’s Third Interval Hat Trick in Sport 6 vs. Hurricanes
The Rangers had a 3-0 collection lead over the Hurricanes and gave the impression to be on the verge of sweeping them and shifting on to the Jap Convention Ultimate. Nevertheless, the Canes would find yourself successful the subsequent two video games and had a 3-1 lead going into the third interval of Sport 6. It regarded as if there was going to be a Sport 7 at MSG, nevertheless, one participant determined to place the workforce on his again and his title is Chris Kreider. He scored a pure hat trick to place the Rangers up 4-3 late within the third and one empty-net purpose later and the Rangers in some way pulled out the win. Kreider had his Mark Messier second on this sport and he carried the Rangers to victory.
Kreider cemented himself as an all-time Rangers legend along with his efficiency on this sport. He already is near reaching the highest of many franchise lists in many various classes. By the point his profession is over, he’ll possible go down as probably the greatest gamers in franchise historical past and can possible have his No. 20 retired when that point comes.
The 2023-24 season will in the end be seen as a failure as a result of the Rangers didn’t win the Stanley Cup. Nevertheless, there have been nonetheless some superb moments all through the season that shouldn’t be forgotten about. It was an electrical season and though they fell brief, they’ve an incredible basis to construct off of and can look to win all of it this season.
