After registering a franchise record 114-point regular season and winning the President’s Trophy, the New York Rangers entered the postseason with Stanley Cup expectations.
After sweeping the Washington Capitals and closing out the Carolina Hurricanes in six games, the Blueshirts’ pursuit for their first cup since 1994 ended in the Eastern Conference Finals after the Florida Panthers won three straight to eliminate the Rangers in six games.
President and general manager Chris Drury now enters a crucial offseason as the Rangers look to contend for Lord Stanley’s Cup once more next season.
The Rangers need to extend Igor Shesterkin immediately
The Rangers do not get to game six against the Panthers without Igor Shesterkin. The former Vezina Trophy winner had a solid regular season, posting a 2.58 goals-against average and a .912 save percentage with four shutouts across 55 games.
Shesterkin had an even better postseason, which Panthers head coach Paul Maurice likened to José Théodore’s run in 2002. The 28-year-old had a 2.34 goals-against average and .924 save percentage while leading the entire NHL in saves and shots against.
Shesterkin’s price will only increase, with the cap expected to grow over the following two offseasons. The time is now to lock up the Russian goaltender for the foreseeable future.
The Rangers have to make a decision on Kappo Kakko‘s future
The former second-overall pick’s time in the city that never sleeps has not gone as expected. After taking a step forward following signing a two-year $4.2 million bridge deal, Kappo Kakko regressed in 2023-24.
Despite frequently playing alongside top-end talent like Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, the 23-year-old scored just 13 goals and registered six assists across 61 games. In the postseason, Kakko was even a healthy scratch at one point and had just a goal and an assist across 15 games.
It is time for Drury to decide on the pending restricted free agent: either trade his rights and cut bait with a player who has primarily been viewed as a bust or extend him if he feels another year under head coach Peter Laviolette will finally unlock his full potential.
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Alexis Lafrenière has earned his extension
Alexis Lafrenière was the Rangers’ breakout player this season. The former No. 1 overall pick set career highs in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57) while playing in 82 regular season games for the first time. Lafrenière had an equally effective postseason scoring eight goals and adding six assists across 16 games. Lafrenière has come into his own and needs to be a part of the Rangers’ long-term future, which starts with an extension now.