New York Rangers: J.D. must get creative with Dolan’s money

The Keepers

What remains up front is a team lead by Zbad and Kakko (and hopefully Panarin). Former first-round picks Filip Chytil and Lias Andersson will be expected to step up contribute as important parts of the team. Those four (or five) will play alongside Brett Howden, Jesper Fast, and whoever doesn’t get traded out of Vesey, Namestnikov, Strome, and Beleskey.

Last year’s top pick Vitali Kravtsov may even be in the mix. The rest of the front lines can be filled with role players or perhaps a minor star or two as the Rangers will have the cap space to add others.

The blueliners will be exciting even if the team isn’t great in 2019-20. Trouba, Adam Fox, DeAngelo, and Brady Skjei will make for a dynamic defense corps. With the core four in place, the rest of the group can be filled out with some inexpensive vets or prospects such as Libor Hijak or Claesson.

The starting goalie situation remains as it has been for the past 14 years. Henrik Lundqvist is the New York Rangers number one netminder until he decides he doesn’t want to be. Whether that happens due to retirement or he requests a trade for a last shot at the Stanley Cup before he hangs up his pads, is all up to him. If he leaves via trade, Rangers fans won’t like it, but they will respect it because it’s something the King wanted.

His backup Alexandar Georgiev has proven capable. He has one year left of his ELC and the team has control of his fate for another few years. Now may be a good time to reach an equitable extension. Newly signed Russian phenom Igor Shestyorkin is the goalie of the future. When the New York Rangers make their next big Stanley Cup run, he’s likely to be the man protecting their goal.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments section below or on social media.