Rangers Win the President's Trophy to Cap Off Incredible Season
A historic regular season is now complete for the New York Rangers as they've won the Presidents Trophy
The New York Rangers have capped off their regular season by winning the President's Trophy and finishing the season 55-23-4 with 114 Points. This marks the fourth time in franchise history the team has won the President's Trophy, and the first since 2014-15. The Rangers ensure themselves home-ice advantage where they've won thirty games this season tied with the Avalanche for the most home wins in the NHL.
The Rangers were carried all season long by Artemi Panarin, who was showered with MVP chants from the Garden faithful. He scored his 49th goal of the season on Tuesday finishing the season with 120 points a career-high by 24 points. In any other season, Artemi Panarin is easily a Hart Trophy front runner but, he likely won't even finish in the top three.
Igor Shesterkin helped the Rangers clinch the President's trophy with a shutout, marking an incredible second half of the season. The start of the year was shaky for Igor as he seemingly lost his game for a significant stretch causing the team to give him a break in net. Thankfully, Jonathan Quick had an incredible season which allowed the Rangers to get Shesterkin back to form.
Shesterkin finishes the season 36-17-2 with a .913 Save Percentage and a 2.58 GA/G. Jonathan Quick went an unbelievable 18-6-2 with 2.62 GA/G and a .911 save percentage in what may have been Chris Drury's best offseason move.
The Rangers got an incredible season out of Alexis Lafreniere after many considered the former first-overall pick a bust. Playing on a line with Artemi Panarin helped him reach his potential as he scored 28 goals finishing with 57 points.
The season Adam Fox had will go under the radar but despite missing ten games the former Norris Winner finished with 73 points ranking fourth on the Rangers.
Rookies made massive impacts for this team as well as bringing energy at points where the season could have hit a lull. Will Cuylle won't get any rookie of the year attention but he played 81 games this season with 21 points ranking 7th in the league with 246 hits giving the Rangers' bottom six a much-needed physicality. Matt Rempe became a cult hero in New York with his physicality giving the Rangers and MSG life during the dog days of the season.
Others with notable seasons include Chris Kreider who continues to climb the franchise leaderboards with 39 goals for 75 points in 82 games, Mika Zibanejad who scored 26 goals for 72 points, Vincent Trocheck who won the McDonald award, made an all-star game and scored 77 points, and K'Andre Miller who made massive jump scoring 30 points improving defensively.
In what could have easily been a rocky season with Peter Laviolette taking over the reigns becomes the greatest regular season in Franchise history. Laviolette won't win the Jack Adams award, but he deserves recognition for his work with the Rangers all season.
Now the Rangers await a dancing partner
The New York Rangers now await their first-round matchup as four teams still fight for the final wild card in the Eastern Conference. The Capitals hold the final spot currently with 89 points holding the tiebreaker over the Red Wings who also have 89 points. The Penguins have 88 points while the Flyers have 87 both seemingly needing a miracle to make the postseason. The Rangers may know their opponent as soon as Tuesday, with the Capitals facing the Flyers and the Red Wings facing the Canadiens.
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