New York Rangers 2008-09 Season Preview

A rebuilt NY Rangers offense will join a great NY Rangers defense on the way to the Stanley Cup!

New York Rangers 2007-08 Review:
Even with the living legend Jaromir Jagr at the helm, the New York Rangers offense was not the machine it had the potential to be. The New York Rangers ranked near the bottom of the NHL in goals scored, but fans with New York Rangers tickets were rewarded with a stingy and aggressive defense. The New York Rangers went 42-27-13 in the elite Eastern Atlantic Division and destroyed the New Jersey Devils in the 2008 NHL playoffs. A tough battle with the young Pittsburgh Penguins eliminated the New York Rangers from the postseason.

New York Rangers Offense:
The offensive depth of the New York Rangers was almost totally rebuilt in the offseason. The loss of captain Jaromir Jagr is a big blow, but he has been replaced by veteran C Chris Drury who was one of the offensive leaders last season. The leadership of Chris Drury will be invaluable for the new team of forwards brought in as it keeps a certain continuity to the offense. C Aaron Voros is a younger player but has breakout star potential as a shooter. New LW Markus Naslund was great with the Vancouver Canucks and could thrive in this new atmosphere.

Fans with New York Rangers tickets get even more offense for returning veteran F Scott Gomez who had a dynamite second half of a season last year and will be counted on for a good amount of points. RW Nikolai Zherdev might be the young gun in the forward rotation that the New York Rangers have been looking for, and he has the ability to lead the team in goals. Brandon Dubinsky and Nigel Dawes provide another set of fresh legs and are well versed in the system. The New York Rangers offense has potential to be a Top 5 unit if they can pull it all together.

New York Rangers Defense:
The defense was the strength of the New York Rangers in the 2007-08 season, and it has only gotten stronger. Free agent D Wade Redden comes over from the Ottawa Senators, and the great defender pulled down a fat contract. It is believed that Wade Redden will thrive in the defensive system, and the big-market atmosphere. Returning D Daniel Girardi can score as well as defend and has All-Star potential. Fans with New York Rangers tickets are ready to see their aggressive defense with its new components.

Eight-year veteran D Dmitri Kalinin came over as a free agent and is possibly the best pure defender on the roster. D Marc Staal had a great rookie campaign and is already developing nicely into a quick defensive weapon who can score as well. D Michal Rozsival was also added to the blue line and is another defensive scoring threat. The New York Rangers defense is based around forcing errors and scoring points on its own and has all the talent to do so this season.   

New York Rangers Goaltending:
The centerpiece of the New York Rangers defense is possibly also their best player, G Henrik Lundqvist. Of his three short years in the NHL, Henrik Lundqvist has been nominated for the Vezina Award three times. His ability to shutout entire offenses by himself has made Henrik Lundqvist the favorite player of fans with New York Rangers tickets, and no single player will have a bigger impact on the season than him.

New York Rangers Coaching:
New York Rangers head coach Tom Renney has gotten the team to three-straight postseasons and will continue this trend again. Tom Renney has had success at the Olympic Games as a coach and has also been the mastermind behind Team Canada for years. His aggressive defensive system has really been the key addition to the New York Rangers, and his leadership will be invaluable down the stretch.

New York Rangers 2008-09 Outlook:
The Eastern Atlantic Division is the toughest division in hockey, and the New York Rangers face stiff competition. The biggest of these opponents is the Pittsburgh Penguins and their dual-headed scoring monster of Sidney Crosby and Evengi Malkin. The Pittsburgh Penguins are loaded with young talent and have a better upside than the New York Rangers. The New York Rangers have the advantage of experience and defense.

Fans with New York Rangers tickets buy into the defense as the key to victory and will get behind the aggressive unit. With Henrik Lundqvist guarding the net and Wade Redden with the potential to develop into an All-Star, the New York Rangers have the defense to win the Stanley Cup. It will be up to the offense to get the team over the hump. If any coach can get his players to come together it is Tom Renney.

New York Rangers Starting Lineup:
LW: Nigel Dawes
C: Scott Gomez
RW: Ryan Callahan
D: Wade Redden
D: Daniel Girardi
G: Henrik Lundqvist