The New York Rangers are off to a hot start this season. The team is currently tied for the top spot in the Metropolitan division with 22 points, and in ten of their last eleven games, they have scored at least three goals. The team’s general manager, Jeff Gorton, made a slew of moves during the summer and it seems to be the boost this club needed.
Not only did Gorton re-sign RFAs which includes J.T. Miller, Kevin Hayes, and Chris Kreider, he also acquired Mika Zibanejad from Ottawa, signed free agents Brandon Pirri and Michael Grabner, as well as signing Russian stud Pavel Buchnevich and Harvard sensation Jimmy Vesey. Plenty of insiders were wondering how the team would fare after letting go of veterans like Derick Brassard and Keith Yandle, as well as defenseman Dan Boyle retiring and recently trading Dylan McIlrath to the Florida Panthers, but it seems as the team is doing just fine.
The Rangers have been on a complete tear with their speed, capitalizing on chances, and putting pucks to the cage. Since October 30th against Tampa Bay, the team has scored at least three times and all lines are contributing, as well as having the stellar goal tending of Henrik Lundqvist and Antti Raanta. Michael Grabner already has eight goals and is one away from matching his total from all of last season. Jimmy Vesey, the Boston boy, is a pleasant surprise with seven goals, and Pavel Buchnevich is on a four game goal streak of his own.
It may be early in the 2016-17 NHL season, but this Rangers club is already showing that the improvements and roster moves this offseason may be just what their team needed. They are also 4-0-0 following a loss, and even that is pretty impressive. As long as this team keeps their legs, avoid injury, and get plenty of shots on goal, Lord Stanley’s cup could finally be back at Madison Square Garden this summer!
