FLUSHING THE PAST
The old slogan, “There’s No Quit in New York”, was a source of pride for New York Rangers players and fans during their two runs to the Eastern Conference Finals from 2021-24. Unfortunately, it did not age well, as GM Chris Drury presided over one of the most disappointing seasons in the Rangers’ 99-year history.
When the Rangers open season 100 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden (8p, ESPN) tonight they will have a new head coach, a new captain, and a new slogan.
Publicly, the new “No BS” slogan refers to the fact that new head coach Mike Sullivan wants the Rangers to be tougher to play against. Or as new captain JT Miller said: “We want to be a fast, in-your-face, F-U type of team.”
I have no doubt that “No BS” is also a direct reminder to everyone in the organization that last season was unacceptable and that the team needs to keep the focus on the ice.
The Rangers have officially flushed the past. Tonight, after 142 days on the sidelines, Rangers fans get the chance to do the same.
OPENING LINEUP
The Rangers will open their centennial season with the following lineup (new editions since last Opening Night in bold):
Cuylle-Miller-Zibanejad
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Sheary–Laba–Raddysh
Edstrom-Carrick-Rempe
Gavrikov-Fox
Soucy–Borgen
Vaakanainen-Schneider
Shesterkin
Quick
HOME GROWN DRAFTED PLAYERS
The Rangers have 8 players in their lineup that they drafted:
JT Miller (15 overall, 2011)
Igor Shesterkin (118 overall, 2014)
Adam Edstrom (161 overall, 2019)
Alexis Lafreniere (1 overall, 2020)
Braden Schneider (19 overall, 2020)
Will Cuylle (60 overall, 2020)
Matt Rempe (165 overall, 2020)
Noah Laba (111 overall, 2022)
SEASON OUTLOOK
Management has done a good job exorcising last year’s demons and putting the Rangers on a new “No BS” path. Not only is there a new coach, a new captain, and a new slogan, there remains a lot of talent.
Arguably, they go into the season with a Top 5 coach, a Top 5 goalie, a Top 10 defenseman, a Top 15 scorer and a top 20 center. Plus, they have a stable of legitimate prospects in Hartford to keep the pressure on the current team to stay focused.
Season Prediction
104 points, 3rd place in the Metropolitan Division — a return to playoff hockey in April.
ICYMI “4 Things Rangers: One Week Until Opening Night at MSG”