If we really want to lean into the metaphor with our Rangers report card for the 2023-2024 season, let’s say the Blueshirts had some issues with the (Eastern Conference) finals. Does that affect their grades?
Indeed.
The Rangers had a fantastic regular season – Class A Over 82! – but it all ended with a disappointing loss to the Florida Panthers, one stop before the Stanley Cup Final. They didn’t end the 30-year Cup drought with a clean bow, no matter how many ’94 links we all came up with.
Here’s how the Blueshirts are performing this season:
GOALS
Igor Shesterkin: Earlier in the season he was a bit shakier than we’re used to and the Rangers gave him a needed reset. He was great then and really the biggest reason why the Rangers got this far. He had a 2.34 goals-against average in the playoffs and a .926 save percentage, regularly turning aside shot attacks. He even got his numbers in shape during the second half of the season, finishing at 2.58 and .912, although the save percentage was the lowest of his career.
Class A
Jonathan Quick: Future Hall-of-Famer as backup? Yes please. Quick shined while Shesty sat, recording a 2.62 GAA and .911 save percentage.
Class A
FORWARD
Artemi Panarin: He emerged as one of the best offensive players in the NHL with a huge season (49 goals, 71 assists, 120 points), but he failed again in the playoffs after a strong start. He went eight straight games without a goal before the last one the Rangers scored in the tournament with 1:40 left in Game 6 against Florida. His totals were OK (5-10-15) and he potted game winners, but the Rangers needed more from their top scorer.
Grade: B-plus
Chris Kreider: The longest-tenured Ranger scored 39 goals to move into the club record books and had a head-to-head battle in Game 6 of the conference semifinals with the natural hat trick that doomed Carolina. But he only scored one goal in the ECF. Rangers also needed more from him.
Grade B
Mika Zibanejad: He posted a higher regular season baseline than his numbers this season (26-46-72) and then followed that up with an uneven playoff run. He had three goals and 13 assists, but didn’t score a goal after Game 1 against Carolina. Uhm.
Grade: B-min
Vincent Trocheck: Trocheck is annoying. And we mean that in a good way for the Rangers. He is difficult to play against, powerful and talented. He had career bests in points (77) and assists (52) and scored 25 goals, then was their best skater in the playoffs, going 8-12-20. He has helped Rangers overcome previous shortcomings in the face-off because he is so good at the spot.
Class A
Alexis Lafrenière: Welcome to the ascension of a star. The former first-round pick, maligned by some for not immediately exploding into the NHL stratosphere, is now on the move after a 28-goal season and a playoff run in which he proved he’s someone to lean on. He has even embraced some physicality in his game. The Rangers can use all the sandpaper they can get.
Grade: A-minus
Filip Chytil: An injury ruined his season, although he returned after a long recovery. He did not score in ten regular season games and six playoff games all season. We will never know how much a healthy Chytil could have helped.
Grade: Incomplete
Blake Wheeler: An injury also ruined his season, but he returned after a long rehabilitation. He took a penalty in the ECF, but that was actually Zibanejad’s fault after a horrendous turnover left Rangers vulnerable.
Grade: Incomplete
Kaapo Kakko: He was a healthy scratch in Game 3 of the ECF, which is certainly a commentary on his contributions at the time and perhaps his future in blue. Only six Rangers have scored more than Kakko’s 13 goals, but the 23-year-old has failed to deliver on his promise.
Grade: C-plus
Wil Cuylle: Brought solid physical play to the bottom six and led Rangers in goals while scoring 13 times. Have fun here in the future.
Grade: B-plus
Barclay Goodrow: A gritty, courageous, glue guy who makes teams better just by being around. He scored six goals in the play-offs, including some big ones, after scoring just four times during the season. Rangers need more like him.
Grade B
Jimmy Vesey: Rangers missed him on the penalty kick when he was injured in the play-offs and he scored thirteen goals during the season and one in the play-offs.
Grade: B-min
Jack Roslović and Alex Wennberg: Grouped together because they were top trade deadline additions, rather than a high-end, top winger. While they contributed — Wennberg scored an OT winner in the playoffs — in retrospect, the Rangers needed a bigger impact from both.
Grade: C
Matt Rempe: Even a sneeze from Rempe during the playoffs seemingly brought a whistle blow, so his reputation for chaos was well-established even in just 17 NHL games. The Rangers used him in eleven playoff games and he was called a penalty in five of them, including four of the first five. But the jam he brings may be useful. It’s certainly entertaining, judging by the way fans interacted with him. Can he make big strides in skating this summer and wreak havoc on a regular basis next season?
Grade: C-plus
DEFENDERS
Adam Fox: As a linchpin in the power play and a great source of blueline offense, you might wonder how healthy he was in the playoffs when he wasn’t scoring. The knee-on-knee blow he took in the Washington series may have had a long reverberation. Had 17 career goals and was third in blocks during the season.
Grade B
Braden Schneider: “Schneids” was second on the Rangers in blocked shots and fifth in hits, and was generally sharp during the playoffs. The 22-year-old could be a blueliner on the rise.
Grade B
Jacob Trouba: The Rangers captain struggled during the playoffs, receiving little attention by going for and missing a check that helped lead to Florida’s first goal in Game 6. He also took eleven penalties in sixteen playoff games and was fined for a wild elbow that probably should have happened. That was a big punishment at the time. Still, he’s the Rangers’ most fearless shot blocker, leading the team in that category for the third straight season, and he also finished second in goals.
Grade: C
Ryan Lindgren: Lindgren is a heartbeat type of player and Lindgren’s toughness gives the Rangers blueline an extra dimension. He was one of four Blueshirts with more than 100 hits and blocks.
Grade B
K’Andre Miller: His long reach is an untouchable asset and he was second on the Rangers in average skating time, behind only Fox, and second among defensemen with eight goals. He also contributed a shortie during the playoffs. He’s only 24, so there’s more to come.
Grade: B-minus
Erik Gustafsson: Relying on his puck movement or possession, he had six goals and 25 assists, ranking second among Rangers defensemen with 31 points. Only Fox (73 points) had more.
Grade: B-min
COACH
Peter Laviolette: It was a strong first season for Laviolette – the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy, showed a rebounding ability throughout and made it to the final four before losing to a better team. He created daily competition in practice, something the players believed in. Now, of course, he and Rangers have to prove they can move on next June.
Grade: A-minus
