by Colonel Mustard
Last year was another step in the right direction for the Rangers. The regular season saw them win both the Atlantic Division and the Eastern Conference titles and a #1 playoff seed. After two back and forth 7-game series wins against the Ottawa Senators and the Washington Capitals, the Broadway Blueshirts fell just short of a trip to the finals in a thriller with hated rival New Jersey Devils. While the disappointing ending wasn't what the team or the fans hoped for, there is plenty of reason for optimism this year.
1.) Vezina Hank - After being overlooked for several years, Henrik Lundqvist finally got the recognition he deserved when he took home the hardware at the NHL awards in Las Vegas. Henrik has been arguably the most consistent performer for the Rangers in recent years, and when he is locked in, one of the best in the league.
2.) Rick's a Ranger - 5-time All-Star and "Rocket" Richard trophy winning winger Rick Nash arrives in the Big Apple in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets. For those unfamiliar with Rick's game (he did play in Columbus after all), he is a big body with soft hands and tremendous speed for his size. A key performer for Canada in their gold-medal winning campaign at the Vancouver Olympics, Rick should pair nicely with last year's big signing, playmaker Brad Richards.
3.) Pressure is off Gabby - The arrival of Nash will almost certainly allow mercurial forward Marian Gaborik to move to the second line. After posting a career high in games played and a return to the 75+ point plateau, a confident Gaborik could be a potential 50 goal scorer without the pressure that comes with being the #1 option. Always more of a #1b guy, speedy Gaborik will be a second line menace.
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