UPDATE – Devils vs. the Metro: Rangers Have Quiet Summer; Lineup Projection

The New Jersey Devils’ rival, the New York Rangers, are coming off not only a successful 2023-24, but they were the best regular season team in hockey. Ultimately, it was the Florida Panthers who hoisted the Stanley Cup at the end of the postseason, but the Rangers gave them a run for their money in the semi-final round.

Certainly, with the Devils making vast improvements this summer in order to avoid another slip up in 2024-25, the Rangers would at least make one impactful move this summer, right?

Eh, not so much. For the most part, the Devils’ rival — barring any unforeseen changes by the beginning of the regular season, will go mostly unchanged.

2023-24 record: 55-23-4, 114 points, first place in the Metropolitan Division — President’s Trophy. Eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final by the Florida Panthers in six games.

Rangers Key Arrivals

Opposite of the Devils, the Rangers didn’t quite make the splash many of us initially anticipated. In fact, their only impact move was a trade in-division with the Pittsburgh Penguins, acquiring Reilly Smith in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.

The Penguins retained 25 percent of Smith’s salary, meaning he will count $3.75 million against the salary cap for the Rangers as opposed to the full $5 million. You could understand what the Rangers are trying to do here. Buying low on a multi- 20-plus goal scorer who made a name for himself with the Vegas Golden Knights before he arrived in Pittsburgh. Smith also has a solid track record of performing in the playoffs, winning the Stanley Cup with Vegas during the 2022-23 season.

However, Smith took quite the step back in Pittsburgh last season, register 16 fewer points (40) than the previous season and scoring half as many goals (13).

The gamble for the Rangers is whether Smith just didn’t fit in Pittsburgh, or if his game has regressed as he approaches his mid-30’s. Analytically, his defensive metrics are encouraging, but offensively — which is typically Smith’s forte — his 2023-24 was nowhere near his 2022-23.

The Rangers also inked Sam Carrick to a three-year, $3 million deal via free agency. He’ll serve as a depth forward after scoring 10 goals and 16 points in 77 games.

Rangers Key Departures

Barclay Goodrow might not have been the lineup impact (in the regular season) the Rangers were paying for, but he made up for it in the postseason scoring six goals and eight points in 16 playoff games. Yet, that wasn’t enough to convince Rangers GM Chris Drury that Goodrow was worth keeping around. The Rangers ultimately waived Goodrow and his $3.641 million cap hit and was claimed off waivers by his former club, the San Jose Sharks.

Essentially, Goodrow coming off the books allowed the Rangers to acquire Smith at 25% retained, which is as close to a wash in terms of money as it was going to get.

Both Jack Roslovic and Alexander Wennberg — forwards who were each acquired at the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline — walked in free agency to the Carolina Hurricanes and San Jose Sharks respectively. Defenseman Erik Gustafsson also left via free agency, signing with the Detroit Red Wings.

Prospect Pipeline

With Gustafsson leaving a void on the blueline, it’s now or never for Rangers defenseman Zac Jones. Jones will turn 24 years old near the beginning of the 2024-25 season. The former third round draft pick scored two goals and nine points last season, playing 31 games — a career high in the NHL.

Jones has 69 total NHL games under his belt and hasn’t quite been able to stick in the varsity lineup. He’ll get his chance as a third pair defenseman in the upcoming season.

Brennan Othmann is another prospect who could make the leap to the NHL this season. Trade rumors continue to surround Kaapo Kakko, and if it comes to fruition and no forward comes back in return, there’s a path for Othmann to receive full-time NHL minutes. Or, he could be their first call up if/when there’s an injury.

Quotable

Don’t get excited at the idea of Jacob Trouba playing somewhere else next season.

“One Ranger who will almost certainly be on the ice in Greenburgh when the Rangers assemble for camp: Jacob Trouba. The captain went through the rumor mill ahead of July 1, but league sources said there was never anything close with the Red Wings and Rangers on a Trouba deal.” — Arthur Staple, The Athletic.

Rangers Projected Lineup

Forwards

Chris Kreider – Mika Zibanejad– Reilly Smith

Artemi Panarin – Vincent Trocheck – Alexis Lafrenière

Will Cuylle – Filip Chytil – Kappo Kakko

Jimmy Vesey – Sam Carrick – Matt Rempe

*Adam Edstrom/Jonny Brodzinski

Defensemen

K’Andre Miller – Jacob Trouba

Ryan Lindgren – Adam Fox

Zac Jones – Braden Schneider

*Ben Harpur

Goaltenders

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

*Extra

This is relatively the same lineup the Rangers iced last season that earned them the President’s Trophy, just plugging in players where a few voids were left this summer.

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