theScore is previewing each team leading up to the 2016-17 season.
The offseason indeed brought change for the New York Rangers, who dealt their second-leading goal scorer, Derick Brassard, to the Ottawa Senators in an effort to alleviate cap pressures and enhance other aspects of their lineup.
Still, fans should anticipate another shoe to drop, as this Rangers team - which understands it needs change - will still rely on a similar core, a diminishing back end, and of course that otherworldly goaltender.
Here's how the Rangers stack up heading into 2016-17:
| LW | C | RW |
|---|---|---|
| Rick Nash | Derek Stepan | Mats Zuccarello |
| Chris Kreider | Mika Zibanejad | Kevin Hayes |
| Jimmy Vesey | J.T Miller | Jesper Fast |
| Nathan Gerbe | Oscar Lindberg | Michael Grabner |
| Tanner Glass | Brandon Pirri | Pavel Buchnevich |
| Max Lapierre | Josh Jooris |
- Zibanejad, who arrived in return for Brassard, and coveted college free agent Vesey, are the major acquisitions, and obviously the players to watch. But also keep an eye on Pirri, who can provide scoring punch on his low-end salary, along with the emergence of 2013 third-rounder Buchnevich.
| LD | RD |
|---|---|
| Ryan McDonagh | Dan Girardi |
| Marc Staal | Kevin Klein |
| Brady Skjei | Dylan McIlrath |
| Nick Holden | Adam Clendening |
- New York's major subtraction is two-way defender Keith Yandle, who signed a big-money deal with the Florida Panthers. Skjei should get every opportunity to fill that transition role, but considering the Rangers gave up another draft pick to acquire Holden from the Colorado Avalanche, they likely intend to play him.
| G |
|---|
| Henrik Lundqvist |
| Antti Raanta |
- New York believes it has quality insurance for Lundqvist, who's entering his 12th season, signing Raanta to a two-year, $2-million deal this offseason.
NHL Depth Charts
ANA | ARI | BOS | BUF | CGY
CAR | CHI | COL | CBS | DAL
DET | EDM | FLA | LA | MIN
MTL | NSH | NJD | NYI | NYR
PHI | PIT | OTT | STL | SJ
TB | TOR | VAN | WSH | WIN
