New York Rangers 2010 Preview & Predictions

New York Rangers 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds

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NEW YORK RANGERS

2009-10 record: 38-33-11
Shootout Record: 3-4
Division Finish: 4th, Atlantic
Conference Finish: 9th, Eastern
Goals For: 222
Goals Against: 218

New York Rangers 2010 Preview

Any time a team misses the playoffs on the last day of the season, the question is whether to initiate a big shakeup or do some minor tinkering.

The Rangers, who lost to the Flyers in a Game 82 shootout and then watched Philly win the conference, were chewing on that one all summer and likely right into the meat of training camp.

There were two interesting free-agent additions at the start of July, Derek Boogaard from the Minnesota Wild, who exudes toughness, and experienced Martin Biron, possibly a signal that Lundqvist’s taxing workload will be reduced.

General manager Glen Sather might not change the team picture much beyond those two, but that doesn’t mean he was happy with the club as presently constituted.

Certainly the Rangers have the goaltending to compete with the Cup contenders. New York gave up 218 goals, which was less than nine clubs who qualified for the playoffs.

Top scorer Gaborik joined Jaromir Jagr as the only Ranger to break into the League’s top 10 scorers since Wayne Gretzky retired. As one of the League’s top road teams, they allowed the League’s fourth-fewest goals and owned the third-best penalty killing.

But it wasn’t enough to get in the top eight, and coach John Tortorella was his customary blunt self in assessing where he thought improvements could be made.

Boogaard still hasn’t scored since 2005-06, but was needed when Jody Shelley departed.

Sather did spend to keep 20-goal man Vinny Prospal in town, being one of Tortorella’s favorites during their earlier stint together in Tampa Bay.

2010 New York Rangers Offense:

Gaborik paid off handsomely, while Brandon Dubinsky and Prospal reached 20 goals, and Callahan would likely have too if not hurt at the end. But the Rangers are still concerned about Drury, a big name and big salary who hasn’t generated big numbers. Gaborik was a plus-15 where no Ranger was even close before last season, while Dubinsky, Gaborik and Prospal supplied 13 game-winning goals. There were some blips on the radar, such as the aggressive Avery producing 31 points to go along with 160 penalty minutes. Rookie center Artem Anisimov showed there was life on the farm with 28 points in 82 games. Three of left winger Brandon Prust’s five goals turned out to be game-winners.

2010 New York Rangers Defense:

After years without a first-rounder producing any excitement, the Rangers now have Michael Del Zotto and Marc Staal on the blueline. Del Zotto’s 37 points put him seventh among League rookies, and Staal is living up to the family name with a career-high 27 points. Wade Redden says he wants to have a monster camp this year and convince any doubters he’s worth the enormous contract given him a couple of years ago, but there were rumblings of a buyout. The Rangers’ defense enjoyed remarkable health last season, with its top six scratched just 22 times. Dan Girardi, Michal Rosival and Staal missed no games at all.

2010 New York Rangers Goaltending:

Super Swede Lundqvist continues to stake a claim in the blue paint with 73 games, breaking his own post-work stoppage high and celebrating his status as the first goalie in League annals to win at least 30 games in each of his first five seasons. He’s gone more than 20,000 minutes since 2005 and last year gave up two goals or less in 35 of his final 50 starts. Had he won half his overtime losses, he would’ve netted 40 wins. Lundqvist’s four shutouts last season gives him 24 for his career and his .921 save percentage was the second-highest he’s recorded in the NHL. Much of Biron’s career has been spent in support roles trying to show the team he is a No.1, but now in his early 30s, this is a good fit and he should play between 25 and 30 games.

New York Rangers 2010 Special Teams

Gaborik broke loose from the defensive constrictions in Minny and that also paid off on the power play with a career high 14 goals. That helped push the Rangers to 13th in the League with an 18.3% success rate. They were in a small group of five teams that allowed one short-handed goal or less on the road. Only St. Louis and Pittsburgh had better road penalty killing than New York, which had a couple of shorthanded goals from Dubinsky.

New York Rangers 2010 Season Predictions

The Rangers have seen the consequences of getting fewer than 90 points, as the Game 82 shootout defeat was one of 11 overtime losses. It kept them at 88 points and cost them their first berth in five years. No New York team ever missed the boat after getting to 90, so there should be motivation in all corners.

We predict that the New York Rangers will finish 4th in the NHL Atlantic.

New York Rangers Betting

New York Rangers Stanley Cup Odds: +3500
New York Rangers Eastern Conference Odds: +1800

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