NHL division previews: 2017-18 Metropolitan Division

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NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 25: New York Rangers Goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) makes a glove save during the second period of a pre-season NHL game between the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers on September 25, 2017, at Madison Square Garden in New York, NY. (Photo by David Hahn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4th in 2017-18 Metropolitan Division – New York Rangers

As is the case with every season with Henrik Lundqvist in net, the Rangers look set to sit in the top half of the Metro Division. While they are overall a strong team front to back, there’s not much there to prove that they can be a Cup contender, but they should easily make the playoffs in 2017-18.

They have great depth on their forward lines as well as great defensive depth. To go along with this they are great at killing penalties and, with the addition of Kevin Shattenkirk, are going to be one of the top power play units in 2017-18. If Lundqvist can (he very likely will) bounce back this season, there is no reason to have the Rangers any lower than fourth in the Metro.

The Rangers had four 50-plus point producers in 2016-17 in Mats Zuccarello (59), J.T. Miller (56), Derek Stepan (55) and Chris Kreider (53). This is less than surprising when you take into account that, aside from Stepan who is now gone, the only one who had less than 50% of his zone starts outside the offensive zone was Miller, who was just under (Hockey Abstract 2017, page 97, player usage chart).

It would be less than surprising to see the number of 50-plus point scorers stay at four, or even add another in 2017-18. The added production that Shattenkirk will bring to the power play should help that happen.

On the back-end, the Rangers have very little to worry about. Adding Shattenkirk was the cherry on top of an already strong defensive unit. When you see Shattenkirk, Ryan McDonagh, Brady Skjei, Nick Holden, Brendan Smith and Marc Staal as a top six, you start to understand why they are a perennial playoff team.

What needs to really be said here? Lundqvist is good. Really good. He’ll have a bounce-back season and help the Rangers make the playoffs again.

Player to watch in 2017-18: Brady Skjei. It will be interesting to see if Skjei can increase his point total from last season. With almost 65% of his zone starts coming from the offensive zone in 2016-17, if that’s replicated, it would be hard to imagine that he won’t. He could thrive with the addition of Shattenkirk.