There’s no question that expectations have changed for the New York Rangers since the 2018-19 season concluded with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 6.
How could they not with the summer the organization had? From quite literally hitting the lottery for the opportunity to take winger Kaapo Kakko with the second overall pick, who is arguably the most exciting rookie the organization has seen in a generation, to signing Artemiy Panarin, and trading for Jacob Trouba on the blue line. In totality, the last six months could be looked on as a true turning point for a franchise that stripped itself of key components vital to its longest run of success in its 90-plus year history.