5 Burning Questions for New York Rangers After 2015 Trade Deadline

The New York Rangers have been one of the best teams in the NHL this season, but that didn't stop general manager Glen Sather from making a splash at the trade deadline.

The veteran executive pushed all of his chips to the middle of the table to acquire Keith Yandle from the Arizona Coyotes, and it was a move that came out of nowhere. The Blueshirts are under immense pressure after coming up short in the Cup Final last season, and this is a make-or-break year for the franchise.

New York is ahead of where they were at this point last season, but here are five burning questions surrounding the team after the 2015 trade deadline.

Are the Rangers the Team to Beat in the NHL?

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The Rangers don't have the best record in the NHL, but many pundits are pegging them as the team to beat in the East.

New York has certainly been impressive, and the team really hasn't received all the accolades it deserves considering the circumstances it's encountered recently. The Blueshirts have the NHL's third-best offense and the fourth-best defense all while being without Henrik Lundqvist for a month.

With all that in mind, is it possible to say that the Rangers are the team to beat in the NHL?

Will Dan Boyle Be on the Roster Next Season?

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Dan Boyle was signed primarily to fix the Rangers' power play and occupy a top-four spot that opened when Anton Stralman signed with Tampa Bay. To date, Boyle has battled injury and illness, and he's struggled to do his job effectively.

The Rangers added power-play specialist Keith Yandle at the deadline, and he's a defender who can log top-four minutes and a ton of time in the offensive zone. Although Boyle is right-handed while Yandle is a lefty, does the addition of Yandle mean Boyle will be moved from the roster this summer?

Is Tanner Glass Going to Be on the Roster Next Year?

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The Rangers signed Tanner Glass to a three-year contract during the summer, but Glen Sather made a deal at the deadline that could signal the end of Glass' tenure in New York.

The Rangers traded for James Sheppard, a skater who can play all three forward positions. He can play physically when he has to, and he is pretty solid on faceoffs. He offers a lot to the Rangers—more than Glass does by a landslide.

Glass was a healthy scratch for the Rangers against the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday, and it is unlikely he will get back into the lineup anytime soon. The fact that the Rangers traded for someone at the deadline could indicate that management isn't happy with what Glass has done, and that puts his future in question. 

Will Glass be on the roster next season, or will he get shipped out via trade, waivers of buy out?

Will Rick Nash Be Able to Score in the Playoffs

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There is a very good chance that Rick Nash will score 50 goals this season—that would be quite the feat for the Rangers' star winger, but fans are more concerned with his performance during the playoffs.

Nash only scored three goals during the Blueshirts' run to the Stanley Cup Final last year, and he will be under a lot of pressure once the games become more important.

No. 61 has been getting closer to the net this season and has been able to score goals in a multitude of ways.

Dan Rosen of NHL.com looked at Nash's work this year and deemed him to be one of the league's most versatile goal scorers. Nash may be scoring goals left and right during the dog days of March, but what will his overall goal total look like in late April and early May?

What Condition Will Henrik Lundqvist Be in for the Rest of the Season?

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Henrik Lundqvist has spent the last month sitting at home resting and waiting. He suffered an injury to a blood vessel in his neck after taking a shot to the throat, and he's been taking it easy until he is cleared to return.

Bob McKenzie of TSN was on NBC Sports recently, and he provided an update that suggests that Lundqvist could be back in two weeks if everything goes well. Timeline aside, the big question is: What condition will Lundqvist be in when he does return?

He is one of the NHL's best goaltenders, but will the time away be helpful because he is fresh and rested, or will it hinder his readiness and reflexes? That is the $8.5 million question, and one that will impact whether or not the Rangers win a Stanley Cup this season.

Stats via Hockey-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.