Tiger's Preseason Thoughts On The New York Rangers

So its the month of October, that means a few things.  The leaves start to turn, the weather starts to cool off a bit, and slap-shots can be heard all across the United States and Canada. 

Yep, its that time of year again. 

My favorite professional sport ramps off another season again, and my Blueshirts are up for another year to chase after Sir Stanley's Cup.  This year is an interesting one in my books.  Lots of familiar and new faces, yet voids are abundant. 

It feels like last years team, but in a way it doesn't.  Course when you lose a legend like Jagr, its hard to act like the personnel hasn't changed much.  In a way however, it hasn't.  There is still big faces with Chris Drury and Scott Gomez.  Martin Straka is gone, but a new face in Markus Naslund will help with Straka's departure.  And of course the big man on the ice, King Henrik, will be back to wall up between the pipes (as long as his knee holds up).

The main guy to watch in my books is Nikolai Zherdev.  Call me crazy, but I have a good feeling about this guy.  He fits well with what the Rangers do.  

The way I see the season going is nothing more than a hard-nosed fight til the playoffs.  The Atlantic division is really stacked this season, though historically it has always been a rough division.  The key this year will be if they make the playoffs, try NOT to get in matchups with other division rivals.  I believe that's what got them last year. 

If all goes well with the first 20 games, another scoring threat emerges from the team besides Drury and Gomez, the defense and Lundqvist keep up the defensive pressure, and the team gets a bit more luck as far as the season goes, this should be a team to cause havoc in the playoffs.

Though as we all know, its a long way til April.