# @puckempire on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DcB1-l-lKlw
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/69149860-puckempire-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/24757cf4fe.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-08-14T17:24:38.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Puck Empire 👑 (@puckempire) — https://gondola.cc/puckempire

## Caption

Continuing on with our 2026-2027 standing projections, we've got the New York Rangers at #19.

The Rangers are a team that are getting a little too much hate coming into this season. They're not a bonafide dogass team. Literally EVERYTHING went wrong for them last season. They'll be better... but i'm still seeing some glaring concerns that have me placing them outside of a playoff spot.

At offense, the Rangers look VERY boom-or-bust. You're hoping Zibanejad can replicate last season. You're hoping Lafreniere can take the next step. You're hoping Bjorkstrand and JT Miller can revert to their previous forms from a few years ago. Outside of Gabriel Perreault & Pavel Dorofeyev, a lot of that offensive core doesn't ooze confidence for me... it's just a lot of hope. Sure if everything goes right for the offense, they could honestly be a playoff team. But what are the odds of that?

Defensively, this team got much better. They've brought in Marcus Pettersson, Sean Durzi, and potentially Alberts Smits for this season. All three will be big pieces to making this team a much more structured defensive system. Pettersson provides solid two-way ability, Smits is already a professional and can play a big shut-down role (he has shown it in the Olympics), and Durzi is an incredible puck-moving defenseman who can be a net positive player if paired with a responsible defensive partner. Plus, if Fox is healthy year round, his pairing with Gavrikov can be one of the leagues best.

In net, I think Igor benefits from the defensive moves. However, NY's commitment to Joonas Korpisalo (who, imo, is not very good) rather than sticking with Dylan Garand means that Igor is likely set for a near 60+ game campaign if he stays healthy. Might be overworked. And if he gets injured? Rangers are cooked.

All in all, this Rangers team is a team that is better than when we last saw them. But there's too many holes in the offense especially without Panarin & Trocheck for this to be a playoff lock. It wouldn't surprise me to see them in the playoffs, I REALLY like the defense and goaltending... but the offense just might screw them.

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