from Andrew Gross of The Record,

There’s definitely reason for optimism, just as surely as there’s cause for concern:

PRO: Henrik Lundqvist, who’ll be 34 by the start of the playoffs, is still one of the NHL’s elite goalies despite missing two months last season because of a fluke neck injury and playing just 46 regular-season games, the fewest of his first 10 seasons. There’s no reason to think he can’t propel the Rangers through another long playoff run.

CON: The Rangers have to find additional scoring up front with Marty St. Louis retired – even if the future Hall of Famer struggled to produce offensively toward the latter part of last season and in the playoffs – and Carl Hagelin dealt to the Ducks for Emerson Etem. By all accounts, Mats Zuccarello has recovered completely from a scary head injury that knocked him out of the last two rounds of the playoffs and left him temporarily unable to speak. Still, the playmaking wing needs to prove that on the ice.

PRO: Versatile forward Kevin Hayes should, theoretically, be improved after a strong rookie season. Likewise for young forwards J.T. Miller and Jesper Fast. And Chris Kreider could be poised for a breakout season.

CON: Hampered by salary-cap issues as they needed to take care of their own – center Derek Stepan signed a six-year, $39 million deal – the Rangers did not improve their team as much as some of their main rivals in the Metropolitan Division....

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