October – Two trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in three years were still fresh, with the campaign that won the President’s trophy, a high of 114 points, not declining – The Rangers were already staring at the possibility that this could be the final chance of a Stanley Cup run with the current core.
The need for an overhaul will probably obscure the desire to run it again. The Blues Shirt received its taste in the year that he treated Captain Jacob Truba as the duck in December and Dachshunds in March. And as their regular season closes against lightning in the garden on Thursday night, the changes that could follow will be focused. There may be changes to coaching. There could be more adjustments to the nucleus.
And at the heart of those conversations are players like Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Both have different types of nobove clauses – the Zibanejad full no-move clause, one of the Kreider a 15 teams – but after being at the heart of rumours throughout the season ahead of the trade deadline, they almost certainly return to the spotlight when the offseason begins.
So, at least Thursday could mark the end of the Rangers era.
