Veteran’s Bounce-Back Could Foster Rangers’ Success, Claims The Athletic

Added Mercogliano: “They believe a full season with new captain J.T. Miller, the addition of [Vladislav] Gavrikov to stabilize the defense and bounce-back performances from a core that’s only a year removed from winning a Presidents’ Trophy will propel them back into playoff contention.”

The analyst also pointed to the arrival of Sullivan, a hire long coveted by team president and general manager Chris Drury, as another factor working in New York’s favor.

But Mercogliano was equally clear about the warning signs, pointing them out after highlighting Adam Fox's bounce-back season as a key for the Rangers to make a push into the playoffs.

“On second thought, maybe it can get worse,” Mercogliano said, highlighting the reliance on aging veterans Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. “Team defense is of particular concern. (Goalie Igor) Shesterkin has masked their deficiencies for years, but the walls came crumbling down around him last season.”

Still, Mercogliano offered one bold prediction for the year, and it centered on Fox, the Rangers’ 27-year-old defenseman.

“Fox will establish a new career high in points and make the final Olympic roster for Team USA,” Mercogliano predicted. “The 27-year-old defenseman has been a focus of criticism, particularly in the aftermath of a subpar 4 Nations Face-Off showing. But as Sullivan put it, “It’s provided a lot of motivation for him to train as hard as he did.”