I remarked that this season, despite the Rangers’ second round exit, was a successful one … and caught some flack for being pleased with their results, considering their high-powered roster and the expectations there are for big-name players to produce. Mind, I agree with all of that; I think this team had enough to make it, at least, to the Conference Finals.

I’m incredibly disappointed that they didn’t, and the reasons why will obviously be addressed (and hopefully solved) in the off-season, but they’ve accomplished more than any previous Ranger incarnation has since Wayne Gretzky and Co. went to the ’97 Conference Finals. And that’s something to celebrate … while still looking ahead at greater success to come. In fact, I think that losing a series they could have won was a necessary lesson for this team. These Rangers proved in the stretch and in the playoffs that they could show up to play, play well and even dominate … but they still lapsed, gave up big goals, made sloppy, costly plays and were often their own worst enemy. They can take the off-season to look hard at themselves and shore up the holes in their game that caused them to be eliminated from Cup contention.

Signing Nylander, in my opinion, is imperative. His worth on the free market will likely be substantially higher than the Rangers will want to pay, but there is a middle ground that can — and should — be reached. Jaromir Jagr didn’t produce the way he did last year due to his recovery from shoulder surgery, but having him with Nylander as a pivot is a great offensive weapon when primed. It’s Renney’s job to motivate them to produce the way we’ve seen them produce, and to respond appropriately when they don’t.

I’d like to see Chris Drury on Broadway, too. He is precisely the center the Rangers were missing last season. With him in the line-up, centering Brendan Shanahan and another winger, and Jagr with Nylander, there would be two solid lines.

Leave Matt Cullen on the third, considering he can find his scoring touch, and Blair Betts on the fourth, and this team will have depth to draw from. There is a ton of potential in players like Petr Prucha, who if set free can be a perennial 30-goal-scorer, at least … Ryan Callahan will only improve and our sneak peak at Nigel Dawes in Game Six against the Sabres was promising.

There’s a lot to look forward to, and we’ll keep you posted through the off-season and into the pre-season.