The Rangers are coming off a season nobody saw coming. A young team expected to maybe contend for the playoffs did more than that. They made a run to the Eastern Conference Finals and even had a 2-0 series lead…before the Lightning finished them off in four straight games to get to the Stanley Cup Final.
It’s a new season with renewed hope for the Blueshirts, led by their Vezina Trophy-winning goalie Igor Shesterkin. They are in a tough division and repeating what they did last year could be difficult, but there’s a lot of time between here and there.
The “Up In The Blue Seats” podcast is back as we get you ready for the 2022-23 season. I’ll be co-hosting the show this season with The Post’s Rangers beat writer Mollie Walker. Our Hall of Fame hockey writer Larry Brooks will join us weekly. We also will have plenty of special Rangers guests. New episodes come out every Thursday. Come join us.
Up In The Blue Seats Podcast with Mollie Walker & Jake Brown
- TROUBA CAPTAIN: Trouba wanted it. Chris Kreider could have gone with or without it. Rumblings it could have happened last year.
- LOCKER ROOM: Mollie is psyched to be back in the locker room talking to players again and developing relationships. She has been getting cool off-the-ice stories and will have plenty of them on the podcast all season.
- SEASON PREVIEW: Rangers’ success hinges on young players stepping up and Shesterkin having an encore. Getting Jaroslav Halak was key. It gives them a strong backup goalie who had given the Rangers nightmares in past years. Who are the last remaining forwards? Who’s going to play on the right wing on the top line?
- PREDICTIONS: Mollie, Andrew Harts and I believe the Rangers will finish in the top three in the Metropolitan division and make the playoffs. Rangers got lucky last year with not many injuries. If guys go down, they are in trouble.
Larry Brooks Interview NY Post Hall of Fame hockey writer
- BIGGEST QUESTION MARK: Who’s playing on the top line? How will the team play now with expectations? Big expectations for Shesterkin The team needs to take the burden off of him to carry them.
- OUTLOOK: They have plenty of quality players, but are searching for top ones. They come into the season as a solid unit.
- KRAVTSOV: Rangers need him to succeed. They will probably trade him if he disappoints. Has not had an impressive camp. Artemi Panarin has spent time with him, showing he was committed to the team.
- PREDICTION: This will be a more challenging season for the Rangers. It will be more of a battle. Thinks they will be a playoff team.
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Catch up on all episodes of “Up In The Blue Seats,” a New York Rangers podcast, by subscribing to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow the crew on Twitter @MollieeWalkerr, @JakeBrownRadio & @NYP_Brooksie.