Skip to content

Path to Stanley Cup Main Offseason Goal for Rangers, Stars

The Dallas Stars and New York Rangers were good bets at the sportsbook to move on with each holding 2-1 leads in the NHL’s best-of-seven conference finals, but three straight losses sent both teams into an offseason with questions to answer.

The Rangers scored five goals to win Game 3 in Florida but managed five more tallies in the final three games – two of them late with the goalie pulled. Dallas scored eight times to win Games 2 and 3 versus Edmonton but posted only four goals in the final three games.

Path to Stanley Cup Main Offseason Goal for Rangers, Stars
Igor Shesterkin #31 | Andy Lyons/Getty Images/AFP

The Stars must decide on a few veteran unrestricted free agents, but they have a relatively young group that should keep them competitive for years with some roster massaging.

New York general manager Chris Drury may have some major decisions to make with veteran players. Will he try to run it back with much of the same group or make a few bold moves to try and push the Rangers over the top? Stay tuned.

Both teams are still good bets to have low NHL future odds for 2024-25 because they defend pretty well and have top-notch goalies in Igor Shesterkin (New York) and Jake Oettinger (Dallas).

 

Bet on At Least One Big Move in New York

It would be easy for Drury to just sign his key free agents, fill out the rest of the roster with deft moves that keep the Rangers under the salary cap and hope young players take big steps forward..

That might not be enough, because although New York was close to reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, there is a sense that they are missing the bite to get to the next level. The Panthers outshot the Rangers 202-151 in the Eastern finals and by a lot more in attempts..

Artemi Panarin (120 points) and Vincent Trocheck (77) had career years. Adam Fox is one of the NHL’s best defenseman (73) and Shesterkin was brilliant in the playoffs..The core is a good one, but will the Rangers be worthy of their odds to win the Stanley Cup next season?

Defenseman Jacob Trouba and Chris Kreider could be trade candidates and perhaps even center Mika Zibanejad, according to New York Post columnist Larry Brooks. Trouba and Kreider’s full no-trade clauses end.

Defensemen Ryan Lindgren and Braden Schneider, along with forward Kaapo Kakko, are restricted free agents. No doubt, the first priority is the defense and Lindgren told reporters on Tuesday he loves it in New York.

There are no key unrestricted free agents, but Shesterkin and emerging star Alexis Lafreniere are going into the last year of their contracts. Drury would like to lock them up long term.

The Rangers were seventh in scoring, seventh in goals-against, third on the power play and third in killing penalties during the regular season. Those kinds of numbers would do just fine for 2024-25, but they must learn from their playoff defeat to earn your NHL betting.

 

 

Stars Hope to Run It Back in 2024-25

Dallas was just as good as Edmonton in the Western Conference finals. The Stars just didn’t grasp the moment in the last two games.

Two power-play goals doomed Dallas in Game 5 at home. The Stars outshot the Oilers 34-10 in Game 6, but could not turn the advantage into goals.

GM Jim Nill won’t have as busy a summer as his counterpart in New York. Defenseman Thomas Harley and forward Sam Steel are RFAs. Forward Matt Duchene and defenseman Chris Tanev are UFAs.

Wrapping up Harley and re-signing Tanev is on the wish list, and promising 20-year-old defenseman Lian Bichsel could step into a role next season.

The forward corps is young and talented, led by Jason Robertson, Wyatt Johnston and Roope Hintz. Having Logan Stankoven for a full season helps and talented Marvrik Bourque could move into the lineup as well.

Veterans Jamie Benn and Tyler Seguin had strong playoffs and Miro Heiskanen is moving into the top echelon of defensemen in the league.

You certainly won’t get profitable sportsbook odds for a Cup in Dallas next season. But if you can get value, put some money down.

 

Pavelski Appears to Be Done

Joe Pavelski will be 40 when next season begins. It is not likely he will be putting a uniform on when the Stars next take the ice.

Pavelski told reporters on Tuesday “this was it for me. … the plan is not to play next year.” He stopped short of announcing his retirement, but the Stars won’t likely have his presence in the lineup.

Pavelski had 27 goals and 67 points in the regular season, but struggled in the postseason (one goals, three assists).

 

Questions of the Day

Will Chris Tanev be back with the Stars?


Yes. If the hard-nosed righty defenseman wants a run at the Cup, he will stay in Dallas.

Is Igor Shesterkin a good bet to win the Vezina in 2024-25?


Yes. But you won’t get value odds after his remarkable postseason in which he had a .927 save percentage.

Did you find this article interesting?

Comments (0)

Featured Picks

Related News