The New York Rangers took a massive step forward during the 2021-22 NHL campaign. For starters, the club was fully committed to one thing and one thing only – and that is winning at all costs. Heading into next season, the Blueshirts are once again projected to be of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. In addition, Stanley Cup aspirations are certainly on the radar for general manager Chris Drury and the Rangers.
Each and every season, professional Sports Books release various futures odds on criteria such as individual award winners, over and under win/point totals, and championship odds. Naturally, prospective fans do their best to gain various competitive advantages with the hope of making money. So, without further ado, here are three main reasons why you should bet on the Rangers to win next year’s Stanley Cup.
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Reason # 1: Igor Shesterkin
The first reason to bet on the Rangers appears in the form of their uber-talented netminder. His name is Igor Shesterkin. Fresh off a Vezina Trophy winning season as the NHL’s top goalie in 2022, Shesterkin is quite simply one of the greatest goalies on the planet. Last season saw the Moscow, Russia native post a monster season, leading the Blueshirts all the way to the Eastern Conference Finals.
From a statistical perspective, Shesterkin was nothing short of spectacular. In 52 appearances, the new “King of New York” (with respect to Henrik Lundqvist) posted a 36-13-4 record to go along with a 2.07 goals-against-average. In addition, his overall save percentage topped .935 with six shutouts. At just 26 years of age, Shesterkin may be the brightest light in the city that never sleeps. With Shesterkin between the pipes, the Rangers have a legitimate shot at winning each and every night, and that should be enough to “hang your hat” on him and the Rangers heading into next season.
Reason # 2: Roster Construction & Star-Power Aplenty on Broadway
Over the past few seasons, it’s become apparent that the Rangers have done a tremendous job stockpiling high-end talent on the ice.
In addition to the aforementioned Shesterkin, the club also boasts an impressive blue-line core. At the heart of it all stands Adam Fox. As a player, Fox has quickly developed into one of hockey’s most elusive and high-octane defensemen. After winning the Norris Trophy in 2021 as the league’s top defenseman, Fox is coming off a career year. Last season, the Jericho, New York native scored 11 goals and a whopping 74 points with a plus-18 rating. At 24 years of age, Fox will now have his sights on a Stanley Cup as early as next season.
In addition to Fox, the Rangers also have the luxury of rolling out the likes of Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Trouba, K’Andre Miller, and youngster Braden Schneider night after night and shift after shift. Put simply, this is a team with a real-established and high-end blue-line capable of going head-to-head with the very best the NHL has to offer. These blue-liners, without question, mean business in the Atlantic Division next season.
When you talk about the Rangers’ star-power at the forward position, a few names jump off the page. These names include: Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, Chris Kreider, and Filip Chytil. In addition, the Rangers also secured the services of Vincent Trocheck, who signed as a free agent on a $39.375M/7-year contract when the free agency window opened. This is one heck of a balanced, physical, and skilled forward group that should place the Blueshirts in good stead heading into 2022-23.
Reason # 3: Incredible All-Around Value
Although these are always subject to change, the Rangers hold some incredible value as Cup champions in 2023. For instance, Bet365 Sports Book lists the Rangers at +2800 to hoist Lord Stanley next season. Subsequently, DraftKings Sports Books has the Blueshirts at (a more favorable) +2000 odds to win it all next year.
For those unfamiliar with some of this betting terminology, here’s a quick crash course. Odds at +2800 mean that if a person places a $10.00 wager, if victorious, they would receive a return profit of $280.00 with Bet365. At the same time, odds are +2000 means that if a person places a $10.00 wager, if victorious, they would receive a profit of $200.00 with DraftKings. The Rangers’ superior level of goaltending, combined with their excellent roster from top to bottom, make the Rangers a high-end value pick like no other. It’s not too late, hockey fans, don’t be shy to sprinkle some cash on the Broadway Blueshirts!
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