Three questions facing New York Rangers

NHL.com is providing in-depth analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, three important questions facing the New York Rangers.

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1. Can Igor Shesterkin do it again?
If the Rangers are to build on their success from last season, finishing second in the Metropolitan Division with 110 points and reaching Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final, they will again need Shesterkin to be the best or among the best goalies in the League.
"The way he played for us gives us a chance to win every night," coach Gerard Gallant said.
Shesterkin was the best goalie in the NHL last season, running away with the Vezina Trophy with 29 out of a possible 32 first-place votes and finishing third in the Hart Trophy voting for the League's most valuable player.
He was 36-13-4 in 53 games and led the NHL with a 2.07 goals-against average and .935 save percentage. Shesterkin won 10 of 20 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 2.59 GAA and .929 save percentage that led all goalies who appeared in at least eight games.

2. Will the kids take another big step?
The Rangers' forward group is led by veteran players like Chris Kreider, Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Barclay Goodrow and newcomer Vincent Trocheck, who signed a seven-year contract on July 13.
But if forwards
Alexis Lafreniere
, Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil build on what they did in the second half of last season and in the playoffs, they could be the difference between the Rangers being a playoff contender and a Stanley Cup contender.
Lafreniere, 20, and Kakko, 21, are expected to push to play in the top six at right wing. Lafreniere could be with Kreider and Zibanejad if the Rangers move him from left wing to right wing. Kakko could be with Panarin and Trocheck.
The 22-year-old Chytil, who had seven goals in 20 playoff games after scoring eight in 67 regular-season games last season, should be back as the third-line center.
It's possible that Chytil, Kakko and Lafreniere play together on the same line as they did at times in the postseason, when they were dubbed New York's "Kid Line" and had instant chemistry.

3. Will Trocheck and Panarin be a fit?
The Rangers signed Trocheck to replace Ryan Strome, who was their second-line center the past three seasons playing primarily with Panarin on his left wing. Strome, who signed a five-year contract with the Anaheim Ducks, also played on the top power-play unit.
The idea is for Trocheck to fill Strome's former role, including finding the chemistry he and Panarin had and being a threat as a right shot on the power play.
"That's what we signed him for," Gallant said. "I've had Trocheck before in Florida (with the Panthers from 2014-17) and he's a centerman, but if you have to load up a line, he can play right wing a little bit. But he prefers center and that's where I prefer to have him."
Trocheck had 51 points (21 goals, 30 assists) in 81 games with the Carolina Hurricanes last season. He was their second-line center behind Sebastian Aho and played on the top power-play unit.