NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Florida Panthers at New York Rangers - Source: Imagn — New York Rangers bounce-back candidates for 2024-25 NHL season (Picture Credits: IMAGN)

3 New York Rangers bounce-back candidates for 2024-25 NHL season

Modified Jul 31, 2024 14:35 GMT

The New York Rangers are one of the top teams in the NHL, although they lost to the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Finals.

New York is in their Stanley Cup window and if the Rangers are going to win the Stanley Cup, they will need a couple of players to have a bounce-back season for that to happen.

Entering the 2024–25 NHL season, here are three Rangers bounce-back candidates.

3 New York Rangers bounce-back candidates for 2024-25 NHL season

#1 Jacob Trouba

Jacob Trouba is the Rangers captain and will have a chip on his shoulder entering the season. The defenseman had a poor end of the year and playoffs due to an injury and has been the subject of trade rumors.

With Trouba being in trade rumor discussions, that will add some motivation to play much better and prove he can be a key player for a Stanley Cup-winning team.

Last season, Trouba recorded just 22 points and now that he is healthy, he should be much better in the 2023–24 NHL season.

#2 Reilly Smith

Reilly Smith was acquired by the Rangers this offseason

The New York Rangers went out and traded for Reilly Smith from the Pittsburgh Penguins to add some more offense to the lineup.

Smith recorded 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points but with the Rangers, DailyFaceoff.com currently projects Smith to play on the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.

Playing alongside those two should result in more offense for Smith, who could become a 60-point player for the Rangers.

#3 Kaapo Kakko

Kaap Kakko was drafted second overall in the 2019 NHL draft by the Rangers and he has failed to live up to expectations.

Kakko recorded just 13 goals and 6 assists for 19 points in 61 games. It was a disappointing year, but Kakko got a new contract and this is a do-or-die year for the second-overall pick, which is why he is a primed bounceback candidate.

Kakko will be given chances to provide more offense and should do that next season.