The top 5 Stanley Cup Contenders heading into this season

New York Rangers

The Rangers are coming off an Eastern Conference Semi-Final loss to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers.

The Rangers have studs all over their roster. Starting in the net with arguably the best goaltender in the NHL in Igor Shesterkin, a top three defenseman in the NHL in Adam Fox and Artemi Panarin amongst others in the forward group.

The Rangers have been a very solid team over the past three seasons. They've had two conference finals exits and a first-round exit to their divisional rivals, the New Jersey Devils.

During this offseason, the Rangers lost Barclay Goodrow, Erik Gustafsson, Alexander Wennberg and Jack Roslovic while bringing in Sam Carrick and Reilly Smith.

The offseason wasn't what puts the Rangers on this list. The losses aren't that significant and neither are the additions, although I don't mind Sam Carrick.

What puts New York on this list is what I outlined at the beginning. Their core is talented and I could see them getting over the hump and punching their ticket to a Stanley Cup Final.

If they do get over the hump, similar to the Leafs they're going to need to get more production from some of their big forwards in the playoffs. Specifically, Mika Zibanejad was held to just two assists in the six-game series loss at the hands of the Florida Panthers last season.