The Rangers Are A Force To Be Reckoned With

Forget about last night. We all know that the first games of a season are like exhibitions with a halo. They're more for pomp than the circumstances.

This is what really matters; and don't tell me that you've heard this song before. (I know you have.)

The Rangers will win The Stanley Cup.

With The Maven, it's a reflex prediction which I do every year. But it's backed by logic. Here's how:

The Blueshirts haven't won The Cup for 30 years and they are the richest American hockey team in the NHL. Sooner or later, IT has to happen.

Therefore, the Law of Averages dictates, "All right, already, its time has come." The Law of Dollars says MSG has the dough to pay for a Cup-winner.

Meanwhile, The Hockey News Yearbook picks the New Jersey Devils to finish first in the Met Division and become a Cup Finalist. (But last year THN's Yearbook had Carolina taking Stanley and you know what happened to the Canes.)

If you wanna hear the odds: THN has New Jersey at 10-1 for the Cup and the Rangers at 14-1. Always loving the underdog role, the Islanders are pegged at 29-1.

Here are my five reasons why the Blueshirts can go all the way:

1. THE BLEND: A few talented Pappy Guys like Breadman Panarin, 32, Chris Kreider, 33 and Vincent Trocheck, 31, combined with Alex Lefreniere, 22, Filip Chytil, 25, and Kaapo, 23, together provide a good mix.

2. DETERMINED DEFENSE: I predict another Norris Trophy year out of Adam Fox while K'Andre Miller, Braden Schneider and Ryan Lindren are at the collective top of their games. Victor Mancini has the makings of a Calder Trophy-winner and – who knows? – Jake Trouba just might rediscover his game. Don't forget that this is the breakout year for Zac Jones. Put 'em all together and you've got a formidable fortress.

3. FOOT SOLDIERS: Between Jimmy Vesey, Will Cuylle, Matt Remp and Adam Edstrom, there's enough bite for a Manhattan-type "Identity Line."

4. NEW FACES: Assuming that Reilly Smith plays like the Cup-winner he once was, Smitty is the darkhorse who could be the missing offensive thoroughbred. Sam (You Made The Pants Too Long) Carrick is the annual "sleeper" who may please the way Cuylle did last year.

5. POWERFUL POWER PLAY: Coach Peter Laviolette finally will awaken and place Lafrenière on the PP and it will be scarier than ever.

Not surprisingly there are dissenters. My editor Michael Traikos tells me that the Blueshirts are "too old." My buddy Lloyd McKay says they lack Cup-winners like Aleksander Barkov who are so strong on the puck.

"The Rangers need guys with steel bars for a spine," adds McKay.

Time will tell. Meanwhile, the melody lingers on: STANLEY CUP OR BUST!

Hey, it's only 30 years since Messier. Think about the poor Torontonians – 57 years and still no Cup!