Ten Reasons For Rangers Fans To Smile Again

1. It's a good 30 years since the last (Messier) Cup win. The Law Of Averages says the Rangers are due.

2. A healthy, newlywed Adam Fox should be a strong candidate for a second Norris Trophy.

3. Jacob Trouba will promise to be a good boy and play his heart out to prove that all the off-season stories were exaggerated by 100.

4. Igor Shesterkin will get all the money he wants; will look in the mirror and say to himself – in Russian, of course since he doesn't do interviews with himself – "I'd better show I'm worth the dough or they'll boo me back to Moscow."

5. Even though he isn't, Vincent Trocheck will play as if he's the captain and Trouba will do a double-take.

6. Although there's no "Best Fifth Season Of The Year Award, Alexis Lafreniere will perform as if there is one and The Maven will gift him with a wooden medal.

7. Management will praise Kaapo Kakko for improved play – and trade him two weeks later. And get a more reliable scorer. (Amen!)

8. Fiery Filip Chytil will fool all those pseud-doctors who said he shouldn't chance a  comeback. (He'll give the Blueshirts strength down the middle along with Magical Mika and Vinnie the Tro-Pro.)

9. Despite all the sulking and wailing about Barclay Goodrow's ugly exit and touchdown in San Jose, he won't do a whole heckuva lot for the Sharks.

10. Ryan Lindgren – if he survives – will wind up being the team's MVP.