Ranger fans are realists. They are also eternal optimists. Anyone who has watched the New York Rangers long enough has been through numerous ups and downs (if you can call one Stanley Cup in almost 80 years an up). This season is no different.
There were reasons for optimism this year. They snagged the best free agent on the market, a superstar who wanted to play in New York. They won the second pick in the draft lottery, a result no Ranger fan would have dared to predict. They seemingly fleeced the Winnipeg Jets in acquiring a stud top pair defenseman.