Players are back for informal sessions at the Rangers practice facility in Greenburgh. With training camp a week away, preparations have begun for the 2023-24 season.

It’ll be a new year under Peter Laviolette’s coaching staff, which includes Phil Housley, Dan Muse, and Michael Peca. Unlike predecessor Gerard Gallant, Laviolette will be looking to instill a more disciplined approach to handling players. Once his system is installed, the Rangers will have a different look.

There were too many instances where they looked disoriented last season. The lack of attention to detail reared its ugly head in the first round disappointment to the archival Devils last spring. Had they not looked ready for the first two games of the series, the Devils would’ve easily won. Their team speed, aggressive forecheck, and transition game were too much for the Rangers.

It’s time to turn the page. The past is the past. Laviolette will bring a fresh look to a roster that needs it. He wants to see his team win battles and dictate the pace. That requires a consistent forecheck. An area that they must improve to be taken seriously. The work ethic will be emphasized by the coaching staff.

In regards to the roster, it will be challenging for any young prospects to force their way on. That includes former 2021 first round pick Brennan Othmann. A standout player who helped lead the Peterborough Petes to the Memorial Cup, the 20-year-old forward has the unique combination of skating, skill, and grit to make a difference.

For Othmann to make it out of camp, he’ll have to play extremely well. There aren’t many openings due to the veterans Chris Drury added. That includes proven vet Blake Wheeler, who will play in the top nine. The former Jets captain brings plenty of experience. On a one-year deal, it should work out.

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Drury emphasized the grit of some older players, including newcomers Nick Bonino and Tyler Pitlick. He also discussed Othmann at length. He expects him to get an opportunity on the right side. The Rangers lack right wing depth. Both Othmann and Alexis Lafreniere should get looks playing the off wing.

For Lafreniere, who had trouble sticking in the top six due to established left wings Chris Kreider and Artemi Panarin, it makes sense to see what he can do playing the right side. Gallant tried him there early last season with Panarin and Vincent Trocheck. Despite initial success and positive possession statistics, the line got caught on for some goals against. That led to their breakup.

Maybe under a different coach, Lafreniere will be shown more patience. He can’t be successful playing the opposite side if it’s only for a handful of games. Too often, he was moved around in 2022-23. Finding line consistency is the key. Having a more defined role should help him and Kaapo Kakko, who’s expected to begin camp on the right side with Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.

“Obviously, the lineup card is Lavy’s, but I know that Laff and Othmann have publicly said that they are comfortable on the right,”Drury told Larry Brooks of the New York Post. “So I’m anticipating that they’ll get every chance to play on the right and show what they can do.

“That certainly makes for some exciting games and practices to watch in camp.”

Ultimately, it’ll come down to how the players perform in the preseason. While Othmann could likely start his pro career in Hartford, it’s do or die for Lafreniere who enters his fourth year. The former top pick must prove he’s capable of becoming a reliable scorer. They need him and Kakko to be more than occasional contributors.

Of the veterans Drury added, both Nick Bonino and Pitlick should be fixtures on the fourth line. There’s also established vets Barclay Goodrow and Jimmy Vesey, who’ll play checking roles. The question is whether Goodrow will start on the third or fourth line. That depends on what happens with the kids.

Between Trocheck and Filip Chytil, who will begin the season centering the second line? That’s a better question for Laviolette. Chytil is more offensive-minded, while Trocheck is a better overall center that wins face-offs and is stronger.

These are some of the storylines to follow when it officially starts up.