It took only two years for Gerard Gallant to go from the penthouse to the outhouse at 4 Penn Plaza in Manhattan. It happened that quickly. One minute, the core players were two wins within playing for the Stanley Cup. The next, they were ghosts in a bitter first round exit that cost Gallant his job.

Now, they’re on their third coach. This time, it’s the no-nonsense approach of the experienced Peter Laviolette. No stranger to having success, he’s guided three different teams to the Stanley Cup Finals, winning it all in 2005-06 with the Hurricanes. He’s won 752 games with five different teams, including the rival Islanders at the beginning of his NHL journey. Now, the former Ranger returns with one goal in mind. It’ll be challenging.

It’s make or break for the Blueshirts. Either they buy into what Laviolette is selling, or there’ll be changes coming as soon as next summer. You only get so many chances to get it right in the Big Apple. Sheriff Lavy isn’t here to play favorites. As Alice Cooper famously said, “No more Mister Nice guy.”

The Eastern Conference is evolving. New teams featuring younger stars are on the rise. A couple could challenge for the playoffs in this season. Older rosters have already taken steps back due to how competitive it is. Both of those teams play in the Metropolitan Division. The Rangers will likely battle one of those classic rivals for the postseason. Getting off to a good start could be crucial.

When the puck drops tomorrow night in Buffalo, the Rangers will get a closer look at one of those younger teams that’s looking to break through. The Sabres have missed the playoffs every year since 2011. They’re knocking on the door. It’ll be a contrast on Thursday night between well established stars and emerging stars. A Battle of New York upstate.

Aside from having a new coach behind the bench, Rangers Team President and GM Chris Drury brought in proven checking center Nick Bonino to solidify the fourth line. He should add some grit to a roster that didn’t have enough of it last season. Tyler Pitlick will also be part of the fourth line that includes Barclay Goodrow. Pitlick is a hard-nosed player who is usually involved during shifts. So far, Pitlick gets the nod over Jimmy Vesey, who’ll supply energy when he comes in.

Drury made one change to the defense by bringing in Erik Gustafsson. A player familiar with Laviolette after having success in 2022-23 with the Capitals. He impressed in the preseason to win a starting role on the third pair. Gustafsson should also see some time on the second power play. The experienced Gustafsson will play unless something goes wrong. If so, Zac Jones will be ready. Is this his last chance with the organization? We’ll find out soon.

Jonathan Quick was a strange signing for the backup role behind Igor Shesterkin. For some reason, the Rangers went out of their way to bring the former King to New York City. He has yet to prove capable of filling the void left by unsigned veteran Jaroslav Halak. That one will be followed closely.

A player Drury targeted was Blake Wheeler. The former Winnipeg captain passed up an opportunity to play back home in Boston to become a Ranger. He’s excited about it. Former Jets teammate Jacob Trouba had a role in recruiting Wheeler. Now, they’re reunited. Wheeler has had a very good career. He’s totaled 312 goals and 922 points over 15 years. After starting in Boston, he became a star with the former Thrashers and Jets. It’ll be interesting to see what he has left. He’ll start on the third line.

There’ll be one new fresh face. Will Cuylle proved himself with a strong preseason to make the roster. He scored 25 goals in his first full pro season with Hartford. The 21-year-old from Toronto earned a spot in the top line. He will play on the third line with Wheeler and Vincent Trocheck to start the season. Fans have already taken to his tenacious style. Cuylle likes to drive the net and get the jersey dirty. That is definitely an area that was lacking with last year’s roster.

With only a few changes due to the salary cap, the Rangers are banking on a nucleus that features Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox, Ryan Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, Jacob Trouba, and Igor Shesterkin to prove that they’re capable of delivering a championship for the first time since 1994. Too many of the established stars had vanishing acts last spring. They left Shesterkin out to dry in the first round loss to the rival Devils. That won’t be tolerated.

It could be the younger pieces who determine how good this team is. That would be Filip Chytil, Kaapo Kakko, and Alexis Lafreniere. The former Kid Line are at different points in their careers. Chytil is being tried as the second line center. If he can coexist with Panarin and, for now, the iffy Lafreniere, that could go a long way to having a successful season. Lafreniere has much to prove following an uninspired preseason. He might still be adjusting to playing the right wing. There are no excuses. Either he produces consistently or gets traded.

Kakko will begin the season playing with Zibanejad and Kreider on the top line. When he was tried there occasionally, it looked like the trio had some chemistry. The problem was that he didn’t score enough to make it work. He looked more confident during camp. Kakko’s skating has improved. A strong puck possession player who’s defensively responsible, he must be more instinctive. If he’s open, take the shot. He rotated in practice with Trocheck on the first power play yesterday. But Kakko’s expected to be on the second power play unit. That’ll include former line mates Chytil and Lafreniere.

For now, at least, Laviolette will stick with the top two defense pairs as they’ve been before. He experimented during the preseason by trying K’Andre Miller with Adam Fox while getting a glimpse of Ryan Lindgren with Jacob Trouba. Even Braden Schneider saw some time with Lindgren, who’s in a contract year. We’ll see how that plays out. It has a similar feel to Dan Girardi during a more successful era of Rangers hockey. They kept him. He then became the scapegoat for the Stanley Cup loss in 2014 and other shortcomings by misguided fans. That’s how fickle the fan base can be.

With Gustafsson slated to pair up with Schneider, who’s entering an important stage in his young career, it’s Lindgren and Fox on the first pair. Miller and Trouba are on the second pair. They usually draw most of the match-ups. There were too many instances last year where they got victimized. We’ll see how it goes under Laviolette.

The Rangers will live and die with the brilliant Igor Shesterkin in the net. He’s as good as it gets. The former Vezina winner was inconsistent for most of the last season. However, he finished strong to post a new career high in wins (37) while playing in a career best 58 games. His next victory will be his 100th. He won a combined 73 the last two seasons.

As great as he is, there can’t be as many uncontested chances. There were far too many times where he was left alone. The amount of odd man rushes, breakaways, and players left unguarded was absurd. Shesterkin is the one player the Rangers can ill afford to lose. He’s the most valuable Blueshirt. Protect him at all costs.

Jonathan Quick has already been mentioned once. If he can’t do better than the pedestrian numbers he posted in 2022-23, Louis Domingue could be recalled. That’s not exactly a ringing endorsement. Dylan Garand shouldn’t be rushed. He’s only entering his second pro season. Goalies take time to develop. He didn’t exactly dominate his first year in Hartford. A good playoff showing isn’t enough to push him. Neither is parts of two preseason outings in relief. Hopefully, Quick can find it soon.

What are the keys to a successful season?

A. Established stars show up most nights and play more consistently. That includes showing a pulse against tougher competition. Too often, they were paper tigers. That won’t work.

B. The continued growth of the younger core. Let’s face it. If they want to surprise hockey pundits who have written them off, then it’s up to the younger players to take the next step in their development. There have been good moments. Doing it more consistently is crucial. The scoring can’t always fall on the vets.

C. An improved defensive system that sees both defensemen and forwards back check while being on the same page. The biggest reason for the playoff failure was the way they played defensively. Adjusting to Laviolette’s system is the key. The preseason wasn’t it. There needs to be better communication during shifts.

D. Improved depth factors in. When you add proven vets to the roster, they’re brought in to contribute. Adding scoring depth along with a stronger forecheck are key areas to any good team. That means better consistency from those role players.

E. Special teams play at a more consistent level. Although the power play still ranked well last year, too often, they were a one trick pony. It can’t always be fancy. Extra passes only work when you have opponents scrambling. Simplifying it will take time. Shooting the puck when it’s open is one area that has to improve. Getting consistent traffic in front is another. Don’t over rely on one unit. The second must have a defined role and contribute. The penalty kill should be effective since most of the personnel are the same. They added another defensively responsible player who can aid them in winning key defensive draws and checking.

F. Improvement at five-on-five and even strength. It goes without saying that to be successful at winning, the way a team plays at five-on-five is essential. Too often, they were over reliant on the power play. That can win you games during the season. But in the playoffs, it’s different. Establishing a consistent forecheck that can create both quality scoring chances and goals are areas Laviolette wants to see. It can’t always be off the rush or on the power play. Being able to dictate the tempo should help net better results.

G. Discipline must be better. If there was one area that fell off, it was the lack of discipline they showed. It was even on display during the exhibition part of the schedule. The players can’t take unnecessary reaction penalties during both play and scrums. Those are the ones you usually get burned on. Part of having an identity is having discipline. That needs to change.

H. The new coaching staff makes good in-game adjustments. Too often, that didn’t happen last season. Having a hands-on coach who’s willing to adjust on the fly when things aren’t working can benefit the team. Laviolette is more of a disciplinarian. If a player is dragging, he shouldn’t be afraid to make changes. Most interesting will be what assistant coaches Phil Housley, Dan Muse, and Michael Peca bring to the bench. It should be a different strategy than the predecessors.

I. Line familiarity. It’s important to have patience at the beginning of the season. Seeing if the lines can gel is something that has to happen. There seemed to be early chemistry with three different line combinations by the conclusion of preseason. That should be allowed to carry over. If it’s still there, that would be a good sign. There can’t be too much panic. By the mid-point of the season, they shouldn’t be still trying to figure it out.

By now, we should have a better understanding of what the 2023-24 New York Rangers look like. If they can follow the nine points made above, then they should be a good team that’s competitive. It’s hard to imagine that they’ll compete for the Metropolitan Division. Both the Hurricanes and Devils will be tough due to what they have.

However, this roster should finish in the top three to guarantee themselves the playoffs. That isn’t to say that they won’t get stiff competition from the Penguins and Islanders. They’ll need to win each season series. If they can do it against their most hated rival, that’s a step in the right direction.

It probably won’t be easy due to a more competitive field. The Rangers should again wind up with over 100 points. It’ll be how they perform in the postseason that determines whether they’re successful.