On Friday, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury answered questions about a successful season. He was also asked about whether the core is capable of winning a championship.

Drury chose his words carefully. A calculated executive who never reveals much to the press, he didn’t divulge anything substantial. When it comes down to how the team is run, Drury is very good at keeping things close to the vest. Nobody really knows what he’s thinking.

“We’re looking at a lot of different things and there are different ways to get to where we want to go,” Drury said. “To me, really nothing is off the table.”

With the Stanley Cup Finals beginning tonight, it’s an eerie feeling. There’s not much excitement to watch the Panthers take on the Oilers. At least for many fans who support the Blueshirts.

I’m not particularly interested in seeing two other teams battle for the Cup. Coming so close stings. Even if the Panthers were the better team, ultimately defeating the Rangers in six, it doesn’t matter. A record-setting season that included the most wins (55) and points (114) in franchise history ended two victories shy of playing for the Cup.

It wasn’t a failure. They had an outstanding season. Peter Laviolette came in and did a great job. His trust in Alexis Lafreniere paid off. Lafreniere flourished on their best line with Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin – achieving career bests in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57). He followed that up with a good postseason by scoring eight goals with six helpers for 14 points. The eight all came at even strength to lead the team.

Lafreniere’s improvement was the best thing to happen. The former 2020 top pick now looks ready to take the next step in his career. At times during the playoffs, he was the Rangers’ best skater. The highlight reel goal he scored on Sergei Bobrovsky in Game 3 is probably the goal of the playoffs. He played like a star.

Despite Adam Fox being restricted due to re-injuring his knee in the first round, the Rangers got past the Hurricanes in a hard fought six-game series to reach the Eastern Conference Final. Fox was still able to improve his offensive play with four assists against the Panthers. But he didn’t score a goal in the postseason.

Offense from the blue line was an issue. K’Andre Miller and Jacob Trouba had the only two goals from the back end. Both came while shorthanded. There still were moments like Ryan Lindgren setting up Chris Kreider for his natural hat trick that clinched a thrilling come from behind 5-3 win in Game 6 to stun the Hurricanes. It was a great play by the defensive defenseman, who’s been a warrior for this team.

There was the astonishing spin a rama from Fox when his backhand feed set up Lafreniere’s tying goal in Game 4. Unfortunately, they fell in overtime on Sam Reinhart’s power-play goal. That swung the series in the Panthers’ favor.

Igor Shesterkin was unbelievable. He made so many great saves against the supremely skilled Panthers from high danger areas. Shesterkin gave the Rangers every chance to win the series. He set himself up for a big payday. It’ll either come later this summer or sometime next year. The Rangers can’t afford to let him get to unrestricted free agency.

As disappointing as Panarin was against the very detail oriented Panthers, his season ranked as one of the greatest in Rangers’ history. The 49 goals and 120 points were career highs. Only Jaromir Jagr had more points (123) in a single season for the Blueshirts.

Trocheck was their most consistent  forward. It wasn’t just the 25 goals, 52 assists, and 77 points. It was his overall play. He was dominant on faceoffs, winning 58.7 percent. He went 57.8 in the postseason while pacing the Rangers with 20 points (8-12-20).

It was a struggle for Mika Zibanejad in the third round. He didn’t score and only had two assists. That directly impacted sidekick Kreider, who finished with a goal and an assist. If only they received more production from the two senior leaders.

It didn’t help that the right wing became a revolving door. After some early success in the first two rounds, Jack Roslovic was ineffective against Florida. That caused Laviolette to try some different combos. Nothing worked. Eventually, Filip Chytil was moved back to center the third line for Game 6. Alex Wennberg was used on the first line.

If Drury decides to stick with this core that’s come up short, then he must solve the lack of a top line right wing. Ever since trading away Pavel Buchnevich to the Blues, he hasn’t been able to find a suitable replacement. Frank Vatrano was the best fit as a rental in 2022. They even tried Patrick Kane, but he was limited due to his hip.

It still falls on Zibanejad and Kreider to have more of an impact at 5-on-5. They spent far too much time in their zone against Aleksander Barkov. Even if Zibanejad was correct that they didn’t get scored on when matched up, they were dominated. There was hardly any forecheck or offense created.

What if they brought back Mats Zuccarello? As good as he still is, defense isn’t a strength. He also turns 37 in September.

Kaapo Kakko remains an in-house option. But as he noted on breakup day, they weren’t very good when together earlier in the season. They were on for only two goals for and one goal against in the first 11 games. Drury will have to decide whether to keep Kakko this summer. He can be qualified for $2.4 million. It’s a very affordable price for a player who’s still just 23.

There will be a tough decision on Lindgren, who’s a restricted free agent. Do they take him to arbitration or re-sign him to an extension? Lindgren earned $4 million in 2023-24. His average cap hit was $3 million.

The defense partner of Fox is 26. However, the taxing style he plays makes him a risk to sign long-term. He’ll want over $5 million for five to six years. Is it wise to invest in an undersized defenseman who already has played through injuries? If I’m Drury, the most I’d offer is four years at around $5.25 million. That’s fair.

Braden Schneider is also an RFA. He remains a third pair defenseman with second pair potential. They don’t have to sign him long-term. It can be a bridge deal.

A better skater than Trouba, whose play suffered against the Panthers, Schneider fits in well with K’Andre Miller. Miller reads and reacts better when paired with Schneider. However, he still leaves something to be desired. While he’s capable, there are still some decisions he makes that can improve.

Zac Jones is signed for another year. He took a step in the right direction. Jones has the speed and skating to transition the puck well. He improved defensively. It would be a wise decision for Jones to begin next season on the third pair. He definitely could’ve replaced Erik Gustafsson, who wasn’t effective against Florida.

If they were open to making a change to a defense that spent too much time in their end, would Drury entertain a trade? Trouba’s no-movement clause becomes a 15-team no-trade list on July 1. When asked about the captain, he had nothing but praise for him.

“Jacob’s been an excellent captain and leader for us. Comes to play hard every night. It’s hard enough to get through one playoff series, let alone 3, without having players, or a specific player, banged up. He gives us everything he can every single night.”

With two years remaining on a seven-year contract that pays him an average cap hit of $8 million, the 30-year-old Trouba has shown regression. He isn’t very mobile and frequently gets caught out of position. The Panthers applied heavy pressure on him. That resulted in some turnovers. He took a league worst 11 penalties in the postseason.

Some of that can be attributed to playing on a bad ankle that he broke in March. As expected, Trouba made no excuses for his play. He’s very accountable. A high character player who leads with big hits and key blocks, he’s an important part of the core. While the idea of moving him is intriguing, it might not be in the Rangers’ best interest. It could hurt team chemistry.

Maybe if Trouba remains a Ranger, the better question is whether he should have a reduced role. Playing on the third pair with Jones seems like a good idea. He wouldn’t face as much quality competition. Trouba’s still a good penalty killer who logs key minutes. Sheltering him at even strength makes sense. Especially if the skating remains an issue.

I doubt that Drury would move Lindgren. Unless negotiations turn ugly, that remains unlikely. Only he knows what the team’s plans are.

There also is the center question. If Zibanejad and Trocheck are the top two, is Chytil a good number 3? An injury prone player who has a concussion history, nobody knows what Chytil’s future is.

An exciting player who possesses speed, skating, and skill, the 24-year-old was limited to 10 games during the season. He had six assists. He surprisingly returned for the playoffs. But the Rangers were careful not to overplay him. They managed him. Chytil didn’t register a point in six games. He played on the wing for five of those six. An area he’s not accustomed to.

When they extended him during 2022-23 for an AAV of $4.44 million through 2026-27, it was with the hope that he could build on the career best 22-goal, 23 assist season he posted. Chytil turns 25 in September. He still isn’t consistent on faceoffs. However, most of his zone starts are in the offensive zone. A wise way to use him.

What can be expected? That’s hard to predict. If Chytil avoided the injury bug, he certainly could upgrade the Rangers’ offense. But he’s not a big checking center who can match up. That’s why Zibanejad frequently goes against opponents’ best. We saw how much Barkov limited his effectiveness.

Barclay Goodrow again raised his level in the spring. A gritty player who is more than just statistics, which the Corsi community overlooks, Goodrow often starts his shifts in the defensive zone. A strong penalty killer who teamed up with Trocheck to form a strong tandem, he remains a trusted player. A locker room leader that’s won before, Goodrow probably will stay put.

The fourth line definitely missed Jimmy Vesey. He suffered a separated shoulder during Game 2 on a vicious Ryan Lomberg hit. Even though he’s a secondary role player, Vesey plays with edge and wins puck battles. He is a good player who brings energy to his shifts. Vesey was also used on the penalty kill.

If they’re to get heavier, Matt Rempe has a place on the roster. For a former sixth round pick, the 21-year-old handled himself with so much poise. Whether he was in the lineup or not, his attitude never wavered. The quality he has is something that is exciting for teammates, coaches, and fans. He really is a terrific kid.

Rempe’s popularity make him a fan favorite. It isn’t only about the hits or toughness he brings. He knows how to play the game. A solid skater for his size, he knows where to go. He was effective on the forecheck and did a good job screening goalies. An area the Rangers aren’t good at aside from Kreider, who makes his living tipping in shots.

Will Cuylle certainly needs an increased role. He spent too much time on the fourth line against the Panthers. His skating ability and unique combination of grit and physicality should make him a good player. He isn’t shy about shooting the puck, either. Cuylle obviously has to be given more ice time next season. There’s a lot to like about the way he plays.

What about in-house candidates? Brennan Othmann proved he wasn’t ready. In his first full pro season with the Wolf Pack, he scored 21 goals with 28 assists for 49 points. But he finished a minus-24. In the Calder Cup Playoffs, he had a goal and four assists.

At 21, the former 2021 first round pick has to prove himself. We’ll see how he progresses during rookie prospect camp this summer. Maybe a strong training camp can make a difference. Much will depend on the Rangers’ off-season.

Brett Berard also had a good first pro year in Hartford. He had 25 goals with 23 assists  and a minus-23 rating. In the playoffs, Berard had a goal and five assists. A former 2020 fifth round pick, the Providence College product makes up for his lack of size with speed and grit. He could be the classic overachiever. Time shall tell.

Adam Edstrom was a pleasant surprise after being called up. He scored twice in 11 games. Edstrom provided more size and strength to the fourth line with Rempe. He’s 23. Edstrom should definitely be considered for a roster spot next fall.

With $12 million in cap space, the Rangers know that Lindgren will take up a chunk. That’ll leave approximately $7 million for Kakko and Schneider. If they spend a combined $4.3 million on both, there won’t be much wiggle room. They would be able to add a solid depth player.

The ultimate question is, do they want to run it back. I’ve highlighted the flaws of the current roster. There’s room for growth due to Lafreniere, Cuylle, Rempe, and Kakko if he stays.

Are they constructed well enough to end a 31-year drought? That’s an answer only Drury can provide.