Amid the preseason, the new head coach of the New York Rangers, Mike Sullivan, delivered an encouraging message regarding one of his star defensemen, on a team that already has key figures like Artemi Panarin and goaltender Igor Shesterkin firmly in place.

The Rangers made significant moves midway through last season, such as the major contract extension signed with Shesterkin, the highest-paid goalie in the league. With Sullivan’s arrival, the team’s outlook is starting to shift.

Sullivan arrived in New York after a long ten-season tenure with the Pittsburgh Penguins. This new stage includes an internal evaluation of the roster. While it’s easy to highlight players like Panarin or Shesterkin, the Rangers’ coach chose to focus on a defenseman who didn’t post the best numbers last season:

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