Ex-Ranger and current NBC analyst Ed Olczyk previews the start of the NHL season with The Post’s Justin Terranova.
Q: Are the Rangers the favorite to win the East?
A: There’s no doubt you have to put the Rangers in the top four, but I think it’s so wide open. Boston and Pittsburgh have had some dramatic changes. … I will say Boston just because of the defensive core and their experience with playoff hockey, but that’s really twisting my arm to pick someone.
Q: Who is the most important Rangers newcomer?
A: Dan Boyle is so good at making the outlet pass, and [he] also adds experience on the back-end. When you look at the core of this team, it’s Ryan McDonagh, Marc Staal and Dan Girardi and now you’ve added a piece like Boyle in there, he can be the settling factor and play in any situation. I’d anticipate he’d be able to help the power play, too. That will be a big help and maybe give McDonagh some more time to rest.
Q: Is Jaroslav Halak the missing piece for the Islanders?
A: I am not sure what other options [GM Garth] Snow had when it came to the goaltending. Halak has to regain where he was in St. Louis a couple of years ago. That’s the great question mark with the team because they’ve taken strides with the influx of young players, the [John] Tavares factor. It’s going to be a wait and see. I am not sure if Halak can get it done.
Q: Do you expect the Devils back in the playoffs?
A: I expect big things from the Devils this season. They are down a defenseman, but maybe Lou Lamoriello can flip one of the forwards for a D-man. I like where the Devils are going. I like the Mike Cammalleri move a lot. It’s another guy that can put the puck in the back of the net at a drop of a hat. It’ll be interesting to see how the Martin Havlat experiment works out. They are my team to watch in the East.
Q: Will the West come down to the Kings and Blackhawks again?
A: Yeah, you have to put the Kings on top because they are the defending champs. The most intriguing team to me, though, is the Ducks. Their archrivals, the Kings, knocked them out of the playoffs last season in Game 7 and they’ve won two Cups in the past three years. You’ve gone out and spent a lot of money, made the biggest addition of the offseason in Ryan Kesler. Bruce Boudreau is in a very similar situation to what Dan Bylsma was with the Penguins last year. [Bylsma was fired by the Penguins after last season].