A first-round exit was certainly not in the range of acceptable outcomes for the New York Rangers in 2023. Not after an Eastern Conference Final appearance a year ago and the loudest trade deadline since 2014.

Yet while the Rangers' defeat to their rivals across the Holland Tunnel might be poignant, perhaps it shouldn't be surprising. Yes, the team accumulated 107 points during the regular season and were certainly perceived as at least something of a contender.

But this was not a particularly encouraging regular season for the Rangers, whose early-season losing led to ESPN's Emily Kaplan reporting that team ownership was "paying close attention" to head coach Gerard Gallant. Following the trade deadline, the team struggled to cohere, dropping winnable games that could have earned them home-ice advantage in Round 1.

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It's not too dissimilar from the previous season in which a team constantly hemmed in its own end got bailed out by superstars, an elite power play and one of the best single-season goaltending performances in league history.

This time, a number of star players did not turn hero, and the power play failed to capitalize in Games 3 to 7. Igor Shesterkin did his best to drag the team into the second round, but it was not enough.

A second straight series in which the Rangers fell apart after winning the opening two games illuminates the shortcomings of Gallant. After the Devils opened the series with humiliating losses, the team, led by Lindy Ruff, adjusted, forechecked more aggressively and constricted space in the neutral zone. Once it was clear the Devils had tilted the ice back in their favor, Gallant had no counterpunch except to once again reach for a jumbling of line combinations.

Certainly, the Rangers' roster was not perfect. But general manager Chris Drury kept much of the team intact from last season. He reunited Gallant with center Vincent Trocheck. The team swung big at the deadline. Twice. The defense was built with big, physical players ostensibly primed for playoff-style hockey. There are other playoff teams who have done more with less.