Well, it would be insanity to think the Rangers were anything different than last year being that they brought back the same team with no changes really. On pretty much every night, their 2nd, 3rd and 4th lines are better than the other teams. But the other teams 1st line on about half the league is better. Rangers special teams and goaltending is elite.
5v5 they are league average.
They have what it takes to make another deep run, but I mean, they don't have that special first line that can win a series.
Some odds and ends, and obviously only a few games into the season, but Malkin and Panarin lead the league in points. Malkin is -1, which isn't too surprising considering the Pens are -1, but Panarin is just a +2 and the Rangers lead the league in gd. Obviously he's a master on the pp.
Makar and McKinnon are both top 8 in the league in scoring, yet both are -6's.

Eichel, Stone and Barbashav all top 6 in scoring and all +6's so they obviously dominate
top 3 5v5 cf are Oilers (2-3), Canes(1-1), Sabres(1-4-1) and Avs (0-4)? Only a few games in but still. Vegas 31st (3-2)? Weird