Veteran Rangers defensive corps still has lingering questions

Largely the same Rangers defense corps is primed for another season together with five of six members set to return, as has repeatedly been the case in recent years.

The top five defensemen may be the same for a fourth season that has yet to result in a Stanley Cup.

For a young and talented blueline like the one the Blueshirts have, however, the hope is that all the reps and development time together will allow the group to naturally take steps forward.

Still, the beginning of this offseason teased possible changes, because the Rangers’ clear deficiencies on the way to their second conference final loss in three years warranted it.

It never quite lived up to the hype.

Then the one major move was made to the forward group, after Barclay Goodrow was waived and claimed by the Sharks in a prearranged deal with San Jose.

Though next offseason’s laundry list of free agents also promises big changes, to both the defense corps and forward group, the Rangers will first try to make the most out of this one.

Despite the similarities to the past few seasons, there are decisions — regarding both personnel and alignment — to be made on defense.

Decisions that will be made based on a myriad of factors, and directly influence the look and playing style of the Rangers’ backend.

Who steps into the sixth defenseman role now that Erik Gustafsson has departed as a free agent? Will K’Andre Miller play with Trouba or Braden Schneider? Who will quarterback the second power-play unit? How does the depth chart shake out in case of injury?

The first question has been asked for many summers now with just a new name in place of Gustafsson’s each year.