One Patrick Division member, the Pittsburgh Penguins, won the Stanley Cup the last two seasons. Another member, the Rangers, , was the league's best in the regular season of 1991-92 when Patrick Division teams had four of the N.H.L.'s top eight overall records. The Patrick Division is again the best of the N.H.L.'s four divisions.

In Pittsburgh's Mario Lemieux, it has the league's best player. In Philadelphia's Eric Lindros, it has the best rookie in a decade. In the Rangers-Devils-Islanders axis, it has the only triple-team rivalry in a major market in big-league sports.

"It's good being in the best division because it brings the best out of you," said Rangers Coach Roger Neilson. "I still have to think that the team that comes out of our division will likely repeat as Stanley Cup champions."

What a long road it will be until someone hoists the trophy in June.

Can the Rangers repeat and have enough left for more than two rounds of the playoffs? Can Lemieux's injury-prone back carry the Penguins to their third straight Stanley Cup? Are the Washington Captials doomed to goodness-but-not-greatness? Will Lindros revive the Flyers and help fill all those empty seats in New Jersey and on Long Island? Is Herb Brooks the right coach in the right place at the right time, or will the Devils be the end of his legend? Will the continuing turnover in management help or hurt the apparent revival of the Islanders, who might improve and still finish out of the playoffs?

The Rangers could take a step back in the regular season before taking a step up in the playoffs. Mark Messier helped make the team happy and productive during the regular season, but he had a falling out with Neilson during the post-season. This relationship bears monitoring. A new player to watch is Aleksei Kovalev, the Russian right wing, a flashy attacker who adds star-level skills and Broadway sizzle to a potent forward line. But, beyond Brian Leetch, the defense is only average. It could be upgraded by a trade that finally breaks up the Mike Richter-John Vanbiesbrouck tandem in goal.