The New York Rangers were as dramatic as a Broadway play until the end of Round 2.

The Blueshirts trailed early in Game 6 of their series against the Carolina Hurricanes, and appeared in danger of not only allowing the Hurricanes to stay alive, but win the entire thing by sending things back to New York for Game 7.

The third period was all Rangers, though. A hat trick from Chris Kreider in that frame helped New York overcome multiple deficits and punch their ticket to the Eastern Conference finals with a 5-3 win.

Here's a look at the keys to their run so far, and a look ahead at how they match up against their two potential opponents.

Rallying Rangers

There's no arguing that New York had its worst outing of the postseason in Game 5 against Carolina. The Rangers were comparatively lifeless from the start -- and still nearly completed a comeback to send the Hurricanes home.

New York responded well after losses in the regular season, and if Game 5 was a blip in that respect (as was losing at all for New York in the postseason, let alone twice in a row), Game 6 is where the Rangers showed why they were Presidents' Trophy winners. Even after falling behind 3-1, they staged an epic third period rally to seal the deal on opposing ice.

Instead of letting Carolina continue to fester and create doubt about how good a lineup New York actually has, the Rangers tapped back into their strengths (i.e., scoring more than one goal like they did in Game 5) and channeling their top-tier pedigree in enemy territory. Perhaps it wasn't the cleanest of series, like the Rangers' first-round sweep, but in the end New York finished the job.

Best of the bunch

It's cliché for a reason: If your top skaters aren't performing in the playoffs, it's tough to find success (just ask the Toronto Maple Leafs).

Consider New York's run last season, when Artemi Panarin produced just two assists in seven games. This time around? Panarin had four goals and nine points -- through seven games. Vincent Trocheck has been a revelation in the postseason, with five goals and 12 points, Mika Zibanejad has tossed in 13 points and Alexis Lafreniere is playing some of his best hockey to date, with four goals and 10 points.

While depth is always an asset in the postseason, it almost always has to be in tandem with a team's high-end talent steering the ship. That's what's happening for the Rangers. When all their stars are aligned, it's hard to imagine slowing this group down.

Stealing with Shesterkin

The Rangers can give an opponent's goaltender fits when their high-flying forwards get in a flow. New York is fortunate its netminder is in top-top shape, though, because for all the Rangers' offensive prowess, they allow a shocking number of scoring chances against.

Igor Shesterkin has been up to the task of keeping New York from hurting itself (too much) defensively. Not only are the Rangers giving up the most shots on goal in the postseason (32.9 per game), Shesterkin also faced the most high-danger shots (63) and completed the second-most high-danger saves (52).

Carolina in particular peppered Shesterkin with an onslaught of quality opportunities. The cool, calm, collected version of Shesterkin (circa, say, winning the Vezina Trophy in 2022) has been on full display throughout the playoffs (with a .924 save percentage and 2.33 goals-against average to prove it). There's no question he's an integral piece in the Rangers' dominance and will continue to be so in the series ahead.

Super special teams

It's a classic case of pick your poison, because the Rangers can beat a team in multiple ways.

Their 5-on-5 numbers are, thanks to that noted core of offensive threats, strong this postseason. And then there's the power play, which is third best in the playoff field (33.3%) and packs a powerful punch (with 10 goals through nine games).

New York's penalty kill is even more effective, sitting second best overall at 91.2%, and it was a backbreaker for the Hurricanes to try to get through (Carolina started the series going 0-for-15 on the man advantage). And short-handed goals? New York leads the playoff field with four.

Thanks to that strong play in all situations, the Rangers present a formidable challenge to whomever lines up against them next.

How the Rangers match up with the Florida Panthers

At its best (and most entertaining), a New York-Florida series would just be nonstop goal-scoring. And if any two teams have the offensive firepower to make that vision a reality, it's the Rangers and Panthers.

Florida and New York are averaging some of the best scoring totals in the playoff field (with 3.70 and 3.33 goals per game, respectively). They can be superb on special teams with two excellent power plays (30.3% and 23.7%) duking it out versus difference-making penalty kills (91.9% and 85.3%), and notably, the Panthers are second in shots on net (33.5) to spice things up even further with their competition.

The Rangers' stars have come out in the postseason, and so have the Panthers'. Matthew Tkachuk (four goals and 13 points in the postseason), Aleksander Barkov (five goals and 13 points), and Carter Verhaeghe (six goals and 10 points) would be going stride-for-stride with the Rangers' elite. And while teams don't necessarily want to be into a track meet at any point in their season -- particularly when stakes are highest -- it might be inevitable when gifted scorers are rolling out on nearly every line.

New York's defensive performance aligns with Florida's, too. The Rangers have allowed 2.56 goals against per game in the postseason, compared to 2.60 by the Panthers -- but Florida holds a considerable edge in limiting shots (giving up 24.2 per game versus 32.1). So, New York would have to tighten up there lest the Panthers take advantage to run wild. But even then, the back-and-forth that could come out of this series highlights what New York does well, and Florida has potential to offer up more chances than the Bruins might.

The Rangers' other big boost is in the crease. Sergei Bobrovsky's numbers (.892 SV%, 2.62 GAA) have been solid, and he's giving Florida timely saves. Shesterkin, though, has been exceptional for much of the postseason (.924 SV%, 2.33 GAA) despite New York's leakier back end, and he has factored squarely into making New York appear at its most dominant. Naturally, we assume that will offer the Rangers a serious bump on the goaltending side (something they may not have in a series vs. Boston, where Jeremy Swayman has been locked in throughout the playoffs).

New York's bread and butter has been its attack up front plus excellent netminding, and a series against Florida gives them the opportunity to lean on both -- and punch their ticket back to a Cup Final.

How the Rangers match up with the Boston Bruins

This is the Original Six matchup both cities have longed to see on the big stage.

The last postseason meeting between these clubs was in 2012-13, a series Boston won in five games. The Rangers know what it takes to top the Bruins this time around, having swept the season series 3-0.

Boston doesn't have the same showcase of scoring talent as New York does. The Bruins' depth was an issue in their series against the Panthers, and the Rangers may, arguably, have more offensive threats in their lineup for Boston to heed. That would likely be the biggest question mark heading into this particular conference finals matchup: Can the Bruins go toe-to-toe with the Rangers up front?

Boston is relying on younger skaters than New York as well. While the Rangers are thick with experience, the Bruins require vital contributions from the likes of John Beecher (22 years old) and Mason Lohrei (23) to give them quality minutes in the postseason. The Bruins also average nearly one goal less per game than the Rangers (2.50 vs. 3.33).

It's Boston's goaltending that has been its backbone in the postseason. And Swayman might be the only netminder who can challenge Shesterkin when he's in top form. The Bruins' defense has allowed the third-most shots against (32.5 per game) while averaging the fourth fewest goals against (2.42 per game). The Rangers are in the same boat, giving up the fourth most shots (32.1) and fifth fewest goals (2.56). Frankly, this series' winner would be the one not getting "goalied."

The Rangers have a special teams advantage against the Bruins with the better penalty kill (91.9% vs. 81.8%) and power play (30.3% vs. 22.6%). But Boston's kill stepped up big against Florida, and there may be momentum to carry on into another series, too.

Boston has shown resilience in the postseason by not blowing a 3-1 lead in the first round, and if the Bruins make it past Florida it will be by overcoming a 3-1 deficit. The Rangers would have to be prepared for Boston's confidence to be sky-high going into a conference finals matchup that not too long ago likely looked -- and felt -- like a pipe dream.

Cristiano Ronaldo topped Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes for the fourth time in his career, and Spanish golfer Jon Rahm moved up to second after his sensational switch to Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

Ronaldo became the world's highest-paid athlete after his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, and Forbes said the 39-year-old's estimated total earnings were in the region of $260 million, an all-time high for a footballer.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

His on-field earnings amounted to $200m, and his off-field earnings were $60m thanks to sponsorship deals where brands make use of his 629 million Instagram followers.

Ronaldo said on Wednesday that he intends to continue his football career "at a high level" despite nearly entering his 40s.

Two-time major winner Rahm joined LIV Golf in December in a big-money move that sent shock waves through the sport after media reports said the world No. 5 would be paid at least $300m.

Apart from that guarantee, Rahm has earned $218m and joins Ronaldo as the only two athletes to earn over $200m.

Third on the list is record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who made a lucrative switch to Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, helping him earn $135m.

The 36-year-old has earned $65m in on-field earnings but $70m off it thanks to deals with major sponsors such as Adidas and Apple.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James is fourth at $128.2m, and although the 39-year-old American, the first NBA player to score 40,000 career points, is nearing the end of his career, he is set to have one last crack at the Olympics.

Fellow NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo ($111m) of the Milwaukee Bucks rounds out the top five, and France captain Kylian Mbappé has dropped down to sixth ($110m).

Mbappé announced he would be leaving Paris Saint-Germain after seven years in the French capital, where he became the club's leading career scorer, and the 25-year-old is expected to join Spanish giants Real Madrid in the 2024-25 season.

Former PSG star Neymar, who also moved to the Saudi Pro League, joining Al Hilal, is seventh ($108m) despite sitting out the majority of the season with a torn ACL.

French striker Karim Benzema, who also moved to Saudi Arabia, is eighth ($106m) on the list, followed by Golden State Warriors guard Steph Curry ($102m).

Lamar Jackson is the only NFL player on the list, in 10th place ($100.5m), thanks to the signing bonus that was negotiated into his new Baltimore Ravens contract last year.

France coach Didier Deschamps included midfielder N'Golo Kanté in his preliminary list of players for the European Championship on Thursday and gave a first call-up to Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola.

Kanté's return was not expected following the former Chelsea player's departure to the lucrative Saudi league last summer after he struggled with injuries. The 2018 World Cup winner has not played for France since June 2022.

Deschamps said Kanté has rediscovered his form at Al-Ittihad.

"He has had a full season, albeit not in a European league as he plays in Saudi Arabia, where he has regained his full physical fitness," Deschamps said as he announced his squad on French TV channel TF1. And I think that with his experience and his background, I'm convinced that our team will be stronger with him."

In contrast, Barcola's presence in the squad was widely expected following his excellent season with PSG.

After joining from Lyon, the 21-year-old winger with excellent speed and dribbling skills has settled quickly at the star-studded club. He delivered at big games and was the main reason PSG managed to get past Barcelona in the Champions League quarterfinals.

Real Madrid left-back Ferland Mendy, who has not played for France since September 2022, also makes his return.

PSG defender Lucas Hernández, who recently underwent surgery after rupturing his left ACL, was left out.

Deschamps can still amend his squad before a June 7 deadline when teams must give UEFA a list of a minimum of 23 players and a maximum of 26.

The tournament in Germany starts June 14. Two-time champion France is in Group D with Austria, Netherlands, and Poland.

Before traveling to Germany, the World Cup finalist will play two warmup matches against Luxembourg and Canada.

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers: Alphonse Areola (West Ham), Mike Maignan (AC Milan), Brice Samba (Lens)

Defenders: Jonathan Clauss (Marseille), Theo Hernández (AC Milan), Ibrahima Konaté (Liverpool), Jules Koundé (Barcelona), Ferland Mendy (Real Madrid), Benjamin Pavard (Inter Milan), William Saliba (Arsenal), Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich).

Midfielders: Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid), Youssouf Fofana (Monaco), Antoine Griezmann (Atlético Madrid), N'Golo Kanté (Al-Ittihad), Adrien Rabiot (Juventus Turin), Aurélien Tchouaméni (Real Madrid), Warren Zaïre-Emery (PSG).

Forwards: Bradley Barcola (PSG), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ousmane Dembélé (PSG), Olivier Giroud (AC Milan), Randal Kolo Muani (PSG), Kylian Mbappé (PSG), Marcus Thuram (Inter Milan).

ESPN writer Julien Laurens contributed to this report. Information from The Associated Press was also used.

Newly appointed Canada coach Jesse Marsch has criticized U.S. Soccer over its treatment of him during the process of hiring the U.S. men's national team coach last year.

Marsch, who previously managed Leeds United in the Premier League, was thought to be the leading contender for the USMNT job after Gregg Berhalter's contract expired following the 2022 World Cup.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

But Marsch's agent, Ron Waxman, surprisingly announced in June that Marsch would not be getting the job. The following day, Berhalter was rehired by U.S. Soccer.

"My respect for U.S. Soccer is big, but I went through a process with them, right? And I'm not going to go into it, but I wasn't treated very well in the process," Marsch told CBS' "Call it What You Want" podcast.

"And so, whatever man, that's in the past now. The minute it was done I was like, 'OK, I'm moving forward, and I'm going to figure out what's right for me.'

"It motivated me again to find the right people. And so now I just want to talk about Canada, because I'm excited. I feel like it's a fan base and a player pool and a nation that resonates with me. I've worked there before, I know a lot of the people involved."

Marsch was announced as Canada's new men's coach Monday on a contract through the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Marsch previously managed Montreal and the New York Red Bulls in MLS and worked as a USMNT assistant coach under Bob Bradley. After departing the Red Bulls, he led FC Salzburg in Austria and RB Leipzig in Germany.

While working as an analyst for CBS in March, Marsch questioned Berhalter's selection decisions for the USMNT's Concacaf Nations League semifinal win over Jamaica, prompting a response from the U.S. coach seemingly directed at his one-time competitor for the job.

Marsch, however, played down the rivalry ahead of potential U.S.-Canada matchups. Both teams will take part in this summer's Copa America in the United States.

"I'm sure we'll play the U.S. a few times before the World Cup comes around so I'll be looking forward to those matches," he said. "Familiarity with things brings out competitive juices.

"The Canadian team has measured themselves against the U.S. for years and that won't stop now or be more more magnified just because I'm here.

"Our main focus is just how good can we be on home soil come 2026 and how much can we electrify our nation, bring it together and make everybody proud for how the team plays, the successes we can create. And I believe we have big potential to dream big."

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi is Major League Soccer's highest-paid player with a total guaranteed compensation of $20.45 million, according to data released by the MLS Players Association.

The amount reflects just the playing portion of Messi's compensation, with the Argentine also set to benefit from other revenue streams such as his endorsement deal with Adidas and a revenue-sharing agreement with league broadcast partner Apple.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

According to Sportico, Messi stands to earn up to $150 million over the life of the 2-year contract he signed with Miami and MLS last year.

Toronto FC forward Lorenzo Insigne ranked second with a guaranteed compensation of $15.44 million, followed by Messi's Inter Miami teammate Sergio Busquets at $8.77 million.

Chicago Fire forward Xherdan Shaqiri, the league's top earner at this time a year ago, is in fourth position at $8.15 million followed by Austin FC forward Sebastián Driussi at $6.72 million.

The salary numbers from the MLSPA are as of April 25, 2024.

The extent of Miami's spending spree is borne out when one looks at the total guaranteed compensation per team.

The Herons checked in at a staggering $41.68 million, which is not only a league record, but more than double the amount of all but three other teams.

Toronto's outlay is $31.41 million, followed by Chicago at $25.13 million, Nashville SC at $21.4 million and FC Cincinnati -- last year's Supporters' Shield winners -- at $18.71 million.

Reigning MLS Cup holders the Columbus Crew rank 21st with a payroll of $15.19 million, while St. Louis City ($11.79 million) and CF Montréal ($12.05 million) have the lowest payrolls.

The average guaranteed compensation for the entire player pool is $594,390, up 12.4% from the spring, 2023 mark of $528,984.

In a sign of how top-heavy the league's salaries have become, the median salary rose just 4.8% from $294,500 this time a year ago to $308,750 now. All told, 115 players have a guaranteed compensation of at least $1 million.

MLS and the MLSPA are in the fourth year of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that was agreed upon in February 2021. The current CBA runs through the end of the 2027 season.

Here is the total guaranteed compensation per team:

1. Inter Miami - $41.68 million

2. Toronto FC - $31.41 million

3. Chicago Fire - $25.13 million

4. Nashville SC - $21.4 million

5. FC Cincinnati - $18.71 million

6. Austin FC - $18.41 million

7. New England Revolution - $18.32 million

8. LA Galaxy - $17.93 million

9. New York Red Bulls - $17.11 million

10. Houston Dynamo - $16.77 million

11. Atlanta United - $16.66 million

12. Seattle Sounders - $16.58 million

13. New York City FC - $16.54 million

14. Colorado Rapids - $16.33 million

15. FC Dallas - $16.23 million

16. D.C. United - $16.17 million

17. LAFC - $15.9 million

18. Sporting Kansas City - $15.87 million

19. Portland Timbers - $15.37 million

20. Vancouver Whitecaps - $15.2 million

21. Columbus Crew - $15.19 million

22. Orlando City - $15.07 million

23. Minnesota United - $14.91 million

24. Philadelphia Union - $14.82 million

25. Charlotte FC - $14.53 million

26. San Jose Earthquakes - $13.63 million

27. Real Salt Lake - $13.6 million

28. CF Montréal - $12.05 million

29. St. Louis City - $11.79 million

As we say goodbye to a 2023-24 Premier League season filled with ups and downs, Luis Miguel Echegaray gives awards to the players and teams who delivered, as well as those who didn't live up to the hype and failed to meet expectations.

Who was the MVP this season? Which team earned an A and which one earned an F for its performances? LME gives his analysis, grades and takes on all of it.

- Stream on ESPN+: NWSL, LaLiga, Bundesliga, more (U.S.)

Player of the season: Rodri

In football, the parameters we use to measure the value of a player are based on many factors, including goal contributions, leadership qualities and growth, to name a few. Statistics help paint a picture, but what happens when a player's importance is multifaceted and subtly impactful that it sometimes gets unnoticed, even by the league itself?

Welcome to the game of Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, better known as Rodri, the best player in the world in his position and my winner of Player of the Season. With Manchester City having one hand on the trophy and looking for a historic fourth consecutive league title, Rodri's presence in the midfield has been crucial to their success. Man City can win without striker Erling Haaland, but I don't think you can say the same thing when they don't have Rodri. It's evident when you look at this season, where City's three league losses (Wolves, Arsenal and Aston Villa) did not have the Spanish international due to suspension. He also has a record of 49 matches without featuring in a losing side in the Premier League.

If Pep Guardiola's side is a Ferrari, Rodri is the engine. Guardiola has called him irreplaceable, someone who could play in any era. Rodri's game is timeless, with no bells or whistles. He is an everlasting watch, making sure his side delivers without the need for attention.

This campaign, aside from his seven goals and nine assists in 33 league appearances, he has made 3,508 successful passes, the most in the league, and the best pass completion percentage (92%) out of any midfielder. In fact, in his position with that particular statistic, Rodri leads Europe's top five leaves out of any midfielder who has played at least 25 matches.

Basically, Rodri keeps the team moving, but he is also their protector in front of the backline as well as a danger going forward. The only thing he doesn't do is go in goal and, honestly, he'd probably do a great job if given the chance.

City look like they will win this Premier League title once again, and while their squad is full of magnificent talent, it's Rodri -- the no-nonsense, zero-attention-needed holding midfielder -- who wins my vote for POTS. To borrow what former Spain and Real Madrid coach Vicente del Bosque once said of Sergio Busquets: If you watch the game, you don't see Rodri. But if you watch Rodri, you see the whole game.

Runners-up: Declan Rice (a tremendous first season with Arsenal) and Ollie Watkins (tied-third for most goal contributions in the league with 32, helping Villa earn a Champions League spot).

Goal of the season: Alejandro Garnacho

"I don't think I've ever been in a stadium where I've seen an overhead kick that good ... and I was there for Wayne Rooney's against Manchester City," reflected Gary Neville on Sky Sports right after seeing the 19-year-old's audacious finish against Everton on Nov. 26 at Goodison Park.

The game was Everton's first after the initial announcement of a 10-point deduction against the club, so it was only natural to hear a loud, defiant home crowd eager in pushing their team to a victory against the Red Devils. But inside the first three minutes, Garnacho turned the stadium into the quietest place on Merseyside.

United right-back Diogo Dalot crossed in a hopeful ball from the right wing into the box, and the Argentina international took a few steps back in order to find his angle and the ball. Not only did he find it, he obliterated it, releasing a breathtaking bicycle kick that rocketed over Jordan Pickford and into the top right corner. It was the football version of Picasso's Guernica: fiery and beautiful at the same time.

Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes called it "out of this world" after the game. We have seen bicycle kicks in the past, but this one was special because Garnacho had to track back, away from goal and meet a cross coming from the opposite direction.

"Probably he's watching too many Cristiano clips! We all know that he's a big fan," said Fernandes.

A goal of the season winner and one that would undoubtedly make Ronaldo proud.

Who knew you could enjoy this goal EVEN more! @ESPNFutbolArg's commentary of Alejandro Garnacho's goal is superb pic.twitter.com/WqxFvvd1wd

Premier League (@premierleague) December 1, 2023

Best single-game performance: Phil Foden vs. Manchester United, March 3

Phil Foden was another close candidate in my vote for POTS due to his 17 league goals and eight assists so far, helping Man City push for a historic fourth consecutive title. The truly spectacular trajectory is mainly due to three factors: Foden's incredible development (he's still only 23), Guardiola's belief in his abilities, thus turning him into a central midfielder and as a result, Foden taking on that role due to Kevin De Bruyne's absence in the first half of the season.

All these components pointed in the direction of making Foden into a world class player. It's why Guardiola said at the beginning of the season that he can "play anywhere," and why after the 3-1 victory over Manchester United back in March, has won my vote for best single-game performance of the season.

Foden was everywhere in that game, and despite initially trailing 1-0 after Marcus Rashford's stunning goal, the "Stockport Iniesta" took over, creating chance after chance, before scoring a brace (the first one being a beauty) to help City win the derby.

Foden is an Englishman disguised as a Brazilian midfielder of the 1970s. He doesn't dribble with the ball; he dances with it, evading danger with undoubted ease. But that has always been part of his game. Now, he is a danger in front of goal and just like Pep said, he can play anywhere across the front line.

Manchester is BLUE

Highlights from our 3-1 win in the Manchester derby! pic.twitter.com/W6USngt3PE

Manchester City (@ManCity) March 3, 2024

Rookie of the season: Destiny Udogie

*In order to be eligible as a "rookie" for these awards, a player has to be 23 or under and have completed his first season in the Premier League with at least 1500 minutes.*

It's a shame his season ended in April because of surgery, but that should not be a reason to ignore Udogie's remarkable rookie campaign in the Premier League. His development has been a fantastic project from Tottenham, who first loaned him back to Udinese after immediately purchasing his services back in 2022. The time of growth in Serie A was essential for the Italian international, who finished his first season in the league by becoming one of the most important players for manager Ange Postecoglou. In fact, a major reason why Spurs fumbled at the end of the season is Udogie's absence.

In Big Ange's stubborn but entertaining system, full-backs are important because they have three jobs: to attack ferociously; to defend with quick, reactionary instincts and physicality; and sometimes, when in possession, to forget they're full-backs all together and join the midfield. Spurs have two great players who can do this when healthy. They are Pedro Porro and Udogie, who only turned 21 in November and made 30 appearances in all competitions for the club. He also scored two goals and grabbed three assists. To provide this much in a first campaign is very impressive.

Sadly, the surgery to his left quadriceps ruled him out from April 21, but the good news is that he should be expected to join the squad this summer for preseason.

I expect big things from Udogie in 2024-25 and for Spurs to fight even harder for that Champions League spot.

Best signing of the season: Cole Palmer

Simple question: Where would have Chelsea ended in the table without Cole Palmer? Answer: nowhere near a top six finish, which is where they're looking to be if they win against Bournemouth on Sunday, and potentially fifth place if Tottenham lose. And almost all the credit, at least offensively, should go to the magnificent attacker, who scored 21 goals (six less than Erling Haaland**) and earned 10 assists, making him an undoubted Player of the Season candidate.

Palmer was electric this season and delivered mesmerizing performances for Mauricio Pochettino's team. There were games when he single-handedly took over, which is exactly what this inconsistent Chelsea team needed.

Now, I know what you're thinking: It seems counterintuitive to give an award for best signing to a club that spends money more frivolously than a Met Gala dress budget, but in a campaign where multiple Chelsea players failed to live up to their price tag, at least consistently, Palmer showed why he was not only worth every single penny of 42.5 million, but at still only 22 years old, he was an absolute bargain. At least Chelsea got one signing correct this year.

Cole Palmer's four goals against Everton pic.twitter.com/oM5fc7hSxa

Premier League (@premierleague) April 18, 2024

Most improved player of the year: Dominic Solanke

Last season, Solanke failed to live up to his potential. After scoring 29 goals in 2021-22 and helping Bournemouth gain promotion from the Championship, his 2022-23 top flight campaign was underwhelming as he only scored six goals. It was a poor run of form from the former Chelsea academy player, whose low numbers last campaign included a league-goal drought of nearly 20 hours.

And then, Andoni Iraola came to his rescue.

Thanks to the Basque manager (nominated by the Premier League for Manager of the Season) and his aggressive, high-octane style, Bournemouth are on the cusp of a top-half finish, and Solanke truly delivered by becoming a menacing No. 9. His 19 goals turned him into the highest scoring Premier League scorer in the history of Bournemouth, passing Joshua King's 16 goals in 2016-2017. With the Cherries' newfound energetic philosophy, Solanke is a far more dangerous striker. He doesn't just want to score goals, he hunts for them like a lion to prey.

The moment @DomSolanke became our all-time top scorer in a single @premierleague season pic.twitter.com/QWKUm6eeex

AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) April 13, 2024

Were it not for the avalanche of English center-forward talent, which includes starter Harry Kane and Watkins, I think Solanke's presence in England's squad for this summer's Euros would hardly be in doubt. But ultimately, it's up to manager Gareth Southgate and his preference on how many strikers he'll want to take.

One thing is for sure: Solanke is not a finished product, and there surely will be more to come from the English forward. That's bittersweet news for Bournemouth, who know that bigger clubs with larger budgets will be circling around this summer. But if they can hold on to him, Iraola's Bournemouth could climb higher in the table, with Solanke as the protagonist.

Which team earned an A? Arsenal

Let's make one thing clear. In the Premier League's title race, if your club has pushed Manchester City to the final day of the season, then it has done a spectacular job. Mikel Arteta's Arsenal delivered a magnificent run, having achieved more wins (27) than the famous Invincibles campaign.

With one game to spare, they earned the most victories in their Premier League history. The two times they have done better were back in 1970-71 (29) and 1930-31 (28). Offensively, they are currently on 89 goals, which is better than last season's total (88), while defensively, they almost halved the goals they conceded (28) compared to 2022-23 (43) mainly thanks to the formidable defensive duo of William Saliba and Gabriel.

It seems that City will indeed take the crown once again, but I think it's crucial to remember that Arteta's project is amazingly still ahead of schedule. The Basque manager took over from Unai Emery in January 2019 so his first full campaign was not long ago, in 2020-21. That season, Arsenal ended eighth. Arteta called for patience and luckily he got it, because the positive trajectory is clear.

In 2021-22 the Gunners finished fifth, and last season, when they had the youngest squad in the entire league, they finished second. This time around, their fate will depend on Sunday's results, but I have to reiterate just how difficult it is to do this against City, whose reign under Guardiola is unrivaled in modern football.

Arsenal were aesthetically wonderful to watch this season, too. Now, the project continues to elevate under Arteta, and title or not, they deserve the best grade possible.

Which team earned an F? Manchester United

Let me just begin by stating that not all of this is manager Erik ten Hag's fault, who had a strong debut season with Man United in 2022-23 after finishing third. It's not to say he isn't one of the main reasons for their poor campaign. Of course he is. He is the manager after all. But the club's downfall, which will see them without European football next season unless they either win the FA Cup or finish seventh, is multifaceted, and in order to give a fair grade, you have to look at everything.

With United, it begins with the planning before a ball has even been kicked. The summer arrivals did not impact the squad in a major way (aside from goalkeeper André Onana, who has eight clean sheets, tied for fifth most in the league) and as a result, many areas have been exposed. Rasmus Højlund is talented, but he is not the finished product, which is evident after only getting nine league goals.

Meanwhile, it's fair to say Real Madrid exercised foresight when they allowed Casemiro's exit because his engine is running low, exacerbating United's issues in midfield. And defensively? The injuries didn't help -- especially to Lisandro Martínez -- but it's not like any replacement was strong enough to put together a good run. Ten Hag changed his center-back pairings 14 times this season. That to me says vulnerability.

Lastly, Man United are currently set to finish the season with a minus-3 goal difference, which will be a first for the club since the start of the Premier League, having last finished with a negative goal difference in 1989-90.

All of these facts force me to give Man United a poor grade for 2023-24, and it should come to no one's surprise.

Manchester United have spent more match time in a losing position in the Premier League this season (931:09) than they have been in a winning position (929:47).#Mufc pic.twitter.com/2p9Hjy2Blo

Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) May 7, 2024

Manager of the season: Unai Emery

How's this for impressive: Emery's Aston Villa achieved Champions League qualification for the first time in Premier League history since the competition allowed qualification to three/four teams. It's the first time they will be in the top European tournament in more than 40 years.

This season, they also achieved more Premier League points than any other Aston Villa side since the calendar was reduced to 38 games. They also delivered some impressive victories, including the double over Arsenal and perhaps the best performance of the season back in early December, when they didn't just beat Man City but outclassed them in almost every statistical department.

All of this and more was done in Emery's first full season with the club as he only joined in October 2022. To add more context, the Basque manager did it with a depleted squad as he had to deal with two ACL injuries for the entire season (Tyrone Mings, Emiliano Buendía) -- plus a third ACL injury in February (Boubacar Kamara) -- and other major absences from key players including a two-month spell for Pau Torres and a stop-start season for Jacob Ramsey.

In fact, for the entire campaign, at least three key players were always missing. But Emery's mantra of zero excuses permeated throughout the training ground, thus energizing them to a record-breaking journey. When it comes to helping a player understand his role, how to best utilize it, and do it in rapid speed, there might not be a better manager in the Premier League right now than Emery, who is also a master at in-game tactics, which is one of the hardest things to do in modern football. Now, thanks to his leadership, the Champions League beckons.

Runner-up: Mikel Arteta, Pep Guardiola