After a dream run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2023-24, the New York Rangers fell off a cliff. A nightmarish 2024-25 season, marked by a stunning second-half collapse that saw them miss the playoffs entirely, has led to a summer of soul-searching and significant change on Broadway. General Manager Chris Drury has been busy, jettisoning familiar faces, bringing in new blood, and making the single biggest splash of the offseason by hiring a new bench boss.
But has it been enough? The air around Madison Square Garden is thick with uncertainty. Depending on who you talk to, the Rangers are either in a good spot to bounce back in a big way or are icing a roster that is demonstrably worse than the one that left the ice at the end of last season. The truth, as it often does, likely lies somewhere in the murky middle. The Blueshirts are in win-now mode, but their path back to contention is a high-wire act, dependent on a few key factors breaking just right. Let’s dissect the moves and what they mean for the season ahead.
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The Sullivan Effect: A New Sheriff on Broadway
Before we even touch the roster, we have to talk about the biggest acquisition of the summer: head coach Mike Sullivan. Firing a coach is easy; landing a two-time Stanley Cup champion is a franchise-altering move. Drury swung for the fences and connected, bringing in a man widely regarded as one of the best in the business.
Sullivan’s track record in Pittsburgh speaks for itself. He took over a talented but underachieving Penguins team and won two Cups in his first 19 months, expertly managing the superstar egos of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang. His task in New York is similar: get the most out of a roster that, on paper, has the high-end talent to compete.
His primary project will be Mika Zibanejad. The star center’s performance has been a source of immense frustration, and the hope is that Sullivan’s “rub” can reignite the fire. If Sullivan can get Zibanejad and other key players to buy into his system and elevate their games, his hiring alone could be the most significant upgrade the Rangers made. He’s a “proven winner” brought in to implement a culture of accountability that seemed to evaporate last season.
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The Cost of a Shake-Up: Analyzing the Departures
To facilitate this new era, some familiar and important faces had to go. The most significant move was trading defenseman K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes. While Miller’s defensive game often leaves a lot to be desired, he was a top-four fixture and a far superior offensive contributor from the back end. Trading him undoubtedly weakened the Rangers for this season in the short term, even if the return of prospect Scott Morrow and high draft picks pays off down the line.
The other major departure was winger Chris Kreider. While an aging veteran, the trade was less about on-ice performance and more about financial flexibility. Moving his contract opened up the cap space necessary for other moves. This followed the mid-season trades from the 2024-25 campaign that saw captain Jacob Trouba, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko all shipped out of town.
Taken together, these moves represent a clear changing of the guard. Drury has systematically removed key pieces from the leadership group and the core that fell short, signaling that the status quo was no longer acceptable. The question is whether the replacements can fill the void.
The New Blood and the Bounce-Back Crew
The plan to replace K’Andre Miller’s minutes is clear: enter Vladislav Gavrikov. Signed to a hefty seven-year deal, the 6-foot-3 defenseman is a terrific defensive defenseman brought in to be the yin to Adam Fox’s yang. The expectation is that Gavrikov will improve team defense, bolster a penalty kill that needs help, and be the perfect fit next to Adam Fox on the top pair. While the offense will take a hit, the hope is that Gavrikov’s shutdown presence will free up Fox to return to his elite, Norris-Trophy form.
Speaking of Fox, his return to dominance is a cornerstone of the Rangers’ comeback plan. The 2020-21 Norris winner looked diminished last season, likely hampered by a nagging knee injury. A full summer of recovery, combined with a reliable defensive partner in Gavrikov, should have him poised to reclaim his spot among the league’s elite defensemen.
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Up front, the team is banking on a full season of J.T. Miller. Acquired mid-season, he was a rare bright spot, putting up 35 points in 32 games. The Rangers need him to replicate the 103-point form he showed in Vancouver and become a true leader with his hard-edged nature and fiery intensity.
Beyond the big names, the Rangers are counting on significant internal growth.
- Will Cuylle is coming off a breakout 20-goal, 45-point season and is expected to get more responsibility under Sullivan.
- Braden Schneider, now healthy after offseason surgery, is primed for a top-four role where his physical game can shine.
- Matt Rempe was re-signed for a reason. His physical presence is “invaluable,” and if he can refine his 200-foot game, he could chip in with double-digit goals while energizing the lineup.
Cracks in the Armor: The Questions That Will Define Their Season
For all the optimism surrounding Sullivan and the potential for bounce-back seasons, this roster is far from a sure thing. There are significant red flags that could derail their playoff hopes.
- Can the Second Line Score? The top line of Panarin, Trocheck, and Lafreniere is a known, high-end commodity. The entire season, however, may hinge on the second line. If Miller and Zibanejad can’t find chemistry and produce at elite levels, it will handcuff the Rangers offensively, placing an impossible burden on the top unit. This is the team’s biggest X-factor.
- Is the Defense Deep Enough? While the top pairing of Fox and Gavrikov looks solid, the rest of the defensive corps is “average” at best. A projected second pairing of Carson Soucy and William Borgen isn’t going to scare too many opponents and could be a target for opposing coaches to exploit. It’s hard to call the Rangers’ defense improved overall, especially with the offensive punch K’Andre Miller provided now gone.
- Does Igor Have a Vezina in Him? This might be the most crucial question of all. Igor Shesterkin is the team’s backbone. The simple fact is, this team is not built to win with average goaltending. They don’t have the defensive depth to insulate him on off nights. For the Rangers to be a legitimate contender, they need a Vezina-caliber season from Shesterkin. Anything less, and they’ll be fighting for a wild card spot, at best.
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The Verdict: A High-Wire Act with No Safety Net
So, are the Rangers better? There’s only a remote possibility. They’ve swapped offensive dynamism on the back end for defensive stability. They’ve bet on a new coach to fix old problems. They’ve placed immense faith in internal improvement and the health of their stars.
With a little cap space left, more moves are expected. Don’t be surprised if Drury targets a veteran forward like Jack Roslovic or Max Pacioretty to add depth. But as it stands, the 2025-26 Rangers are a paradox. They have a championship-winning coach and a world-class goalie, yet their depth is questionable and their success hinges on a few too many “ifs.” It’s a bold gamble, a true course correction after a season of failure. Whether it leads to a bounce-back or another bust will be the story of the season on Broadway.
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