As the dust settles on another NHL season, the New York Rangers find themselves at a familiar crossroads. The perennial contenders are once again looking to fine-tune their roster, searching for the right mix of youth and experience to finally push them over the top. With some recent roster turnover and a constant need for reliable depth, the 2025-26 season is shaping up to be a pivotal one for several of the organization’s top prospects and young guns. While some players are all but guaranteed a spot on the opening night roster, a handful of dark horses are chomping at the bit to prove they belong in the show. These are the players who could surprise everyone in training camp and force some tough decisions from the front office.
The Battle for the Bottom Six: New Blood vs. Seasoned Vets
The Rangers’ bottom six has been a work in progress for what feels like an eternity. The team has struggled to find a consistent, productive third and fourth line, and this offseason will be another chapter in that ongoing saga. While there are some established veterans in the mix, a couple of intriguing prospects could throw a wrench in the works.
The Rise of Laba: A Legitimate Threat
Keep an eye on Noah Laba. The 22-year-old center has the potential to become a top-nine forward in the NHL. What sets him apart is his drive to take the puck to the net. He’s not afraid to get his nose dirty, a quality that will undoubtedly endear him to the coaching staff. Plus, he plays the coveted center position, a role that NHL teams are always desperate to fill with quality players.
Laba has only had a small taste of professional hockey, with just 11 games in the AHL under his belt, but he’s already shown flashes of his offensive upside, putting up a respectable five points in that short span. Ideally, the Rangers would like him to get a full season of seasoning in the AHL, but don’t be surprised if he comes into training camp and makes things interesting. He’ll be in direct competition with veterans like Sam Carrick and Juuso Pärssinen for a spot in the bottom six. If Laba can prove that his offensive instincts and tenacity translate to the NHL level, he could force the Rangers to make a difficult decision.
The Roobroeck Wild Card: A Tower of Power
Another name to watch in the battle for the bottom six is Dylan Roobroeck. At 6-foot-7, he’s a mountain of a man who fits the Rangers’ recent draft strategy of targeting big bodies who can skate. He’s considered a “wild card” prospect, but he’s already got a full AHL season under his belt, where he notched an impressive 34 points, including 20 goals, in 72 games.
If Roobroeck can reach his full potential, he could be a hidden gem for the Rangers. He has all the tools to become a dependable, physical bottom-six center who can chip in with some secondary scoring. He’ll be in tough, competing with the likes of Adam Edström and Matt Rempe for a fourth-line role, but his combination of size, skating, and scoring touch makes him a tantalizing prospect. If he can put it all together in training camp, he could be a surprise addition to the opening night roster.
The Crease Conundrum: Is it Garand’s Time to Shine?
The Rangers have been blessed with elite goaltending for the better part of two decades, and Igor Shesterkin is poised to carry that torch for the foreseeable future. However, the backup goaltender position is a bit more up in the air. While Jonathan Quick is the incumbent, a young netminder is waiting in the wings, and he might be ready to make the jump sooner rather than later.
The Heir Apparent: Dylan Garand
Dylan Garand is the best goaltending prospect the Rangers have had since Shesterkin, and he’s coming off a stellar season in the AHL. In 39 games, he posted a .913 save percentage, a significant improvement from the previous year. What makes Garand so effective is his exceptional lateral quickness. He moves from post to post with explosive speed, and he’s learned to be more aggressive in his crease to compensate for his smaller stature.
The question is, is he ready to be Shesterkin’s full-time backup? The Rangers have to be asking themselves that same question. Quick, who will turn 40 in January, had a season to forget in 2024-25, with an .893 save percentage. While his experience is valuable, his performance has been on a steady decline. If Garand comes into training camp and outplays Quick, the Rangers shouldn’t hesitate to give him the job. It might be a tough pill to swallow to waive a veteran like Quick, but the team has to do what’s best for the present and the future. Garand is the future in the backup role, and that future might be now.
The Blue Line Question Mark: A Chance for a Dark Horse
The Rangers’ defense corps is solid at the top, but there are some questions on the back end. One of the biggest concerns is Braden Schneider playing on his off-side on the second pairing. While he’s a talented young defenseman, it’s a less-than-ideal situation. This could open the door for a dark horse candidate to swoop in and steal a spot.
The Mackey Factor
Connor Mackey is a left-shot defenseman who has already had a cup of coffee with the Rangers at the NHL level. He’s a long shot to crack the top four, but if the coaching staff is adamant about having a left-handed shot on the second pairing, he could get a long look in training camp. Veterans like Urho Vaakanainen haven’t been able to consistently lock down a top-four role, leaving the door slightly ajar for someone like Mackey if Carson Soucy disappoints. Mackey’s the biggest dark horse of the bunch, but in the NHL, you can never say never. If he comes into camp and proves he can handle the responsibility of playing top-four minutes, he could be a big addition to the blue line.
The Obvious Contenders: No Room for Error
While the dark horses are intriguing, there are a few prospects who are considered the “obvious contenders” for roster spots. The Rangers are counting on big things from Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault, in particular, to solve their depth scoring issues. These two, along with Brett Berard, are expected to push for spots in the top nine, and their development will be crucial to the team’s success.
The hope is that Othmann and Perreault can form a dynamic and productive third line, possibly with Pärssinen centering them. If they can make a significant impact, it would go a long way toward solving the Rangers’ long-standing depth problems. However, if they falter, the team could find themselves in the same predicament they’ve been in for the past few seasons. The pressure is on for these young guns to step up and prove they belong.
The 2025-26 season is shaping up to be a fascinating one for the New York Rangers. The battle for roster spots will be fierce, with a handful of hungry young players looking to unseat some established veterans. Whether it’s a dark horse candidate who comes out of nowhere to steal a job or one of the top prospects who finally lives up to the hype, one thing is for sure: training camp is going to be a must-watch event for Rangers fans. The kids are coming, and they’re ready to make their mark.
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