Last Word On Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are here for the 2025-26 season! As the regular season approaches, we will be previewing each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming season. We will also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2025-26 New York Rangers.
2025-26 New York Rangers Puck Drop Preview
2024-25 Season Recap
The Rangers entered the 2024-25 season with plenty of promise. They had just reached the Eastern Conference Final the season before against the Florida Panthers. New York was tapped to be one of the favorites to challenge the defending champions. However, the Blueshirts got off to a terrible start and never seemed to recover.
General manager Chris Drury tried to make several changes to jolt the team back into a contender. Drury traded team captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks, and he made many other in-season deals. The team also sent reacquired J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks, with Filip Chytil going the other way as part of the deal. However, the Blueshirts missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs since the 2020-21 campaign.
The 2025 Off-Season Recap for the New York Rangers
Drury had already taken care of some off-season items like getting Alexis Lafreniere a seven-year contract extension. However, he also signed a bridge deal for promising youngster Will Cuylle. New York also made a change behind the bench in sacking head coach Peter Laviolette. Drury got the man he’d had his eyes on for years in former Pittsburgh Penguins Head Coach Mike Sullivan.
However, Drury’s big move was landing coveted defenceman Vladislav Gavrikov from the Los Angeles Kings. Scott Morrow also came over as part of the K’Andre Miller deal that sent him to the Carolina Hurricanes. Longtime Ranger Chris Kreider was also sent out west to join Trouba in Anaheim.
Projected Lineup
Forwards
Artemi Panarin-Vincent Trochek-Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle-J.T. Miller-Mika Zibanejad
Gabriel Perreault-Johnny Brodzinski-Taylor Raddysh
Adam Edstrom-Sam Carrick-Matt Rempe
Extras: Brett Berard; Brennan Othmann
The Top Six
New York had one of the better offensive units in the league, but actually had fewer even-strength chances in the previous season. The Rangers’ vaunted power-play tank and sunk to 28th in the league thanks to struggles from players like Zibanejad and others. One major question that looms over the club is the future of Panarin, who is entering the last year of his massive contract. If the Rangers fall out of contention, does Drury package the Russian to recoup some assets? Trocheck has turned himself into a leader and a beacon of consistency on an otherwise inconsistent team. Lafreniere has been wildly inconsistent at times during his stint on Broadway. There have been times he’s looked like a top-overall pick, but has also been dreadful at other points.
Cuylle could be tasked with replacing Kreider’s production in the top six. His big frame will likely get him the same position that the veteran had on the power play. Miller came over after an acrimonious end in Vancouver. However, the newly-minted captain did average a point a game after coming over to Madison Square Garden. Miller being selected as captain is also a choice that could raise some questions. Zibanejad had an off-year, but did pick things up after Miller came over via trade.
The Bottom Six
The biggest question in the bottom-six is where Perreault could slot into the lineup. Does the highly-touted rookie make the team or is he better-served heading to the AHL and getting some top-line minutes? Brodzinski gave a great account of himself on the bottom-six and could move between either line. Raddysh has been a solid-enough role player in previous stops around the league.
Edstrom earned himself a new contract over the summer, but is also coming off an injury. Carrick was a steady force on the bottom-half of the lineup and came up with some surprising offence at times. Rempe will likely be in and out of the lineup depending on situational needs. If the Rangers need some muscle, he’ll likely slot into the lineup. The feisty Othmann will try to earn a spot in the lineup. We could also see Brett Berard get a shot on the bottom-six if Perreault does get sent down to Hartford for more seasoning.
Defensive Pairings
Vladislav Gavrikov-Adam Fox
Carson Soucy-William Borgen
Urho Vaakanainen-Braeden Schneider
Extra: Scott Morrow
Top Four
Gavrikov cashed in after proving his value with the Kings. Drury also managed to get him for $7 million, which is a value considering the going rate for other blueliners that were on the market. Fox didn’t have the season that he’s capable of having, but his numbers were still decent. He had to carry the water due to the team not having a solid partner for him after the Ryan Lindgren trade. However, the pairing will likely eat up plenty of minutes for the Rangers and be on the ice for all situations.
It’s a Seattle Kraken reunion on the second pairing as the mid-season acquisitions will be put together. The duo will be physical, but will be thrusted onto the second pairing when they’re likely more a bottom unit. There have been times when both defenders have struggled.
Bottom Pairing
Vaakanainen came over from the Ducks and was one of the late-season bright spots. He’s only 26 and there’s a hope he’ll continue his growth under Sullivan. Schneider is 23 years old, but has gained valuable experience. There’s hope that he can also learn in Sullivan’s inaugural season. Morrow has plenty of promise and might get some run in the lineup.
Goalies
Extra: Dylan Garrand
Shesterkin got the massive contract that he’s been seeking, but didn’t have the season he wanted. The Russian had a career-worst 2.86 goals-against-average and .905 save percentage. There’s hope he’ll turn things around and justify that $11.5 million cap hit.
Quick has been a reliable backup that’s given Shesterkin a chance to rest. Workload has been an issue with Rangers’ goalies since the days of Henrik Lundqvist. However, Quick experienced enough and can carry the workload if needed.
Players to Watch
Artemi Panarin
All eyes will be on the Russian, who is entering the last season of his massive contract. Panarin has been a great goal-scorer for the Blueshirts, but Father Time is mostly undefeated. As mentioned before, the Rangers could be tempted to make a trade if things go south.
Igor Shesterkin
The Rangers go as the Russian netminder goes. New York needs to play better in front of him if it has any designs on getting back to the postseason. Shesterkin should have a better season, but the rest of the team needs to help out.
Mika Zibanejad
The Swede only tallied 20 goals, which is a far cry from his normal rate of production. We’ve also seen trade chatter surrounding the veteran forward at numerous points last season. He’s under contract until the end of the 2030 with a massive $8.5 million cap hit. Hopefully, he can also bounce back for the 2025-26 New York Rangers.
Prediction for 2025-26 New York Rangers
Like other teams in our Puck Drop Previews, the start of the season will tell the story for the 2025-26 New York Rangers. A fast start could buoy the team and give Drury the ammunition he needs to make some in-season rentals.
However, team owner James Dolan could get impatient if the team is an also-ran this season. The Rangers won’t be a contender this season, but could be a team fighting for a Stanley Cup Playoff spot at the end. However, it’s murky on if they’ll break through. The Rangers could be loading up for a massive off-season in 2026.
Main photo by: Danny Wild-Imagn Images
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