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New York Rangers preview, predictions for 2025-26 NHL season
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- New York Rangers preview, predictions for 2025-26 NHL season
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There are plenty of reasons for the New York Rangers to feel reasonably good heading into the 2025-26 season. Not the least of which is that this season can't be nearly as dysfunctional and disappointing as the previous one.
The 2024-25 campaign was an all-timer, for sure. Just for all the wrong reasons, though. If it could go wrong — on or off the ice — it did a year ago. From general manager Chris Drury completely misreading the room, to Peter Laviolette not having any answers for the team-wide faceplant, to trades and roster upheaval and poor effort and simply putrid play … well, we could go on, but you get the idea.
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It was a complete mess for the Rangers last season.
But now there's a new coach, a new captain, and an apparent fresh start that's embraced by everyone from Drury on down through the organization. "No BS" is their motto .
The Mike Sullivan bump, a full season of J.T. Miller leading the way with his no-nonsense approach, and expected bounce backs by key players should be enough to vault the Rangers right back into the mix this season. Remember, as bad as the Rangers were in 2024-25 (39-36-7; 85 points), they only missed the postseason by six points.
Rangers season preview: Path to success
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Of course, they'll need to start — and finish — games better this season. In fact, sprinkling in more than a handful of complete 60-minute efforts should go a long way because those were few and far between last season.
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Sullivan, a former Rangers assistant, and Miller, a former first-round pick by the Rangers, aren't the only old faces back in the organization. David Quinn, fired as Rangers coach four years ago in Drury's first major move as general manager, returns as Sullivan's assistant.
Quinn's in charge of the power play and the defensemen — two of the club's biggest areas of weakness from the previous campaign. The Rangers dropped to 28th in the League on the power play (17.6 percent) and 19th in team defense (3.11 goals allowed per game) in 2024-25. They were third on the power play the season prior (26.4 percent) and seventh in team defense (2.76 GAA).
The power play grew stale last season, and returns the same PP1 unit — minus Chris Kreider . Perhaps, Quinn will work in a new wrinkle or two. More TOI for the second unit — with Will Cuylle , Alexis Lafreniere , Braden Schneider , Conor Sheary , and Matt Rempe (!) to start the season — would be a novel approach.
The addition of Vladislav Gavrikov bolsters the defense corps, and should free up Adam Fox to do his thing offensively 5v5, each a major positive. If Igor Shesterkin doesn't face the most shots in the League this season playing behind a Keystone Cops defense — minus the laugh track — there's a good bet he'll return to form as one of — if not the — best goalies in the NHL.
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In a season of retribution for the Rangers, rebounds by Shesterkin, Fox, Lafreniere, Carson Soucy , Jonathan Quick , and (especially) Mika Zibanejad are paramount. Cuylle must take the next step as a top-six forward after his first 20-goal season. And breakouts from Noah Laba , Schneider, Rempe, and Juuso Parssinen would be most welcome.
Vincent Trocheck ? He just needs to keep doing all that he does. Trocheck's an invaluable two-way player for the Rangers, one of the best face-off men in the League, and an important member of the leadership group.
Keep an eye on the kids. Laba, Gabe Perreault , and Scott Morrow were the talk of training camp. Even though the latter two begin the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League — as do Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard — there's a good chance that the Rangers youngsters will get a chance to contribute this season. The improved depth in New York and Hartford this season is a big plus for the Rangers.
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Rangers season preview: Red flags ahead of centennial campaign
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There are concerns for the Rangers heading into their centennial season, though. Their forward group is top heavy, and most of those key players are age 32 or older. Artemi Panarin , who turns 34 in late October and is the Rangers most consistent and dynamic offensive threat, missed all of the preseason with a pair of injuries. Miller, 32, sustained a non-contact lower-body injury in camp and played just one preseason game. Zibanejad is also 32 and his production slipped significantly the past two seasons.
The defense corps doesn't inspire a lot of faith after the top pair of Gavrikov and Fox. Schneider is a key here. The 24-year-old had surgery to repair a torn labrum and is a full go, hopefully to return to his physical "Baby Trouba" style of play, with more minutes promised by Sullivan. The Rangers are also banking on Urho Vaakanainen being a sleeper, overlooked by many but a consistent regular contributor on the back end. They also hope steady Will Borgen can bring out the best in Soucy, his defense partner back in their days together with the Seattle Kraken .
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They say old habits die hard, so the Rangers must hope that their third-period failures during the preseason are not a carryover from last season. If so, they're in trouble. The Rangers were outscored 10-0 in the third periods from the their first five preseason games, and blew three third-period leads, including two multi-goal leads. Of course, neither Shesterkin nor Quick was in goal for any of those meltdowns, but it's worth watching if this trend becomes an uncomfortable fixture in the regular season.
Forever Blueshirts staff predictions for Rangers in 2025-26 season
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Jim Cerny – Executive Editor
Rangers: 3rd in Metro; 6th in Eastern Conference; Lose second round of Stanley Cup Playoffs
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It's not always going to be pretty, but the Rangers will be far steadier this season than a year ago. Minus the off-ice drama, the Rangers should settle in to play a more consistent game under Sullivan. It's a somewhat flawed roster, but there's still plenty of talent on it. A more successful power play, combined with Shesterkin's brilliance between the pipes again will be at the heart of New York's success. Gavrikov will greatly impact the Rangers on the back end, where they needed the most help. Fox should thrive with Gavrikov as his steady partner 5v5. And the kids will provide a spark when called on. The Metro is a good — not great division. The Rangers will eke out a spot in the division's top three and win a round in the postseason, before the Carolina Hurricanes finally get over the hump and defeat them in Round 2.
Metro champion: Hurricanes
Stanley Cup champion: Stars defeat Hurricanes
Rangers MVP: Igor Shesterkin
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NHL MVP: Connor McDavid
John Kreiser — Senior Writer
Rangers: 4th in Metro; 9th in Eastern Conference; Miss Stanley Cup Playoffs
The playoff pickings are pretty slim for the Rangers. The Hurricanes are loaded and will likely outlast the New Jersey Devils for first in the Metropolitan Division. The Atlantic Division is a lot stronger than the Metro, and as was the case last season, should be home to the two wild cards (likely from among the Ottawa Senators , Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings ). The two-time defending champion Florida Panthers should have enough to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite missing star center Aleksander Barkov for the whole season with a knee injury. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs should also make the top three in the division.
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Bringing in Sullivan behind the bench will help the Rangers; his defensive system seems a much better fit than Laviolette's. Shesterkin is an elite goaltender, Fox is a top-five defenseman and the top two lines have plenty of firepower (assuming Panarin and Miller are healthy). The Rangers are better than the two Pennsylvania teams and (probably) the Islanders . But to get into the playoffs, they'll also have to be better than the defending division champion Washington Capitals and the young-but-talented Columbus Blue Jackets , who finished ahead of them last season. It's not impossible, but it won't be easy.
Metro champion: Hurricanes
Stanley Cup champion: Golden Knights defeat Hurricanes
Rangers MVP: Igor Shesterkin
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NHL MVP: Cale Makar
Tom Castro — Staff Writer
Rangers: 3rd in Metro; 8th in Eastern Conference; Lose first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs
There's every reason to believe the Rangers will be better this season after last season's crash from Presidents Trophy winners in 2023-24 to missing the playoffs. Sullivan, Drury's long-sought coach, is a difference-maker behind the bench, and he'll inherit what should be a much better mood in the dressing room than what the Blueshirts experienced a year ago. A full season with Miller, the newly-minted captain, setting a more physical, no-nonsense tone should also help, especially if he can continue to bring the best out of expected linemate Zibanejad. The defense also has a chance to perform at a higher level thanks to the addition of Gavrikov. And the Rangers are counting on a return to elite form from Fox, with whom Gavrikov is expected to pair. The roster, however, remains flawed, with significant doubt surrounding the third line in particular. If Shesterkin can also improve his performance after playing at least somewhat below his usual lofty standards last season, and Sullivan and his staff can tighten up the team defense, the Rangers should be back in the playoffs, even if they're not the Stanley Cup contenders of two seasons ago.
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Metro champion: Hurricanes
Stanley Cup champion: Stars defeat Lightning
Rangers MVP: Igor Shesterkin
NHL MVP: Connor McDavid
Lou Orlando — Staff Writer
Rangers: 3rd in Metro; 5th in Eastern Conference; Lose Eastern Conference Final
Over the last decade, the Rangers have a pretty good track record during the inaugural season of a new head coach. I expect that to continue as Sullivan takes the helm and introduces a fresh system to a familiar core. New York will return to the postseason, clinching a top-three spot in the Metro. While I don't have the Rangers vying for a Presidents' Trophy, a full season of Miller and a Norris Trophy-winning campaign from Fox will ensure a bounce back from the maaive disappointment last season. It could be an uneven product to start, but the injection of some young blood into the lineup — including Laba — will be enough of a spark to fuel a strong second half. A Stanley Cup championship is a long shot, but I can see the Blueshirts knocking off their Metro rivals to reach the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in five seasons.
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Metro champion: Hurricanes
Stanley Cup champion: Stars defeat Panthers
Rangers MVP: Adam Fox
NHL MVP: Kirill Kaprizov
Jennifer O'Regan — Features Writer
Rangers: 4th in Metro; 7th in Eastern Conference; Lose second round of Stanley Cup Playoffs
I believe the Rangers are set up to claw their way back into serious playoff contention in 2025–26. The question is whether they can stabilize around a core that underperformed last season. Shesterkin's rebound is nonnegotiable — if he can return to form, the ceiling rises fast. The offense still has upside, especially if Cuylle continues to grow into a full-time top-six role. The defense, now bolstered by Gavrikov, needs to sustain structure in Sullivan's system. If all those pieces click, I see New York not just sneaking in as a wild-card but possibly winning a round in the postseason. But there's no room for sloppy nights or mental lapses. In a loaded Metro, the margin for error is razor-thin.
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Metro champion:Hurricanes
Stanley Cup champion: Avalanche defeat Panthers
Rangers MVP: Will Cuylle
NHL MVP: Connor McDavid
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