In an article published by The Fourth Period earlier today, questions were raised on the New York Rangers, and what may come next if things do not improve. Although not yet even November, as the team works to adjust to new Head Coach Mike Sullivan, there is cause for concern. The Blueshirts are currently dead last in the Metropolitan Division, fresh off a 5-1 defeat at the hands of the 32nd-ranked Flames.
Few organizations have had as many highs and lows as New York over the last five years, with a revolving door of coaches. David Quinn, Gerard Gallant, and Peter Laviolette all came and went, and now Sullivan is tasked with bringing stability. Gallant and Laviolette both posted win percentages over .600, and made the conference finals, but still found themselves out of jobs a year later. Quinn, on the other hand, has returned to the Rangers’ bench as an assistant on Sullivan’s staff.
Given the massive underachievement last season and overall culture issues, moving on from Laviolette was a no-brainer, but Sullivan has not yet found his footing. And with the way the roster is constructed, the clock is ticking. Not long ago, the Rangers were rebuild-focused, with a dynamic young core. Now, somewhat suddenly, their forward corps is headlined by stars quickly approaching their mid-thirties. Of course, the elephant in the room is superstar Artemi Panarin, soon to be 34, who is a UFA come season’s end.
The likes of J.T. Miller, Mika Zibanejad, and Vincent Trocheck are locked up for the long haul, but there is extra pressure for the team to find answers right now. If New York manages to lose Panarin one way or another, it is hard to imagine the existing core returning to their previous Presidents’ Trophy-winning, Conference Finals level. Zibanejad’s decline has come in the thick of his eight-year deal at a cap hit of $8.5MM, which has four years remaining. Sullivan has to try to get the 32-year-old back on the 70+ point level. Trocheck, a very consistent sidekick, is out week-to-week as the team eagerly awaits his return.
Two young forwards among the experienced group, Alexis Lafreniere and Will Cuylle, must find their game under Sullivan, as neither has more than 3 points in 10 games. The former first overall pick Lafreniere’s play, which at times has left more to be desired, is well-known. Cuylle, on the other hand, broke out last year with 20 goals, production that likely played a part in GM Chris Drury shipping out Chris Kreider. The 34-year-old played 13 years for the Rangers, and while the move was reasonable considering his decline in 2024-25, Kreider has netted four goals in five games with Anaheim, production difficult to ignore.
On the back end, as mentioned in the article, Braden Schneider has been thrown around in possible trade scenarios, but at just 24, it is debatable if Drury should be losing more youth, having already sent K’Andre Miller packing last summer in favor of 29-year-old Vladislav Gavrikov, signed through 2029-30 at $7MM.
There is most certainly still time, but pressure is quickly building in New York. All the pieces are there, with elite talent across the board and a proven coach. However, with such little salary cap space, Drury is in a difficult situation if the Rangers are unable to shake their struggles from last season.
I truly hope Sullivan is not the USA Olympics HC.
As an outsider I have questioned Drury’s decisions, but that team looks old, slow with no plan.
Me too. Drury seems to be the biggest problem aside from the culture.
I think a lot of people overlook how weak this roster really is.
The Rangers quit on Chris Drury last season when he started moving out players, And It’s not going to get any better until the GM is gone.
Does seem like the questions started pretty early on last year and they’ve spent a lot of assets going from bad to worse. If they win the McKenna sweepstakes one wonders who he’s gonna play with!
Gosh, what an amazing concept, eight year deals being handed to players about to hit 30 souring well before the end. Who knew?
this team is cursed from the top down. James Dolan, who hired Sather, who hired Drury, who built a team full of prima donnas, has-beens, and never-wases. Six third-pair d-men, an AHLer on the first line, a sandpaper tiger captain, four no-accountability coaches in a row, a 1st overall bust, no ability to foster prospects, no talent evaluation, and a bunch of guys who lost their mojo and pass when there’s an open net. Never won for Henrik, never will for Igor. RIP Rangers.
And I’m a diehard Rangers fan ;-;
Me too…and I’m totally agree with you
As brutal as this team is right now… Adam Fox and Vlad Gavrikov are still top 4 D on every single team in the NHL. And I don’t think you can throw too much blame on Sully at this point (maybe other than Sheary playing over the kids). Otherwise I mostly agree with the rest of what you said (and yes, I’m a frustrated NYR fan too).
Welcome to what penguins fans were saying for years. Sullivan is loyal to a fault and sheary is literally family.
Six third-pair D men, huh? Tell us what you really think.
I wonder at what point do they completely panic and have a fire sale? Thanksgiving? Christmas? New Years? Or MLK Day? Wait how did that get in there? LOL
Problem is they can’t do much without invoking more trade protection circumvention like they did with goodrow, trouba, and kreider. They should just fire Drury before he makes more of a mess of everything. Let the next Gm do the teardown. Problem with ~that~ is Dolan and the cigar chompers upstairs don’t know enough to hire a strong gm that won’t capitulate. they had one in Gorton, who has since put together a competitive Montreal squad, but he went against him and that got him fired. There’s no good answer when the owner meddles too much.
Drury is the most pro-active GM in the league. He won’t just sit back and watch.
This is going to be fun for Rangers haters and a nightmare for the Rangers themselves.
I think reactive is the right word.
Miller, Trouba, and Kreider all off to good starts…hmm…
I’m thrilled that Miller is gone. Softest player imaginable.
Yep, and Fox played to long with him. Bad habbits.
Like I said before players play for themselves. Not coaches fault but they are the scapegoat for sure. GM should go too. Dolan is an donkey for sure.
I love watching the Rangers crash and burn every season. Sometimes it’s early, sometimes it’s late, or in the playoffs, but it’s going to happen. 1994 was an aberration. Messier and all the ex-Oilers were bound to win one. But since then they have gone right back to their losing ways. This will be another cup less year. One Cup in 85 years and counting. Go Rangers.
look who’s back repeating the same thing every post… for some reason very coy about what team you root for, which means they are even worse, befitting a coward.
Really need to consider trading a few older players now and go into another semi rebuild or retool for next season. Next years draft is supposedly as deep a draft as we seen in 10 years so trade Panarin, see if you can move Mika contract. Bring up Perrault and Bedard. Go younger. Tank for McKenna.
I guess I didn’t realize what a tired hack Sully has become…
Our “tank job” now looks like one of the best retools in recent memory because of Dan Muse.
Meanwhile, the Rangers look as lifeless as the Ryan Graves era Pens.
You mean playing 8 bottom 6 players isnt a good plan for scoring? Everything i know must be wrong.
Canes fans just loving it along with most of the rest of the Metro!
Good thing the Rangers gave the Pens that #1 pick last year the way they’ve started this year
Imagine they traded that pick, and it turned into McKenna.
Drury must go!. He’s become the Isaiah Thomas of MSG
Questions Beginning To Mount ? What do you mean beginning. They have never stopped. As long as they have the best GM in the league what can go wrong.