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.