The New York Rangers find themselves at a crossroads this season. The team’s talented but aging core has plenty of legs for a prolonged playoff run. Skilled veterans like Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, and J.T. Miller can will the club to a successful season.
Norris Trophy defenseman Adam Fox and Vezina-caliber netminder Igor Shesterkin round out an enviable core. That core would be the envy of just about every NHL franchise. But after an underachieving 2024-25 season, the Rangers must prove they still have what it takes to compete in the Eastern Conference.
Yes, fans can bet on the Rangers rebounding in 2025-26. But what if the club falls flat despite the tutelage of new coach Mike Sullivan? Sullivan is a proven winner. He’s got the track record the Rangers need to compete.
But there’s always the chance that the Rangers’ flaws go beyond the need for a new voice behind the bench. It could be that the Blue Shirts are past their prime. If that’s indeed the case, the Rangers may be hurtling towards an inevitable outcome.
That outcome could be a rebuild that could plunge fans into years of misery despite the team’s best efforts to extend its competitive window.
Rangers Management does not see Rebuild Coming
Judging from the Rangers’ offseason moves, team management does not see a rebuild coming. Hiring a top-tier coach like Mike Sullivan would have been bonkers if the plan was to rebuild at some point within the next five years.
Plus, the club’s core is too good to tear down at this point. For instance, Shesterkin will be starting his new contract this season. Zibanejad, Miller, Fox, and Alexis Lafreniere are all under contract for the foreseeable future.
So, there wouldn’t be a rebuild on the horizon. Questions will undoubtedly emerge if the Rangers cannot make headway this season. While the club will seek to prove that last year’s playoff miss was an aberration, questions linger.
Another playoff miss would be disastrous for the Blue Shirts. It could be the catalyst for another offseason of speculation regarding the club’s future.
Playoff Appearance Won’t Be Enough for Blue Shirts
Getting back to the playoffs will be a crucial goal for the Rangers. Anything less than getting back to the postseason would be utterly unacceptable. However, just getting back to the playoffs will not be enough. The club will need to make a deep playoff run to quell some of the uncertainty surrounding it this season.
Given how the Rangers are one year removed from a Presidents’ Trophy season, it’s reasonable for fans to expect a similar bounce-back season in 2025-26. Plus, the club made it to the Conference Finals with essentially the same core it has now.
So, it wouldn’t be ludicrous to imagine that the Blue Shirts could pull off a similar feat this season. If things go right for the Rangers, a Stanley Cup wouldn’t be out of the question. But that involves plenty of things going right.
But if plenty of things go wrong, the club may have no choice but to accept reality. A rebuild may be necessary to set up the team for long-term success.
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