#new-york-rangers

#new-york-rangers

The New York Rangers are embarking on their second iteration of a letter-inspired retool-let's be honest, rebuild is more apt-and much like the last time, veterans on expiring contracts or valuable contracts must beware. The Rangers-Chris Drury-made it very clear in the letter that the goal is not to tear apart the team. The logical assumption is that the majority of players under the age of, say, 27, will remain on the roster past the trade deadline, but I argue that everyone should be on the table, and both Braden Schneider and Will Cuylle should be traded.

As the Olympic roster freeze nears, more and more players are rumored to be available. One that caught our attention was Shane Wright in Seatlle, who would be the perfect Rangers trade target. Seattle is rumored to be dangling Wright in exchange for a "legitimate top six threat," which the Rangers just so happen to have available right now. As Chris Drury wants the Rangers to become younger and faster, it's hard to find a more perfect Rangers trade target

What started out as a great looking game quickly turned into a dominating performance by Anaheim, who feasted all night on the Rangers in transition and off turnovers. The shorthanded Rangers were exposed, with Anaheim taking advantage of Braden Schneider on the top pair and Spencer Martin in net. No one likes losses, but the Rangers tank rolled on with a regulation loss to a team that was behind them in the standings just one week ago.

Over the weekend, general manager Chris Drury confirmed what everyone already knew: The Rangers are going to sell leading up to the NHL's March 6 trade deadline. That makes the likes of Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere available. But this isn't a full-scale rebuild. The organizational pieces like goalie Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox have Drury using the term re-tool, which still is not what Sullivan was expecting to walk into when he took the Blueshirts' job in the offseason.

When Chris Drury made the trade last season for JT Miller to re-join the New York Rangers, the logic was simple, if mildly flawed. Miller is a fiery personality who doesn't accept losing, and the Rangers were doing plenty of losing. Additionally, Miller came at the cost of an oft-injured third line center, a bottom pair defenseman, and a first round draft pick.

I came into this season with an open mind. Mike Sullivan has the ability to take a very mediocre team and make it better. I expected the Rangers to rebound and make the playoffs due to a weak conference, even if this was viewed as a transition season. But there's a bleak Rangers future, and it's something very few of us anticipated. The Rangers weren't supposed to be this bad, even in a transition year.

The Rangers have recalled forward Brennan Othmann again. To make space, Anton Blidh was returned to the AHL. Othmann was reassigned on New Year's Day after the first wave of 2026 injuries that included Noah Laba and Conor Sheary. His reassignment then was due to bonuses in his contract making it impossible to keep him on the roster and still be cap compliant.

They are not a team. They are a collection of individuals. When you watch other teams around the league, their players do not act like the Rangers players do. Leaders taking unsportsmanlike penalties instead of back checking, not skating hard to loose pucks with an empty net, and the overall mopey attitude once down a goal are all unique to the Rangers.

Live From the Blue Seats is back at it tonight after the Buffalo game, returning to our normal schedule after shifting things around during the holidays. Rob, Dave, and Producer JL will talk the Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin injuries, what it means for the short term, how it impacts their plans the rest of the season, and how the Rangers should approach the next month or so before the Olympics.

Alexis Lafrenière had three assists and Igor Shesterkin stopped 36 shots for the Rangers, who improved to 6-0-0 in outdoor games. Sam Reinhart scored for Florida, which was playing outdoors for the first time and lost for the fourth time in its last six contests overall. The Panthers gave up goals to Zibanejad and Panarin 64 seconds apart late in the first period, giving New York a 2-0 lead, and the Rangers kept control the rest of the way.

Remember that time Chris Drury sold James Dolan a false bill of goods after Tom Wilson embarrassed the Rangers in 2021 and got the regime changed? Well Tom Wilson certainly had a day for the Capitals after being named to the Team Canada Olympic team with 2 goals and a fight after taking Noah Laba out of the game with a clean hit. Yes it was clean. No response from the Rangers though, so maybe that Tom Wilson problem hasn't been fixed after all.

Is getting shutout 8 times in a season before New Year's Day good? I don't even really know what to say anymore at this point. It's the same thing over, and, over, and, over again with this group. They put up 5 in the third against Washington, but can't even muster a real chance against the Islanders. They are the most mystifying team in the entire NHL. What more is there to say other than this team absolutely stinks,