Blueshirt Banter 2026-26 Season Preview Roundtable
New coach, fresh slate, same stakes. Before puck drop at MSG, the Banter crew debates where the Rangers finish, who breaks out, and which bets to smash in our three-part preview.
The long summer wait is over. The 2025-26 New York Rangers season is finally here.
Ahead of puck drop at Madison Square Garden against new head coach Mike Sullivan's old team—the Pittsburgh Penguins—the entire Blueshirt Banter crew has come together for a Season Preview Roundtable, taking a look at what expectations we all have for this coming season. It'll come at you in three parts: 10 questions about our expectations for the team and for certain players, over/under lines for the team and for certain players, and our final predictions for the season.
Feel free to answer the questions yourself in the comments below.
Enjoy, and Let's go Rangers!
Part 1: Questions
1) Where will the Rangers finish in the Metropolitan Division standings?
Joe Fortunato: Second. I don't think the Metro is particularly scary, and the Rangers weren't that far away from being in some form of contention last year despite quitting for six weeks. They still have the best goalie in the league, Adam Fox has an actual professional hockey player next to him this year, and the offense should be revamped. Everything went wrong last year. Can it go wrong again? Probably! But if it doesn't, this is where I see the Rangers.
Eric Kohn: Third. I expect some regression from the Washington Capitals after they ran away with the Metro last season, but not enough to put them behind the Rangers. Both Carolina and New Jersey should be at least as good as they were last year, and an improved Rangers team can challenge the Devils for third. However, for what it's worth, I think it's more likely they finish fourth than they finish second.
Chip23: I'm going to turn this over to Jake Taylor from Major League. I know Carolina is the favorite, and frankly I just don't care. The Rangers won the President's Trophy two years ago with an idiot coach and a less talented roster. With Mike Sullivan at the helm, a rejuvenated Mika Zibanejad, and Adam Fox no longer being shackled to Ryan Lindgren, they should be much better than that team was, to say nothing of being better than last year's iteration.
Tom Dianora: I think the Rangers will rebound from last season's disaster and finish third in the Metro. They won't be elite, but between some natural improvement from a very good coach, an actually-good defenseman to play with Adam Fox, less off-ice drama (hopefully), and a relatively weak division, I see them sliding into the top three. I think Washington will take a major step back, but also Columbus will make things interesting for that third slot.
Chris Feldman: I'm going to be cautiously optimistic and say third. Realistically, the Rangers could, and should, be candidates to finish as high as second, if not first in a weaker Metropolitan Division. Although after last season, simply making the playoffs is a win.
Ethan Haas: Second. Carolina is a clear favorite, and rightfully so. If we remove some recency bias, the Rangers should be better than the Devils, or at the least competitive, and the same for the Capitals. Thinking back 2-3 years and about the Rangers depth in comparison to this year, the Rangers should be stronger. Assuming they can take on both the Capitals and Devils, or at least one out of two, they should finish second or, at the lowest, third.
Keegan Jarvis: I think the Metro is wide open this year, but I'll play it safe and say third. They finished just six points behind the third place Devils last season. With a better coach and a couple new pieces, there's no reason to think the Rangers can't be one of the top three teams in the division.
Snark Messier: If things go well for the Rangers, I can see them finishing in third place this season. I still believe that the Washington Capitals have a better team, albeit not better goaltending. And I think the Columbus Blue Jackets may shock a lot of folks (again) this season.
Roberto Solis-Byxbee: I'm going all in on this team. I'm pleased with many of the changes they made this offseason. I think they'll place second.
Jake DiBlasio: I believe the Rangers will finish third in the Metropolitan Division behind the Carolina Hurricanes and the New Jersey Devils. The Hurricanes are one of the more well-rounded teams in the league, and if the Devils are able to remain healthy throughout the season, they will be plenty competitive. With Sullivan now calling the shots, the Rangers should be able to finish third in the division.
Joe Fortunato
2) Coming off the slow-rolling catastrophe of last season that saw the Rangers miss the playoffs and play some of the worst hockey we've seen from them in years, what are your expectations for the Rangers this season?
Joe: I think the Rangers should easily be a playoff team. From there it gets a little wonky. On talent alone, as currently constructed, they should be able to get out of the first round so long as they don't have a nightmare matchup. They could theoretically make more noise than that, but I would need to see how this group gels over the course of the season. Today, my expectation are that the Rangers are a first or second round exit from the playoffs—but they aren't embarrassed.
Eric: I expect them to be improved over last year's squad for sure. We've seen the Rangers do remarkable things in the first year of the new head coach dating back to Alain Vigneault (of course excepting David Quinn, who was never expected to seriously win when he was hired). They were nearly a playoff team last year, despite all of that insanity. So I expect them to return to postseason play. Depending on their draw, I can see them making the second round. But barring Igor Shesterkin going god-mode, I have a hard time see them going further than that.
Chip: This is going to be a fun team to watch. For the first time this is truly Chris Drury's team and I think you're going to see that in how they play. They're going to be a bunch of assholes on the ice, throwing their bodies around, and making life miserable for other teams. It's going to be a return to the Black & Blueshirts that John Tortorella ran, but with much more talent. That doesn't mean I expect Panarin or Fox to throw big hits. But guys like Miller, Cuylle, Rempe, Edstrom, Gavrikov, Borgen, and even Soucy are going to be a handful. Plus I expect some fun additions to the roster along the way. I already have them winning the Metro and I think a return to the Eastern Conference Final is not out of the question.
Tom: Since I have them finishing third in the division, I see the Rangers as a playoff team. As frustrating as much of this franchise's history is, and as flawed as the roster is, the perfect storm that led them to underachieve to the extent that they did last year is not something I see happening again anytime soon. (I know, famous last words.) Now, will they do any meaningful damage in the playoffs? Probably not. Although if they can get by a team like the Devils in the first round, and set up a potential matchup with Carolina, another Conference Final run could be in play. The Hurricanes will have a very good regular season, but I do not respect them or their style as a serious playoff contender.
Chris: My expectation is the Rangers make the playoffs and are competitive enough to win at bare minimum one playoff round, ideally two. Realistically, the players should continue with the mindset that they are Cup contenders, therefore suggesting that they could go further shouldn't be that crazy of a concept.
Ethan: Energy, for the team's benefit and for the fans. This season should not only be a statement to the hockey world that last year was a fluke, but also that the team is tough, brings intensity, and has fun winning.
Keegan: I'm keeping my expectations a bit low coming into this season. It's Mike Sullivan's first year behind the bench and there are still a lot of moving parts. As of now, I think getting back to the playoffs is the goal. Anything else that happens after that is just an added bonus.
Snark: Since 2009-10, when the New York Rangers have started a season with a brand new head coach, they've made it to the Eastern Conference Final 60 percent of the time, and the Stanley Cup Final 20 percent of the time. In Mike Sullivan's first full season with the Pittsburgh Penguins, they won the Stanley Cup. Do with this information what you will, folks.
Roberto: With a new system and new leadership in place, I think out of the gate, there will be some stumbling. It's essential that they don't hit the panic button and stick to their process, because the team has too much top-end talent to plunge into another free fall. With Sullivan at the helm, I expect they'll figure it out in November and never look back. I bet the team loses in the second round to the eventual Conference champion.
Jake: I expect the Rangers to be a playoff team. They have more than enough talent, one of the top coaches in the league, and hopefully won't quit in the middle of the season again. While I am not banking on this team to do damage in the playoffs, I can see them stealing a series if Igor Shesterkin plays like playoff Igor.
3) Who will have a breakout season?
Joe: If he plays on the top power play unit I would say Alexis Lafrenière for sure. I still think he's the guy. I'm expecting huge things. I will also add: I think Vladislav Gavrikov will have the best offensive season of his career, and I think Will Cuylle is going to have a monster year as well.
Eric: I'm tempted to say Adam Fox just to roil some people (though I do think having Gavrikov for a defensive partner is really going to unlock him). But I think it's Lafrenière. Partly because he has to, and partly because I think, even if he doesn't start the year on the top power play unit, he'll end up there. To the extent that a player of his tenure and stature can have a "breakout," I'll also say Mika Zibanejad. He should benefit a lot from the 1C role being shifted to J.T. Miller, while he plays on Miller's wing.
Chip: There are so many to choose from. It's more of a bounce back than a break out, but I'm going with Mika. We saw him come alive when Miller got here—not just in terms of counting stats but just in terms of playing with passion and speed— and I think that continues. I also don't discount the David Quinn of it all. Quinn was the coach who unlocked Mika originally, and now he's back in the fold and can help (or maybe already has helped) Sullivan understand what makes #93 tick. I wouldn't be shocked by a return to the player who actually earned this contract in the first place—a player who plays with speed and intention across all zones, has a wicked shot, and can get 90+ points. In terms of players reaching new levels, I think Lafrenière, Cuylle, and Scott Morrow have huge seasons for the Rangers.
Tom: He already had somewhat of a breakout season in 2023-24, but given his regression last year, and the fact that his ceiling is still higher than his 57-point campaign two seasons ago, I'll go with Alexis Lafrenière. It sounds like he's going to actually get meaningful time on the power play, which will help his production, along with the whole team in general likely not having the malaise of last season hanging over them. Another fun possibility is Noah Laba. At the time of this writing, he is not a lock to make the roster, but he's had an excellent training camp and preseason, and I could see him helping the Rangers' depth issues by ultimately becoming a reliable third-line center with some offensive upside.
Chris: I suspect there are three common answers to this question so I'm going to go outside the box and say Adam Edstrom. As long as he's fully recovered from that injury and doesn't face any major setbacks on the ice as a result of it, a full season in the NHL could do wonders for him—to the point where I could see him champing at the bit for a chance at being the team's third line center over Jusso Parssinen.
Ethan: I'm looking to Cuylle to really make a jump in scoring this year. Not because he should have scored on more chances last year, but this year he should see improvement in beating defenders to the net, gaining position, and being really hard to knock off the puck. If he gets top six minutes, his linemates will certainly have the hockey IQ to find him if he's open.
Keegan: This is Will Cuylle's year. He's already slated to play top-six minutes, likely with J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. After a solid 45 points in 82 games in a third-line role last season, I could easily see Cuylle breaking 60 points this year. Beyond that, I also think one of the Rangers' main four forward prospects—Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann, Brett Berard, and Noah Laba—will have a major impact on the team this year in some fashion.
Snark: I'm going to agree with Chris, and also go with Adam Edstrom. Edstrom's breakout hinges on suppressed metrics converting: If his IPP sits below 50 percent while maintaining solid iSCF/iHDCF rates, he's generating chances that haven't translated to points—classic positive regression territory. His 6-8 frame creates hidden value through rebounds, net-front screens, and a strong hits-to-hits-taken ratio that controls physical play while maintaining positive possession despite defensive zone starts. With shooting percentage due to normalize from sub-8 percent to 10-12 percent given his net-front deployment, plus increased ice time as the Rangers need cheap depth, those invisible contributions become a visible 15-goal/25-point breakout. If you couple that together with Sam Carrick, who is coming off the best season of his career, the Rangers may end up having a very deadly one-two punch on their fourth line.
Roberto: I've been yelling this for years, so why change now? Alexis Lafrenière. He's going to have an 80-point season. I'm willing this into existence.
Jake: If this is the year he finally sees time on the first power play unit, it has to be Alexis Lafrenière. The writing is on the wall for him, as he has been one of the Rangers' top five-on-five players the past few seasons. While I think it would be unfair to call it a breakout, Adam Fox playing with Gavrikov under Sullivan has got to be a recipe for success.
4) Who will end up as a scapegoat?
Joe: Generally speaking, in these situations the guy with the least amount of rope ends up being the scapegoat. That is Mika Zibanejad, hands down. However I am going to zag here and say Adam Fox. Not because it's logical and not because he's going to deserve it (if things do go wrong), but because it's September and these people are the loudest voices right now. Disclaimer: If Igor has an off year, it's him because of the contract.
Eric: I could go a few ways on this. Anything less than a huge improvement for Mika will still leave him the subject of a lot of hate and blame. You already know not to get me started on the Adam Fox nonsense. But because I'm unpersuaded about the team's defense after the top pair of Fox/Gavrikov, I'm going to say Igor Shesterkin. A scapegoat is someone who is blamed mostly for reasons of expediency. And the combination of defensive questions and some people ready to pounce because of Igor's new contract, I think he gets blamed for far more than he'll be responsible for, and all despite his actual numbers being pretty good.
Chip: This really depends on a lot of factors, right? Specifically, it'll depend on where the Rangers struggle. If it's scoring, it will be Mika or Lafrenière. If it's on defense then it'll be one of Fox, Borgen, Soucy, or Schneider. With that many players to choose from I'll say: Chris Drury. Like I said above, this is for the first time truly Drury's team. The Rangers have the coach he wants, the personality he wants, and—more importantly—has shed the players he doesn't want. If this goes off the rails there's no more blaming the last regime.
Tom: Carson Soucy and/or Urho Vaakanainen—especially if their playing time comes at the expense of Scott Morrow (and it already looks like it will), whose offensive abilities from the blue line are something the Rangers could really use. They don't have any other defensemen with a high-end offensive skill set besides Adam Fox.
Chris: Mika Zibanejad. I feel that a large portion of the fan base has already turned on him as a result of last season and if this team continues to struggle, it's going to fall on his shoulders regardless of how he is playing.
Ethan: The Rangers are deeper this year, so it's hard to pick one guy that could fall out of the lineup because they're to blame for any struggles. If the Rangers are underperforming at any point, most will blame any top six forward or top defender since there are new bench bosses. There are high expectations for top paid players and if the team falls short, they may not be scoring and finger-pointing is directed at them.
Keegan: The third line, especially if it's composed of Conor Sheary, Juuso Parssinen, and Taylor Raddysh. If they struggle, fans will be quick to question why any of them made the team over the aforementioned kids.
Snark: Ultimately, I feel like it'll depend on the exact scenario at hand. If the Rangers fail to make the playoffs again, I think the blame will fall solely on Chris Drury, with a bit going to Mike Sullivan and then the players. If the Rangers' first line isn't producing at a satisfactory level, you'd better believe DJ "Mika With The Dry Hair" Zibanejad will be hearing about it from Rangers' fans. And, in terms of defense, I will certainly be ready to blame Carson Soucy for any of his eventual downfalls.
Roberto: It's hard to feel anyone other than Mika Zibanejad will end up shouldering a lot of the blame. He's part of the old guard and has a tendency to be what many fans perceive to be overly transparent. If things go wrong and Zibanejad offers his true opinion, the masses will not hesitate to get their pitchforks.
Jake: If the season fails, Mika Zibanejad will end up being the scapegoat. Fans are already frustrated with how he plays and the dip in production. The cherry on top is his no-movement clause. Fans know Zibanejad is not leaving no matter what, which makes it easy to always point fingers at him whether it is his fault or not.
5) Who will be the team MVP?
Joe: There isn't a world here where it isn't Igor Shesterkin.
Eric: J.T. Miller. He's the new captain, he's got something to prove being back in New York, and he's going to be the face of the new identity of the New York Rangers under Mike Sullivan and fully under Chris Drury's vision.
Chip: Based on play, it'll be Igor. There will be a lot of talk though about how J.T. Miller impacted this team. I would also say Gavrikov because Adam Fox is going to have a Norris Trophy-type season and part of that will be because he has a real partner.
Tom: Artemi Panarin and Adam Fox will be huge drivers of the Rangers' success this season. But the answer is always Igor Shesterkin.
Chris: Adam Fox is going to put to bed all the nonsense that he isn't a top defenseman in the league and finish third on the team in points, get back in the Norris Trophy conversation, and be a huge part of the Rangers success this season.
Ethan: Igor Shesterkin.
Keegan: Igor Shesterkin.
Snark: Igor Shesterkin.
Roberto: Adam Fox will have a Norris-caliber season and help Team USA medal in the upcoming winter olympics. I don't follow zodiac signs or anything like that, but it certainly feels like the year of the Fox to me.
Jake: Igor Shesterkin.
6) Who will be this team's unsung hero?
Joe: I had a really hard time answering this one. The fact is so many thing went wrong last year that everyone is going to be under a microscope and it's hard for me to see someone doing all the little things and not being appreciated. So I am going to zag again and say Adam Fox. Mainly because I think he's going to have a monster all around season and will not get the recognition for it he deserves.
Eric: It'll be whoever solidifies the third line center position, since that's such an open question still. That could be Juuso Parssinen. I'd like it to be Noah Laba. It could even be, as was suggested earlier, Adam Edstrom getting bumped up from the fourth line. Or, in a really ideal world, it's Vincent Trocheck getting bumped down because there's suddenly a better option available at 2C. But whoever can lock themselves into that slot will have played a big role in making the Rangers a deeper team, and it'll be important while not getting acknowledged as much as it should.
Chip: Will Borgen. I think we all expect Gavrikov and Fox to be great, but I think Borgen is the key to having a strong overall defense. If he can play well, either with Soucy or with Schneider (if Schneider moves to the left side and second pair) then the Rangers will be solid defensively.
Tom: This is a tough one, but I'll go with Adam Edstrom. He has the size that the Rangers have always been obsessed with, but he's actually a good hockey player, too. He'll provide the fourth line with reliability and steady play, and some occasional offense.
Chris: Will Borgen. I don't see him turning many heads or putting up many points but he is just going to quietly show up for all 82 games, do his job, and be a solid defender for this Rangers team.
Ethan: Will Borgen embraces gritty defending and really battles forwards hard in front of the net. Borgen had 80 blocked shots lat year, and will most likely bump his minutes up this season. If he breaks 20 minutes per game this season and the team improves the time spent in their own end, Borgen, though not flashy, will have played a pivotal role in the team's success and certainly deserve recognition.
Keegan: I'm going with two: Adam Edstrom and Matt Rempe. They work so well together as a unit, and no matter who ultimately centers them, I think they'll have a big impact on this year's team. They're going to be identity players for Sullivan and company.
Snark: If he makes the team, Noah Laba. If Laba doesn't make it, I think Will Cuylle will immediately fall back into that unsung hero role for the boys in blue.
Roberto: Adam Edstrom is going to continue to grow his game and bolster the bottom six. He'll be a big part of the Rangers' ability to shut down opposing team's top lines and bring a physical edge that a lot of defenders won't be able to handle.
Jake: If Matt Rempe keeps up what he has been doing in the preseason, it can very well be him. All the time, teams who find success do so with bargain bin players on the bottom lines. Rempe is on a cheap deal and can use his size and skating ability to terrorize teams.
7) Will Mika Zibanejad play more time at center or wing?
Joe: I honestly think this depends on so many factors that I'd slap it right down the middle at 50/50. If Parssinen fails as the 3C role then Mike Sullivan won't have a choice but to throw him back to center. If Trocheck struggles like he did last year does Sullivan move him to the wing? I think it's going to be swapping constantly.
Eric: Wing. It'll be a little nebulous because he'll play on a line with J.T. Miller, but he'll also take his fair share of face offs. But he will, for all intents and purposes, be a wing on that line. I really don't see him leaving Miller's side.
Chip: I honestly don't know. Noah Laba and Dylan Roobroeck give the Rangers options for the bottom six if Parssinen struggles. The question is: What happens if Trocheck struggles? It's almost impossible to get a really good top six center, so if Mika's playing well do they put him back and center, move Trocheck down to the 3C spot and push Perrault up into a top six left wing role? I could see it.
Tom: I think he'll play more on J.T. Miller's wing than anywhere else, especially if the Rangers do what they should do and give the third line center spot to Noah Laba. Still though, I bet Zibanejad will get some time at center when you consider injuries and inevitable line tinkering over the course of an 82-game season.
Chris: I'm going to be annoying and say 50/50. He's going to start the season on the wing, and whichever young winger doesn't make the team out of camp—probably Perreault—will eventually get called up and force Mika back to center. Still, when things aren't clicking, Mika will go back to the wing with J.T. Miller in the middle so when all is said and done, it's going to be a very close split.
Ethan: I'm going with Zibanejad's answer of playing forward, not necessarily one position of wing or center. Ultimately, Miller will take face offs if they start a sequence together so I will answer wing. But, if it sticks together, this line will be fluid in center/wing division.
Keegan: I think Zibanejad and Miller will be tied together all season. They'll alternate who takes draws to play to each other's strengths, but for all intents and purposes, Zibanejad will be primarily at wing.
Snark: In between spinning fire at local nightclubs, I think Zibanejad would be a much better fit on the wing of J.T. Miller's line this season. Zibanejad saw a huge spike in production last year after the Rangers reacquired Miller, and it's probably best for business to keep them together going forward.
Roberto: I think Zibanejad will primarily play on the wing of J.T. Miller this season. It was working last year and Zibanejad could use a player of Miller's caliber to retrieve pucks and set the tone for his shifts.
Jake: I feel like Zibanejad will play wing more time on the wing than at center. Mika has already expressed a preference to continue playing with J.T. Miller, and since it was successful last season, it seems unnecessary to change it.
8) What player currently on the roster is most likely to be traded before the trade deadline?
Joe: Does Brennan Othmann count? If som him. If he doesn't count the easiest answer is Carson Soucy since he's on a one-year contract and can be dangled at the deadline. If you want my insane answer (because I think it would be insanity) it's Alexis Lafrenière. I also don't think that's out of the realm of possibility.
Eric: Carson Soucy. Half because I think it's the most plausible and half because I'm trying to speak it into existence.
Chip: It has to be Carson Soucy, right? I mean, that's the easiest answer by a mile. But since I'm the MTPS guy, I'm going to go with Braden Schneider and here's why: It's a similar situation to K'Andre Miller in that Schneider is about to get expensive and can anyone honestly say what he is? He's played the last two years with a bum shoulder, so maybe he emerges as the player the Rangers keep telling us he is. But until I see it, I can't believe it. Additionally, if the Rangers don't move Schneider to the left, then what's the plan here? They have Morrow, Borgen, and Fox on the right side, and Morrow's making much less than Schneider.
Tom: Carson Soucy. The trade to acquire him made little sense at the time, and he isn't an impactful enough part of the team to hold on to for a playoff run this season. Plus, dealing him would not only recoup a modicum of value, but it would also open up a spot on the blue line for Scott Morrow to step into a more regular role.
Chris: Carson Soucy. Regardless of the situation the Rangers find themselves in— buyers, sellers or somewhere in between—they could afford to move on from Soucy and probably should. Unless he rekindles undeniable chemistry that makes him and Borgen an unstoppable pairing, the Rangers should sell him for whatever draft pick they can get. Even if that means trading that pick or another for a defensive upgrade.
Ethan: If the Rangers are buyers at the deadline, it's going to be a Hartford player that could have been on the roster this season. Maybe that's Othmann, but I think there is still plenty of time for him to develop and make the team next season if he's resigned.
Keegan: I agree that Carson Soucy is most likely, so I'll offer an alternative: Juuso Parssinen. It's clear that Drury likes him and is going to give him a good amount of runway to lock down the 3C spot. However, if he struggles, and Noah Laba or Dylan Roobroeck put up a strong season in Hartford, Parssinen could be the odd man out.
Snark: I'll go ahead and agree with some others here and say Carson Soucy.
Roberto: Much to Chip's dismay, Jonny Brodzinski. I think the team has multiple players who can do what he does just fine but younger and more potential.
Jake: It would likely be Carson Soucy or Brennan Othmann, if you are including him in this discussion. Othmann's days in New York City seems to be numbered, and Soucy is on an expiring deal with a reasonable cap hit of $3.25 million.
9) Will the Rangers be buyers, sellers, or somewhere in between at the trade deadline?
Joe: The actual answer is somewhere in the middle. In the two extremes: They can only be true buyers if they are somehow willing to part with what little assets they have and can fit the player under the cap. They can only be sellers if teams are willing to trade for what little the Rangers have that isn't nailed down by horrible contracts or clauses.
Eric: I don't think they're going to be good enough to justify being true buyers at the trade deadline. They also don't really have a ton in the way of assets so trade, and at some point they need hang on to some draft picks and add some prospects to the system. There's also the need to keep some cap space powder dry for the upcoming offseason (unless and until those marquee free agents are resigned by their current teams). I also don't think they're going to be bad enough to be true sellers. Plus, the roster isn't as full with players that it's clearly time to move on from, like with Ryan Lindgren et. al. last year. So, they're in the mushy middle, and any adds will be in the non-flashy, marginal deals like we saw in 2021-22 and 2023-24.
Chip: They'll want to buy but they're limited by the cap. Unless they move Lafrenière or Trocheck, they just don't have enough wiggle room to make hugely impactful moves at the deadline. I do think they'll add a defenseman though (and gee, whoever could that be?).
Tom: Modest buyers (a potential Carson Soucy trade notwithstanding). As I think they'll be in the mix for a playoff spot, Chris Drury will look for rental players who won't cost a ton, as he'll also want to keep things open for the 2026 offseason. Plus, the Rangers are somewhat restricted by their salary cap position until then. They do have two first round picks, so at least one could be trade fodder. But I'd rather see them hold on to both in what projects to be a very good draft class.
Chris: Somewhere in the middle. I feel that Chris Drury showed how much he values the 2026 draft class by giving that 2025 first round pick to Pittsburgh to complete the J.T. Miller trade instead of sending them the 2026 pick. I think he's only going to trade one of those if it's truly worth his while, and I'm not confident there are going to be players on the block that fit that description. That being said, the Rangers might sit pat, only making one or two lower risk moves at the deadline.
Ethan: Conservative approach all around. Drury will, hopefully, keep as many options open for this coming offseason as possible.
Keegan: Conservative buyers. I can't see them trading for anyone on an expiring contract. I also think they'll look to sell off a few pieces and replace them with internal options.
Snark: I think the Rangers will be a conservative mix of both. I can see them actively looking to bolster their defense, while perhaps trying to add in better middle six scoring.
Roberto: I feel the Rangers will strictly be buyers, as they'll be firmly in playoff position as the deadline approaches.
Jake: The Rangers will likely fall in between due to a number of circumstances, including their cap space and who is available. I highly doubt they'll make a big splash. But if they tried to add another center, I wouldn't be shocked.
10) Will any Rangers take home any major regular season awards?
Joe: The only two possibilities are Fox for the Norris or Shesterkin for the Vezina. I think the latter is more likely of the two. I wouldn't bet on either option though.
Eric: No, but Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin will finish in the top 4 of Norris and Vezina voting, respectively.
Chip: Norris for Fox, Vezina for Igor, Jack Adams for Sullivan are all on the table. Somehow I just don't see J.T. Miller being in the Lady Bing conversation, though.
Tom: A Vezina Trophy for Igor Shesterkin is always possible. But I'm guessing that, as happened so often during Henrik Lundqvist's tenure, some other goalie will have the season of his life and get all the accolades, while Igor will just be consistently good year after year. Repeat the process next year with another goalie. Having said that, I think Mike Sullivan could be in play for the Jack Adams trophy, because voters love when a team has a resurgent season with a new coach.
Chris: Does the Mark Messier Leadership Award count? Because if the Rangers make the playoffs, J.T. Miller is probably a lock for that. Otherwise, Shesterkin is always in the Vezina conversation. But I sort of agree with Tom and could see someone like Lukas Dostal of Anaheim winning it instead. I can also see Fox somehow getting snubbed out of a finalist spot despite a strong season.
Ethan: I like Sullivan for the Jack Adams award. Taking control of the team after last season and building them up to their potential certainly warrants an award if accomplished—especially if he's able to bring the best out of Lafrenière and Zibanejad.
Keegan: An Igor Vezina season in the first year of his extension would quiet a lot of people down.
Snark: Igor Shesterkin will hit the 40-win mark for the first time in his career, and as a result, will become a two-time Vezina Trophy winner.
Roberto: Adam Fox will win the Norris and Igor Shesterkin will be a finalist for the Vezina.
Jake: Adam Fox is going to win his second Norris, and Shesterkin will finish as a Vezina finalist.
Part 2: Over/Under Lines
Over/Under 75 points for Adam Fox
Joe: Over.
Eric: Over.
Chip: Over.
Tom: Over.
Chris: I'm slamming the over. Big year for Fox coming up.
Ethan: Over.
Keegan: Over.
Snark: Over.
Roberto: Over. It's going to be a career year for Fox.
Jake: Over.
Over/Under 25 goals for Mika Zibanejad
Joe: Over.
Eric: Over. He scored 20 last year amidst all that awfulness. Regression to the mean, plus the addition of Miller has to be good for 5 more goals, right?
Chip: Over. I see him at around 30-35.
Tom: Over 25 but under 30.
Chris: Just over.
Ethan: Over.
Keegan: Just over, around 27-28.
Snark: Over.
Roberto: Over. Mika will approach 40 goals this year playing with Miller.
Jake: Over.
Over/Under 100 points for Artemi Panarin
Joe: Over.
Eric: Over.
Chip: Over.
Tom: Just under.
Chris: Contract year? Yep, taking the over here.
Ethan: Over.
Keegan: Over.
Snark: Over.
Roberto: Panarin will lead the team and break through the century mark as a Ranger one more time.
Jake: Over.
Over/Under 60 points for Alexis Lafrenière
Joe: Way over.
Eric: Over.
Chip: Over.
Tom: Over.
Chris: He needs to hit the over, so I'll take the over.
Ethan: Over.
Keegan: Over.
Snark: Over.
Roberto: Breakout candidate of the year right here, it's going to be over. I really hope it's over.
Jake: Over.
Over/Under 30 goals for Will Cuylle
Joe: Under.
Eric: Under.
Chip: I think that's the exact right number, but I'll take the over.
Tom: Under. Cuylle is a good player, but his solid season last year amidst the general disaster of everything else has people thinking he's more of a goal scorer than he actually he is.
Chris: Under. I like Will Cuylle as much as anyone but I think a large portion of the fanbase has their expectations set way too high for him this early in his career.
Ethan: Over.
Keegan: Slightly under.
Snark: Under, 24.
Roberto: Under, but I do think he breaks through the 20-goal plateau again.
Jake: Under.
Over/Under 40 NHL games played for Gabe Perreault
Joe: Under.
Eric: Under, and I want it that way. I want it to be zero. Let him cook in Hartford for a full season.
Chip: Under.
Tom: It should be over based on his preseason performance, but it will be under.
Chris: I'll take the under but do expect him to earn a call up some time in January or after the Olympic break.
Ethan: Under.
Keegan: Under.
Snark: Under.
Roberto: Under, I think he's going to spend at least 75% of the season in Hartford.
Jake: Under.
Over/Under .915 save percentage for Igor Shesterkin
Joe: Push.
Eric: Over.
Chip: Slightly over. Somewhere between .915 - .920
Tom: Push.
Chris: Just over, .917 to be exact.
Ethan: Over.
Keegan: Over.
Snark: Over, .924.
Roberto: Over and I bet he hits .922. Call me an optimist.
Jake: Over.
Over/Under two ejections for Matt Rempe
Joe: Better be under.
Eric: Under. I really think that part of his career is over, thanks to some maturity and different expectations from his coach.
Chip: Under. Sullivan is going to use Rempe as a player not a sideshow.
Tom: Under.
Chris: Under.
Ethan: Under.
Keegan: Under.
Snark: Is this a joke? Over!
Roberto: Over, Rempe has toned it down, but the refs look for anything to call against him.
Jake: Under.
Over/Under 95 points for the New York Rangers
Joe: Over.
Eric: Under.
Chip: Over.
Tom: Just over.
Chris: Just under. Dare I say, 94?
Ethan: Slightly over.
Keegan: 95 seems about right, but I'll say slightly over.
Snark: Over.
Roberto: Over, I think the Rangers have a major resurgence this season.
Jake: Over.
Part 3: Final Thoughts
Joe: I think the Rangers are going to be a perfectly fine team this year. That's OK when a team is young and growing, but unless the Rangers turn into that team I think there are a lot of long term questions that need to be answered—and I don't think many will be answered in this season.
Eric: I really think people aren't going to know how to feel about this team this year. They'll be better overall on the ice, and they'll be without the sideshows off the ice that dominated last season. I think the Metro and the East in general have gotten worse. They'll win more, but I think they're only just settling into an identity. There will be moments, and even some games, that will remind us too much of last year. But I think this first year under Sullivan is a year to recalibrate, reset levels, and start looking towards the following few seasons when they've really settled in to playing Mike Sullivan hockey.
Chip: There are no bigger wild cards going into this season than Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck and I really think that their play will go a long way into determining the fate of this team. We know that Panarin, Igor, and (despite what many seem to believe) Fox will be great. Miller and Cuylle are going to do their thing, as well. But can Mika be a 95-point top line right wing? Can Trocheck be a respectable second line center? If the answer to both is "yes," then this team is going to not just be good, they'll be special. If you're asking me now, I would say it's more likely for Mika to succeed than Trocheck, which may leave the Rangers scrambling at the deadline, kind of like Colorado was last year.
Tom: This team has so many X-factors that will swing the overall result of this season. Will Mika Zibanejad be more consistently productive the whole season? Will Alexis Lafrenière bounce back? Will the defense corps after Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox be enough? Will they have enough secondary scoring? I think the answers will be "yes" to enough of these questions—or at least to enough of a degree—to get the Rangers back into playoff position.
Chris: This has the potential to be a real make or break season for the Rangers. The kids have proven throughout the preseason that they are ready to make the jump to the NHL, but the Rangers aren't ready to give them the keys just yet. They want to have a rebound season, they want to remain competitive, and they're going to give what's left of this core the chance to lead the charge for another playoff run. However, if this team struggles out the gate, has an early winter similar to last season, it's going to raise some real question marks for the future of this team. And with one elite forward entering the final year of his current contract, the results of this season are going to hold huge implications in more ways than one.
Ethan: This is the season to prove that the potential is real, and for Sullivan to implement his system that maximizes the performance of the top players. I think a big splash to be competitive, on paper, with teams like Florida will come in summer 2026. But this season should prove two things: 1) It's worth the investment from Drury, and 2) the Stanley Cup Final is attainable. Yes, this team should have sights set on the Cup, not just a bounce back.
Keegan: I think the Rangers are in a bit of a weird spot right now. I don't see them on the level of a Florida or an Edmonton, but it's clear that they aren't rebuilding and have their sights set on returning to the playoffs. This year is going to be a test to see who can thrive in Mike Sullivan's system. Those who do will become integral pieces of the future; those who don't won't last long.
Snark: New head coach, no Chris Kreider or Sam Rosen, and Carson Soucy has somehow found a way to remain a Ranger—this upcoming season is certainly guaranteed to be a little different. With that said, I think the New York Rangers are going to surprise a lot of melancholy fans, and themselves, in the process. With this being a big year for the organization, I suspect there will be plenty of memorable times ahead at Madison Square Garden. Let's go, Rangers!
Roberto: Chris Drury put a lot of his trust in J.T. Miller, and finally secured his guy in Mike Sullivan. This is a crucial year for the Rangers. It's officially Drury's team now. If the team struggles for any reason, Drury should be held accountable. That said, I find it hard to believe the Rangers will underperform again. Call me a dreamer, but I trust most of the big moves Drury made in the offseason. I think the team will come in more motivated than ever, bringing new skills and snarl.
Jake: This year, at the very least, will be more enjoyable to watch than last year. It will be Miller's first full season back with the Rangers, Fox and Gavrikov will be a terrific pair, and Mike Sullivan changes the immediate outlook of this team. I do think this team will make the playoffs and really feel that Shesterkin is going to steal at least one series. After months of waiting around with a sour taste from last season, Rangers hockey is back.
So, that's it. Thoughts? Feelings? Pointed disagreements? Effusive praise? Share it all in the comments below, and we'll see you on Opening Night!
