The New York Rangers entered the 2024-25 season with Stanley Cup expectations. The group performed as much as these expectations for about six weeks earlier than slipping right into a seemingly inescapable downward spiral.

Coming off an Japanese Convention Remaining look by which they pushed the eventual Stanley Cup champs to 6 video games, the Rangers regarded poised for an additional deep postseason run. By way of Nov. 20, all was properly with the blueshirts. New York was 12-4-1, good for the fifth greatest report within the NHL and three factors again of the Metro Division lead.

In the future later, the Rangers suffered a 3-2 loss by the hands of the Calgary Flames, and that kicked off a hunch that is been as alarming as it’s puzzling.

In its final 22 video games, New York is 6-16-0 with a minus-30 objective differential, each of that are good for final within the NHL. All through this stretch, the Rangers have tumbled to seventh place within the division and 14th place within the East. Within the course of, they traded their captain and a former No. 1 total decide, and so they’ve wholesome scratched one of many franchise’s best goal-scorers.

So, what’s gone mistaken with the Rangers? And may they repair it in time to salvage the season?

When a ship is springing new leaks sooner than they are often patched, it may be onerous to establish the largest issues. That is actually the case in New York, however the group’s points finally boil down to a few issues. Poor group protection, a scarcity of manufacturing from key gamers and an anemic energy play have despatched the Rangers plummeting down the standings.

Let’s check out every of these deadly flaws and see whether or not they are often remedied.

The Drawback: Protection

There is a sturdy case to be made that the Rangers are the worst protection group within the NHL. New York has solely allowed 123 objectives this season, which is seventeenth within the league. The one motive the group ranks that top is as a result of efforts of Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Fast between the pipes.

By way of anticipated objectives, the Rangers permit 3.53 xGA/60, per Pure Stat Trick. Over the past 22 video games, that quantity has slipped to three.7 xGA/60, which is the worst mark in that span.

When analyzing a group’s protection, it is most likely applicable to begin with … properly … the protection. Maybe unsurprisingly, the Rangers have been an entire mess in their very own zone, with the lone exception of Adam Fox. The dip within the group’s five-on-five efficiency with Fox within the recreation and on the bench is drastic.

The one different Rangers defensemen above 50% in five-on-five anticipated objectives shared are Ryan Lindgren and okay’Andre Miller, and they’re simply barely above water after a lopsided win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday. The outcomes inform extra of the story, as Lindgren has a objective differential of minus-5, and Miller’s is minus-6.

Braden Schneider gives some juice offensively, however something he creates in that zone will get erased when he hemorrhages possibilities and anticipated objectives on protection. Zac Jones has proven some ability, however he additionally makes too many vital errors.

Out of your complete group, Miller might be essentially the most disappointing. The 24-year-old former first-round decide has but to take the following step in a contract 12 months. Miller is slated to be a restricted free agent in the summertime, and his future with New York is now up within the air.

In fact, hockey is a group recreation, and all 5 skaters are accountable for what goes on within the defensive zone. That being the case, the Rangers’ forwards are simply as culpable for the leaky protection because the defensemen, particularly in terms of stopping opponents off the push.

The largest offender can be one of many group’s greatest stars, Mika Zibanejad. It has been a tough season for Zibanejad in a couple of space, however his defensive points are essentially the most regarding. In line with Pure Stat Trick, the Rangers are permitting 3.25 xGA/60 with Zibanejad on the ice at five-on-five.

Out of 610 gamers with no less than 200 min of ice-time, Zibanejad ranks 601st in that class.

Chris Kreider, who was a wholesome scratch on Dec. 23, is not faring a lot better than Zibanejad. He ranks 563rd in xGA/60 at 2.96. Artemi Panarin is tied with Kreider in that division, however no less than he has been in a position to cowl it up with some offense.

The Resolution

Barring a drastic shift in scheme midseason, which appears unrealistic and impractical, the Rangers want a personnel improve so as to strengthen the protection.

New York does have a couple of choices to seek out an inner improve on the blue line. The obvious is that Miller, a participant who’s proven immense potential up to now, finds one other stage to his recreation.

Newly acquired defensemen Will Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen may additionally assist out as soon as they discover their footing, though the early returns for the previous aren’t terribly promising. Vaakanainen was a first-round decide in 2016, so he has the pedigree to turn into a dependable participant, however not many gamers escape at 26.

Greater than probably, nevertheless, Rangers common supervisor Chris Drury must look exterior the group for a top-four defenseman. Sadly for him, it is a robust time to be out there for a defenseman with no apparent high-end commerce targets.

Having stated that, New York may goal Nashville’s Jeremy Lauzon or Philadelphia’s Rasmus Ristolainen. Each have time period left and could be a transparent improve on the Rangers’ blue line, no less than defensively. Drury may additionally examine on Buffalo defenseman Bowen Byram, who is about to be an RFA after this season.

Seattle ahead Yanni Gourde may also be an possibility if New York needed so as to add some defensive prowess to its ahead group. Gourde is on an expiring contract, so he would most certainly be a rental.

The Drawback: Lack of manufacturing from key gamers

Over the past handful of years, the Rangers have not been a dominant group at five-on-five. As an alternative, they’ve leaned on elite scoring and goaltending to paper over different points, which labored for them.

This season, that ending means has disappeared. The final lack of protection from Zibanejad and Kreider could be much less of an issue in the event that they had been lighting the lamp frequently, however that hasn’t been the case.

Zibanejad not too long ago ended an eight-game objective drought with objectives in back-to-back video games, however he is nonetheless on tempo for simply 16 objectives after scoring 26 in 2023-24. Kreider is on tempo for 31 objectives, and whereas that is a decent complete, it will be his lowest output because the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season.

One of many causes Zibanejad and Kreider is likely to be scoring much less is that they are placing fewer pucks towards the online. Each gamers have skilled a transparent drop in each shot makes an attempt and photographs per recreation.

Whereas shot quantity, or a scarcity thereof, performs a task in these issues, it does not inform the entire story. There isn’t any doubt the group’s poor protection has an affect as a result of it is onerous to attain objectives when the opponent is continually parked in your defensive zone.

There’s additionally the query of age. Kreider is 33 years outdated, and Zibanejad is 31. When gamers exhibit a decline in manufacturing at these ages, it is a potential purple flag. Is that this a blip on the radar for 2 of the Rangers’ greatest gamers, or is it an indication of Father Time taking his toll?

The confirmed veterans aren’t the one ones having hassle discovering the scoresheet. Alexis Lafreniere hasn’t recorded a objective in his final 13 video games, and he has simply two assists in his final 10 video games.

In his case there could also be some poor luck concerned as a result of his five-on-five impacts have been higher than most of his teammates. One scorching streak will put Lafreniere proper again on monitor.

Not even Fox has been resistant to the Rangers’ toothless offense. Fox has scored one objective after tallying 17 final season, and his taking pictures share is a paltry 1.6%. Even for a defenseman, that is shockingly low. Fox’s struggles can probably be chalked as much as unhealthy puck luck, much more so than Lafreniere, however the Rangers are operating out of time for that luck to show.

The Resolution

There’s a quite simple resolution to this: Kreider and Zibanejad begin producing at a price nearer to their profession averages. Lafreniere snaps out of his funk. Fox lastly begins getting a few of his photographs by way of to the again of the online.

It isn’t outlandish to suppose all of these issues may occur as a result of we have seen these gamers produce at a excessive stage as not too long ago as final 12 months. Having stated that, the shortage of scoring appears to be larger than low taking pictures percentages, particularly within the case of Zibanejad and Kreider. If these two are actually on the decline, the answer will get extra difficult.

In that case, the Rangers might want to deliver in additional offensive firepower. Thankfully for them, one other group in turmoil appears ripe for a commerce. The Vancouver Canucks are rumored to be listening to provides on stars J.T Miller and Elias Pettersson. New York has reported curiosity in Miller, however both participant may present a spark for this lineup.

It’s going to take greater than Zibanejad or Kreider to land Miller or Pettersson, so the Rangers must connect one thing else to the deal.

The difficult a part of a deal between the Canucks and Rangers is that the latter group does not have a ton of future belongings. The Rangers’ prospect pool is not precisely deep, and whereas they do have a first-round decide in every of the following three drafts, they do not possess a second-round decide in any of them.

If New York cannot come to an settlement with Vancouver, perhaps it may pry Dylan Cozens away from the Buffalo Sabres. Cozens has been rumored to be on the commerce block, and he would supply youth and ability to a lineup that desperately wants each of these issues proper now.

The Drawback: Anemic energy play

One other factor the Rangers have leaned closely on of their present period is a deadly energy play. Final season, they transformed on 26.4% of their man benefit alternatives, which was third within the NHL.

In 2024-25, that quantity is down to simply 17.1%, which places the Rangers at twenty sixth within the league. They’re behind groups with significantly much less ability, together with the San Jose Sharks, Seattle Kraken and Calgary Flames.

When taking a deeper take a look at the Rangers’ energy play, it is easy to see why these gamers have not been scoring as a lot. In line with Pure Stat Trick, the New York energy play creates high-danger scoring possibilities on the seventeenth highest price within the league. It was sixth in that class final season.

On account of that decline in effectiveness, the group’s prime gamers are feeling it on the stat sheet. Fox, Zibanejad, Kreider and Vincent Trocheck have mixed for 9 energy play objectives. That quartet totaled 47 energy play tallies in 2023-24.

All of this may be defined by the Rangers’ lack of shot makes an attempt from the low slot, which is the place they’ve excelled in recent times. Extra particularly, that is the place Kreider has made his cash with deflections and rebounds galore. The group has had a more durable time getting the puck into that high-danger space of the ice, and it hasn’t been in a position to punish opposing penalty kills as usually.

The Resolution

With the group unable to create a lot of something on the person benefit, Peter Laviolette could need to make some personnel adjustments on his prime unit. That has already occurred with Will Cuylle seeing extra energy play time of late, and which will have to proceed.

Cuylle has but to attain a objective in 32 minutes of energy play time, however he has been in a position to generate anticipated objectives and scoring possibilities. Apart from, Cuylle appears to be one of many few gamers on the Rangers with any quantity of juice in any respect this season. His 11 objectives are tied for third on the group and two away from a profession excessive. He has most likely earned extra ice time on the person benefit.

Past that, the Rangers have to get the puck into the low slot extra usually, a method or one other. Perhaps meaning letting Fox get extra aggressive from the purpose in hopes of drawing extra consideration away from Kreider down low, or maybe it is only a matter of Zibanejad connecting on extra one-timers from the left circle. Both manner, the Rangers’ energy play won’t ever enhance till it will get again to these high-value areas on the ice.

As was laid out earlier, bringing in exterior assist may additionally give this energy play a lift. The one concern is, if the Rangers do purchase Miller, he is been unusually chilly on the person benefit this 12 months too. After posting 21 objectives and 70 factors on the person benefit from 2022-2024, he has one objective and 10 factors in 2024-25.