Rangers Offseason: What The Fans Want After Disappointment

Reassessing the Defensemen

The Rangers faced heavy criticism for their defensive performance following their elimination by the Florida Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. The Panthers’ ability to maintain intense pressure and forecheck disrupted the Rangers’ usual defensive setups, causing breakdowns in their zone exits and transitions. The Rangers struggled to adapt their defensive strategies to counter the Panthers’ speed and puck movement, leading to prolonged periods of defensive zone time and high-quality scoring chances against.

It’s challenging to pinpoint exactly which defensemen might depart as a direct result of the defensive shortcomings. However, considering factors such as performance, contract status, and the team’s future direction, it appears Adam Fox and K’Andre Miller are the only guarantees to start for the New York Rangers next year. 

Forward Positions

The forward lineup was spearheaded by Artemi Panarin, who continues to be a critical offensive force for the Rangers, until the Eastern Conference finals. Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider remain key figures in the team’s attack, but lacked a consistent Right Winger who could produce more fire power.  

The Rangers’ wingers struggled with inconsistency, failing to generate offensive pressure or sustain attacks in the Panthers’ zone. This lack of wing production hampered the Rangers’ ability to stretch the Panthers’ defense and create scoring opportunities. The team’s reliance on its top line for offensive output became a liability, as secondary scoring from the wings was virtually nonexistent.

Coming Up Small

These top forwards faced heavy criticism for their underperformance in the ECF. Despite high expectations, these players failed to deliver critical goals in the series. Panarin, known for his playmaking abilities, was nearly a non-factor until a late, inconsequential goal in the final game. Zibanejad had a notable “what if” moment but otherwise remained quiet, and Kreider, despite carrying the team through earlier rounds, could only manage a single goal in the Conference Final.

Young talents like Kaapo Kakko were further scrutinized in contrast to Alexis Lafrenière, who really blossomed during this playoff run. The depth in the forward positions, including players like Filip Chytil and Barclay Goodrow’s contracts are currently under the scope.

Pending Free Agents 

Many fans look at this list and have no strong ties. After this series, some will be happy about these departures. With upcoming unrestricted free agents, including Alexander Wennberg, Jack Roslovic, Blake Wheeler, Erik Gustafsson, and Chad Ruhwedel, this could kind of clean up the slate for Drury. They also find themselves with three starters whom are restricted free agents including Kaapo Kakko, Ryan Lindgren, and Braden Schneider.  

RFA’s are players who have completed their contracts but do not have complete freedom to negotiate with any team. They’re restricted because their current team holds a right of first refusal to match any offer sheet they might sign with another team. If the current team chooses not to match the offer, they may receive compensation, such as draft picks, from the offering team. Typically, RFAs are younger players coming off their entry-level contracts or those who have been tendered a qualifying offer by their team. Managing these contracts will be essential to maintain the team’s competitive edge while adhering to salary cap constraints.