yardbarker
The New York Rangers' 2025-26 campaign concluded with the worst record in the Eastern Conference, a far cry from their playoff aspirations. While several young players flashed potential, the season proved to be a challenging debut for head coach Mike Sullivan.
Sullivan arrived in New York after a decade with the Pittsburgh Penguins, where he captured two Stanley Cup titles. The Rangers had previously enjoyed success under Peter Laviolette, winning the Presidents' Trophy and reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2023-24, but their defensive lapses led to a playoff miss the following year.
Under Sullivan, the team showed marked improvement defensively, particularly in limiting high-danger chances and odd-man rushes. However, that defensive solidity didn't translate into wins, as the offense struggled to generate consistent scoring. In their first 35 games, they were held to two goals or fewer 19 times, including seven shutouts.
Despite a standout season from Mika Zibanejad, captain J.T. Miller underperformed, and stars Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin both missed significant time due to injuries. Backup goalie Jonathan Quick faltered in Shesterkin's absence, and the team fell out of playoff contention. General manager Chris Drury traded star winger Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings before the deadline.
Key Analysis
Late in the season, rookie Gabe Perreault earned a spot on the top line alongside Zibanejad and excelled, while Alexis Lafreniere rebounded from a slow start to thrive on that line. AHL call-ups Adam Sykora and Jaroslav Chmelar brought physicality and secondary scoring. Sullivan initially leaned on veterans like Conor Sheary, but gradually increased ice time for younger players as the season wound down.
The emergence of young forwards and rookie defenseman Matthew Robertson provided a silver lining to a 34-39-9 finish. In the offseason, the Rangers bolstered their roster by acquiring Pavel Dorofeyev, Sean Durzi, and Marcus Pettersson via trades, and signing Oliver Bjorkstrand to a one-year deal. Dorofeyev, who netted 35 goals in 2024-25 and 37 last season, is expected to boost the offense.
Sullivan's system brought better structure than the previous year, but the lack of offensive production early on and the absence of offensive-minded defensemen after Fox's injury hampered the team. Durzi and Pettersson could form a strong second pairing, with Durzi capable of contributing offensively. The team also drafted defenseman Alberts Smits fifth overall in the 2026 NHL Draft, giving them another potential contributor.
With numerous new additions, Sullivan faces the challenge of optimizing line combinations, defensive pairings, and special teams. If he succeeds, the Rangers should improve. Sullivan receives a C+ for his first season; while injuries were a factor, he failed to maximize the performance of key players, and finishing last in the East was disappointing. The increased depth from offseason moves should help the team bounce back.
Originally reported by yardbarker.