With nearly 30 games still on the schedule, the Rangers are staring down a tough reality: the postseason is out of reach, the roster is in flux, and the focus has shifted from chasing wins to simply finding meaning in the day-to-day grind.
Monday’s trade of defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders was the first domino to fall, and it didn’t take long for the move to hit home-literally. Just two days later, Soucy was back on the ice, this time in an Islanders sweater, facing off against his former teammates.
That kind of turnaround makes it all feel real. The Rangers sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, and they know what that means: more moves are coming before the March 6 trade deadline.
Still, even in a season like this, there are moments that matter. Monday night offered one of them. Rookie defenseman Matthew Robertson scored the overtime winner in a 4-3 victory over Boston at Madison Square Garden-a spark of joy in an otherwise dim campaign.
“Yeah. I mean, we needed that,” said captain J.T.
Miller after the game. “And I’m really happy for Robbie to come up with that.
You know, that was a special moment for him.”
Head coach Mike Sullivan echoed that sentiment earlier in the day, emphasizing the importance of highlighting the positives wherever they can be found.
“We’re trying to celebrate some of the small successes that we can, with good things that are taking place on the ice,” Sullivan said. “And make sure that we reinforce that so that we can continue to do those things.”
That’s the tightrope Sullivan and his staff are walking now-coaching for improvement while also managing the emotional weight of a season that’s lost its larger purpose.
The back-to-back games against the Islanders this week-Wednesday at UBS Arena and Thursday at the Garden-at least brought some juice to the building. A rivalry always helps, and seeing a familiar face like Soucy on the other bench added another layer of motivation.
Robertson, who’s no stranger to facing former teammates from his time in the AHL and juniors, took it in stride.
“It’s part of hockey,” he said during the team’s optional morning skate. “Guys get traded. Things happen.”
And with 27 games still to go after Thursday, the Rangers will need to keep finding ways to stay motivated without the benefit of rivalry games or playoff implications.
For some, milestones provide a reason to keep pushing. Jonathan Quick’s win on Monday was the 408th of his career, moving him past Glenn Hall and into 12th place all-time among NHL goaltenders.
That’s a big one. But there are more on the horizon.
Defenseman Adam Fox-who skated in a red, no-contact jersey at Wednesday’s optional practice-is just three points shy of 400 for his career. Will Cuylle needs eight points to hit 100, and Mika Zibanejad is closing in on 800, needing 11 more to get there.
Cuylle, who entered Thursday with 12 goals, is also eyeing another 20-goal season, which would be his second straight. Zibanejad, with 21 goals already, has a shot at hitting 30 or even 35, a solid bounce-back campaign for the veteran forward.
Then there’s the youth movement. Robertson, along with fellow rookies Gabe Perreault, Scott Morrow, Noah Laba, and Brennan Othmann, are playing for more than just pride-they’re playing to prove they belong. Every shift is a chance to grow, to learn, and to show the front office they’re part of the future.
But for the veterans-especially those who may be on the move in the coming weeks-it’s a different kind of challenge. Keeping the energy up, staying focused, and not letting the uncertainty of the trade deadline creep in is easier said than done.
“To be honest with you, I try not to think about it,” Miller said. “It is what it is at this point.
You know, we have a close group in here. This isn't the position any of us thought we were going to be in at the start of the season.
But it's a business, and we're just trying to treat it like normal days, you know? We have a lot of fun together in this room.”
That camaraderie might be the only thing keeping the room together right now. As the clock ticks down on a season that didn’t go as planned, the Rangers are leaning on each other, finding joy where they can, and trying to make the most of what’s left.
Injury Notes:
Adam Fox and forward Conor Sheary, both sidelined with lower-body injuries, skated in red, no-contact jerseys during Wednesday’s optional session.
Fox, who’s been on long-term injured reserve since January 6, is technically eligible to return Saturday in Pittsburgh, but don’t expect him in the lineup just yet. After that, the Rangers have just one more game-next Thursday at home against Carolina-before the league pauses for the Olympic break.
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin, also dealing with a lower-body injury, skated solo in Greenburgh. No timetable yet, but it’s a sign of progress.