The New York Rangers are facing a pivotal moment in their franchise arc - not quite a rebuild, but certainly a retool. And a big reason they’re in this spot?
A lack of true offensive star power. Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox are elite talents, no doubt.
But even the best goalie-defenseman combo needs help up front. With Artemi Panarin no longer in the fold, the Rangers don’t have that game-breaking forward who puts fear into opposing defenses.
And when you look back over the last few years, there were opportunities to land that kind of player - but deals never materialized.
Let’s take a closer look at four star-caliber players the Rangers were in the mix for - but ultimately missed out on - and how those near-misses have shaped where the team stands today.
Jack Eichel - 2021 Offseason
When Jack Eichel’s situation in Buffalo reached a breaking point, it was one of the most talked-about storylines in the league. A dynamic center in his prime, capable of 30 goals and 80 points even on underperforming teams, Eichel was the kind of player you build around.
The Sabres’ refusal to allow him to undergo his preferred neck surgery led to a standoff, and eventually, a trade request. The Rangers were heavily linked to Eichel at the time, and it made perfect sense.
New York was just coming out of its rebuild phase. They had a deep pool of young talent and prospects - exactly the kind of capital Buffalo would’ve wanted in return.
Pairing Eichel with Mika Zibanejad down the middle would’ve given the Rangers one of the most dangerous 1-2 center punches in the league. It could’ve been a franchise-altering move.
But it never happened. Whether it was reluctance to part with key young players or Buffalo’s preference to trade Eichel out of the conference, the deal didn’t come together.
Eichel ended up in Vegas, got the surgery he wanted, and helped lead the Golden Knights to a Stanley Cup in 2023. Meanwhile, the Rangers stayed the course - and missed a chance to land a true offensive centerpiece.
Matthew Tkachuk - 2022 Offseason
Coming off a 40-goal season and a dominant top-line performance with the Calgary Flames, Matthew Tkachuk was one of the league’s premier power forwards. But after Calgary’s second-round flameout against Edmonton and Johnny Gaudreau’s surprising decision to sign in Columbus, Tkachuk made it clear he wasn’t sticking around long-term. The Flames put him on the trade block.
The Rangers, fresh off an Eastern Conference Final run, were in a prime position to make a bold move. They still had their young core intact - a group they’d held onto during the Eichel sweepstakes - and adding a player like Tkachuk could’ve pushed them over the top. His physical edge, offensive firepower, and playoff pedigree were tailor-made for the kind of hockey New York wanted to play.
But again, the deal didn’t happen. Tkachuk was dealt to the Florida Panthers, where he became the heartbeat of a team that’s now made three straight Stanley Cup Final appearances and won two of them.
His leadership, grit, and scoring touch transformed the Panthers. And for the Rangers, it’s hard not to wonder what might’ve been.
J.T. Miller - 2022 Trade Deadline
J.T. Miller eventually made his way back to New York in 2025, but the Rangers had a shot at bringing him in much earlier - and arguably when it would’ve made a bigger impact.
Back in 2022, Miller was still in his prime, producing at a high level for a Vancouver team that was clearly heading in the wrong direction. With Elias Pettersson and Bo Horvat also in the mix, the Canucks had tough decisions to make. Miller was on the block, and the Rangers were one of the teams circling.
At the time, New York was gearing up for its first playoff run in five years. Miller’s versatility, scoring ability, and familiarity with the organization made him an ideal fit.
But the sticking point? Reportedly, it was Braden Schneider.
The Rangers didn’t want to part with the young defenseman, and the deal stalled. Ironically, Schneider’s future with the team now seems uncertain anyway.
By the time Miller did return to the Rangers in 2025, the timing wasn’t quite as ideal. The window they were trying to open in 2022 had already started to close.
Jake Guentzel - 2024 Trade Deadline
The most recent near-miss came just two seasons ago. Jake Guentzel, a proven playoff performer and one of the league’s most consistent top-six wingers, was on the move. Pittsburgh was heading into a rebuild, and with Guentzel set to hit free agency, the Penguins were looking to cash in.
The Rangers were in the thick of a Cup chase and needed scoring help. Guentzel checked every box - playoff experience, scoring touch, and the ability to slot into a contending lineup seamlessly.
It came down to New York and Carolina. In the end, the Penguins sent him to the Hurricanes.
The reported asking price was steep: Kaapo Kakko, Brennan Othmann, and a 2024 first-round pick. At the time, it might’ve felt like too much.
But hindsight is 20/20. Kakko was traded less than a year later, and Othmann has yet to carve out a role at the NHL level.
That package for Guentzel - who could’ve been the difference in a tight playoff series - now looks like a missed opportunity.
The Rangers were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final that year, in part because they couldn’t generate enough offense. Guentzel might’ve changed that.
Where the Rangers Stand Now
Put it all together, and the pattern is hard to ignore. The Rangers had multiple chances to land a game-changing forward - the kind of player who can tilt a playoff series, elevate a locker room, and carry a franchise when it matters most. But for one reason or another, the trigger was never pulled.
Now, the roster is a mix of aging veterans on tough contracts and young players who haven’t quite developed as hoped. Fox and Shesterkin are still elite, and there’s talent here.
But without that offensive superstar, the ceiling feels lower. And for a team that was knocking on the door not long ago, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Chris Drury has done a lot right during his tenure, but the inability to close on a big-time trade - especially when the window was wide open - looms large. The Rangers may still find their next superstar. But based on the last few years, they’ve already let a few slip away.