The New York Rangers opened the season looking sharp, and even after losing superstar goalie Igor Shesterkin to a season-ending injury, they managed to keep the train rolling for a while.
Lately, though, the slide has been hard to ignore. New York has dropped from sitting just behind the Carolina Hurricanes in the Metro race to effectively fifth on points percentage, and the Rangers are now 7-6-1.
General manager Chris Drury spent the summer trying to harden the roster. He strengthened the defense, then added Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand to bring more pop on the wings.
Even so, the biggest question hanging over this team is still down the middle. That concern showed up again when the Rangers felt the need to bring in veteran Luke Glendening to handle fourth-line center duties behind Mika Zibanejad, J.T.
Miller, and second-year player Noah Laba.
That central issue was the focus on Friday’s episode of Daily Faceoff LIVE, where host Tyler Yaremchuk, co-host and former NHL goaltender Carter Hutton, and Jonny Lazarus dug into what it means for Drury as he shapes the roster going forward.
Yaremchuk raised the long-term dilemma, asking, “So won’t they have some tough decisions to make at some point down the line? Like if they’re a bubble team, and you know they’re not going on a run with Igor because you don’t have Igor, what do you do then, right?”
Lazarus pointed straight at the center position as the hurdle New York has to clear. “You’ve got to improve some sort of position in front of the goaltender.
They’ve done a good job at revamping their blue line, they’ve brought in Durzi and Pettersson this summer, and obviously Albert Smits at fifth overall… and their blue line is more well rounded now, but there’s still a lot of questions up front in the forward group, but I think the biggest obstacle they’re going to face right now is, listen they have Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller as their one and two centers.
Those guys are good players, don’t get me wrong, and I have nothing but respect for those two guys, but Mika’s 33, J.T.’s 33. They both have four years on their deal.
They both have no-move clauses. I don’t know how you’re upgrading your first line and second line center position while those guys are here with no-moves, and that’s I think a difficult spot for the Rangers to be in, because you look at the championship teams, and they’re built well down the middle.”
In Other News...
J.T. Miller's Halloween Moment Says A Lot About These Rangers
The Rangers got a lighter moment at just the right time when J.T. Miller showed up at the teams annual Halloween party dressed as Tinker Bell, a reminder that even in a tense season, there is still room for a little levity. The event brought players and their families together, giving the group a chance to step away from the rink and spend time in a setting that looked more like a neighborhood gathering than a hockey operation.
For a club trying to steady itself during a challenging stretch, that kind of scene can matter. The Rangers have been using the break in the schedule to reset before returning to game action, and moments like this can help keep the room loose while the pressure builds again. Millers costume might have been the headline grabber, but the bigger takeaway is the sense that this group is still looking for ways to stay connected while it works through an uneven start. [Read more 🡒]
Former Rangers Flop Is Suddenly Raising An Uncomfortable Question In Toronto
Jack Roslovic was a deadline addition for the Rangers last season, but his time in New York never really caught fire. He had a modest impact after arriving ahead of the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline and was eventually pushed down to the fourth line during the playoffs, a reminder that the fit never quite matched the hope attached to the move.
Now in Toronto on a two-year deal, Roslovic has flipped the script in a way that has to make the Rangers look twice. He has settled in on the Maple Leafs' top line and has produced enough offense to sit near the top of the team leaderboard, with coach Jim Hiller pointing to his chemistry with Auston Matthews as the reason the change has taken hold. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Fans Will Notice One Frustrating Thing About Sullivans New Lines
Mike Sullivan spent practice tinkering with the Rangers forward groups, and the most notable wrinkle was a new look at the top of the lineup. Pavel Dorofeyev skated with Mika Zibanejad and Alexis Lafreniere, giving the club a different combination to evaluate as it continues sorting out chemistry and balance up front.
The defensive side, meanwhile, stayed exactly where it was, with Vlad Gavrikov and Adam Fox together, Marcus Pettersson with Sean Durzi, and Alberts Smits alongside Braden Schneider. Eeli Tolvanen was absent for personal reasons, but the bigger takeaway for Rangers fans is the shuffle among the forwards, especially the move that pushed Gabe Perreault down the lineup and left another familiar piece in place elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]