The New York Rangers came into this season looking to leave last year’s disappointment in the rearview mirror. For a while, it looked like they might just do that.
They were hanging around the playoff picture, showing flashes of the team that came within two wins of the Stanley Cup Final not long ago. But now?
They’ve hit a wall - and hit it hard.
After a promising Winter Classic win, the momentum vanished almost overnight. Injuries to two of their most important players - goaltender Igor Shesterkin and defenseman Adam Fox - have sent the team into a nosedive.
Since then, the Rangers have dropped five straight games, culminating in a rough 8-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Wednesday night. That defeat didn’t just sting - it dropped them to dead last in the Eastern Conference with 46 points through 48 games.
It wasn’t just the score that told the story. The fans at Madison Square Garden made their feelings loud and clear, booing the team off the ice after a brutal first period that saw the Rangers fall behind 4-0. The frustration in the building was palpable, and it’s not just about one bad night - it’s about a pattern that’s becoming all too familiar.
After the game, head coach Mike Sullivan addressed the team’s emotional state and the idea that they might need to show more fire. “Listen, we've gone through a rash of emotions.
There's been tons of anger,” Sullivan said. “We've run through the gamut of emotions here trying to right this thing and get it going in the right direction.
And we'll continue to try to solve it. There's no easy answers.
We've got to work hard. We've got to work together.
We've got to stick together. We got to stay together, and we got to compete together.
And that's what we're going to do.”
Sullivan, who coached against the Rangers last season with Pittsburgh, was asked if he sees any similarities between this year’s group and the one he faced. He didn’t bite.
“I'm not going to discuss last year. I wasn't here.
It would be irresponsible of me to comment on last year. I can only tell you what I see here and the observations I have with this group now.”
What he sees now is a team that’s struggling to find its identity - and its footing. Losing Shesterkin and Fox undoubtedly hurts.
Those are two cornerstone players. But their absence has exposed just how fragile the foundation is.
The Rangers haven’t just stumbled without them - they’ve collapsed.
J.T. Miller was brought back to help lead this team and bring a no-nonsense edge to the locker room.
But so far, the “No BS” culture he talked about hasn’t taken hold. The same issues that plagued the Rangers last season - scoring droughts, defensive lapses, and a lack of consistency - are rearing their heads again.
The offense has gone cold at the worst possible time. The defense isn’t doing enough to ease the burden on whoever’s in net.
And the overall energy? It’s been inconsistent, at best.
With the Olympic break looming, the Rangers are reportedly treating these next few games as a litmus test. Are they buyers or sellers at the trade deadline? As of Thursday morning, they sit eight points out of the final Wild Card spot - not an impossible gap, but a daunting one given their current form.
If this slide continues, the front office may have no choice but to pivot toward a retool. That could mean parting ways with veterans and leaning into the youth movement. Talented prospects like Gabriel Perreault and Brennan Othmann are already on the roster, but they need more ice time - and more responsibility - if the Rangers are serious about building for the future.
There’s still time for a turnaround. But the clock is ticking.
The fans have seen this script before, and they’re not in the mood for a sequel. Chants of “Fire Drury” directed at general manager Chris Drury echoed through the Garden, a clear sign that the patience is wearing thin.
Mike Sullivan is saying the right things. He’s calling for unity, for effort, for belief.
But in a results-driven league, words only go so far. The Rangers need to find answers - and fast - or this season could slip away just like the last one did.