Tom Wilson has officially landed at the top of the Rangers’ enemy list.
A study from Rotowire named the Washington Capitals forward as the most hated player among NY Rangers fans, and the choice fits the way this rivalry has played out. Wilson wears a Capitals jersey, and that alone puts him in the crosshairs of Rangers supporters. Add in the history between the teams, and the reaction makes even more sense.
The Rangers and Capitals have crossed paths plenty of times, including in the postseason. Most recently, the Rangers swept Washington in the 2024 playoffs.
But Wilson’s reputation in New York was cemented long before that. His physical, abrasive style has made him an easy target for Rangers fans, and one moment in particular still stands out: the infamous sucker punch on Pavel Buchnevich in May, 2021.
That incident left its mark. Buchnevich was fine, but the scrum that followed and Wilson’s bullying led to Artemi Panarin sustaining an injury.
The league fined Wilson $5,000 for the punch to Buchnevich. When the Rangers pushed back, the league fined the team $250K for questioning the bogus fine.
So Wilson’s place at the top of the list is hardly a shock.
The Islanders, meanwhile, are a different kind of problem for Rangers fans. The two teams share the same city, and that alone has made them natural enemies.
New York hockey fans are split between the Rangers and Islanders, so there’s no real need to pick out a single villain on the Isles roster. Anyone in an Islanders sweater is going to draw plenty of heat.
That kind of built-in hostility is exactly what the NHL likes to lean into. Rivalries like Rangers-Islanders give games a different edge, whether it’s the regular season or the playoffs. And with both New York clubs trying to get back into the postseason, there’s at least a chance the fire gets turned up again.
For now, Rangers fans can circle October 9, when the two teams meet for the first time in the 2026-27 season. It has the makings of a lively one.
In Other News...
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For New York, the intrigue is less about whether a trade is imminent and more about how quickly pressure can build if results lag and the organization starts looking for answers. A move of that magnitude would reshape the Rangers financial picture in a hurry, but it would also signal a major shift in direction, which is why this sort of speculation tends to linger until the club shows what kind of team it really is. [Read more 🡒]
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Patrick Kanes new deal elsewhere only sharpens why the Rangers were wise to stay on their path. At this stage, the question was never just about reputation or nostalgia, but about whether adding him would have crowded the very players New York needs to evaluate now. With younger options already in the mix, the club can keep the focus on development instead of revisiting an old debate. [Read more 🡒]
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For a player who arrived in the prospect pool without a ton of noise, that invitation matters. Morrison is headed to UConn this fall, and the showcase gives him another stage to show how his game fits against top peers. He is not the only Rangers defense prospect drawing international attention, either, with Sean Barnhill also earning a spot at the same event for the United States. [Read more 🡒]