Somehow, one-fifth of the New York Rangers’ season is already complete. Compared to the drudgery of a long off-season, the regular season has seemingly been a sprint.
As the quarter mark of the season ensues, the Rangers have given fans glimpses of brilliance, which were followed by often prolonged stretches of lethargic performances. For every thrashing of the Detroit Red Wings, there have been inexcusable losses to the Buffalo Sabres and Washington Capitals.
The beginning of this 2024-2025 campaign has not been devoid of controversy or vocal dialogue from the players. There is plenty to analyze and dissect. But does the good news outweigh the turmoil?
Through 16 games last year, the Blueshirts were in first place in the Metropolitan with a 12-3-1 record and 25 points. Having played 16 games this season, the Rangers are 11-4-1 with 23 points.
While the Rangers are in fourth place in their division to this point, that comes with some needed context. Their 16 games played are tied with the Lightning, Stars, and Ducks for the fewest games played among all teams.
New York’s .719 points percentage is superior to all but four other teams – the Wild, Jets, Capitals, and first-place Hurricanes, who are just three points ahead of the Rangers. They are just three points behind the second-place Devils, even though their cross-river rivals have played five more games.
Despite all of the Rangers’ complaints and deficiencies, they are just two points shy of their position from a year ago and are 6-3 in their last nine games.
As of this writing, the Rangers have the seventh-best power-play unit in the NHL. That fact raises some eyebrows, considering that they have converted on just five of their last 24 opportunities with the man advantage.
Even more surprising is that Mika Zibanejad has zero power-play goals. Once a juggernaut on the man advantage, Zibanejad has been publicly disgruntled about his decrease in ice time this season.
On the other hand, the Rangers’ penalty-killing unit has been consistently great so far. The Rangers have killed off penalties at an 88.2% rate and have successfully killed off 26 of their last 29 penalties.
Only the Nashville Predators have stymied opposing power plays at a higher clip this season – 90.8%. The loss of Barclay Goodrow – still one of the elite penalty-killing forwards in the league – has been minimized. Jonathan Quick had posted consecutive shutouts for the first time since winning the Conn Smythe in 2011-2012 when he led the Kings to their first Stanley Cup championship.
Not to be outdone, Quick is also amid a lengthy shutout streak. The winningest American goalie of all time has not allowed a goal in 128 minutes and five seconds, which dates back to November 7th.
Igor Shesterkin started the season with a shutout on opening night and a .932 save percentage in his first five games. In his last seven games, Shesterkin has a .901 save percentage and allowed four goals or more in three. Still, despite his recent struggles, the man who could become the first $100 million goalie ranks among the game’s best. There is no better tandem of net minders than Shesterkin and Quick right now.
It has been one of this club’s most eventful early seasons in recent memory – and the off-season was no different. Captain Jacob Trouba was the subject of trade rumors throughout the off-season. Despite the conjecture, Trouba remains a Ranger, at least for now, and has assured that all is well between him and the front office.
Right before the Rangers’ opening game against the Penguins, Igor Shesterkin turned down the most lucrative contract in NHL history for a goalie.
NHL insider Kevin Weekes hinted at a potential agreement between Shesterkin’s camp and the Rangers’ brass back on November 7th, but nothing has resulted.
Mika Zibanejad’s displeasure with his ice time was highlighted earlier. He has scored just three goals so far this season and accrued a mere two points in his past five games.
Matt Rempe, Victor Mancini, and Jimmy Vesey frequently alternated trips between Madison Square Garden and the XL Center. Aside from Laviolette’s brief changes, the fourth line has remained mostly intact – with Edstrom-Carrick-Vesey.
In an attempt to get the $68 million Zibanejad’s season kickstarted, head coach Peter Laviolette blew up the team’s usual four lines.
Zibanejad was paired with Artemi Panarin and the new $52.15 million man, Alexis Lafreniere, on the first line. The second line now featured Kreider, Chytil (more on him later), and Kappo Kakko. The other two lines were Cuylle-Trocheck-Smith and Edstrom-Carrick-Vesey.
These new lines did not last. Disbanding the former third line of Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko was never the best move, considering that those three have formed one of hockey’s premier lines.
When the Rangers faced the Sharks on November 14th, Zibanejad and Vincent Trocheck finally scored a goal. That goal is Zibanejad’s only goal in the last ten games.
Artemi Panarin is one of the most significant free-agent signings in franchise history. A generational playmaker, Panarin has recorded a point in all but one game so far this season, and he has a seven-game point streak.
Only ten other players have more points than Panarin to this point. The former Blackhawk and Blue Jacket is on pace for 51 goals, which would surpass last season’s career-high of 49.
After finishing fifth in Hart Trophy voting last season, the affectionately nicknamed Yeast Mode is also on pace for 123 points, which would tie the ageless Jaromir Jagr for the most points in a single season by any Ranger. At a time when several of Panarin’s teammates are struggling – Trocheck and Zibanejad in particular – Panarin has picked up where he left off a year ago. He might even have the best season of his career yet again.
The Rangers have not been an excellent puck-controlling team at five-on-five for a decade. This deficiency predates every player currently on the roster, except for mainstay Chris Kreider.
Kreider is the only remaining player from the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 squads that reached the Cup Final and Game Seven in the Eastern Conference Finals, respectively. His five-on-five numbers have been respectable, but the same cannot be said for the rest of the team.
Per MoneyPuck, the Rangers have attained the following ranks at five-on-five play:
This has not prevented New York from making deep playoff runs, but it has made the team come up short in its pursuit of an elusive Stanley Cup championship.
Far too often, the cumulative effects of head injuries and concussions have resulted in the premature deaths of former athletes. From Junior Seau and Chris Henry to Derek Boogaard and Rick Rypien, the price those young men paid is far too steep.
Chytil’s current injury designation is an upper-body injury. While vague, it can be surmised that he has sustained yet another concussion, and he has not traveled with the team for their West Coast trip.
The 2017 first-round pick has a lengthy concussion history, and this is likely yet another one to add to a frighteningly long list. Chytil has played just 25 games since the start of last season.
Chytil’s fortitude is to be commended. He cherishes being available for his teammates and coaches, especially after he signed an extension in March 2023.
Seeing a former athlete succumb to the effects of head injuries before even being old enough to be a grandfather would only continue the cycle of tragedy in NHL circles. One can only hope that Chytil makes the right choice for himself.
Last season, the Rangers overcame similar deficiencies. They had the greatest regular season in team history and nearly reached the Cup Final.
This is still a team that can win it all. They have one of the best coaching staffs in the league, two elite goalies, and plenty of star power in front of those goalies.
66 games remain in this young season. What the Rangers do with it will determine their playoff path.
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