New York Rangers
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the New York Rangers, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Pavel Dorofeyev, Sean Durzi, Eeli Tolvanen, Marcus Pettersson, Joonas Korpisalo, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Joe Veleno
Key Departures: Vincent Trocheck, Will Borgen, Jonathan Quick (retired), Adam Edstrom
Overview
The 2025-26 season was awful for the New York Rangers. Hiring two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach (and one-time Rangers assistant) Mike Sullivan was supposed to help turn things around. In mid-January, General Manager Chris Drury told the Rangers faithful, “This will not be a rebuild.” Instead, the Rangers went from 22nd in 2024-25, falling to 30th overall. The GM who said the Rangers were in a “rebuild” traded forwards Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck, leaving only seven of the 22 players who were part of the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Final in 2024 still with the team.
Offense
The Rangers were 23rd in goals scored last season and 25th when playing at full and even strength. Despite being traded to the Los Angeles Kings just prior to last season’s trade deadline, Artemi Panarin still led the team in even-strength goals. To replace the offense the Rangers lost in Panarin, they acquired Pavel Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights. Dorofeyev is coming off back-to-back seasons scoring at least 35 goals (35,37). After a slow start to the season, Alexis Lafreniere (24 goals, 33 assists) took off after the Panarin trade, with 14 goals and 14 assists in 29 games. The trade of Trocheck to Utah means Mika Zibanejad will likely shift back to center, where he was less effective last season compared to when he played alongside JT Miller. Twenty-one-year-old Gabe Perreault’s (12 goals, 27 points, 49 games) rookie season saw him demonstrate the skills that earned him a spot on the top line. Twenty-four-year-old Will Cuylle (back-to-back 20-goal seasons) is proving to be a valuable young power forward. His combination of size, physicality and scoring touch gives the Rangers something they lacked on the wings.
Defense
With Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov, Braden Schneider, and the additions of Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson (both via trades), the Rangers blueline looks better than it did last season. Don’t be surprised if Alberts Smits, who the Rangers selected with the 5th overall pick, earns a spot as one of the top six defensemen when the season starts. Scouts on record have said that the Latvian defenseman was the most NHL-ready of all available blueliners in the draft. He not only played for Latvia’s Under-18 and Under-20 teams in international competitions. He was also a member of their 2026 Olympic Men’s Hockey team.
Goaltending
The Rangers were middle of the pack last season (15), giving up an average of 3.04 goals per game, but most of those off nights came when they didn’t have the good fortune of having an all-star goalie playing between the pipes. Shesterkin’s 2.50 goals against average was half a goal (plus) better than the team’s overall number. He accounted for 25 of the team’s 34 victories last season. After 19 NHL seasons and 410 career wins (most by an American goalie), Jonathan Quick called it a career. Joonas Korpisalo comes over from Boston and will serve as the backup. Last season in Boston, he was 14-9-6 with a 3.15 GAA and .894 SV%.
Player to Watch
There is no denying that Pavel Dorofeyev can rip the puck. His 72 combined goals in the last two seasons were no fluke, but Dorofeyev doesn’t create his own shot, and he benefited a great deal playing with the likes of Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner both at even strength and on the power play, where 33 of his 72 goals came from. Whether he is playing with Mika Zibanejad or JT Miller, it’s a step down from his linemates with the Golden Knights. The 11-million-dollar contract he signed this summer with the Rangers comes with increased expectations. That doesn’t mean he has to surpass the 37 goals he scored last season, but he must at least match it or come darn close.
Outlook
The Rangers are coming off a season in which they finished dead last in the Eastern Conference, and their 77 points were 22 points shy of making the playoffs. Defense and goaltending (when Shesterkin plays) will keep them in games most nights, but I don’t see a roster that can crack one of the eight playoff spots in the conference. The only available wager I feel confident about now is for the Rangers to miss the playoffs, but unless I have the bankroll to make a significant bet, the price is too high (-290).
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 86.5 (Over -115, Under -115)
To Make the Playoffs: (+235)
Miss the Playoffs: (-290)
To Win the Division: (+2500)
To Win the Eastern Conference: (+4000)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+8000)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 34-39-9 (83 points, 8th Metropolitan Division)
Over/Under: 37-44-1
Home Favorite: 8-11 // Home Dog: 5-14
Road Favorite: 8-4 // Road Dog: 11-17
Win Score 4 or more: 26 of 34 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 22 of 48
Puck Line Wins: 23 of 34 // Puck Line Losses: 27 of 48
Front End Back-to-Back: 8-5 // Back End Back-to-Back: 2-11
Points Leader: Mika Zibanejad – 78
Goal Leader: Mika Zibanejad – 34
Teams First Goal Leader: Mika Zibanejad – 15
Assist Leader: Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox each with 44
Shots on Goal Leader: Mika Zibanejad – 215
Blocked Shots: Braden Schneider – 140
Depth Chart
Forward
Pavel Dorofeyev / Mika Zibanejad / Alexis Lafreniere
Gabe Perreault / JT Miller / Oliver Bjorkstrand
Will Cuylle / Noah Laba / Eeli Tolvanen
Tye Kartye / Joseph Veleno / Taylor Raddysh
Defense
Vladislav Gavrikov / Adam Fox
Marcus Pettersson / Sean Durzi
Matthew Robertson / Braden Schneider
Goalies
Igor Shesterkin / Joonas Korpisalo
