Big changes for the Rangers are coming. Though perhaps a year too late, the Rangers are in the middle of a major retool and overhaul to extend their current window by moving pieces of the old core out. The core that got close, but when it came time for one last kick at the can, quit instead. While there isn’t a one size fits all reason for their failures this year, we know that Chris Drury has started to move things around to develop a new core, for better or for worse.
Drury has already started to make significant changes. Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil have all been traded with term remaining on their contracts/team control. Ryan Lindgren was also dealt, though a pending UFA that wasn’t going to be re-signed. Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith were traded, with Smith’s return being flipped for Carson Soucy, though they weren’t really part of the core.
Big changes for the Rangers mean saying goodbye to fan favorites
At the center of the big changes for the Rangers is Chris Kreider. It seems Kreider is on his way out. In a recent chat with Mollie Walker, he said has “enjoyed” his time in New York. Past tense. With the Rangers in need of a middle-six center and a 1LD, Kreider can likely fetch one of those in a trade. Despite his struggles this season with injuries, he’s still on a 29-goal pace and is still the best net-front presence in the league. The assists are down because, well, have you seen the Rangers this year?
Perhaps the most maligned Ranger this year is Mika Zibanejad. The signs of his decline were there, but no one truly expected him to fall off a cliff the way he did this year. No longer a viable center on the Rangers, Zibanejad has found new life as a winger and hopefully boosted his value as perhaps a center/wing add for a team in need of scoring. Perhaps Zibanejad would also excel in a less demanding system. Believe it or not, there’s value here.
The big changes for the Rangers likely means saying goodbye to the best bromance the team has ever seen. Kreider is almost guaranteed to be traded, as his contract is manageable. Zibanejad is tougher to move due to his contract structure and full no-move clause, but he hasn’t exactly shot down the thought of a trade. Many teams can bid for Kreider’s services, but Zibanejad has LA written all over him (just speculation on my part, but perhaps a swap for Phillip Danault?).
Other, smaller changes are likely
Kreider and Zibanejad, optimistically, can address the Rangers needs for a middle-six center and a 1LD. Those two alone qualify as big changes for the Rangers, but more is needed, especially on the blue line. Carson Soucy is not adapting well, and Urho Vaakanainen is best served as a 7D on a Cup contending team. Zac Jones appears to be on his way out, despite playing quite well recently. K’Andre Miller is now officially a wild card.
On right defense, the Rangers have Adam Fox, Will Borgen, and Schneider all under contract. It’s unlikely any of them are moved, though Schneider hasn’t exactly improved the way many had hoped. Still, a team with three right-handed defensemen is rare nowadays, so it’s tough to see Drury leveraging Schneider to make big changes for the Rangers.
On left defense, it’s the unknown Soucy, the somewhat fine but prone to big mistakes Miller, Jones, and Vaakanainen. This is the major issue for the Rangers, and while the hope is a true 1LD can be had for one of Kreider or Zibanejad, the reality is one or more of these guys needs to go for these big changes for the Rangers to happen.
Jones is almost assuredly gone, and his recent play has likely improved his value. The Rangers may live to regret letting Jones go for peanuts, but there’s not much else they can do at this point. Miller is another piece that can be used to make big changes for the Rangers, and if combined in a trade with Kreider, can bring back a truly legitimate 1LD. The question, of course, is who.
Of the names brought up in the past: Thomas Chabot is a pipe dream. Sam Girard is unrealistic. Bowen Byram would be interesting, but Buffalo’s owner has nixed big trades with the Rangers in the past. But those are just names we’ve mentioned here. There’s always something that we don’t think of and that doesn’t hit the rumor mill. That’s normally how these big changes for the Rangers go. At least, before the Drury era.
The goal for the offseason is to hopefully get as much value as possible out of Kreider, Zibanejad, and any other potential trade piece. Perhaps the Rangers need to make multiple trades, collecting picks and/or prospects before flipping those for roster pieces. There’s still one more year on the Artemi Panarin contract, and the goal should be to come roaring back in 2025-2026.
