The New York Rangers head into the 2025-26 NHL season with both high hopes and significant changes. One major shift is behind the bench: Peter Laviolette is out, replaced by Mike Sullivan as head coach. After a disappointing 39-36-7 finish that left the Rangers out of the playoffs just a season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, fans are eager for a fresh start.
Among the factors behind last season’s underwhelming campaign were the struggles of several key players. Here are three Rangers who showed they’d benefit from reduced roles moving forward.
3. Vincent Trocheck
Trocheck, usually a dependable part of the Rangers’ core, had a tough year offensively. His production fell noticeably, with his points dropping from 77 the previous season to 59. Both his even-strength and power-play performances were underwhelming, making it clear his role should be scaled back.
2. Carson Soucy
After joining the Rangers from Vancouver, Soucy struggled to find his footing. Defensively, he was often caught out of position, and the team’s metrics with him on the ice without Adam Fox were poor. In over 100 minutes without Fox, the Rangers had less than 37% of expected goals and under 24% of high-danger chances a sign that Soucy wasn’t the shutdown defender they’d hoped for this past season.
1. Mika Zibanejad
Though it’s tough to criticize Zibanejad following the emotional departure of his close friend Chris Kreider, his performance in 2024-25 didn’t meet expectations. His point total dropped to 62, ten fewer than the year before. Zibanejad often looked uneasy in possession, leading to rushed plays that hurt the team defensively. His expected goals percentage (48.67%) suggested the Rangers were likely to be outscored at even strength with him on the ice. Hopefully, Zibanejad can bounce back despite Kreider’s absence.
