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2 reasons why the 2025-26 season will go much better for the Rangers

ByJustin Bonhard|
Apr 17, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) celebrates with left wing Will Cuylle (50) after scoring a goal in the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Apr 17, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Rangers center Mika Zibanejad (93) celebrates with left wing Will Cuylle (50) after scoring a goal in the third period against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images | Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers have a mysterious road ahead of them. It could be a repeat of last season, filled with disappointment and heartache with each passing final buzzer. Alternatively, all things return to normal in 2025-26.

Here are three reasons why next season will go much better for the Rangers.

New Leadership

There is new leadership all across the board. Head coach Peter Laviolette is out, and former Pittsburgh Penguins head man Mike Sullivan is in. Former head coach David Quinn is also making his return to the Blueshirts, having started this rebuild that resulted in a Presidents' Trophy in the 2023-24 season.

New leadership will bring some fresh air to this team, which is desperately trying to breathe. Last season was such a disheartening and uncomfortable situation that anything opposite of that will bring new life to this team. Former captain Jacob Trouba is out, Ryan Lindgren is out, and Chris Kreider has a strong potential to be out. This team is moving in a new direction from its past, and it is assembling an "Avengers-esque" coaching staff to spearhead it.

What comes next is leadership on the ice and in the locker room. If Kreider is indeed gone before the start of the season, there are a few candidates who could take the mantle of the team captain or "leader." Adam Fox, Mika Zibanejad, and Vincent Trocheck jump off the page for that title.

Cooling off in summer

Last season was like a volcanic eruption. The build-up to that tipping point was long and drawn out, but we all knew that sooner or later, the explosion (or implosion) would occur. When Trouba was traded to Anaheim, Kakko to Seattle, and Chytil to Vancouver, it was all over from there. Not to say that the Rangers didn't benefit from J.T. Miller from Vancouver and Will Borgen from Seattle, but they did cause a significant rift in this team with that.

Now that the summer is here and next season's planning can begin, the Rangers know what kind of team they are. They are not a Stanley Cup favorite. They are not a lottery team that is tanking for a powerful class of 2026. They are a fringe playoff team with tremendous upside.

Now, they have to use this break to pull it all together by the end of training camp and preseason.