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Why the Rangers have failed to live up to expectations

By Jake Mozarsky

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Dylan Holloway #55 of the Edmonton Oilers scores his first NHL goal during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 2022 in New York City. The Oilers defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Dylan Holloway #55 of the Edmonton Oilers scores his first NHL goal during the third period against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden on November 26, 2022 in New York City. The Oilers defeated the Rangers 4-3. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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The New York Rangers have not lived up to the expectations that were set on them before the year. Listed as one of the favorites to win the 16 postseason games needed to claim the Stanley Cup, the Rangers look like a team that is closer to the Calder Cup than the most difficult prize to win in all of the professional sports. Why?

A drop-off in goaltending

This is not an indictment on Igor Shesterkin being bad. This is just a statement saying that he has not replicated the goaltender that won the Vezina trophy last season.

At this point into the season last year, Shesterkin had already implemented himself as the favorite in the Vezina race, lifting the Rangers to near the top of the NHL though nobody thought they would be there. But, the goalie has been pedestrian, and the Rangers have not been the same.

This could be seen with Shesterkin’s comments after the Devils game, where he said he felt ashamed and said he needed to play better. While not all (and fairly little) of the blame goes to him, he has not been the same and is expected to be better as the season goes on.

This is not to say Shesterkin is to blame for the Rangers’ lack of success. It is just saying he has not been the same.

new york rangers
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – DECEMBER 15: Alexis Lafrenière #13 of the New York Rangers skates with the puck during the NHL game at Gila River Arena on December 15, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona. The Rangers defeated the Coyotes 3-2. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

Non-Star production

Though the kids have been fine, they have not been producing enough to make up for the losses of players such as Andrew Copp and Frank Vatrano.

Over a quarter into the season, none of Alexis Lafreniere, Kaapo Kakko, and Filip Chytil have over 15 points. To put that into context, Copp had 32 points in 36 games (18 in 16, 14 in 20), and Vatrano had 26 in 42 (13 in 22, 13 in 20). That’s production, and Lafreniere, Kakko, and Chytil have not been able to resemble what Copp and Vatrano did.

Going into this season, it was evident that the Rangers were going to rely on these three players more, and in addition, Vitali Kravtsov entered the fold. None have been good enough for New York to match their success from last season.

This also goes beyond the kids. The Rangers only have five players over 15 points this season, and the season is over a quarter done. This is not going to cut it. But, if there are players that have the potential to boom, it’s Lafreniere, Kakko, or Chytil.

Personality problems

The Rangers miss Ryan Reaves.

No, not the player. They miss the enforcer, the personality, the energy, the player that gave the team swagger all of last season. From the “Shesty, release us!” to the going after every team’s enforcer if they hit another Ranger, New York has lacked that since they traded him to Minnesota.

This was purely a hockey move. The Rangers wanted to give Reaves a better situation, as he was not going to play in Gerard Gallant’s system. Since he left, nobody has had any personality. The team looks lethargic and sometimes, looks like they have no energy at all.

This energy directly impacts the Rangers when they take the ice, and until the team can match Reaves, they’ll continue to fall.

A lack of complete hockey

One of the biggest, if not the biggest, problems of the 2022 NHL season for the Rangers is that they have not played a complete hockey game since the season opener. There has not been a game where New York has been able to put together an entire 60-minute effort, and this includes the wins.

While this is hard to do in hockey, the Blueshirts were able to do that last year. There were plenty of times when the Rangers were the best team by a landslide, and in most games, they have not been able to replicate that.

What adjustments need to be made? That’s up to Gerard Gallant and his staff.

What do these struggles mean?

It means that the Rangers have not been one of the top teams in the NHL like they were supposed to be, let alone one of the best in the Metropolitan Division. All of these struggles have contributed to a lack of success for the Rangers this season, and while there are others, these were some worth noting.

If the Rangers don’t turn the ship around soon, expect more changes. There will be more calls for a coaching change, a trade, or some outside action to help this team.

It’s unclear if the Rangers have what it takes this season as the dreams continue to slip away.

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