With 20 games remaining in the 2024-25 New York Rangers season, there is still a on of hockey left. The Trade Deadline is here, the Rangers are in a playoff spot, and there is a feeling that has been lost since the early stages of this season... hope.
But, what could potentially happen between now and the end of this wacky and unpredictable season? Here are some predictions, on the bolder side, that may happen between now and then.
1. Rangers lose another star for rest of regular season
It seems like it is written in the cards this season. One of the top reasons why the Rangers have not been able to replicate their Presidents' Trophy efforts from last season, is the injury bug. After the injury to Adam Fox, which may have sunk this season entirely, it might not be over yet.
Earlier this year, Igor Shesterkin went down with an injury and, Ryan Lindgren, while still a part of this team, battled injuries on a few occasions, and now Chris Kreider has been out for the past few games with an Upper Body Injury. Before this season is over, whether it is the regular season or a potential playoff run, there will be another star player going down with injury.
2. Make the playoffs against all odds
As it stands, the Rangers have a record of 31-26-5 for 67 points, and have a tie with the Ottawa Senators for the second wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference. So, this prediciton of them being a playoff team isn't all that bold, but it is bold if you look at the 2024-25 season as a whole.
This was a wild ride, to say the least. The Rangers looked like they would repeat as the best team in hockey again, and then disaster struck. Since then, this team has lost leadership, fan favorites, and their identity as a whole. As the games pass by toward the end of the season, they are starting to reclaim some of that Rangers spirit, but it is coming in small increments. Hopefully, they find themselves as a whole hockey club once the playoffs roll around.
3. No First Round Bounce
Did someone say playoffs? Can the Rangers take this group, barring any more deals at the Trade Deadline, into a deep playoff run?
Well that is the hope, right? The Rangers have lived up to their mantra and have not quit. Despite all of the drama and controversy, they have continued to show up, night-in and night-out, to prove they are a winning hockey team. The front office made the right moves, snagging J.T. Miller might have saved the season, and now it is only a matter of waiting it out to see if it all works out.