The New York Rangers have had a hot start to the offseason first parting ways with 14-year veteran and fan favorite Chris Kreider by trading him to the Anaheim Ducks, where he’ll reunite with former Rangers Jacob Trouba, Ryan Strome, and Frank Vatrano. Following a majorly disappointing 2024–25 season, the Rangers need to completely shake up their roster. Trading Kreider should be just the beginning. Here are three other players the Rangers should consider moving on from this offseason.
1. K'Andre Miller
K’Andre Miller has all the physical tools to be a top-pairing defenseman. He has elite size, impressive skating ability, and promising offensive upside. However, his development appears to have stalled. Defensively, he continues to struggle with his positioning and often makes poor decisions under pressure. He’s regularly caught out of position on pinches and is frequently beaten at both blue lines, exposing weaknesses in his defensive reads.
On the offensive side, Miller has yet to become the impact player the Rangers envisioned. His production has remained underwhelming, and he hasn't taken the leap expected in his puck-moving or scoring ability. Despite his physical gifts, Miller rarely uses his body effectively, often shying away from contact and being outworked in board battles. This lack of physical engagement has only magnified his inconsistencies in both zones.
For a while, fans pointed to Jacob Trouba as a source of Miller’s struggles, but it’s becoming increasingly apparent that the issues run deeper. At 25 years old, he’s still young by NHL standards, yet his overall play suggests regression rather than progress. With his contract expiring and restricted free agency looming on July 1st, it may be time for both Miller and the Rangers to consider a change of scenery.
2. Mika Zibanejad
Mika Zibanejad has been a fan favorite and key contributor ever since arriving in New York in 2016, but his play in recent seasons has noticeably regressed. He no longer resembles the dominant two-way center the Rangers once relied on. Complicating matters is his full no-movement clause and an $8.5 million cap hit, both of which limit the team’s flexibility as they look to retool for another playoff run.
Zibanejad has struggled mightily at 5-on-5 the past two seasons and was a key factor in the Rangers’ power play collapse this year. He finished the season with just 20 goals his lowest total as a Ranger in a full season since 2016-17, when he scored 14 goals in only 56 games. His production has been trending downward for three straight years, and this season he also posted a troubling -22 plus/minus rating. For a top-line center expected to contribute defensively, that’s unacceptable.
At this point, Zibanejad can no longer drive play at even strength and has lost his once-lethal one-timer on the power play. His contract, which carries an $8.5 million AAV through 2029 and includes a full no-move clause, is quickly becoming an albatross. While a trade may be difficult to execute, it’s a situation that President and General Manager Chris Drury must seriously explore this offseason. The Rangers cannot afford to let loyalty cloud judgment as they chase a Stanley Cup window that won’t stay open forever. If Zibanejad is willing to waive his NMC this is something the Rangers have to at least explore.
3. Artemi Panarin
This one might be a little controversial, but I believe the Rangers should seriously consider trading Artemi Panarin. Since arriving in 2019, Panarin has been the Rangers' top point producer and an elite regular-season performer. In 430 games with New York, he’s recorded 186 goals and 364 assists for 550 points averaging more than a point per game every season. Last year, he notched 120 points, becoming just the second Ranger in history to hit that mark.
While his offensive production has been outstanding, his lack of playoff impact is concerning. Panarin is entering the final year of his seven-year contract, which carries an $11.6 million AAV, and he’ll be turning 34 this upcoming season. Given his age, contract status, and the direction this team appears to be heading, now is the right time to move him. The Rangers should be able to fetch a significant return potentially multiple first-round picks and a top-tier prospect.
Trading Panarin would not only bring in valuable assets for the future but also open up cap space money that could be better allocated to address multiple areas of need across the roster. Whether it’s bolstering the bottom six (just look at the Florida Panthers’ depth), adding much-needed support on defense where the Rangers are notably thin both at the NHL level and in their prospect pool or investing in younger talent, the flexibility created by moving Panarin's contract could help accelerate a much-needed retool. It’s never easy to part ways with a player of his caliber, but sometimes bold moves are necessary to build a more complete and playoff-ready team.