Several players on the New York Rangers did not meet their expectations in 2024-25. These three players must have a complete bounce-back performance to return to normalcy next season.
Furthermore, these three players are leaders of this team and they are heavily relied on. The Rangers sink or float with their performance.
Chris Kreider
No Rangers player is under more of a microscope now than Chris Kreider. The vibe here is that his days are numbered in New York, and he may not even suit up for the Rangers next season. Furthermore, if he does remain a Blueshirt next season, he will likely be their most significant asset at the trade deadline in March of 2026.
Kreider had a historically bad year, and it was a monumental drop-off from the Presidents’ Trophy run two years ago. There is no denying that he is getting older, and Father Time never loses its grip. From a trade perspective, there is not much time left to get the most out of him, so the Rangers could benefit more from him bouncing back than anything else.
Mika Zibanejad
It is only fitting that the second half of the ex-first-line duo also be on this list of players who need to improve in 2025-26. Mika Zibanejad was another victim of lackluster play, and this team needed him to succeed.
Zibanejad performed well for Sweden during the 2025 IIHF World Championships, a solid sign that the residue of last season might have been wiped clean. With J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck showing out in the previous season, Zibanejad has to transition into a new role, either as a third-line center or playing on the wing. The new scenery might be a good change for him.
Igor Shesterkin
The team succeeds and fails with the play of goaltender Igor Shesterkin. There is no denying that he is the most important player on this team and needs to return to his persona as the most valuable player.
The contract drama is over. Shesterkin is healthy and ready to return to Vezina status. He must reclaim the throne as “The Prince.”
This down year was a blip on the radar of how great Shesterkin has been for the Rangers in his career. If there is any player to completely turn things around, it would be #31 in net.