Going into the 2025-26 season, the New York Rangers seem to be one of the contenders in the Eastern Conference. With new head coach Mike Sullivan and a core of Adam Fox, J.T. Miller, and Igor Shesterkin, they have the talent to be one of the best teams in the league. While there is a lot of talent on the roster, there are a few players who have caught their fair share of criticism. Players who have left something to be desired, but could be game changers if they take the next step forward. Here are three players who can silence their critics with a strong start to the season.
Juuso Parssinen
Although the Rangers' top six is all but set, there are lots of questions surrounding the bottom six. One of the players who has received numerous questions is Juuso Parssinen. After being acquired as part of the Ryan Lindgren trade, Parssinen left a lot to be desired. In 11 games with the Blueshirts, he racked up two goals and three assists for five points. Not only was he underwhelming on offense, but his metrics show he was a liability on defense, too.
This continues an alarming trend for Parssinen as he has regressed every year since his rookie season. After putting up 25 points in his first NHL season, he's only tallied 28 points since. Many feel that the Rangers wasted $1.25 million in cap space giving him an extension. It also doesn't help that young forwards like Noah Laba have had a strong preseason.
It feels like Parssinen's last chance to live up to expectations. He needs to get off to a fast start in terms of scoring while also showing improvement on defense. This will lengthen the Rangers' lineup and give them the ability to rely on players outside their top six. Parssinen is also young enough that if he thrives, he can become a pillar of the forward group.
Carson Soucy
Carson Soucy is in a similar spot to Parssinen. After being traded to the Rangers from Vancouver for a third-round pick, Soucy was never able to find consistent ice time, as he often found himself as a healthy scratch. In the 16 games he did play, he registered a goal and two assists for three points. Given how he was used, it was a little surprising that the Rangers decided to give him a three-year deal with a $3.25 million cap hit.
But Soucy does have the size and skills to upgrade the Rangers' blueline. He stands at 6 feet 5 and is 208 pounds, which allows him to deliver big hits. He's also been described as a defensive defenseman, evident by his xG% of 49.97 and a xGA of 10.61 per Natural Stat Trick. The only problem is that he has to demonstrate he can do this consistently over a full NHL season.
If Soucy can continue to post strong defensive metrics, it will be a significant help for the Rangers. It will enhance their defensive core, which has been a longstanding weakness. It will also make up for the lack of defensively responsible players in their forward core.
Urho Vaakanainen
Another defenseman who has received considerable criticism this past season is Urho Vaakanainen. After being acquired as part of the Jacob Trouba deal, many viewed Vaakanainen as a potential replacement for Trouba. While he was a bit undersized, he had a strong history of being a shutdown defenseman. He wasn't afraid of blocking a shot or preventing a forward from moving the puck.
However, in his time with the Rangers, Vaakanainen has left a lot to be desired. In 46 games, he's recorded two goals and 13 assists for 15 points. His metrics weren't great either, posting a 40.36 xG% per Natural Stat Trick. If his weak performance wasn't enough to cast doubt, the Rangers acquired a promising young defenseman in Scott Morrow, and the easiest place to put him is in Vaakanainen's spot.
If Vaakanainen continues to struggle, the calls for Morrow to take his spot will only get louder. It's why he needs to get off to a fast start this season. He needs to demonstrate that he can be the shutdown defenseman the Rangers thought they were getting. Otherwise, he'll spend a lot of time watching the game from the box.