From breakout performances to blockbuster trades, and bounce back seasons, here are five bold predictions for New York Rangers for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
1. Will Cuylle Scores 30 Goals
One of the few bright spots in last season’s disappointing campaign was second-year forward Will Cuylle. In 82 games, Cuylle recorded 20 goals, 25 assists, and 45 points, all career highs. He also led the team in plus/minus at +12 and was one of their most consistent players from start to finish. Cuylle’s energy, determination, and willingness to play a hard-nosed game made him stand out on a roster that too often lacked intensity. Whether it was battling in the corners, forechecking aggressively, or standing up for teammates, Cuylle brought an edge and effort level every night that quickly made him a fan favorite. His physical presence was unmatched, as he led the team in hits and became one of the few Rangers capable of setting the tone in games when emotions ran high.
With the departure of longtime Ranger Chris Kreider, Cuylle now has an opportunity to take another big step forward in 2025–26. His blend of size, strength, and scoring touch gives him the tools to become a legitimate top-six winger, and he should see a noticeable increase in ice time and special teams usage. Expect Cuylle to earn more power-play minutes, where his net-front presence and finishing ability could thrive, and to continue being a key contributor on the penalty kill thanks to his defensive awareness. As the Rangers look to transition to a younger, faster, and hungrier team, Cuylle’s development could be one of the biggest storylines of the season. If he builds on last year’s progress, he has the potential to become a cornerstone piece of the Rangers’ next competitive core. Will Cuylle will start the season on the top line with Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller.
2. Adam Fox Averages a Point a Game
Adam Fox has been one of the most talked about players not only on the Rangers but across the entire NHL over the past year. Following a disappointing 2024–25 season, Fox has faced plenty of criticism that he has lost a step, that he is too slow, and that the league has figured him out. His struggles continued at the Four Nations tournament, where he looked off his game, leading to doubts about whether he will even represent Team USA at this year’s Winter Olympics.
However, with all the negativity surrounding him, Fox seems poised to respond in a big way. He is too talented and too smart not to bounce back. Expect him to return to his Norris Trophy-caliber form, silence the critics, and put up monster numbers, potentially averaging a point per game. For the first time since 2021, Fox had an extended offseason after the Rangers missed the playoffs, giving him much-needed time to rest, recover, and train. A motivated and fully healthy Adam Fox could be exactly what the Rangers need to lead a resurgence in 2025–26.
3. Igor Shesterkin Wins The Vezina Trophy
After statistically his worst year in 2024–25, Igor Shesterkin is primed for a massive bounce back. Even during what was considered a subpar season by his standards, he remained the Rangers’ backbone, keeping them competitive through stretches when the team struggled defensively. The Rangers showed their faith in him by giving Shesterkin the richest contract in NHL history for a goaltender. Now, with that extension in place, all eyes are on him to return to the elite form that earned him the 2022 Vezina Trophy. Paying a goalie that much is almost unheard of, and Shesterkin will need to deliver elite play over the next several years or this contract could quickly be viewed as a disaster.
With a revamped blue line and a new defensive structure under head coach Mike Sullivan, Shesterkin should benefit from more support in front of him. He has proven he can single-handedly steal games when he is locked in, and if he rediscovers his rhythm early, another Vezina run is well within reach. If the Rangers are going to re-establish themselves as contenders, it will start and end with their franchise netminder returning to dominance. Shesterkin has every reason and every tool to do just that in 2025–26, and if both he and the team bounce back, there is no reason he cannot reclaim the Vezina Trophy this season.
4. The Rangers Make the Playoffs
After a chaotic offseason that saw major roster turnover, the New York Rangers enter the 2025–26 season with tempered expectations but renewed energy. Losing key veterans like Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and K’Andre Miller was a major shake-up, yet the organization has successfully blended youth with experience to form a fresh core. The addition of defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, combined with the current core already in place, should allow the Rangers to contend for a playoff spot this season. If Igor Shesterkin returns to elite form and Adam Fox is motivated for a bounce-back year, this team still has the talent to compete night in and night out.
New head coach Mike Sullivan’s system will be the key to unlocking this group’s potential. His focus on defensive responsibility and structured play should help clean up the issues that derailed the Rangers last season. If the team buys in early, the Rangers could quickly regain their identity as a tough, disciplined, and opportunistic group. It might not be a Presidents’ Trophy-caliber roster, but with strong goaltending, improved depth, and a renewed sense of accountability, the Rangers have all the pieces needed to return to the playoffs and re-establish themselves as a legitimate threat in the Eastern Conference. With bounce-back seasons from key players, Mike Sullivan behind the bench, and a restructured roster, there is no doubt this team will be back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.
5. Artemi Panarin Will Be Traded at the Deadline
The final prediction for the 2025–26 season is that Rangers superstar forward Artemi Panarin will be traded. After six seasons in New York, Panarin’s time with the Rangers appears to be nearing its end. While he has been one of the most productive players in franchise history since signing his massive $11.6 million AAV deal in 2019, the team’s championship window has closed without a Stanley Cup, and the organization has shifted toward a younger, retooled core.
Panarin remains an elite regular-season scorer, but his postseason struggles and hefty contract make him a prime trade candidate as the Rangers look to reshape their identity. At 34 years old and entering the final year of his deal, he could fetch a massive return from a contending team looking for a veteran star to push them over the top. With players like Will Cuylle and Alexis Lafrenière expected to take on larger roles, moving Panarin would free up valuable cap space and provide the Rangers with the assets needed to accelerate their retool.
Panarin has been a fan favorite and one of the best free-agent signings in team history, but if the Rangers truly want to build toward their next era of success, trading him might be the bold but necessary step to make it happen. They need to get younger and more gritty, with the compensation of picks, players, and cap space a Panarin trade will be the best move for this organization's future.