The New York Rangers are fully enthralled in the most mysterious but enticing offseason in a while. It is unclear if they made the right moves to really turn things around once October comes, but it sure looks like it on paper.
Regarding the upcoming season, there are a number of players who are going to be under the spotlight for the new 84-game format. They will be heavily scrutinized or developed into fan favorites.
One wrong move, and it is curtains for their Blueshirts career. Let's go over the five that fit this description.
Braden Schneider
The single Rangers player that is on the thinnest ice heading into the 2026-27 season is defenseman Braden Schneider. He just signed a one-year-deal worth $5.5 million, and it came with one clear message. Play well, stay here, and earn more money. If not, the next team is going to have a really hard time trying to one-up that kind of AAV.
This is going to be a very interesting year for No. 4.
J.T. Miller
With a new number on his back, J.T. Miller is looking to become a new captain as well. He was underwhelming in 2025-26, and his return to prominence has to be a focal point next season. This group of younger skaters is going to need their sole leader more than ever. Another lackluster year has Rangers General Manager Chris Drury rethinking his decision to name him captain.
Will Cuylle
Here we go again with Will Cuylle. The biggest problem with him is that he plays so well but so inconsistently. When he is on, there is very little that he cannot do for this team to help them win, but when he gets into those tangents of bad hockey, it is miserable. This is the second year of his two-year deal worth $3.9 million AAV, so let's see if he can do enough to keep him around even longer.
Alexis Lafrenière
The headlines have continued to sing about Alexis Lafrenière being a bust. The ice beneath his feet on that label is cracking heavily these days as he prepares for his seventh season in the NHL. The 2025-26 campaign saw a little bit of a step in the right direction, but he cannot go back the other way now in 2026-27.
Matt Rempe
With a thumb that is hindering him from doing one of the very few positive facets of his game, Matt Rempe's days in New York are numbered. The fan-favorite has to establish a new competitive edge in his final year of a two-year contract, or it might be curtains for him. We all know how much this fanbase loves him, but with the youth movement in full swing, he is eating into possible minutes from a rising star.
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