For the first time in NHL history, all three tri‑state area teams will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs. It’s a stunning statistic — and a pretty stark snapshot of the current state of hockey in our own metropolitan backyard.
But as every Rangers fan knows, that hasn’t stopped the rival Devils and Islanders faithful from chirping the Blueshirts at every turn. Whether it’s in the stands at home or on the road, through mutual friends who swear allegiance to those other sweaters, or from some anonymous troll screaming into whatever social‑media cesspool they haunt that day, the taunts have been relentless.
But as Rick Sanchez famously said, “Your boos mean nothing — I’ve seen what makes you cheer.” Consider the source. Look at the current state of their franchises. As a Rangers fan, their snark is easy to brush off — laughable, even. Because if we’re running a simple litmus test of which tri‑state team is in the best competitive and organizational position, it’s the New York Rangers by a mile. And it could even be argued that when all is said and done, this failed season might end up being a long‑term net positive.
The same can’t be said for the other metro‑area teams. So let’s dig into their problems, shall we?
Islanders: From “comfortable” to catastrophe
A little over a month ago, the Islanders were cruising toward the playoffs. Then the rest of the Metro hit the gas while the Isles stalled out. The offense froze, the defense disintegrated, and Ilya Sorokin suddenly looked mortal — his Vezina bid leaking oil the whole way down
Despite that, optimism ran high enough for them to buy at the deadline. The additions of Carson Soucy, Ondrej Palat, and Brayden Schenn fizzled immediately, and the downward spiral began. The team played uninspired, losing hockey.
All of that culminated in Patrick Roy’s dismissal on April 5. He was relieved of his coaching duties, and Peter DeBoer was named the new head coach — a move meant to jolt the team now and set the tone for next season.
It didn’t work. The short‑term spark never came, and the Islanders were knocked out of playoff contention shortly after the surprising switch.
If there’s one thing that the Isle can take away from this season, its Mathew Schaefer and his very quick ascension into the upper echelon of NHL defenseman. He’s nasty and will be a problem for the Rangers and the rest of the league for the next 12-15 years.
Devils: A season of hype, hope, and harsh reality
Then there are the New Jersey Devils — the most disappointing and disjointed team of the bunch. They entered the season with big expectations, using last year’s momentum as a springboard toward something greater. At minimum, a playoff berth. That dream collapsed by midseason.
Their defense, supposedly anchored by Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and an allegedly emerging Simon Nemec, has not yet materialized. Outside of a few bright spots, the blue line struggled. Questions mounted about Sheldon Keefe’s system and its inability to maximize the roster’s talent. Nemec — once considered an untouchable, can’t‑miss prospect — took noticeable steps backward.
And then there’s the glaring Achilles’ heel: the goaltending. It was bad, then it got worse, and it doesn’t look close to getting better.
Jacob Markström was brought in to be a stabilizing force in the crease, and he has been anything but that. He had a disastrous season backstopping the Devils and was eventually shut down at the end of the year to rest and address nagging injuries. Across 44 appearances, Markström went 23‑19‑1 with a 3.07 GAA and an .883 save percentage. He repeatedly surrendered soft goals that killed the Devils’ momentum and morale throughout the season.
While Jack Hughes may be the face of the franchise — and fresh off his 2026 Olympic heroics — but he’s not exempt from criticism. Once again, injuries derailed his season: the freak finger laceration in November 2025, the lower‑body injury in Nashville in January, plus a history of shoulder issues, an MCL sprain, and various upper‑body problems. He’s developed a reputation he doesn’t want: a superstar who can’t stay healthy. And as the saying goes, the best ability is availability. The Devils can’t be a serious contender if their best player can’t stay on the ice.
All of this promise, all of this regression, ultimately fell on the shoulders of now‑former GM Tom Fitzgerald. The Devils are now in the middle of a full management overhaul, searching for a new General Manager and President of Hockey Operations.
Rangers: A bad season, but a clear direction
The Rangers’ underwhelming season is well documented. We know what went wrong and why. But here’s the difference: they’ve essentially been in offseason mode since late 2025, before the Olympics. They’ve had four months to evaluate who stays, who goes, and which young players are part of the long‑term core. They know who their coach is. They know who their GM is. Their path is clear.
They have a franchise goalie still in his prime. The foundation of a strong defense is already in place — not perfect, but improving, especially with younger additions and more defined roles coming next season. They have an energetic pipeline of young talent frothing at the mouth to wear a Blueshirt and earn their bag.
Oh, and they’re almost guaranteed a top‑five pick in one of the deepest drafts the NHL has seen in years.
It hasn’t been all sunshine for the fanbase, but if I’m reading the room correctly, Rangers fans are buying into what Chris Drury is selling with this re‑tool. The kids he’s brought into the fold have shown something — to him, to their teammates, and to the fans. They’re hungry. They want more. They’re ready for the challenge.
So the next time an Islanders or Devils fan gets in your face about the Rangers missing the playoffs, show them this article.
They’ll still tell you you’re wrong — but at least you’ll know better.
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