New York Rangers enter camp with clear self awareness after awful year

The New York Rangers started the on-ice portion of training camp today, and along with that came the annual theme shirt which speaks to the goals of the team. This year's version is simple and to the point, and reflects how important it is to get down to business and turn the page.

There was a lot of "B.S." last season

The Rangers' 2024-25 season got off to a bumpy start before the team even took the ice. Barclay Goodrow was placed on waivers and claimed by the San Jose Sharks to work around his no-trade clause, and it didn't sit right with players on the team given how much of a glue guy he was. Jacob Trouba was in the headlines because there were rumors that the team was going to trade him. Then it came out that he altered his no-trade list to essentially block that trade, partially because he didn't want to leave his wife alone with a young child while she was still in her medical residency. It was a very reasonable situation on his part, but the overall situation was messy just because it was clear the Rangers were done with their captain and they were unable to move him.

Then you had the memo from Chris Drury regarding his interest in trading Chris Kreider among others, and that led to the team going on a significant skid which they never recovered from. Trouba eventually was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks. Kreider joined him there this offseason. Some feel that the team essentially quit, whether or not that would have been justified based on everything that happened is something that doesn't need to be relitigated.

There is so much that has already been said about the horror that was the 2024-25 season, but the team is now looking forward to what is ahead of them, and determined for the past to remain in the past.

Onward and upward

Trocheck later added, "It was a fresh start as soon as the season was over last year. I think we were all upset with the way the season went. And when the season was over, it was almost a sigh of relief to be able to have that fresh start. Be able get rid of everything that we had gone through throughout the year...We knew what was going on throughout the year that we didn't live up to expectations. Let the fans down, let ourselves down. But having that summer to kind of go back to the drawing board, have a fresh start, new coach. It's a new team in here. It feels much different."

The hope is last season was an anomaly

The Rangers simply had too much talent last season to play like they did. It was a team that had just won the Presidents' Trophy, and went to Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. Their sudden year over year decline was unexpected, but wasn't something that had never happened before. The 1992-93 Rangers also missed the playoffs after winning the Presidents' Trophy in 1991-92, and we all know what happened in 1993-94.

Sullivan's addition is one of biggest moves in franchise history

The re-hiring of Sullivan is the beginning of a much needed change in New York. He has the potential to become the greatest coach in franchise history, and he very well could be the most consequential coaching hire the team has ever made. John Tortorella and Alain Vigneault were accomplished coaches who did great things in their respective markets. Gerard Gallant had a track record of success, and Peter Laviollete had a ring plus other stints of taking teams to the Stanley Cup Final.

Sullivan joins the team with two rings as a coach, and one as part of the Chicago Blackhawks front office. He had the pleasure of coaching one of the greatest players in NHL history in Sidney Crosby, and he is a no nonsense type of guy who knows what a good hockey team is supposed to look like. He is going to hold players accountable, and he has the gravitas to have those uncomfortable conversations.

Miller's captaincy makes more sense in the context of Sullivan's hiring

In many ways Sullivan being hired explains J.T. Miller being named captain, because it feels like his temperament, leadership style, and work ethic is an extension of what Sullivan will try and do with this team.

The 2025-26 group remains pretty similar to the 2024-25 group, and that's not a bad thing. As disappointing as last season was, the Rangers almost squeaked into the playoffs. Now they enter the season with Sullivan behind the bench, Miller in the top-six from the start, and with Vladislav Gavrikov who will help bolster the defensive depth. There are also a number of interesting battles for roster spots that include rookies and/or other relatively inexperienced players. There are lessons to be learned, and the team has a chance to live up to the potential and lofty goals that were associated with it before the start of last season.

Now the Rangers just have to prove it