While the New York Rangers edge closer to the holiday freeze are are a few months closer to the NHL Trade Deadline, the Rangers need to make some changes. The Blueshirts have recently lost six of their last seven games.
Clearly, something isn't working. We recently spoke of whether they should sell some of their roster come deadline, whether they should fire Peter Laviolette and whether its time to move on from General Manager Chris Drury.
But with all this in mind and the holiday season rapidly approaching, what should be on the Rangers' wish list?
Unfortunately, with how poorly they've been doing, there's quite a lot of options. Let's break some of them down.
3. New Additions to the Roster
The Rangers may have to keep an eye on the NHL trade rumor market. With rumors abound — likely thanks to Drury — that veteran Chris Kreider and Kaapo Kakko were on the trading block, the question remains whether wanting new talent is a bad thing?
Their roster is already versatile, containing great names like Mika Zibanejad, Artemi Panarin, Igor Shesterkin and Alexis Lafrenière. And yet, the losses still keep coming.
This isn't to say new talent isn't currently present. Left wing Brett Berard recently made his debute with his first two NHL games. He's logged an assist and his first league goal. Matt Rempe is another young gun — 22 years old — who has made an immediate impact on the more physical side of the game.
Still, it's clear the Rangers need something new. And not just something, but someones. If teams like Ottawa begin sell-off mode and word gets out that certain names come to light, maybe we can see certain players potentially not only be linked to the Rangers but also land in New York for the 2025 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
2. A New General Manager?
The time has come to analyze Drury's tenure.
There's been plenty of good, from signing Vincent Trocheck, securing some good extensions and to drafting Gabe Perreault.
But, the leaks and public player criticizing are major negatives. Some could say it's almost as if he's trying to weaponize the media against his team.
Hockey players need a tough but fair general manager. Is how Drury is currently acting sending that memo. Leadership is more than simply securing players.
One can't help but wonder if he were to move on, if less difficulties for the Blueshirts would arise.
1. A More Consistent Mike Zibanejad
The Swedish ice hockey center has been on a decline as of late.
As we previously wrote, the 31-year-old forward has tallied five goals and 13 assists through the first 24 games of the season. This would be considered a slow but not horrible start, if it weren't for his abysmal plus/minus rating of minus-14. Zibanejad has scored over 70 points in every full season he's played for the Blueshirts, but this season has stood in stark contrast to those performances.
How he's playing simply hasn't been enough.
But when he is on, things are great. Take 2020 for example — On March 5, 2020, Zibanejad scored five goals for the Rangers, including the winner 33 seconds into overtime, in a 6-5 victory against the Washington Capitals.
This is the Zibanejad the Rangers need to get better results.