3 NY Rangers players who won’t be back next season

Blake Wheeler’s time in the NHL has probably come to an end

Blake Wheeler’s season came to an end back in February when he sustained a knee injury, and it’s something the 37-year-old may have a tough time returning from. Even before his injury, Wheeler wasn’t the same player that he was in previous seasons, scoring just 21 points and nine goals in 54 games with an average total ice time of 12:43, far from what we have seen from players of a similar age like Joe Pavelski of the Dallas Stars. 

However, this doesn’t mean Wheeler completely dropped performance-wise. Thanks to the names mentioned in the first slide, he didn’t need to be the top-tier talent that he was during his time with the Winnipeg Jets. Wheeler was still consistently getting in front of shots, taking away pucks, and landing the occasional body check, even if his overall possession metrics dropped. 

We still don’t know if Wheeler will make a full return from what was a serious knee injury next season, but if he does, look for him to enter a role as a fourth-liner or even as a 13th forward. It won’t happen in New York, but his veteran leadership this season will nonetheless have a lasting effect on the Rangers.