The New York Rangers head into this season going through a type of transition. This transition isn’t a rebuild or retool. It’s a type of culture shift on the fly. New coach Mike Sullivan will be looking to imprint his style and demeanor on the team from the opening faceoff.
Meanwhile, naming J.T. Miller captain also promises to bring a positive shift moving forward. These changes will hopefully usher in a renewed sense of optimism on Broadway. But as the hype surrounding the 2025-26 season ramps up, three burning questions linger around the New York Rangers.
So, let’s take a closer look.
3 burning questions New York Rangers must answer in 2025-26
Is Mike Sullivan the answer for the Rangers?
The biggest question has to be Mike Sullivan’s influence on the Rangers. The club fired Peter Laviolette following a subpar season in 2024-25. The team didn’t hack away at the roster. Instead, the decision was to bring in a top-tier coach with a winning pedigree.
Since Sullivan is a known winner, there’s no question about his ability to succeed. But what does remain in question is his ability to steward the Rangers back to the postseason. But beyond returning to the postseason, making another deep playoff run will become the ultimate goal.
Sullivan’s success will largely depend on how much he can get out of his veteran core. If the Rangers can get off to a strong start, this initial question could be laid to rest.
How many young forwards will make the team?
The Rangers have several young forwards pushing to make the team. Brennan Othmann was in the running for a job, but ended up getting sent back down to Hartford. Othmann’s departure leaves camp surprise, Noah Laba and Gabe Perreault in the mix for playing time.
Additionally, Brett Berard could be an interesting name to keep an eye out for. He could make a case for a bottom-six gig, potentially pushing someone like Adam Edstrom for a full-time job.
Assuming that Matt Rempe, Taylor Raddysh, and Juuso Parssinen also stick with the team, the Rangers could have a much younger lineup than anticipated. That’s a crucial factor as the club will need as many fresh bodies as possible.
Artemi Panarin’s future with New York
A major question mark heading into this season is Artemi Panarin. Specifically, Panarin’s contract poses significant uncertainty for the team.
Thus far, there’s no indication about what the Rangers plan to do with Panarin. There’s no serious talk of an extension. But there’s no indication a trade is coming. The Blue Shirts have been the focus of endless rumors, such as Connor McDavid and Kirill Kaprizov heading to New York.
But beyond those rumors, the Rangers must decide what to do about their most prolific scorer. Now that Kaprizov has inked an extension in Minnesota, Panarin’s camp and the Rangers could sit down to figure out a deal. That is, of course, assuming both sides want to remain together beyond this season.
Otherwise, Panarin could be on the block in what would be a blockbuster trade. The outcome of Panarin’s situation in New York could boil down to how well the Rangers rebound this season. Another tough start could pressure the team to make a move. Given Panarin’s impending UFA status, he could be the most viable candidate to leave.
Fans won’t really know what happens until the season begins. Patience might just be the answer to all of these burning questions.