The New York Rangers upgraded their roster this summer, but it is unclear if it was enough. There were moves made to bolster the offense and defense, and the hope is that this team is at least a bit better than it was a season ago.
Looking at the last time this team had a definitive goal-scorer, and one who scored over 50 goals in a season, it was Chris Kreider back in 2021-22. He broke the stigma that he could not hit more than 30 goals in a single season and became the fourth Rangers player to reach that plateau. Artemi Panarin had 49 in 2023-24, knocking on the door of that marker.
The Rangers' history of 50-goal snipers
Vic Hadfield, a player whose No. 11 hangs in the rafters at MSG, scored 50 goals during the 1971-72 season and was the first Blueshirt to achieve that feat. He was a fixture on the Rangers' GAG "goal a game" line, and his season snapped a drought that lasted 45 years.
The Rangers went over 20 years before they had another player scored 50 or more, and Adam Graves was the second man to enter the club during the team's Stanley Cup winning 1993-94 season. Graves ended with 52 goals which became the new franchise record.
Jaromir Jagr was the third Blueshirt to finish a season with 50 or more goals, and his 54 tucks in the post-lockout season in 2005-06 remains the high water mark to this day. Kreider made a strong push to set a new record himself, but he ultimately fell just short.
In regard to the rest of the league, the Rangers aren't that far removed from rostering a player who scored 50 or more. While it has been four years, and counting, some franchises are still waiting for a player to make history.
There are still eight teams waiting on their first 50-goal scorer. Who gets there first? 👀 pic.twitter.com/mX4510hf1I
— BarDown (@BarDown) August 8, 2026
Gonna be a long time for the next one
Looking at the current Rangers team, there isn't a player that would be a likely bet to hit 50 or more goals. Even newcomer Pavel Dorofeyev, who was brought in to score goals in bunches. His career-high was set last season with the Vegas Golden Knights at 37 in a full 82-game season, but at least he has youth on his side.
He could be the next one to reach that mark, but with the influx of young talent around him, it is gonna be a bit more difficult after previously having Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner around. Now, Dorofeyev will have Mika Zibanejad and Gabe Perreault as his likely linemates, which is not terrible, but not the same either.
Outside of Dorofeyev, Zibanejad scored 41 goals back in 2019-20, making him the next closest bet. But as his career has started to take a turn toward being a leader first, superstar second, Father Time might be catching up to him. He has his eyes set on another franchise milestone, but not the 50-goal club.
Maybe it could be Perreault that is the next to join the Rangers greats. But, that is still years away, and there is no tellling how great he could possibly be yet.
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