As the New York Rangers come off an OT loss in Montreal to extend their point streak to eight games, there are reasons to be optimistic and pessimistic. New York scored four goals, which they struggled to do for two months. However, sloppy defensive play cost them the shot at both points, keeping Jonathan Quick from getting his 400th career NHL win. It's gotten to the point where confusion over this team is palpable. So, what are they?
In years past, the New York Rangers have endured a deep rebuild; they've been Stanley Cup contenders and Presidents Trophy winners, and if you go back far enough, this team even once indulged itself in mediocrity. The 2025 iteration of this team can be all three versions on the same shift. Forget the same game; forget the same period. This team can be any one of those three at any point, and those wild inconsistencies are why Chris Drury wanted to make changes in the first place.
Will Borgen is a great example. His giveaway in the second period allowed the Canadiens to tie the game at three, which is not great. But in the third period, he started by blocking a shot into an open net to deny the Canadiens a clear goal. This isn't a shot at Borgen; he's been a good Ranger, but there's been so much inconsistency within games that it is difficult to get a feel for this roster.
This weekend's back-to-back indicated the team's struggles and success. Against Columbus, it was cagey, but both teams were solid defensively. Neither offense could break through, and eventually, Igor Shesterkin turned out to be the difference with a shutout. Scoring wasn't the problem in Montreal, but the defense couldn't stop a taxi. Jonathan Quick tried to bail them out but could not as the Rangers shipped five goals.
Is this a good hockey team? Is this a team that can compete for the Stanley Cup? At its best, the answer is yes. We've seen this in years gone by. Only Kaapo Kakko and Jacob Trouba aren't here from last season's squad, but the Rangers have Will Borgen and Arthur Kaliyev in their places for cheaper. This is a team that can go all the way.
Is this a bad team that could contend for James Hagens? Absolutely. Did you see any Rangers games from mid-November until the end of the year? It was Igor and Quick against the world, as the Rangers couldn't stop throwing games. Once they figured out the defensive side of the game, they looked more at home and started to rebuild. This team doesn't know what it is, which will be a problem before the trade deadline.