The Rangers enter 2026 with the Eastern Conference’s worst record and no easy answers

The New York Rangers are 19-18-5 with 43 points, a .512 points percentage, and a minus seven rating in 42 games played, and are officially the worst team in the Eastern Conference, and the seventh worst in the entire NHL. A team that entered the season with a "no bullsh*t" mantra has officially passed the halfway point of the season, and they look to be in worse shape than last season.

The month of January is set to be a slog as the NHL gets in as many games as possible before the league breaks for the Winter Olympics, and the Rangers' front office will have some very tough decisions to make. There will be time for talking about that, but for now, here are some immediate takeaways from the team's most recent loss.

Blueshirts are banged up once again

Noah Laba and Conor Sheary left the 6-3 loss to Washington with injuries, and the immediate status of both players are unknown. Laba was on the receiving end of a heavy hit from Tom Wilson, and Sheary went down awkwardly during the game.

If both are unable to go in Friday's Winter Classic, the Rangers will once again need to dip into their depth in Hartford.

Mika Zibanejad goes another game without a shot on goal

Wednesday's game against the Capitals was the fourth time in the last five games Zibanejad failed to record a shot on goal. The one game he had a shot on goal was against the Carolina Hurricanes, and the Rangers' center had just one. December was one of the most disappointing months for Zibanejad in quite some time, and his slump is baffling. The Rangers' offense is struggling mightily, and Zibanejad needs to get back to being an assertive shooter.

Welcome back Adam Fox!

Adam Fox made his long awaited return for the Rangers in the loss, and he was sorely missed. The Blueshirts' MVP had a goal and an assist and logged 21:13 in his return from injury. Fox now has four goals and 24 assists for 28 points in 28 games, and is playing some of the best hockey among defenders in the NHL this season.

You'd think that type of performance would be useful to Team USA at the Olympics, but the organization decided to snub Fox.