Over the last three seasons, the staple of the New York Rangers has been their power play. It was a lethal weapon that powered their success. In 2021-22, they ranked fourth in the league with a 25.23% power play percentage. In 2022-23, they finished seventh at 24.08%, and last season, they were third in the league with a 26.42% success rate.
Over that span, they consistently ranked among the NHL's top 10 in power play efficiency and arguably had one of the best setups in the league. The unit was constructed with elite talent: Chris Kreider, one of the best net-front presences in the NHL; Adam Fox, an elite power-play quarterback; Artemi Panarin, one of the league’s premier playmakers; and Mika Zibanejad, who possesses one of the most dangerous one-timers in the game. The only rotating piece was the center, with Ryan Strome and later Vincent Trocheck filling that role.
However, the 2024-25 New York Rangers power play tells a different story. Despite having the same five core players, they have dropped to 19th in the league with a 21.34% power play percentage. So, what went wrong?
Power Play Struggles
The Rangers have struggled to score on the power play this year, and a big part of that is the struggles of Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, who have combined for only nine power-play goals this season. The Rangers need to get the power play going if they want to make the playoffs, so they have gone out and traded for superstar forward — and former Ranger — J.T. Miller. The Rangers traded for Miller last Friday night sending forward Filip Chytil, defensemen Victor Mancini, and a 2025 1st round pick. They also got back defensemen Erik Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington on top of Miller.
Miller is a highly skilled scorer and one of the best forwards on the power play in the league. His addition should provide a much-needed spark to a unit that has struggled to find consistency this season. In just two games since joining the team, the Rangers' power play has already shown improvement, scoring three goals on five opportunities (3-for-5), a significant boost for a team that had been searching for answers.
Beyond the power-play production, Miller has made an immediate impact in all facets of the game. He has tallied two goals and two assists (four points) and has been on the ice for six of the Rangers' last seven goals, demonstrating his ability to influence the game at both even strength and with the man advantage. His presence has forced opponents to shift their defensive focus, opening up more opportunities for his linemates and giving the Rangers a much-needed offensive weapon.
Additionally, Miller’s ability to win board battles, maintain puck possession, and create high-danger scoring chances has injected new life into the Rangers’ top unit. His chemistry with key playmakers like Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad is already evident, and as he continues to settle in, the power play could return to its elite form. If he maintains this level of performance, the Rangers’ offensive struggles could quickly become a thing of the past, positioning them for a strong push toward the playoffs.
With the addition of Miller, it's plausible to believe the Rangers' power play will return to the elite level it reached in previous seasons. Additionally, if they do in fact start scoring on the power play it should elevate their play as a whole and eventually get them to put together a big win streak. If they can sustain winning ways, they should hopefully be able to get over the playoff line come April.