Why New York Rangers fans should be thankful for these 4 things
The New York Rangers arrived at U.S. Thanksgiving with a 12-11-2 record after a very eventful first eight weeks or so of the 2025-26 NHL season. It’s been a rollercoaster ride, no matter how steady a hand coach Mike Sullivan uses to guide his new team.
Though there’s been more than enough for the Rangers and their fans to be annoyed about, there’s plenty of reason to be thankful, as well.
Let’s check it out.
4 things Rangers fans should be thankful for
This season is not last season
As maddening as the home scoreless streak, woeful 2-7-1 record at Madison Square Garden, and overall scoring struggles are, these Rangers are not those Rangers. And for that, we all should be very thankful.
There is a completely different vibe from last season, when terrible body language mirrored equally poor effort and execution. Greatly affected by off-ice drama, the Rangers looked miserable, especially during that heinous 4-15-0 stretch in November and December that submarined their season. It’s no wonder the Rangers failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2024-25.
Though their record is not any great shakes so far this season, this group passes the eye test. The effort is there, they play hard, they’re engaged, they defend far better than a year ago. The Rangers are far from a perfect product, but at least they’re a committed team. It’s a low bar, for sure. But it’s not last season all over again, and that’s not nothing.
NHL parity
Never has there been more parity in the NHL than right now. And as the Rangers continue to find their footing and overcome some early-season scoring issues and MSG struggles, that League-wide parity isn’t a bad thing at all for the Blueshirts.
As of Thanksgiving, the Rangers were last in the Metropolitan Division and four points out of the Eastern Conference cellar, with 26 points. On the other hand, they’re also just one point behind the Pittsburgh Penguins for the second wild card in the East, and two behind the Washington Capitals for third place in the division. New York trails the New Jersey Devils by five points for the top spot in the conference.
Simply, the East couldn’t be any tighter right now, no one team is pulling away from the pack. And that’s good news for the Rangers, who’ve yet to have a significant extended winning streak, nor multiple streaks. It’s partly why Sullivan isn’t concerned that the Rangers remain on the outside looking in at a playoff spot at the traditional Thanksgiving threshold.
However, it should be noted that the Rangers played more games (25) than every other team in the conference, other than the Boston Bruins (also 25). So, their .520 points percentage sets them back compared to other teams, even if they’re right there points-wise.
Free agent finds
Say what you will about the job Chris Drury’s done as Rangers general; manager. But three of New York’s best and most consistent players so far this season are free agents he signed, each at a fair price.
Vladislav Gavrikov (7 years, $49 million) is everything the Rangers hoped he’d be when signed this past summer. He gives the Rangers a steady, smart, reliable defensive defenseman, who’s really stabilized things on the back end. Gavrikov’s greatly helped Adam Fox on the top defense pair and been a horse averaging more than 23 minutes per game. The 30-year-old’s also a pleasant surprise offensively, ranking second behind Fox among Rangers defensemen with 10 points (three goals, seven assists) in 25 games.
Sam Carrick (3 years, $3 million) continues to be among the most respected players on the roster. The fourth-line center doesn’t fill up the score sheet — six points (one goal, five assists) in 25 games — but the 33-year-old is the type character player that winning teams all have. He’s gritty, fearless, and a top penalty killer — not to mention a bargain in his second season at $1 million annually.
Though he missed 14 games with an upper-body injury, Vincent Trocheck (6 years, $28.5 million) has five goals in 11 games, two off the Rangers lead. The 32-year-old center remains one of the best face-off men in the League, a key penalty killer, top-six forward, letter-wearing leader, and another bargain in Year 4 of a deal that pays him $4.75 million annually.
The new and old
Rookie Noah Laba and 18-season veteran Jonathan Quick each is a key contributor with the Rangers. And that’s pretty cool. The fresh-faced kid and the grizzled veteran.
Laba won the heart of Rangers fans during an eye-opening preseason, and continues to do so with his relentless pace and clutch play through his first 25 NHL games. The 23-year-old center earned Sullivan’s trust to be a lineup regular right from opening night, and it’s easy to envision Laba being a long-time two-way fixture for years to come.
Though Quick is on IR with a lower-body injury right now, the 39-year-old goalie’s been outstanding in six starts (3-3-0, 1.69 goals-against average, .944 save percentage). With any goal support at all, he should be 5-1-0 or maybe even a perfect 6-0-0. But the bottom line is that the three-time Stanley Cup champion continues to drink from the fountain of youth and give the Rangers one of the best 1-2 punches between the pipes with Igor Shesterkin.
