New York Rangers: 1st quarter report card for every player in 2024-25 NHL season

NHL: St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers arrived at the first quarter mark of the 2024-25 NHL season with a 12-8-1 record through 21 games. After racing to a 5-0-1 start, they are 7-8-0 since, and hit the 21-game mark on a four-game losing streak.

Trade rumors are already in full swing with the Rangers playing a mediocre brand of hockey for well over a month. Though they’ve underperformed and underwhelmed, the Rangers are still in the thick of the playoff race in the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference. And there are 61 games remaining on the schedule before the Stanley Cup Playoffs arrive.

Coach Peter Laviolette receives a C+ grade for the first quarter. He stuck with the tried and true for a long stretch after winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season, but has juggled line combinations and toyed with the roster as their funk’s continued.

General manager Chris Drury received a C-. He didn’t address the Rangers’ biggest needs in the offseason after they were exposed in an Eastern Conference Final loss in six games to the Florida Panthers — though salary-cap restraints did hinder him. Also, the timing and manner in which his interest to shake things up with a trade went public is not a positive tactic.

Let’s grade the players.

Related: Chris Kreider unconcerned about Rangers trade rumors, sheds light on team ‘angst’

Will Cuylle – Grade: A

NHL: New York Rangers at Vancouver Canucks
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Jonathan Quick – Grade: A

NHL: Anaheim Ducks at New York Rangers
Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Artemi Panarin – Grade: A-

NHL: New York Islanders at New York Rangers
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Igor Shesterkin – Grade A-

NHL: New York Rangers at Calgary Flames
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Adam Fox – Grade: A-

NHL: New York Islanders at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Alexis Lafreniere – Grade: B+

NHL: New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Filip Chytil – Grade: B+

NHL: New York Rangers at Washington Capitals
Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Kaapo Kakko – Grade: B

NHL: New York Rangers at Pittsburgh Penguins
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Braden Schneider – Grade B

NHL: New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Sam Carrick – Grade: B-

NHL: Winnipeg Jets at New York Rangers
Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Zac Jones – Grade: B-

NHL: St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Jimmy Vesey – Grade: B-

NHL: New York Islanders at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Adam Edstrom – Grade: C+

NHL: New York Rangers at Seattle Kraken
Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

Vincent Trocheck – Grade: C

NHL: New York Rangers at Calgary Flames
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Reilly Smith – Grade: C

NHL: St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Chris Kreider – Grade: C

NHL: New York Islanders at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Jonny Brodzinski – Grade: C

NHL: New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes
Credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images

Jacob Trouba – Grade: C-

NHL: New York Rangers at Calgary Flames
Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

K’Andre Miller – Grade: C-

NHL: Stanley Cup Playoffs-Florida Panthers at New York Rangers
Credit: Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Victor Mancini – Grade: C-

NHL: New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers
Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Mika Zibanejad – Grade: D+

NHL: St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Ryan Lindgren – Grade: D

NHL: New York Rangers at Edmonton Oilers
Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Brett Berard – Grade: INC

NHL: St. Louis Blues at New York Rangers
Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Matt Rempe – Grade: INC

NHL: New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Chad Ruhwedel – Grade: INC

NHL: New York Rangers at Toronto Maple Leafs
Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images
Jim Cerny is Executive Editor at Forever Blueshirts and Managing Editor at Sportsnaut, with more than 30 years of ... More about Jim Cerny
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