5 Rangers we most want to hear from at breakup day, including Adam Fox
No matter if it comes after an extended postseason run, like in 2022 or 2024, or in April after failing to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, like this season, breakup day is always a valuable opportunity to gather intel on the New York Rangers.
Such will be the case Friday, when the Rangers gather one last time after they concluded their centennial season with a hugely disappointing 34-39-9 record and a last-place finish in the Eastern Conference. The players meet with general manager Chris Drury and coach Mike Sullivan, take year-end physicals, pack up their belongings, and speak with the media one last time before heading their separate ways for the summer.
We already know that Jonathan Quick won’t be back next season, since the 40-year-old goalie announced his retirement earlier in the week. But there’ll be plenty of news to come out of breakup day, and a string of important questions to be asked, and, hopefully, answered.
So, who are we most looking forward to hearing from Friday — and why? Here’s our top five list below. And note that we excluded Drury and Sullivan, since they are in obvious separate category.
5 most intriguing Rangers ahead of breakup day interviews
Adam Fox
Let’s start with Adam Fox. When the stalwart defenseman returned from a lower-body injury after the Olympic break, he brushed off questions about his long-term commitment to the Rangers, considering their decision to trade Artemi Panarin and commit to a “retool,” using Drury’s verbiage. Fox stated twice on separate occasions that his future was a topic to be discussed “when we’re done playing games.”
Now, that the season is over, will he shed more — or any — light on his buy-in, or lack thereof, on the Rangers plan moving forward? Let’s see what he says at breakup day. When healthy, Fox was again a force for the Rangers this season, averaging nearly a point-per-game (53 points in 55 games), logging more than 23 minutes TOI per contest, and leading the team with a 58.63 percent expected goal share 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. He’s as invaluable player there is on the Rangers roster, along with goalie Igor Shesterkin — so what he says matters.
Also, it’ll be interesting to find out if Fox plans to play for the United States at the World Championships. Remember, he didn’t make the Olympic roster, so there could still be hard feelings there. But Fox missed 27 games this season, so, perhaps, he’d like to play more, and finish by getting in some meaningful games, too.
Vincent Trocheck
In a somewhat similar vein, it’ll be interesting to hear what Vincent Trocheck thinks about his future. The 32-year-old center is the most likely big-name player to be traded this summer, after the Rangers already tried to move him ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline. Of course, the Rangers ultimately decided to keep him when other teams didn’t pony up the level of prospects and players Drury sought. But it’s hard to imagine Trocheck wants to go through another season wondering when the other shoe will drop. So, he and/or his agent may apply some pressure on Drury to get a deal done with another team this summer.
The typically media-friendly Trocheck hasn’t been as available on practice days and in postgame media scrums sine the trade deadline passed. Perhaps, he simple wanted to avoid having to answer questions about his future, or nearly being traded once already, on a regular basis. Maybe he’s simply soured on the organization.
Trocheck is a stand-up guy. Expect him to provide some raw and honest answers Friday, both about his own situation and, on a broader level, why the Rangers cratered again this season.
Matt Rempe
Remember Matt Rempe? You know, the really big guy whom the Garden Faithful fell in love with, and who was supposed to display a vastly improved all-around skill set this season with regular fourth-line duty? Well, Rempe played just 26 games, and had more surgeries on his thumb (two) than goals (one) or fights (one) in his stat line.
We haven’t heard from Rempe in months, not since he landed on LTIR again after having that second surgery on his injured thumb, which was shredded in a fight with Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 23. In his two extended absences from the lineup, the 23-year-old forward became an afterthought. Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora are the favored flavors of the month, so to speak, and it feels like Rempe dropped down the depth chart.
So, how does Rempe feel about that? And how does he feel physically? Does he think he can come back and be the physical force and intimidator, and consistent lineup presence, moving forward?
Let’s see what the likeable Rempe says at breakup day.
Igor Shesterkin
Shesterkin doesn’t speak often with the media, though he did enjoy discussing his recent goalie fight with Jakob Markstrom of the New Jersey Devils. But hearing where the superstar goalie stands on the retool, missing the playoffs again, trading Panarin, Quick’s retirement, and Dylan Garand’s future is important because he is arguably the most important player on the roster, not to mention an incredibly respected veteran in the locker room.
And Shesterkin is capable of delivering astute, honest observations, despite the language difference and challenges. Remember, a year ago he said this about the Rangers 2024-25 collapse:
“In my mind, something broke during the season, and [went] the other way. We couldn’t handle it. It was our job to try to find the way to get back,” Shesterkin told reporters.
Vladislav Gavrikov
When Vladislav Gavrikov signed a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Rangers in free agency last summer, there’s no way he envisioned the crash and burn that followed this season. Nor the roster reset that’s still in motion. Nor the trade of his good friend Panarin, who helped sell him on coming to Broadway in the first place.
Gavrikov certainly feels like part of the answer in this retool, and the Rangers got more than their money’s worth out of him this season. He played all 82 games, led the Rangers in ice time, was a rock defensively, formed one of the League’s best defense pairings with Fox — and shattered his previous career high with 14 goals.
He’s also a respected veteran leader, if not a letter wearer on the Rangers, one who doesn’t speak as often with the media. Hearing what he says about his commitment to this retool is a good starting point Friday. And let’s see how much he opens up about the Panarin trade, which reportedly stung him.
