The New York Rangers have made history in an unfortunate way by becoming the first NHL team to miss the playoffs twice after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. This achievement marks a significant embarrassment for the franchise, highlighting their inability to sustain success over consecutive seasons.
The Rangers first experienced this disappointment in the 1992-93 season, when they failed to make the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy in the 1991-92 season. However, they rebounded impressively by winning both the Presidents’ Trophy and the Stanley Cup in the 1993-94 season.
In the 2023-24 season, the Rangers secured their fourth Presidents’ Trophy with a remarkable 55-23-4 record, accumulating 114 points. However, they followed this achievement by missing the playoffs in the 2024-25 season, becoming the fourth team in NHL history to do so after winning the Trophy. This regression underscores the challenges the Rangers face in maintaining consistency and adapting to changes within the team and the league.
The Rangers’ struggles this season were marked by a significant drop-off from their previous form. After starting the season 12-4-1, they lost 15 of their next 19 games, leading to a mid-season slump that they could not recover from. Despite efforts to revitalize the team, including trading captain Jacob Trouba and acquiring J.T. Miller, the Rangers were unable to regain their footing.
This season’s failure serves as a reminder of the competitive nature of the NHL and the need for continuous improvement. The Rangers will need to reassess their roster and strategy to return to contention in future seasons. The historical precedent of their 1993-94 rebound offers a glimmer of hope, but significant changes are required for them to regain their status as Stanley Cup contenders.
