The New York Rangers entered the 2024-25 NHL season with high hopes after winning the Presidents’ Trophy the previous year, but their campaign quickly unraveled, culminating in a failure to make the playoffs. Several critical factors contributed to this disappointing outcome.
First, the team suffered from a significant drop in performance from key players. Stars like Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, who had been reliable scorers, experienced sharp declines in production. Both players took fewer shots and scored less, with Zibanejad on pace for just 16 goals, a career low since his early years, and Kreider also posting his lowest goal total since the pandemic-shortened season of 2020-21. This lack of offensive output left the Rangers struggling to generate consistent scoring chances.
Second, the Rangers’ power play, a strength in previous seasons, became ineffective. Their conversion rate plummeted from 26.4% last season to just 17.1% this year, ranking 26th in the league. Despite still creating a decent number of high-danger chances, the team failed to capitalize, which severely hampered their ability to gain momentum and close out games.
Third, internal turmoil and poor team defense played a major role. Trade rumors and the eventual departure of captain Jacob Trouba disrupted locker room chemistry. Defensive pairings were shuffled, notably with Ryan Lindgren’s return to a key role causing instability. The defense struggled to maintain structure, and goaltending faltered at times, compounding the team’s woes. Additionally, the Rangers showed a lack of resilience, with only 16 comeback wins compared to 28 the previous season, signaling a loss of the “No Quit in New York” spirit.
Ultimately, a combination of declining individual performances, special teams struggles, and internal discord led to the Rangers’ dramatic fall from grace in 2024-25, ending their playoff hopes and prompting calls for significant changes moving forward.
