One year after making their second Eastern Conference Finals appearance in three seasons, the New York Rangers failed to even qualify for the playoffs this time around. Despite a promising 12-4-1 start, the team collapsed, winning just four of their next 19 games and racking up 15 losses—effectively dooming their season.
Unsurprisingly, just two days after the regular season concluded, the Rangers parted ways with head coach Peter Laviolette. Though he led the team to a deep playoff run in his first year, the front office opted not to give him another shot following this season’s disappointing finish.
The team turned the page, hiring Mike Sullivan as their new head coach—marking the Rangers’ fifth coaching change in ten years. Sullivan, who won back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, will try to bring that same championship pedigree to New York after missing the playoffs the past three seasons in Pittsburgh.
Still, even with a new bench boss in place, the Rangers face more changes this offseason. As they try to revamp the roster under tight financial constraints, they’ll have to do so with only \$1.7 million in cap space—currently the 13th-lowest figure in the NHL.
For Rangers, Miller Decision Must Come First
The Rangers’ top offseason priority centers around deciding the future of defenseman K’Andre Miller, their 2018 first-round draft pick. The 25-year-old restricted free agent is arbitration-eligible and expected to command a significant raise from the $3.87 million he earned over the past two seasons—making him a prime trade candidate.
How general manager Chris Drury handles Miller’s situation could have a ripple effect across the rest of the roster. As noted by Eric Charles of Forever Blueshirts, if the Rangers can retain Miller at a manageable price, they may no longer have a need for Carson Soucy. Additionally, with Zac Jones likely not in line for a regular role again, he too could be considered expendable.
Charles floated a trade scenario that would give Jones—New York’s 2019 third-round pick out of UMass—a better shot at consistent ice time elsewhere. In return, the Rangers could bring in some of the grit and physical edge their blue line has been lacking.
Durable, Left-Shot Defenseman Would Add Toughness
Forever Blueshirts writer Eric Charles has encouraged Rangers GM Chris Drury to explore a trade with the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Mario Ferraro.
A deal could give Zac Jones the opportunity for regular ice time in San Jose—something he’s struggled to find in New York. Ferraro, meanwhile, has become a standout on a struggling Sharks team, especially after the 2023 departure of Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson. According to Fear the Fin’s Erika Towne, Ferraro “instantly became the Sharks’ best defenseman” following Karlsson’s exit.
Despite suffering a broken ankle in April, Ferraro didn’t require surgery and is expected to be fully healthy for training camp ahead of the 2025-26 season. The 25-year-old has been remarkably durable throughout his career, playing 78 games in each of the last two seasons and 72 the year before that. Still, he’s yet to experience postseason hockey, as the Sharks have missed the playoffs in all six of his NHL seasons.
Entering the final year of a four-year, $13 million contract, Ferraro could be a trade chip for San Jose this summer—or a likely deadline target if not moved beforehand.