The New York Rangers believed their worst hockey was behind them. After last season’s disappointment, the organization fired head coach Peter Laviolette and finally landed Mike Sullivan, the man they had been pursuing for years. The hope was that Sullivan could restore the team’s identity as a legitimate contender.
So far, though, the results have been disastrous. The Rangers opened the season playing disciplined, structured hockey but struggled to finish chances. Lately, their play has unraveled — highlighted by crushing losses to bottom-tier opponents like the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames. Against San Jose, the defense melted down late in periods, while in Calgary, the offense was completely lifeless.
It’s only been ten games, but panic has already begun to creep in among the fanbase. Some supporters are even joking — or perhaps half-seriously hoping — about the possibility of tanking for Gavin McKenna in the NHL Draft Lottery.
In the short term, however, the team needs to look hard at its current roster, and these three players may not deserve to stick around in November.
Brennan Othmann
Othmann has been a focal point of recent trade chatter. Once considered one of New York’s top young prospects after being drafted in the first round in 2021, he has yet to seize a consistent NHL role. The 21-year-old underwhelmed this past summer when given a prime opportunity to impress Sullivan, falling behind other young forwards like Noah Laba and Gabriel Perreault. As a result, he was cut from camp and reassigned to the AHL.
He was only recalled because of injuries to Matt Rempe and Vincent Trocheck, and his stay could be brief. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, several teams have shown interest, with the Rangers seeking “good AHL prospects” in return. Unless Othmann shows something quickly, he’ll likely be sent back down once the injured players return.
Urho Vaakanainen
Defensively, the Rangers have regressed sharply. They allowed just seven goals over their first five games but have since collapsed, surrendering six to the previously winless Sharks and five to the low-scoring Flames.
Among the defensemen, the top four are safe, but the bottom pair remains vulnerable — and Urho Vaakanainen stands out as expendable. Acquired from Anaheim in the Jacob Trouba deal, the Rangers hoped a change of scenery would help him rediscover his potential. However, his advanced metrics from last season (43.86 expected-goals-for percentage at five-on-five) and his current performance both suggest otherwise.
Neither the Ducks nor the Bruins managed to unlock his game, and the early signs in New York haven’t been any better. It may be time for Chris Drury to move on from this experiment.
Conor Sheary
Bringing in Conor Sheary made sense initially. He’s familiar with Sullivan’s system and earned a roster spot out of camp after signing a professional tryout deal. But with the Rangers floundering, it might be time to prioritize their youth movement instead.
Sheary has contributed only three assists so far, and while that ranks near the top of the team’s scoring list, it’s more a reflection of the Rangers’ offensive struggles than his effectiveness. He’s currently logging top-six minutes — a sign of how desperate Sullivan has become for answers.
If the slide continues, it would be far more beneficial to give meaningful minutes to emerging prospects like Perreault and Brett Berard, both of whom impressed in preseason action. Letting them gain experience and grow into NHL roles could be more productive than continuing to rely on Sheary in a lost stretch of games.
At this point, if the downward spiral continues, the Rangers should consider reshaping the lineup — and giving their young talent the ice time to prove themselves.