Have the NY Rangers Become a Sleeper Team in the 26-27 Season?
From what fans have seen after the last two seasons of New York Rangers hockey, the briefest mention of potentially making the playoffs may make you sound insane to them. After all they’ve been through- a Presidents' Trophy team in 2023-24, an incredible collapse in 2024-25, and a last-ditch effort in 25-26, general manager Chris Drury, at long last, sees the error of his ways and sets out to rebrand this Rangers team. The letter was sent out, and fans continued to doubt their GM’s ability to return the Blueshirts to contending status. However, the offseason began, free agency blossomed, and Drury made his moves, much improving this Rangers team, though that may not be saying much after last season. An offseason that began with them described once again as a joke to the NHL has now turned into a team thought of as sleepers in this upcoming 26-27 season.
A part that makes hockey the sport it is now is its unpredictability. Regular season records often get broken, only for them to often fall to the underdog wild card team that made the playoffs on the very last day of the regular season. While the playoffs can never be determined so easily, the regular season packs just as many shockers as any sport, and the Rangers may very well be one of the shocking stories this Fall. Projected standings may put a team outside the playoff picture, but does that automatically determine their placement? Absolutely not. These teams make their own futures, and the Blueshirts may be able to create one with a season that runs until the end of April or into May. Anything’s possible when it comes to the NHL, but what really stands out with these Rangers to put them into the category of a sleeper team?
If you blinked, you may have missed it, but this Rangers team has changed quite a bit. Nearly every aspect of their lineup has been altered; whether for the good or bad is yet to be determined. Offensively, Pavel Dorofeyev heads to Broadway for some offensive firepower. At the same time, defensive pairs have been completely rebooted with the addition of Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson, and fans can see actual defense outside the first pairing for once. Goaltending-wise, youngster Dylan Garand will have to wait a little longer as Joonas Korpisalo heads to the Big Apple to back up behind Igor Shesterkin, most likely. Firepower, defense, and stellar goaltending once more; certainly a team fans can look forward to watching this September, but what about the remaining team?
Looking back two years, it’s hard to imagine anyone thinking New York would be where they are now. The team that made the Eastern Conference Finals two times in three years has disappeared before our eyes, though a few pieces remain and could very much help this Rangers team play for the postseason. After a brutal 24-25 campaign, Mika Zibanejad bounced back a season later, leading the Rangers in goals, and looks to continue to remain a key part of New York’s future. As for rising talent, Alexis Lafreniere has his chance this coming season to build off his late-season surge, creating some offense of his own with the help of Zibanejad and Gabe Perreault. As for the defense, a healthy Adam Fox would be nice; no doubt a full 84-game season from him will surely help the Rangers play some extra hockey this season. They got the key additions, and they got the remaining pieces for a season challenging to predict; should fans doubt them?
