Potential Blueshirts to Make the Biggest Impact Next Season
Much can be said about the cause of the New York Rangers' collapse last season. Many can go and blame the coaching, but clearly, the players on the ice just didn’t want it. While a few Blueshirts like Artemi Panarin and Will Cuylle played like they wanted more, a handful just didn’t have it. An off-season like last year could give these Rangers some motivation, but there’s still much to improve on. Coming off a season like 2023-2024 gave fans a promising future for some of these Blueshirts, all of which were silenced after 2024-2025, and now they have their shot at redemption this year. While this team doesn’t scream a division winner, positive contributions everywhere could revive some hope for fans in the future, so long as all players do their part. With a potential bounce-back season coming this Fall, which of these Blueshirts can make the biggest impact on it?
J.T. Miller
A familiar face made his way back to New York from Vancouver on January 31st, and looks to be the kind of player this Rangers team needs. J.T. Miller proved to be a player who can still score, but it was more his nature that was most needed for New York. Miller has proven himself to still be the intense player Ranger fans remember him as. A fire of intensity like this is something plenty of Blueshirts need to find in themselves, and Miller may just be able to spread it. From what Miller has done in Vancouver over the past five seasons, it would make sense that his name has come up in talks of a potential captain. Spread some intensity like this into a few of these Blueshirts, and you've got yourself a team ready to make a comeback. Spread his competitive nature into this team, and he’s got himself another potential 100-point season, quite an impact to leave.
Will Cuylle
One of the biggest positives of last season's abysmal end was the production of this New York power forward. Now that Jacob Trouba is gone, someone’s gotta keep the physicality going, and who better to do so than Will Cuylle. Cuylle made his physical presence known quite well in 2023-2024, but his scoring presence in 2024-2025 is what fans hope to see more of. Holding a new record for the Rangers' single-season record in hits with 299, Cuylle also managed to hit 20 goals last season. As a season like that may be hard to follow up from, Cuylle has shown he’s a Blueshirt that’s here to win, and another player that can pass on some intensity to his teammates. It’s way too early to tell, but his style on the ice could scream future captain down the line. An outstanding second season for the young power forward, all that’s left is for him to try to improve next season. An impact like that can surely motivate the other Blueshirts into a bounce-back season.
Vincent Trocheck
If there’s a player you can trust more in face-offs, it’s the king himself. In the most recent seasons, Vincent Trocheck's win percentage in face-offs was 59.3%, which proved most useful over the last two years. Ever since the reunion of Trocheck and J.T. Miller, their familiarity on the ice looks to be something huge for the Rangers. Aside from his mastery of face-offs, his biggest strength is his leadership qualities since the departure of Trouba. While he didn’t wear any letters his first three years with the Blueshirts, he’s proven himself worthy of them, and is another candidate to become the next captain. Whilst he’s proven he can score, especially when it comes to the postseason, his leadership qualities will be needed if this team is to be without a captain for some time. Captain or not, qualities like this scream leadership, something the Blueshirts will need if they are to continue without a captain.
