For several months, the New York Rangers have been altering their team composition. It began with theJacob Trouba tradein December, along with a number of additional transactions before the trade deadline, includingtrading for J.T. Miller, acquiring Will Borgen in the Kaapo Kakko deal, and parting ways with 2025 pending unrestricted free agents (UFA), including Ryan Lindgren and Reilly Smith.
During the off-season, the Rangers were also active, trading Chris Kreider to the Anaheim Ducks, K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes, andsigned Vladislav Gavrikov, who is expected to act as a crucial ally for Adam Fox. In the process, the Rangers obtainedScott Morrow, who played as a top defenseman for UMass and is only 22 years old, along with valuable draft picks for 2026. Additionally, the team has hired Mike Sullivan, a two-time Stanley Cup champion head coach, who may guide the Rangers towards improvement in the 2025-26 season. However, it's unclear if the Rangers are in a better position now compared to just over a year ago when they reached the Eastern Conference Final. At this point, it's difficult to determine, but the organization still faces several issues, and the current roster is not yet optimal, even after major changes.
The Most Critical Requirement Ahead
One area the Rangers must tackle eventually is finding a left-handed defenseman who can slot into the top four. Although Morrow may become the team's second-highest ranked prospect and could be a valuable addition, he is unlikely to be a viable option at left defense.
If Gavrikov is consistently playing with Fox, the only two valid remaining options to fill the Miller position areCarson Soucy and Braden Schneider.
Soucy, who is about to celebrate his 31st birthday, has earned a livelihood in the NHL by playing on the third defensive pairing. However, he experienced some positive results with Fox towards the end of the previous season, achieving an expected goals rate of 63.28 percent over approximately 147 minutes when they were on the ice together at even strength during the 2024-25 campaign, according toNatural Stat Trick. Notable, but that's with one of the league's top defensemen in a limited sample size. Pair Soucy with another defensive-minded defenseman likeWill Borgen, and you likely won't achieve the same outcomes.
Schneider, on the other hand, has experienced some positive results with his second partner, particularly during the 2024 playoffs when he was paired with Miller. However, having him play on the offside alongside Borgen will not be a simple challenge. Perhaps Schneider could achieve more success alongside Morrow if the 22-year-old offensive-focused defenseman is prepared for the role. This appears to be a more suitable combination.
Potential Options for LD
However, currently, this situation is not optimal. A second pair of LDs appears to be the most pressing requirement. Considering the market has softened with Bowen Byram and others probably no longer available through trades, the Rangers may need to wait until next year's trade deadline to address the problem.
Some leading unrestricted 2026 free agents who play linebacker includeRyan McDonagh, Cam Fowler, Mattias Ekholm, Jake Walman, Juuso Valimaki and Mario Ferraro. Certain choices are more appealing than others, and the players who ultimately become available by next year's trade deadline will rely on how their teams fare and the willingness of management to make deals.
Fortunately, the Blueshirts possess a significant amount of draft assets to offer, as of now. This consists of two first-round selections in 2026, along with one pick in each round except the fourth in next year's draft. Additionally, the 2027 picks are available if required. Therefore, the Rangers are not lacking in resources to make a major trade if they choose to.
Rangers Might Also Require an Additional Forward
Currently, the other area where the Rangers might be lacking is somewhat more complex. The Kreider situation results in a gap within the top six while also presenting a chance for another player.
The answer might be within the team. Is Will Cuylle, whom I've always considered to have the potential of an elite third-line player, prepared for a significant leap? Is No. 1 prospect Gabriel Perreault, who played five games in the top league last season, genuinely ready for a key role in the NHL right after college? Or will someone else...top prospectLike Brennan Othmann, Brett Berard, or Adam Sýkora shine during training camp and force the coaching staff to assign the role to one of them?
Unfortunately, there's no way to foresee it. So we'll have to wait and find out. If none of the available options are suitable for 2025-26, the Rangers might have to wait until the trade deadline once more. Unless, naturally, the Blue Jackets can arrange a deal for Columbus Blue Jackets' Yegor Chinakhov, whorequested a tradevia his representative. Although it might make sense, it's difficult to picture any interest in trading a 24-year-old who could still have hidden potential to a divisional competitor. Therefore, unless the Rangers offer an excessive amount, it likely won't take place.
Several unsigned UFAs in 2026 who play the wing are Kyle Connor, Patrik Laine, Evander Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jordan Eberle, and former Rangers standout Mats Zuccarello.
In general, the Ranges have already tackled the toughest challenge – securing a partner for Fox. Or, at least, that's what we believe. However, as an NBA icon once stated: "The job isn't done yet." Now, the focus shifts to finding the ideal player for LD. Fortunately, the management has time available, provided they are in a playoff spot by the 2026 trade deadline. This also gives them more time to assess whether the team's top-six forward unit is efficient enough to make a significant postseason push.
Another issue is Schneider. If he fails to perform with the second line for the Rangers, what benefit does he offer the team moving forward? Particularly if Morrow can offer the squad an offensive boost with the third line. It's possible the Rangers might consider trading Schneider to address potential problems on the left defense or acquire a top forward. The organization has the coming months to assess and make a decision.
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