Three New York Rangers' Careers With The Organization Now In Question Following Troubling Report

The New York Rangers finished 5th in the Metropolitan Division under Peter Laviolette. The record 39-36-7 wasn't good enough for Peter Laviolette to stick around, so GM Chris Drury fired him.

The players would all take heat as they failed to live up to their own expectations, as controversy rode through the locker room and caused disarray. The trading of Jacob Trouba and the waiving of Barclay Goodrow started the decline we saw on the ice.

For three Rangers, they'll have to step it up, and in the case of Artemi Panarin, produce to the level we've seen before to justify an extension.

Starting 2025-26, Panarin will begin the year two years removed from his 120-point season. A year that put him in elite company with Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov.

Last season, we'd see a regression to a total of 89 points (37-52), which by all means isn't bad for a player like him, but shows a lack of consistency.

Can he rebound this year and find a reason for GM Chris Drury to re-sign him?

Mika Zibanejad has found a new life under Head Coach Mike Sullivan. Sullivan would go out of his way to meet and greet the Swedish-born forward, who has been a mainstay in the Rangers' lineup since he arrived in 2016-17. He's produced at a high level before, and for the Rangers to justify keeping him, he'll have to find a way to produce like he did in 2022-23, where he scored 91 points (39-52).

Zibanejad has a full NMC and an $8.5 million AAV cap hit.

For Adam Fox, a rebound season is realistic. Last season, he scored 61 points (10-51) and arguably remained the best defender on the New York Rangers' ice. With a GF% of 58.26 this season.

Of all players listed, Adam Fox is the least troubling, other than his consistent injury issues. That tiny stat above shows the Rangers have a greater chance of scoring while he's on the ice.

For now, we'll have to wait and see how Mike Sullivan handles a newly formed Rangers squad who are set on making the playoffs again in 2025-26.