Inside the Rangers Regression: What Went Wrong in 2024–25?
The New York Rangers were coming off a scorching 2023–24 campaign. They captured the Presidents’ Trophy with the league’s best regular season record and advanced to the Eastern Conference Final, where they fell in six games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. At this point last season, the Rangers looked like a freight train headed straight for another deep playoff run. They set a franchise record with 114 points and seemed primed to contend for the Cup again. Their recent collapse now stands in stark contrast to the earlier optimism surrounding their chances to make a playoff push in 2025. So, the question is: how did it all unravel so quickly?
Early in the 2024–25 season, the Rangers were again viewed as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders. By mid-January, they were among the top teams in the Metropolitan Division, with Artemi Panarin posting elite numbers, Igor Shesterkin regaining form, and the defensive unit staying largely intact. The team looked sharp, structured, and confident. However, since the All-Star break, everything began to fall apart. In a pivotal 15-game stretch, the Rangers went just 5–9–1, plummeting down the standings and out of playoff contention. Inconsistent scoring, a lack of energy, and poor execution all contributed to their collapse.
The one area where they consistently excelled — the power play — has become an extreme source of frustration. A unit that ranked fourth in the NHL over the past five seasons has dropped to 27th this year. Over an 18-game stretch, they went just three-for-49 with the man advantage while allowing four shorthanded goals. Defensively, the issues run even deeper. The Rangers have allowed five or more goals in 23 games, a staggering stat that underscores their breakdowns in structure and effort. Head coach Peter Laviolette’s man-to-man defensive system, which demands mobility and awareness, has exposed the team’s lack of defensive depth and led to extended time in their own zone.
While Shesterkin is still capable of elite goaltending, his numbers haven’t been enough to save the team. Over his last 10 starts, he’s posted a .887 save percentage and a goals-against average of 3.45. His record in that span is 3–6–1, with several games slipping away due to defensive lapses in front of him. He’s faced an average of over 32 shots per game during that stretch. The team’s reliance on him to bail them out, without addressing what’s in front of him, has taken its toll.
Combine that with a passive forecheck, minimal pressure in high-danger areas, and effort that’s been inconsistent at best, and it’s no surprise this team fell short. The Rangers have become just the fourth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy the year before. In the wake of their elimination, Laviolette addressed the disappointment: “We just haven't played well enough to win hockey games, and that's what makes it frustrating and disappointing.” He added, “I believe that this team is good enough to win hockey games — good enough to play in the playoffs — but we're not in it. So that's the reality.”
It’s a tough pill to swallow, especially for a fan base that showed up and believed all season long. Expectations were high, and for good reason — this team had the pieces, the experience, and the momentum to make another deep run. However, hockey is unforgiving, and sometimes things don’t come together the way they should. Missing the playoffs doesn’t erase the talent or potential, but it does sting. For the Rangers and their fans, the focus now shifts to reflection, accountability, and what comes next.
