Don’t Panic: Why the New York Rangers Are Still a Legitimate Stanley Cup Contender

0 Diana khan November 12, 2025

Let’s be honest: looking at the New York Rangers’ 1-6-1 record at Madison Square Garden has been painful. When your home ice feels more like a trap than a fortress, it’s easy for a fanbase to hit the panic button. The Rangers currently sit at 8-7-1, a picture of mediocrity. But as someone who’s watched this league for yeats, I’m telling you to take a deep breath. This isn’t the time to jump ship; it’s the time to watch the foundation being set.

Insider Frank Seravalli hit the nail on the head: this dreadful home record is an aberration. Why am I so confident? Because their road record is strong. Playing well on the road, in hostile environments, is the true test of a team’s structure and character. It proves the system is sound, even if the execution at home has been bafflingly poor.

The Sullivan System is Already Paying Defensive Dividends

The biggest, and most sustainable, change I’m seeing is the commitment to defense. Under new head coach Mike Sullivan, the chaotic, high-danger-chance hockey of the past is fading. This team is finally learning to protect the house. We’re seeing better gap control, more active sticks in the lanes, and a clear reduction in the 5-alarm fires that Igor Shesterkin had to put out nightly. Shesterkin is still a world-class goalie, but he’s no longer the entire defensive system. That development alone is massive for a deep playoff run.

Of course, the other side of the puck is where the work remains. You don’t win a Cup without scoring, and the Rangers’ bottom-six forwards have been a black hole. This is where the pressure shifts to General Manager Chris Drury. He’s been tinkering since last winter, but the real test is coming. If the Rangers can leverage their improved structure and strong road play to climb into a top-four spot in the East by January, Drury will—and must—become a buyer. He has to find a way to add scoring punch and reliable depth for the grueling playoff campaign. The foundation is there, but now it’s time to find the finishers.