As New York Rangers goaltender Igor Shesterkin put it, “something broke.”
This statement captures the essence of the Rangers’ struggles this season, as they became only the fourth team in NHL history to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs after winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the league’s best regular-season team. They ended the season six points shy of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference, with a campaign characterized by drama, controversy, and underachievement.
Igor Shesterkin: “In my mind, something broke during the season and went the other way. We couldn't handle it.” #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) April 21, 2025
The Rangers held exit interviews at their training facility on Monday, where many players emphasized the importance of accountability as a crucial factor for improvement next season.
“Everyone really needs to take a hard look at themselves,” noted star defenseman Adam Fox. “This year was unrecognizable compared to the team that reached the conference finals two out of the last three years. Many of the traits that contributed to our previous success were absent this season.”
The Rangers finished with a record of 39-36-7, earning 85 points—29 fewer than the 2023-24 season, when they set franchise records with 114 points and 55 wins. While last year’s team was known for its ability to come back from deficits, that resilience was lacking this season.
“It felt like there was a missing sense of cohesion,” Fox added. “That resilience we built our identity on—over 20 comeback wins—didn’t translate to this year. We need to understand why that was.”
“Clearly, we didn’t meet expectations, and that’s the primary issue,” said center Vincent Trocheck. “How we approach games and perform is the first thing we need to address.”
Calvin de Haan, who joined the team in a late-season trade, echoed these sentiments, noting that he often saw a lack of cohesion in the team’s on-ice play.
Alexis Lafreniere highlighted a significant reason for the Rangers’ struggles this season: their inability to find any consistency in their game.
“Consistency was definitely an issue for us,” he noted.
As the former No. 1 overall pick pointed out, the Rangers only managed two three-game winning streaks this year, and they didn’t win three in a row after November 19. They ultimately lost out to the Montreal Canadiens for the final playoff spot, partly because Montreal put together a six-game winning streak at the end of the season.
“At the end of the day, we didn’t play at the level we should have with this team,” said Mika Zibanejad, who addressed his disappointing 2024-25 performance candidly. “This wasn’t the season I aimed for, and that falls on me. I have a few months ahead to prepare and ensure I’m ready for next season.”
Zibanejad wrapped up the season with 20 goals and 62 points, having played all 82 games. Like many of his teammates, he experienced a significant decline in production, contributing to the team’s overall struggles.
The Rangers entered the season with high hopes of contending for the Stanley Cup, especially after their close call in Game 6 of the 2024 Eastern Conference Final—marking the second time in three seasons they were just two wins away from their first trip to the Final since 2014.
“Pressure is a given. Everyone feels it. We’re the New York Rangers,” center Vincent Trocheck said straightforwardly. “In a city like New York, there’s pressure every year, so it’s our job to manage that and turn it into something positive.”
“Individually, we all need to look in the mirror and reflect on this year, considering what we can improve. Many of these discussions should be internal. I have my thoughts, and I hope we can collaborate this summer to work things out.”
Rangers react to coach Peter Laviolette being fired: ‘I love Lavi’
The extremely disappointing season ultimately led to coach Peter Laviolette losing his job. He was let go on Saturday after two seasons with the Rangers, one of which was quite successful while the other fell short.
Full statement from Chris Drury on firing Peter Laviolette and Phil Housley: https://t.co/RD8t6yhcXl pic.twitter.com/N5MJS6Kyog
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) April 19, 2025
“I don’t think any of us players ever disliked ‘Lavi’ or felt his message wasn’t getting through; it just seemed like we weren’t executing,” Fox explained.
Matt Rempe, who made his NHL debut under Laviolette last season, added, “We, as players, didn’t perform well enough, and in the end, the coach pays the price. That’s difficult and painful. I’m really going to miss him.”
Laviolette’s firing didn’t come as a surprise, considering the significant drop in the Rangers’ performance from his first season to his second.
“Clearly, in a place like New York, we all understand the expectations, and after last year’s performance, not being able to deliver and make a push this season means the coach often shoulders the blame,” Trocheck said. “I really like ‘Lavi’ and ‘Howie’ (associate coach Phil Housley), so it’s always tough to see a coaching change.”
For some of the Rangers’ longer-serving core players, this is their third coach in five seasons.
“We want to have a coach who stays with us as long as we’re here,” Fox said. “Ideally, they would even outlast us as players, which would mean we’re achieving a lot of success.”
Fox started his career under David Quinn and then spent two seasons each with Gerard Gallant and Laviolette. Zibanejad joined from the Ottawa Senators during Alain Vigneault’s time, while Chris Kreider and J.T. Miller are the only current players who played under John Tortorella over a decade ago.
“I think it’s clear across the league that when a coach gets fired, it weighs heavily on the players because if we had done our jobs, those coaches would still be around,” Fox explained. “Whoever the next coach is, it’s up to us to ensure ongoing success.”
Rangers players call for improved communication
While many players were quick to accept responsibility, it seems the Rangers’ problems extend beyond their on-ice performance. As the front office seeks ways to improve, enhanced communication emerged as a key concern from the players.
“We, as players, need to take ownership of our actions and how we approach things, but it has to align with everyone involved,” Zibanejad remarked. “This organization relies on us, and we rely on those above us. I’ve heard a lot about the need for openness, honesty, and communication—we need to discuss these matters.”
Zibanejad expressed strong concerns about the communication gap between players and the front office, but he wasn’t the only one to raise this issue during the exit interviews.
One notable incident that comes to mind is when Barclay Goodrow was placed on waivers without prior notice from general manager Chris Drury, who was attempting to navigate around Goodrow’s no-trade clause. Goodrow was subsequently claimed by the San Jose Sharks.
Goodrow openly expressed his frustration regarding how the situation was managed, and reports suggested it caused unrest within the Rangers’ locker room. The tension continued when captain Jacob Trouba’s lengthy departure from the team culminated in his trade to the Anaheim Ducks in early December.
“We don’t know what’s happening, and we can’t control those situations, but they are things we still discuss or have to deal with,” Zibanejad continued. “These are two of our leaders—our captain and assistant captain—who are significant figures in our locker room, so of course, it creates some turmoil.”
Chris Kreider found himself in the middle of controversy when it was reported that general manager Chris Drury was considering trading the longest-tenured Ranger, as detailed in a memo sent to the other 31 GMs.
“It’s part of professional sports, but at some point, it becomes a distraction,” Kreider noted. “Those two guys were key leaders for us and vital to our locker room. Whenever there are changes, or even the possibility of changes, it inevitably creates some distraction.”
Zibanejad also commented, saying, “There was a lot of noise around our team this year. I’m not suggesting it was the root cause of our issues, but it wasn’t the same calm we experienced the previous year.”
Recently, de Haan publicly expressed some dissatisfaction regarding communication, which was sparked by a casual remark he made about his playing time after the Rangers were eliminated from the playoffs.
In a media interview on Monday, he shared some of his frustrations, though in a more measured tone than he had earlier in Florida. “I think it could have been better. I never received a clear explanation about why I wasn’t playing. There’s always room for improvement,” he stated. “I’m not placing blame on the coaches or anyone else; I just think things could be better overall.”
De Haan was acquired from the Colorado Avalanche in the Ryan Lindgren trade on March 1, but he only played three games before being sidelined for the final 20 games of the season.
#NYR Calvin de Haan said he was under the impression he would play when he came to NY, there was a verbal exchange.
“It might have just been a teleprompter answer, frankly, just welcome to the team, that kind of thing… They alluded to the fact that I was part of a trade for a…
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) April 21, 2025
De Haan’s outburst last week was just one of several distractions affecting the Rangers’ locker room this season. However, Trocheck insists that these issues shouldn’t be used as an excuse.
“There’s always going to be outside noise, like trade rumors,” the 31-year-old said. “I think it’s our responsibility within this room to ensure that those distractions don’t affect us. Whether it’s having individual conversations or coming together as a team or family, we need to improve on supporting each other instead of bringing each other down.”
Rangers still ‘believe in the group of guys we have here’
Despite a tough season, the belief among the Rangers players remains strong that this group can make a comeback.
“We showed what we’re capable of last year. We have plenty of time this summer to reflect on how we can improve,” Trocheck stated. “I truly believe in this locker room and in everyone here, and I’m confident in the talent we possess. It’s all about us as a team staying united and finding the right approach. Once we establish that team belief, everything can start to build positively.”
Kreider expressed his desire to stay in New York and continue contributing to this core group.
“This is where I want to be, and I want to help this team win games in any way I can.”
Even de Haan, who will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, praised the Rangers and their future potential.
“It’s a great group of guys here, so I don’t think there’s a need to completely change things up,” he said. “Heading into next year, I believe the expectations will remain high for this organization, and they should be—there are talented players here.”
“I still have faith in the group we have,” Zibanejad affirmed. “We just need to come together, and I hope we get the opportunity to do that.”
Whether they will get that opportunity will depend on the decisions made by Drury this offseason. The Rangers have many questions to address and issues to resolve as they aim to return to the playoffs next season.
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