What has been an up and down season on Broadway finally seems to have some clarity after the 2025 trade deadline has come and gone. This Rangers season has seen more winding curves than a country mountain road but the Rangers finally seem to be back on track thanks to some good business done by Chris Drury. The Rangers midseason retool has given the team a path forward, but what comes next?

One of the most important things about being a General Manager is not falling in love with your own players and being able to give an honest assessment that what you were doing isn’t working. To Drury’s credit he’s been self aware enough throughout his tenure to pull the rip chord if he feels something isn’t working, thus forcing a Rangers midseason retool.

This year is the prime example, as the Rangers are the defending Presidents Trophy winners who set franchise records in wins and points last season, but couldn’t find that same groove this year. Better late than never, Drury felt the club needed a facelift after failing to beat Florida, but could not make the necessary trades over the summer. It would’ve been better for everyone if the Rangers midseason retool was done over the summer, but again, better late than never.

Shipping out Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko earlier this year, bringing back Urho Vaakanainen and Will Borgen, got the Rangers trading season off and running. Both have been extended as well. Then of course there was the heavy lifting of bringing back JT Miller in the beginning of February, which has already yielded terrific dividends for the Blueshirts. In a short amount of time Miller has taken a big leadership role on this team that was left in the wake of the Trouba and Barclay Goodrow exodus.

A big part of the Rangers midseason retool was also adding Carson Soucy to the mix without giving up any major assets. A tidy piece of work as I believe a change of scenery away from the torrential controversy that is the Vancouver Canucks will breathe fresh life back into a defender who made a great pair with Borgen in Seattle. Soucy will likely get to play with Adam Fox on the Rangers top pair when Fox returns, which should also help the Norris Trophy winner find his footing again as he’ll have a reliable partner on his side that he won’t have to cover for.

The Rangers midseason retool naturally came with subtractions. There was nothing crazy as Drury doesn’t see this club as a Cup contender this year, but still a viable playoff contender. This has been far and away the most tame trade deadline that Drury has been a part of in his young tenure as an NHL GM. No sexy moves but more so rounding out edges for the Blueshirts and doing some heavy lifting in reshaping the Rangers blue line, a major issue this season thus necessitating the Rangers midseason retool.

The more interesting work for Drury awaits him once the Stanley Cup is handed out. The Rangers will likely be busy this summer, whether that’s going big game hunting for a big name, or whether it’s a divorce from the longest tenured New York Ranger in Chris Kreider. K’Andre Miller’s name will also be bandied about depending on contract negotiations and the Miller camps ask. The Rangers midseason retool was step 2 of 3 in reshaping this club.

For now though, Drury has done some solid work retooling the Rangers to keep them competitive for a playoff spot this season, while also keeping options open for the offseason. Right now though, this club needs to focus on putting together some wins and making the playoffs. Once they’re in, especially with Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin, and JT Miller, you never know what can happen.

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