Despite two straight horrific seasons, I have managed to find a way to believe in the New York Rangers again. Whereas last season felt like a slow march toward an inevitable disastrous ending, this year felt like a brisk jog. The Rangers aren’t winning too many games, but they aren’t miserable to watch. As we talk plenty about the pros and cons of winning during a rebuild/retool, team culture, and more, I want to focus on something I have gotten as a big takeaway from this Rangers season: Hope. 

I am a huge Chris Drury hater, but I have to give Drury some credit regarding the roster moves since the Olympic break ended in February. Drury hasn’t made many big moves, but the moves he has made have gone well. Claiming Tye Kartye worked out great, promoting Adam Sykora was a smart play, and getting Drew Fortescue under contract has been helpful.

Additionally, the Rangers have done a good job since the break (whereas I would say they did a poor job before the break) of threading the needle when it comes to giving the veteran players the chance to produce and the younger players the chance to develop. As the Rangers continue this rebuild or retool, that will be a huge component, and Sullivan showed in this back portion of the season that he can do such a thing.

Of course, the question now becomes what next season looks like. By no means does the ending of this season make me think the Rangers are a playoff team next season. New York should trade away Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider. Normally this would make me believe the Rangers will have another terrible season.

Instead, the ending of this season showed me something the 2024-2025 Rangers never showed: Pride. The Rangers are trying their best, giving it their all, and playing as a genuine team. Sure it isn’t resulting in many wins, but these things matter in getting buy-in from the teams and the fans. The booing has decreased plenty, JT Miller doesn’t seem angry all the time, and the team seems to be enjoying the many firsts the youngsters have brought to the organization.

Rather than going into a new season with only horrible memories, the Rangers will return with a decent young core and a belief that they can stick with teams, especially while playing Mike Sullivan’s preferred brand of hockey. If next season doesn’t work out, it shouldn’t be the end of the world.

I have to admit for the first half of the season, I found very few silver linings to this season. Now? I’m genuinely excited for the offseason and then the next season. I think the future looks a lot more promising and I have some belief Mike Sullivan and some of the players sticking around longer term can truly be part of the future here. 

Belief is something we all deserve after the last couple of seasons in Rangerstown. I certainly have it now. I believe in the New York Rangers.

More About: