Rangers Players Discuss Offseason Goals Following Playoff Miss

New York, NY — After missing the playoffs, several New York Rangers players shared their thoughts on breakup day about the opportunity to develop their skills over the summer. Team president and general manager Chris Drury and new coach Mike Sullivan are also focusing on evaluating the roster ahead of the 2025-26 season.

Players like Igor Shesterkin, Alexis Lafrenière, Juuso Pärssinen, and Urho Vaakanainen have new contracts starting next season. Will Cuylle and K’Andre Miller, both restricted free agents, are expected to receive increased salaries, leading to a potential salary cap challenge. Projections suggest the Rangers will have about $8.422 million in cap space this offseason.

In order to navigate their salary situation and pursue free agents, the Rangers may need to trade or buy out players such as Chris Kreider. They could also approach key players like Mika Zibanejad or Artemi Panarin regarding waiving their no-movement clauses. This strategy might be necessary to clear needed cap space.

Drury is considering various unrestricted free-agent options if the team can create more room. Some potential acquisitions, like Ryan Donato or Jonathan Drouin, could enhance the Rangers’ roster based on their promising statistics from last season.

Despite some uncertainty regarding free-agent signings, name players such as Patrick Kane might be revisited if they become available. Meanwhile, Drury will have to weigh his options carefully and avoid drastic moves that may jeopardize the team’s future.

Overall, the Rangers face an important offseason full of potential decisions that will shape their upcoming season, starting with negotiations for their restricted free agents.