There’s nonetheless Rangers hope available — however the clock is ticking loudly

Regardless of the seven-goal purpose Festivus the Rangers threw in Washington on Tuesday, the vacation month was quick on pleasure and cheer.

A 4-4-2 file of their final 10 video games despatched the Blueshirts right into a three-day vacation break with out rather more inspiration than the primary 29 video games of the common season supplied.

That file is as middling because it will get, very similar to the Rangers 2025-26 marketing campaign as an entire so far.

The obstacles have are available in bunches and in all totally different varieties. It’s solely made the lineup deficiencies that rather more evident.

Then you definitely understand the Rangers are slightly below the second wild-card spot within the Jap Convention. A mediocre Metropolitan Division has them proper inside hanging distance of a playoff spot.

Regardless of a record-breaking quantity of shutout losses at house, proudly owning the fifth lowest objectives per recreation common (2.62) and a plethora of accidents, the Rangers are very a lot nonetheless afloat.

Requested if the workforce is the place he thought it could be at this level within the season, head coach Mike Sullivan treaded frivolously.

“I believe that’s a troublesome query to reply,” Sullivan stated. “I went into this expertise enthusiastic about the potential of the place this workforce may go — and I’m nonetheless enthusiastic about it. And in order that hasn’t modified. I believe this primary a part of the season, we’ve realized rather a lot in regards to the group and we’re attempting to undergo this journey collectively to attempt to turn into the very best model of ourselves and that’s what we’re attempting to do. However, I believe, there’s a number of hockey that we performed that we felt actually good about our workforce and competed with a few of the finest groups within the league. After which there’s been different moments the place it’s been a wrestle.

“I believe, from my standpoint, what we’d prefer to see is perhaps a bit bit extra consistency shifting ahead with the aggressive recreation that I do know we’re able to enjoying.”

And but, the Rangers’ 14 street wins are essentially the most within the NHL. Their 5 third-period comeback victories are tied for the third most and the workforce’s 2.69 objectives in opposition to per recreation is effectively throughout the high 10 groups (seventh).

When the vacation roster freeze ends Dec. 28 at 12:01 a.m., Rangers president and common supervisor Chris Drury will formally be on the clock with simply over two months till the March 6 commerce deadline.

The retool, which considerably started with the waiving of Barclay Goodrow two offseasons in the past, will presumably proceed.

It wouldn’t be shocking to see Drury pull the set off on a deal that will shake up the Rangers roster, however the issue is likely to be the worth of the property he has to commerce.

No Ranger, outdoors of Mika Zibanejad (no-move clause till it converts to 21-team no-trade record seven days earlier than the 2029-30 commerce deadline), has had a very standout season.

Plus, as a way to keep the integrity of the workforce’s compete degree, NHL-ready gamers must be coming again in most offers. It’s been extensively reported that Brennan Othmann is out there, whereas lineup staples like Alexis Lafrenière and Braden Schneider have seen their names floated within the commerce rumor mill.

Lafrenière, who doesn’t have any commerce safety this season or subsequent, could also be one in every of their high commerce chips.

“I believed Laf had a powerful recreation,” Sullivan stated after Lafrenière scored his eighth purpose of the season Tuesday night time. “He’s such a proficient participant as everyone knows. It’s been a wrestle for him most not too long ago to attain. I believed he had numerous actually attractiveness tonight. He was hanging onto pucks. He was additionally getting contained in the dots and going to the online a bit bit extra. I believe that’s obtained to be a extra constant component of his recreation. I believe he creates extra offense if he does. He’s very succesful. He’s sturdy and he’s obtained good stick expertise.

“There must be one other dimension to their offense and Laf’s offense and that’s one thing that we’ve had a number of discussions with Laf about.”