The 2026-2027 Rangers season is set to begin next week with perhaps some of the lowest expectations we’ve seen in the post-lockout era. After a 2024-2025 season in which everything went wrong and a 2025-2026 season in which low expectations saw the Rangers drop even lower, we have some new found glory confidence going into the new season. The vibes around this new Rangers team feel better, as New York has put plenty of roster players in much better positions to succeed.
Rather than having Braden Schneider as a top four defenseman and Will Cuylle as a top six forward, the Rangers successfully acquired players to help fill those gaps. Gone are the days of Will Borgen as a top four defenseman. No longer do we have to see Jonathan Quick give up five softie goals (yes, after a brilliant 2024-2025 campaign, but still). The 2026-2027 Rangers season, for the first time in a few years, has some hope.
So what does the 2026-2027 Rangers season look like?
Honestly, the 2026-2027 Ranger season is hard to predict. The Rangers finally have a legitimate defense for the first time in what feels like forever. Even on the 2024 playoff team, the Rangers were relying heavily on Jacob Trouba and Braden Schneider. Now, the Rangers have Adam Fox, Vlad Gavrikov, Marcus Pettersson, and Sean Durzi to carry the weight on defense. Rookie Albert Smits could come into play, too.
Igor Shesterkin is bound to have a strong season as long as he remains healthy. As long as the Rangers don’t foolishly waive Dylan Garand, he could help weather the storm if Shesterkin does have to miss a few games.
The most challenging aspect of the 2026-2027 Rangers season is the offense. Despite a clear picture of what the four lines look like, how good those four lines can be is anyone’s guess. Cuylle is back on the third line where he belongs, but who’s to say Oliver Bjorkstrand will produce like a second line winger? Pavel Dorofeyev was a huge addition, but what if he can’t produce without elite linemates? What about Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault? Both are expected to make additional leaps this season, but that is no guarantee.
We can try to predict the 2026-2027 Rangers season all we want, but there are so many possibilities for this Rangers team. They could make the playoffs, and they could even win a round or two on the backs of Shesterkin and scoring depth, providing great experience for the youth. On the other hand, they could be a lottery team again if injuries and development don’t fall their way.
Uncertainty brings both hope and caution to the 2026-2027 Rangers season. For the first time in years, the Rangers will be a ride we can just hop onto and see where they take us. Hopefully, it’s to a good place.
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