The New York Rangers will face one burning question this offseason. That question has been hovering over the team seemingly all season. That’s why answering that question will become crucial.
To add some context to this discussion, a classic expression from investing seems apropos.
When times get tough, “you sell what you can, not what you want.”
That’s the reality staring at the Rangers this offseason. Talk of a sell-off and retool will only kick up once the final buzzer sounds on New York’s 2025-26 season. But selling off the pieces they want won’t be easy.
Let’s start with Vincent Trocheck. The Rangers purportedly held on to the hottest commodity at the deadline because they didn’t get the return they wanted. All right, let’s take that notion at face value. What makes the Rangers think they’ll be able to get more for Trocheck during the summer? Why would a team pay more in the offseason than it would have at the deadline?
The Rangers might also want to move on from other pieces like Alexis Lafreniere. Again, getting the price tag the organization may want for Lafreniere won’t be quite what they hope. Opposing GMs know the mess on Broadway. So, they’ll play hardball.
And that’s why the Rangers won’t be able to sell what they want. They’ll only sell what they can.
That situation means that the Blueshirts will likely only sell around the fringes. More cost-effective role players could provide better value than some of the big-ticket players.
Rangers Rumors Surrounding Adam Fox Likely to Pick Up
Now, the Rangers might be gung-ho about moving Trocheck or even J.T. Miller, for that matter, but the player that will draw the most attention will be Adam Fox. There’s already a bunch of speculation picking up regarding the former Norris Trophy winner.
As such, what’s stopping Fox from going to the team and asking for a trade? If the Rangers aren’t headed in a direction that’s comfortable for Fox, is there anything to stop him from requesting a trade? If that’s the case, what leverage would the Rangers have?
Without being privy to any of the internal discussions, it’s easy to see that the Blueshirts would have zero leverage in moving Fox, Trocheck, Miller, or anyone else with a no-trade clause. The Rangers zapped any credibility with the Artemi Panarin trade. It may seem harsh, but the pro sports business is about as cutthroat as any other.
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Is There Any Realistic Way Out?
That’s a tough question to answer. The Rangers went all-in on big-ticket contracts. Miller’s is one of them. They’re locked into Igor Shesterkin until 2033. Fox has three more years on his deal. Mika Zibanejad has four more years.
Unless the Rangers are willing to dump all of these contracts for residual value, there really isn’t a realistic way out of this situation. Trying to bring up younger players and gradually phase out veterans could be a process that might take at least half a decade.
Yes, a home run in the 2026 NHL Draft will help. But unless the Rangers land the first-overall pick, there won’t be much hope for a quick turnaround. Even then, history isn’t on their side. The Rangers had the top pick in 2020, and, well, it didn’t really work out.
A fire sale could help accelerate the process. However, regardless of the approach, a few more painful seasons may be on the way on Broadway.
Rangers Face 1 Burning Offseason Question