The Rangers continue to try to solve the same problem while ignoring the main issues – Hockey Writers – New York Rangers

Ever since the New York Rangers decided to part ways with Pavel Buchnevich, the organization has been in need of a player to play alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

Related: Rangers' Laviolette Proves He's Different from Past Practices

The Rangers have lost five of their last six contests, and while many think the problem is finding the right wing for Zibanejad and Kreider, what if that represents a minor issue? The management is too distracted to fill this hole and miss the important areas that need to be fixed.

Wasted possessions by Rangers

The list of players Rangers have interviewed for their top six starting in the 2021-22 season includes Barclay Goodrow, Frank Vatrano, Patrick Kane, Vladimir Tarasenko, Jack Roslovic, Vitali Kravtsov, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko. All these options, of course, failed to be permanent solutions.

To get Kane, the Rangers gave up second- and fourth-round draft picks. The trade package for Tarasenko included sending a first-, fourth-rounder, and prospect Hunter Skinner to St. Louis. Louis Blues. The Roslovic and Vatrano trade cost the Rangers a separate fourth-round pick. But it doesn't end there. Reilly Smith — the Rangers' latest scratch — was acquired over the summer with a second and conditional fifth-round pick.

That's three second-round picks, a first-round pick, and a lot of mid-round draft picks thrown out the window. Also, two of the Rangers' top ten picks (Kravtsov and Kakko) weren't good enough to play next to Kreider and Zibanejad.

The problem is the Rangers' Core

Now, after some tough games, general manager Chris Drury and head coach Peter Laviolette are still looking for an answer and in desperation, rookie Brett Berard and sophomore Will Cuylle are getting chances in the top six. A recent dispute with Smith forced them to split the Rangers' best lineup of Artemi Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafrenière. The situation has gotten out of hand.

At some point, they have to stop trying to solve the same problem. Perhaps the issue is not the lack of awareness on the part of those who fight for the right. Maybe Kreider and Zibanejad. The Swedish center can send haymakers past goals on the power play – a skill not every NHLer can boast. That's great, but a lot is expected of a player who is one of the highest paid players on the roster at $8.5 million. Zibanejad, who has long been criticized for playing five out of five games, has five goals and 12 assists in 23 games this season in a draw. But the biggest problem is that he hasn't done much to carry his teammates.

Kreider and Zibanejad were the Rangers' two worst goaltenders in expected goals (xGF) at five-on-five (both below 42 percent) in 2024-25, according to Natural Stat Trick. To show how bad that is, Smith is working on a 46.55 xGF ratio. The problems have nothing to do with Smith or the other right players.

Ignoring Guardians Is Another Main Problem

The reality is that almost no right fielder can take Kreider and Zibanejad's lineup to the next level — unless, of course, the team can find a way to add Alexander Ovechkin in his prime. These two can build a flawed top six or a strong third line, and managers cannot continue to allow themselves to be distracted by this problem.

The biggest problem after last season and at the beginning of the regular season is the team's defense. It is a clear weakness that should be fixed as soon as possible. Outside of Zac Jones and Adam Fox, the defense is ineffective in handling the puck or moving the game up. In addition, the coverage has been poor. In 23 games, the Rangers have allowed 309 dangerous chances, which ranks fourth most in the NHL, according to Natural Stat Trick.

Given the poor defensive play, the Blueshirts are fortunate to still be in the Eastern Conference wild card spot. Over the past few seasons, the Rangers have continued to field the same five guards: Fox, Ryan Lindgren, Jacob Trouba, K'Andre Miller, and Braden Schneider. Stale is a simple way to put it. The same team has continued to fall short of Stanley Cup expectations, and it's time to start answering them.

Without Fox, the green line needs to be rebuilt. Management would want to keep Jones, Schneider, Fox, and possibly Miller. But that shouldn't stop Drury from taking calls from everyone but the 2021 Norris Trophy winner. The easiest player to move would be Lindgren, who will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. Perhaps the Rangers could acquire Trouba's partner, who has a cap hit of $8 million this season and next, with a limited no-trade clause.

Prospect Victor Mancini may be able to step in and give the Rangers some stability at three. But other than that, the organization has no NHL-ready or even close-to-ready prospects on defense. In order to save this season, managers must sell before they start buying – if the team continues to lose, there will be no buys, and Drury will be forced to strike and rebuild the team in 2025-26.

But the 48-year-old's days of squandering capital and prospects for similar demand are over. There are enough young players in the organization who can break into the top six. Whether it's Smith, Berard, or Kakko, they have to make a decision. If anything, Drury should look to move Zibanejad or Kreider or both because, frankly, the last few seasons have been a revolving door of six wing players, and it has to stop. The most important task should be to develop the defense forces.