inside the rangers Rangers mailbag: Offseason grade, Matt Rempe’s future, new blood on the way? By Mollie Walker Published Aug. 4, 2026, 6:20 a.m. ET Defenseman Sean Durzi was part of the Rangers' return in trading Vincent Trocheck to the Mammoth. NHLI via Getty Images The Rangers enter the 2026-27 season as one of the NHL’s greatest enigmas.
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Here’s a team just two years removed from the franchise’s best regular-season campaign, which fizzled out two wins shy of a Stanley Cup Final berth. They still have arguably the best goaltender in the NHL in Igor Shesterkin, a Norris Trophy winner in Adam Fox and a top-tier two-way center in Mika Zibanejad.
Over those two years, though, the Blueshirts completely lost themselves and were forced to recalibrate.
President and general manager Chris Drury proclaimed a new direction and has, in fact, redirected.
