New York Rangers aim for playoff bounce after offseason moves

Former Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen said the team addressed key problems during the offseason. Trades brought defensemen Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson, and a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights added forward Pavel Dorofeyev, who signed a seven‑year, $77 million contract. Rosen praised these changes but warned the Rangers still need more production from their third‑ and fourth‑line forwards, noting that insufficient scoring from those lines kept the team out of the playoffs despite strong top‑six play. He also emphasized the importance of keeping starting goalie Igor Shesterkin healthy for a successful postseason push.

The Rangers finished last in the Eastern Conference with a 34‑39‑9 record and missed the playoffs for a second straight year, but the offseason upgrades give the team a chance to compete for a postseason berth next season.