New York Rangers’ 2025-26 Report Cards: Taylor Raddysh

Many of the New York Rangers’ top players either missed extended time with injuries or underperformed last season. They did get strong play from some of their young players late in the season, but it was not enough to get the team into the playoff race. One veteran whose role was diminished by the strong play of a few rookie forwards was Taylor Raddysh, who provided steady play in a bottom-six role in his first season with New York.

Performance in 2025-26

Ahead of the 2025-26 season, the Rangers signed Raddysh to a two-year, $3 million contract. He began his career with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2021-22, and his best season came with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23, when he finished with 20 goals and 17 assists in 78 games. He spent the 2024-25 season with the Washington Capitals and finished with seven goals and 20 assists in 80 games.

Raddysh was brought in to help improve the Rangers’ group of bottom-six forwards, and he got off to a strong start early in the season. The team struggled to produce offensively as many of their top players slumped, and for the most part, the bottom six were not able to pick up the slack as Conor Sheary, Matt Rempe, and Sam Carrick also struggled offensively. However, Raddysh broke out with a hat trick in a 6-5 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 23.

Early in the season, Raddysh was a bright spot as he scored five goals in his first 12 games. While he continued to provide steady play, he did not get much ice time on the penalty kill or play with as much physicality as other bottom-six forwards did, and his playing time decreased. He did not play poorly, but after his hot start offensively, he slowed down and was not as noticeable as some of the Rangers’ other bottom-six forwards.

Rookies Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora got called up late in the season, and both played well in bottom-six roles. Despite Sheary struggling, head coach Mike Sullivan frequently opted to play him in the top-six and on the penalty kill, which led to fewer opportunities for Raddysh, who ended up as a healthy scratch late in the season. He finished with nine goals and 10 assists and was plus-5 in 68 games, while averaging 11:51 in ice time per game.

Role This Season

This season, Raddysh will once again have to compete with some of the Rangers’ younger forwards for a spot in the lineup. He has experience and is capable of providing steady play, but they could opt to play wingers like Sykora and Chmelar, who played with more physicality and were noticeable on the forecheck last season.

Though Raddysh did not get much ice time while the team was shorthanded last season, he is capable of helping on the penalty kill. The Rangers traded away a few of their best penalty killers as they traded Carrick to the Buffalo Sabres last season and then Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth this offseason. They also lost Sheary in free agency.

Despite a quiet end to last season, Raddysh was a solid player, and he can contribute this season. He is capable of providing some secondary scoring while also doing a nice job defensively and making smart decisions with and without the puck.

Overall Grade

Raddysh gets a C+ for his play last season. He got off to a strong start offensively while the majority of the team struggled, but he was quiet later in the season. His overall production was solid given his limited playing time and the lack of production from his linemates, and he was responsible defensively. However, he was not as noticeable on the forecheck as some of the team’s other bottom-six forwards, and he was outplayed by a few of New York’s rookies late in the season. The hope is that he will provide steady two-way play this season.