The New York Rangers were hoping to bounce back from a tough 2024-25 campaign this season and continue to look forward in hopes of finding a way to push to the postseason. They haven’t had the most ideal start in the competitive Metropolitan division, but they still have a long way to go before they start to panic.
Related: Rangers’ Will Borgen & Carson Soucy Quietly Playing Well
In this edition of Rangers News & Rumors, we look at an update on head coach Mike Sullivan, the early playoff picture in their division, the slow start from J.T. Miller, and the hot start from Jonathan Quick.
Sullivan Steps Away for Family Issue
Rangers’ head coach Mike Sullivan missed a recent game to deal with a personal matter. Assistant coaches David Quinn and Joe Sacco ran the bench, and they couldn’t pick up a victory, losing 2-1 to the Detroit Red Wings.
Sullivan has since returned and has made it very clear he was not interested in getting into the details of why he stepped away, but thanked Chris Drury and James Dolan for their understanding.
Early Playoff Picture
Things are always changing around the NHL, and with it being so early in the 2025-26 season, it’s impossible to predict who will finish strongly and make the playoffs, and who won’t. However, a quarter of the season is already gone, and it’s worth noting where some teams stand.
The Rangers have played 21 games so far, posting a 10-9-2 record. At the time of this article, they are tied with three other teams with 22 points, but the other teams have games in hand and fewer regulation losses, placing the Rangers outside of a playoff spot right now.
The Pittsburgh Penguins and the New York Islanders have been a pleasant surprise for their respective fan bases as they sit in a playoff spot at this point in the season, while the Florida Panthers have found themselves on the outside looking in. The Rangers are dead average, and with how competitive the Metropolitan Division and Eastern Conference look to be, they will have to turn things around if they want a chance at making it to the postseason.
J.T. Miller Called Out for Lazy Play
On social media last night, Rangers’ captain J.T. Miller was called out for his lazy play, with emphasis on a specific shift where he seemed to give up on a play in the defensive zone.
From the guy that brought you "No BS", here's some BS.@NYRangersRadio | #NYR pic.twitter.com/1bPxOxMOif
— Steven Pappas (@StevenPappasTV) November 19, 2025
Miller has had a disastrous start to the season at both ends of the ice. Defensively, fans have criticized his backcheck and positioning, while offensively, he has only 10 points through 21 games.
It’s still early in the season, but he will have to elevate his play if the Rangers want to claw their way into the playoffs.
Jonathan Quick Playing Extremely Well
One of the Rangers’ bright spots is goaltender Jonathan Quick. Through five games played, he has won three of them, posting one shutout, a 1.42 goals-against-average. (GAA), a .951 save percentage (SV%), and a 6.2 goals-saved-above-expected (GSAX). He has been one of the best goaltenders in the entire NHL, and as he nears the end of his Hall of Fame career, his stellar showing could help the Rangers make it to the postseason and give him one more shot at another Stanley Cup.
As the 2025-26 season moves along, be sure to continue following The Hockey Writers as your source for news, updates, and more from around the NHL and the hockey world.
