The New York Rangers completed one of the worst collapses in NHL history, missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs the season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy. The Blueshirts became just the 4th team to ever accomplish such embarrassing feat. What went wrong for Peter Laviolette’s Rangers? Igor Shesterkin made something clear, with a powerful confession.
The Rangers have moved on from Laviolette, but the crushing memory of their past season will linger in the locker room for some time, like a thorn. While the search for a new boss behind the bench will demand the biggest effort in New York City, the organization will have to re-evaluate their roster, as well.
It became clear throughout the 2024-25 NHL campaign that the Rangers are still missing the finishing touches in their lineup to consistently compete with the league’s best. Perhaps Shesterkin is the only player whose performance this season left no room for scrutiny, though some could argue it wasn’t on par with his ludicrous net worth following his massive contract extension
The season was long and grueling, and in the end, it left players wondering if it was even worth it, as they had nothing to show for their efforts. There’s no clear point on the timeline where the Rangers can say things went south, but Shesterkin made a strong statement about the climate within Laviolette’s locker room.
Head coach Peter Laviolette of the New York Rangers speaks with the media prior to the game against the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden on November 30, 2024 in New York City.
“In my mind, something broke during the season and went the other way. We couldn’t handle it,” Igor Shesterkin told media in attendance during the Rangers’ end-of-season availability. “It was our job to try to find a way to get back.”
Got the better of New York
The Rangers faced adversity on many layers. Mired in losing slumps, failing to put up good performances consistently, the roster underwent several changes, including the departure of leaders, and the group never managed to adjust.
“It’s part of professional sports, but, obviously, at a certain point it becomes somewhat of a distraction,” Rangers star Chris Kreider admitted. “[We lost] two guys that were massive leaders for us and a big part of our room. I just think there was this dynamic and it’s changing an environment like that. Not even to get into the personal relationships we all had, what good people they are, things that they did… It was certainly challenging.”
“I think it’s on us, inside this room, in order to make sure that the outside noise doesn’t get to us,” Vincent Trocheck added. “Whether that’s talking to somebody individually or if it’s just sticking together as a team and as a family and I think we can get better at that. Lifting guys up instead of bringing guys down, I think that goes a long way.”
Vincent Trocheck #16 of the New York Rangers looks on during the first period against the Florida Panthers in Game One of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden on May 22, 2024 in New York City.
Feeling responsible for Laviolette’s job
Regardless of the team’s steep drop in production, which was partially due to Laviolette’s gameplan, the players in NYC can’t help but feel they could’ve done things differently. At the end of the day, Laviolette is gone, and they will now embark into unknown territory, with more question marks than before.
“It’s hard not to look at us as players and say, ‘Why is that happening?’ We seem to have a lot of success and then I don’t know, it turns,” defenseman Adam Fox stated. “I don’t think us as players at any point didn’t like Lavi or thought his message wasn’t getting through.
“It just seemed the execution of it was not there. I think we want to be able to come in with a coach that’s here for as long as we’re all here. Even outlast us as players because that means we’re having a lot of success.“
That wasn’t the case whatsoever in New York, and the Rangers will now head into the offseason filled with uncertainty, as the pressure for results won’t ease up—nor will it magically disappear.
