By Jim Williams
Senior Columnist, Capital Sports Network
The New York Rangers enter the 2025–26 NHL season with the clearest path to playoff redemption among the tri-state area’s hockey hopefuls. After sweeping the Islanders in last year’s season series and finishing with a better record, the Blue Shirts have retooled their roster and coaching staff with one goal in mind: returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs and making a deep run. With a new bench boss and a revamped defensive corps thanks to a blockbuster trade, the Rangers are betting big on experience and grit to lead them back to contention.
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Rangers: New Leadership, New Identity
The Rangers (39-36-7) missed the playoffs by a narrow margin last season, but their offseason moves signal urgency. Despite lacking a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, they were aggressive in free agency and pulled off one of the summer’s biggest trades, reshaping their blue line. The front office overhaul brought in a new coaching staff focused on speed, puck possession, and defensive accountability—three areas where the Rangers lagged last season.
Islanders: Youth Movement and Front Office Shake-Up
The Islanders (35-35-12) took a different approach. After winning the draft lottery with just a 3.5% chance, they landed the No. 1 overall pick and added two more first-rounders via a bold trade that sent their top young defenseman packing. While head coach Lane Lambert remains, the front office saw a shake-up with a new GM who cleaned house among the assistant coaches. The Isles are banking on youth and internal development, hoping their trio of first-round picks can inject life into a roster that struggled to score and defend consistently.
Devils: Health Is the X-Factor
For the New Jersey Devils, the key to success is simple: stay healthy. Injuries derailed their 2024–25 campaign, with stars like Jack Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, and Ondrej Palat missing significant time. Hughes, who signed a seven-year, $63 million extension this week, missed the final 20 regular-season games and all five playoff contests due to shoulder surgery. Defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic remains sidelined following knee surgery, but most of the roster has returned to full participation in training camp. If the Devils can keep their core intact, they have the talent to not only reach the playoffs but make noise once there.
Comparing the Paths Forward
| Team | Key Offseason Moves | Strengths | Challenges |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rangers | New coach, major trade, free agent signings | Veteran leadership, defense | Chemistry, coaching transition |
| Islanders | Won draft lottery, traded top D for picks | Youth, draft capital | Scoring depth, defensive gaps |
| Devils | Re-signed Hughes, injury recovery | Offensive firepower, speed | Health, defensive consistency |
What It Will Take to Reach the Playoffs
For the Rangers, success hinges on how quickly the new coaching staff can implement their system and whether the revamped defense can hold up against elite competition. The Islanders must accelerate the development of their young talent while finding scoring from unexpected sources. The Devils need to stay healthy and get consistent goaltending to complement their high-octane offense.
All three teams have the pieces to make the playoffs—but only the one that finds balance between talent, health, and execution will go beyond the first round. In a loaded Metropolitan Division, there’s no margin for error.
