New York Rangers Drop 4 Straight and Face Tough Questions – The Hockey Writers –

The New York Rangers find themselves in turbulent waters after dropping their last four games, igniting trade speculation, growing frustration, and questions about the trajectory of their season. These losses—against the Calgary Flames, Edmonton Oilers, St. Louis Blues, and Carolina Hurricanes—have not only highlighted a lackluster offensive output but also exposed glaring deficiencies in team defense.

While managing just nine goals across the four contests, with only three coming from their top-six forwards (two from Artemi Panarin and one from Alexis Lafrenière), the Rangers also struggled to contain their opponents, allowing a barrage of high-danger scoring chances. With mounting pressure to address their porous defense and reignite the spark that made them contenders earlier in the season, the Rangers face critical decisions to salvage their campaign.

The Veteran Problem

There are three major issues currently plaguing the team: Mika Zibanejad, Jacob Trouba, and Ryan Lindgren. Over the last four games, Zibanejad has posted a dismal minus-7, while Trouba sits at minus-3. It’s worth noting that the plus/minus statistic doesn’t account for goals scored against while on the penalty kill, meaning both have been on the ice for far more goals against than goals for. Up until the Rangers faced the Hurricanes on Nov. 27, it seemed as though many players had stopped putting in the effort entirely. While the game against Carolina showed an improvement in intensity, the Rangers still fell short.

The problems don’t end with these three players. Vincent Trocheck has been a shadow of his former self this season, though his effort and determination remain unquestionable. Meanwhile, Chris Kreider has nine goals but no assists to his name, which partly reflects Zibanejad’s struggles to convert chances. However, considering the significant power-play time Kreider receives, he should be creating more opportunities for his teammates.

Rising Stars Amid the Chaos

There have been some bright spots during this rough stretch. Will Cuylle has stepped up with four points in these four games, while Kaapo Kakko has excelled as the center of the Rangers’ third line. Zac Jones has emerged as the team’s second-best defenseman behind Adam Fox, and Brett Berard, who made his NHL debut against the Blues on Nov. 25, has recorded two points in his first two games. These…