It is no secret that many New York Rangers fans were not happy with how things went in 2025-26. It was underwhelming, to put it lightly, and any kind of movement back toward being a Stanley Cup contender stalled.
But, there were three players who did step in a significant way, despite all of the lackluster performances. Let's talk about it.
Mika Zibanejad
If you were to slap a label on which Blueshirts player was the Most Valuable Player last season, it would be Mika Zibanejad. There is no question that he was one of the few to actually have a better season in 2025-26.
It was an eventful year, as he set a Rangers record for power-play goals. He passed his dear friend, and should still be a current Blueshirt, Chris Kreider, and the great Camille Henry. Overall, No. 93 finished the year with 34 goals and 44 assists for 78 points in 81 games.
Gabe Perreault
The time to watch one of the most anticipated prospects in the Rangers pipeline came to life as Gabe Perreault took the ice for his first "full-time" role in 2025-26. He did have a five-game stint in 2024-25, but this was the first time to see No. 94 with the training wheels off.
The youngster had 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points in 49 games, which included three game-winning goals. The Rangers are very high on this kid developing into a top-six talent, and so far, it has been working out that way.
Adam Fox
It is very rare to not have a list of Rangers that performed well over the course of the 82-game gauntlet without having to include Adam Fox. This past season was no different. Even with a longer stint on the Injured Reserve list, he still put up a 50-point season.
The tandem of Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov was introduced, and it was not exactly a match-made in heaven. it has become evident that the two need to be seperated in order to bring complete balance to the blueline. An emphasis on taking a defenseman with the fifth pick in this upcoming draft is of the utmost importance.
