Rangers’ Path to Success Hinges on Key Bounce-Back Performances

If Jacob Trouba struggles to return to form, the Rangers could find themselves lacking depth, physicality, and experience on defense, potentially creating issues throughout their defensive corps. This might prompt head coach Peter Laviolette to replace Trouba with veteran Chad Ruhwedel, a move that could erode Laviolette’s confidence in the bottom defensive pair. As a result, the coach might lean more heavily on his top two defensive pairings, risking overuse.

While Trouba’s time in New York may be winding down, the Rangers—eyeing a Stanley Cup—are eager for a strong comeback from the Michigan native.

### K’Andre Miller
K’Andre Miller still possesses his impressive physical tools, and the Rangers are hopeful he can become a top-tier, all-around defenseman who excels at both ends of the ice. However, the 22nd overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft regressed last season, posting 30 points—13 fewer than the previous year—and displaying some concerning underlying metrics, signaling a dip in his development.

Miller faced mental health challenges last year, and the team is optimistic that overcoming these obstacles will allow him to resume his upward trajectory, which he showed during his first three NHL seasons. Nonetheless, questions remain about his physicality and his ability to fully combine athleticism with technique, which would help him reach the potential the team saw when they traded up to draft him.

The Rangers view Miller as a future cornerstone of a fast, tough, and versatile defense. They are hopeful he will get back on track this season.

### Ryan Lindgren
Ryan Lindgren’s gritty, hard-hitting style has been a major asset to the Rangers, providing physicality and inspiration. The Minnesota native has earned a reputation for bouncing back quickly from injuries that would sideline others, further solidifying his value.

Yet, despite playing 76 games last season, Lindgren saw his expected goal share drop significantly from 53.4% to 45.0%, the lowest in his four NHL seasons with over 51 games played. The organization is concerned about how much more punishment the 26-year-old can handle before his play starts to decline, recalling the similar career trajectory of former defenseman Dan Girardi. With Lindgren now on a one-year, $4.5 million contract after avoiding arbitration, a long-term deal will likely depend on whether he can remain healthy and effective this season.

Lindgren’s chemistry with Adam Fox and the toughness he brings to the blue line are vital for the Rangers, and they are counting on another strong season from him to justify a longer commitment.

### Bounceback Candidates Could Elevate Rangers’ Potential
It’s fair to wonder if this Rangers squad, like many in the franchise’s past, is good enough to make a deep playoff run but perhaps not good enough to win it all. However, the fact that several key players had subpar seasons last year shouldn’t be ignored when assessing the 2024-25 team’s chances at a Stanley Cup.

If Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox return to their 2022-23 forms, if Trouba reclaims his physical edge, if Miller progresses toward elite status, and if Lindgren delivers another strong season alongside Fox, the Rangers could become a more formidable team come playoff time.

While setbacks from other players could offset these improvements, it’s also possible that a few bounce-back seasons could make the Rangers even stronger than last year—if not in regular-season standings, then certainly as a more legitimate contender for the Cup.