The New York Rangers faced another setback on Saturday, suffering a 7–4 defeat against the Washington Capitals. While Alex Ovechkin’s milestone 871st career goal garnered attention as he continued his pursuit of the all-time record, the Rangers appear to be entrenched in a downward trend with no resolution in sight.
During ESPN’s coverage of the game, former Rangers captain and six-time Stanley Cup champion Mark Messier openly criticized the team’s current situation. “Right now, the core of the Rangers is fractured,” he remarked. “It’s not an internal fracture; there seems to be a disconnect between management and the coaching staff, leading to a lack of trust and loyalty which will require significant efforts to mend.”
Messier highlighted the repercussions following the trade of Jacob Trouba to Anaheim and ongoing trade speculation involving players like Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. “When Chris Kreider is on the trade block, it impacts his close teammate, Zibanejad,” he noted. “The effects of these decisions have been apparent over the past month.”
He expressed doubt about the team’s championship potential given recent performances. “They currently don’t resemble a championship-caliber team,” he said. Messier also mentioned a broader absence of emotional connection and teamwork on the ice as contributing factors to their recent woes, stating, “The Rangers haven’t shown much emotion in the last month. Management can intervene, but the players need to rise above the situation.”
In addition to trading Trouba, Rangers general manager Chris Drury also moved former second overall pick Kaapo Kakko, yet these changes have not remedied the team’s struggles following their Eastern Conference Finals run last season. Messier emphasized that the organization needs a renewed sense of loyalty and trust.
After Saturday’s defeat, the Rangers’ record stands at 17–20–1, placing them third-to-last in the conference and five points away from the second wild-card spot, as they face a challenging path to redeem their season.
