TROY, N.Y. – Legendary New York Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen may have stepped away from the microphone after retiring in 2025 following an iconic four-decade career, but his passion for the Blueshirts remains as strong as ever. As the franchise prepares for the 2026-27 NHL season, Rosen believes the Rangers have made encouraging strides during the offseason but insists one major issue must be solved if they hope to return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Rosen, 78, has remained closely connected to the organization since his retirement. He was a familiar face at Madison Square Garden throughout the Rangers’ centennial celebrations last season and watched firsthand as the club endured one of its most disappointing campaigns in recent memory.
New York finished the 2025-26 season with a 34-39-9 record, ending at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and missing the postseason for the second consecutive year. The disappointing finish prompted significant roster changes this summer as general manager Chris Drury sought to reshape the team into a legitimate playoff contender.
Speaking during the Rink Rap podcast at the New York State Hockey Hall of Fame’s 2026 induction ceremony, Rosen expressed optimism that the Rangers are heading in the right direction.
“I honestly like what they did this offseason,” Rosen said. “They addressed several problems. We still have to see how everything works once the games begin, but on paper this looks like a stronger hockey team that should absolutely be capable of competing for a playoff spot.”
Among the moves that impressed Rosen most were the additions of defensemen Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson, who are expected to strengthen the Rangers’ second defensive pairing. Durzi brings puck-moving ability and offensive instincts from the blue line, while Pettersson offers defensive stability and reliable two-way play.
Rosen also praised New York’s acquisition of sniper Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights. The Rangers quickly demonstrated their confidence in the 25-year-old winger by signing him to a seven-year, $77 million contract, making him a cornerstone of the club’s future offensive plans.
The former broadcaster believes these additions significantly improve New York’s chances of returning to playoff contention, especially if franchise goaltender Igor Shesterkin remains healthy throughout the season.
“It all begins with Igor,” Rosen emphasized, pointing to the Vezina-winning netminder as the team’s most valuable player and the foundation of any successful campaign.
Bottom-Six Scoring Remains Rosen’s Biggest Concern
While Rosen likes the overall direction of the roster, he believes one glaring weakness still threatens the Rangers’ postseason ambitions: offensive production from the third and fourth lines.
“I’ll be watching closely to see how those third- and fourth-line players contribute offensively,” Rosen explained. “Last season there simply wasn’t enough scoring from those groups. If the top two lines produced, the Rangers had a chance to win. If they didn’t, the team usually lost. That has to change.”
His concern is backed by the numbers.
Although New York featured one of the NHL’s better power plays, ranking fifth in the league, the Rangers still finished only 23rd in total goals scored last season. Their offense became heavily dependent on the top-six forwards, leaving little secondary scoring to support them during difficult stretches.
The Rangers hope Dorofeyev’s arrival will immediately strengthen their top-six attack, while continued development from former first-overall pick Alexis Lafrenière and promising young winger Gabe Perreault could provide another offensive boost after both showed encouraging signs late last season.
Veterans J.T. Miller and newcomer Oliver Bjorkstrand are also expected to play major roles, with the organization counting on both to deliver bounce-back performances. Meanwhile, center Mika Zibanejad will be expected to replicate the offensive production that saw him lead the team with 34 goals and 78 points a year ago.
Rangers Overhauled Their Bottom-Six During the Offseason
General manager Chris Drury has already begun reshaping the Rangers’ lower forward lines.
Since the trade deadline, the organization has parted ways with Brennan Othmann, Brett Berard, Adam Edstrom, Jonny Brodzinski, and Conor Sheary, removing several players who primarily filled bottom-six roles.
Collectively, however, those departures leave little offensive production to replace.
Sheary managed just seven goals in 62 games last season, while Brodzinski contributed six goals in 55 contests. Edstrom, Othmann, and Berard combined for only four goals across 65 NHL appearances, highlighting how little secondary offense the Rangers received from those positions.
Young Players Could Hold the Key
The Rangers are hopeful several younger players can help solve their depth-scoring issues.
Midseason acquisition Tye Kartye made an immediate impact after arriving in New York, recording five goals and 14 points in just 24 games. While maintaining that pace over a full season may be difficult, the Rangers believe he can become an important contributor throughout the year.
Rookie center Noah Laba also showed promise, scoring nine goals and collecting 24 points across 76 games while handling significant defensive responsibilities. At just 23 years old, Laba is viewed as one of the players most likely to elevate his offensive production next season.
There is additional excitement surrounding young forwards Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sýkora, both of whom impressed during late-season call-ups and are expected to compete for regular NHL roles.
One player who could have an especially significant impact is Will Cuylle. Despite recording consecutive 20-goal seasons, much of his offense came while skating alongside the Rangers’ top-six forwards or on the power play. If Cuylle begins next season on the third line, the Rangers will need him to provide consistent scoring and help transform the bottom-six into a genuine offensive threat.
Veteran Taylor Raddysh is another player expected to provide more consistent production, while newly acquired Joe Veleno will look to rediscover the scoring touch that made him one of hockey’s top junior prospects.
Rangers’ Playoff Hopes May Depend on Secondary Scoring
Rosen believes the Rangers possess enough star power to compete with the NHL’s top teams, but only if their supporting cast begins contributing more consistently.
With improvements on defense, a healthy Shesterkin in goal, and an upgraded top-six led by Dorofeyev, the Rangers appear better positioned than they were a year ago. However, unless the third and fourth lines begin generating meaningful offense on a nightly basis, New York risks repeating the same problems that derailed its playoff hopes last season.
For Rosen, the formula is straightforward: stronger depth scoring could be the difference between another disappointing finish and a long-awaited return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2026-27.
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