As the 2024-25 NHL season heads into its final stretch, teams are making their last evaluations, giving players who remained past the trade deadline a brief window to prove their value.
For the New York Rangers, this season has made one thing clear—they’re not as close to playoff contention as hoped, signaling the need for another roster shake-up. With that in mind, here’s a look at which Rangers players might be playing their final games in a Blueshirt uniform.
– Chris Kreider
This one is tough to write. Chris Kreider’s journey to the NHL was one of hard work and perseverance. Before turning pro, he spent three seasons at Boston College, where he became one of the top collegiate players in the country. As a freshman, he played a key role in helping the Eagles win a National Championship during the 2009-10 season. In addition to his NCAA success, he also represented the United States on the international stage, contributing seven points to the gold-medal-winning squad at the 2010 World Junior Championship and competing again in 2011.
Since making his NHL debut on April 16, 2012, Kreider has only worn a Rangers jersey, hitting numerous milestones along the way. He has spoken often about what it means to represent the franchise with pride.
“[Being a New York Ranger] comes with a responsibility to conduct yourself in a certain way every day,” Kreider once said. “I think about Henrik Lundqvist as the ultimate example of what a New York Ranger is; how to conduct yourself away from the rink, how to conduct yourself away and at the rink as a professional, your approach to winning, what you ask from yourself and from your teammates. It’s an organization and a city that expects to be competitive and expects to win, expects their players to want to do whatever it takes to win… I don’t know what it’s like to be anything other than a New York Ranger.”
A Massachusetts native, Kreider is the longest-tenured player on the Rangers’ current roster. Selected in the first round of the 2009 NHL Draft, he has cemented his place in franchise history. His first NHL goal was a game-winner in Game 6 against Ottawa in April 2012, and he followed it up with another crucial goal in Game 1 of the second round against the Washington Capitals. Over his career, he has racked up 323 goals and 252 assists for 575 points, placing him third in Rangers’ all-time skater records. His goal total trails only Jean Ratelle and the legendary Rod Gilbert.
Despite his impact, many fans believe it’s time for the Rangers to move on and bring in younger talent. As a result, Kreider’s future with the team is uncertain, and this season could very well be his last in a Rangers uniform.
– Adam Fox
As Blue Line Station readers discovered through Hannah Eng’s interview with Rangers fans, defenseman Adam Fox has become one of the least popular Blueshirts among many supporters.
His defensive performance has noticeably declined, as he no longer plays at the same level in his own zone as he did a few years ago. Adding to the concerns, Fox recently sustained an upper-body injury and was placed on long-term injured reserve.
If the front office takes the fanbase’s frustrations into account, Fox could find himself on the trade block in the near future.
Carson Soucy
As Blue Line Station readers also learned from Hannah Eng’s interview with Rangers fans, defenseman Carson Soucy has quickly become one of the least popular players on the team.
Some fans have even labeled him as the worst defenseman in the league. Soucy was acquired by the Rangers in early March from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, a selection that originally belonged to the San Jose Sharks and was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in the trade for forward Reilly Smith.
This season, Soucy has managed just four goals and nine assists. Beyond his lack of offensive production, he has appeared slower, less responsive, and inconsistent in physical play, often failing to finish his checks. He also lacks the dynamic skill set of a puck-moving defenseman, making him an underwhelming addition.
If you ask Blue Line Station, despite having only recently joined the Rangers, it might already be time to move on from Soucy.
