If you’re a New York Rangers fan, still buzzing from last season’s Presidents’ Trophy win, and dreaming of Stanley Cup glory. It’s not going to be the same this year. The Garden’s electric, Igor Shesterkin’s a wall in the net, and the team’s racking up points like nobody’s business. Then, like a plot twist in a gritty New York movie, it all unravels. Fast forward to April 12, 2025, and the Blueshirts are out of the playoff race, repeating a rare and painful history from 1993. What happened to the team that was supposed to dominate?
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An X post from PuckEmpire shared the news. The tweet said, “The city that never sleeps has been put to bed. The New York Rangers will not be in the NHL’s playoffs for the first time since 2021.” It’s a stat that stings, especially for a fanbase that tasted success just a year ago. That loss wasn’t just a bad night; it was the culmination of a season-long collapse. The Rangers became only the fourth team in NHL history to miss the playoffs the year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy, joining the 1992-93 Blueshirts in infamy. The other teams included the Buffalo Sabres 2006-08 and the Boston Bruins 2013-15. It’s a stat that stings, especially for a fanbase that tasted success just a year ago.
New York Rangers players and coach react after NHL Playoffs elimination
The New York Rangers were riding high last season, clinching the Presidents’ Trophy and battling their way to the Eastern Conference Final. So, when the final buzzer sounded on their 2024-25 campaign, with no playoff berth to show for it, the mood at Madison Square Garden was heavy. A 7-3 thrashing by the Carolina Hurricanes on April 12 sealed their fate, marking a stunning fall for a team with Stanley Cup dreams.
“It’s disappointing for everybody,” head coach Peter Laviolette said, his voice carrying the weight of a season gone wrong. “It certainly wasn’t anybody’s plan coming into the year, especially coming off last year. Yet, here we are.” He pointed to the final 20 games, of which they lost 14. What’s even more frustrating is that the Rangers were just two points shy of the Canadiens for the second wildcard spot as late as April 4. “We had opportunities to make our own noise and make our own way, and we didn’t do that,” he admitted.
