Six questions facing the Rangers after the break: schedule, Kreider, Zibanejad, Perreault and more

TAMPA, Fla. – The fall of the New York Rangers was quick and dramatic. Since Nov. 21, they have traded their captain, swapped their 2019 No. 2 pick, kept their longest-tenured player healthy and suspended a fourth-line forward for eight games. Oh, and they also lost 3-14-0.

After a few days off due to the league’s holiday break, the Rangers are back in action on Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Questions about the team also return.

Here are six of the biggest.

Can they survive a difficult schedule?

Eight of New York’s first nine games after the holiday break are against teams that are currently in the playoffs percentage-wise. Three of the Rangers’ upcoming opponents – the Washington Capitals, New Jersey Devils and Vegas Golden Knights – are among the top four teams in the entire league and also have a date with the reigning champion Florida Panthers. According to Tankathon, the Rangers have the second toughest remaining schedule in the league, in part due to the impending gauntlet. If they play like they did before the break, they could be out of the playoff race by mid-January.

The Rangers’ position would have been hard to believe a few months ago. It could also mean that further personnel changes are imminent. Several players recently noted that the only way to keep the team together is to win games. This becomes more difficult with more difficult opponents.

Is there a threat of a Kreider trade?

Whether deserved or not, cutting Chris Kreider – the longest-tenured player on the team – was a huge statement by the Rangers. The decision, coupled with general manager Chris Drury’s opening memo mentioning Kreider by name, casts doubt on the 33-year-old’s future with the organization.

Trading Kreider, who has just 12 points in 30 games this season, won’t be easy. He has a 15-team no-trade list, so he will have at least some control over the situation. In addition, many other clubs only have limited space capacity. Kreider’s maximum earnings of $6.5 million are reasonable given his performance in recent years, but it may not be possible for other teams to match during the season.

And then there is the question of the winger’s back. The Rangers might have labeled Kreider a healthy scratch, but he publicly reported back spasms he suffered early in the season. In some places it looked like he was working. A player in his mid-30s with declining numbers and an injured back may not provide the return the Rangers would like for a pillar of the franchise.

Can Zibanejad recover?

Mika Zibanejad’s recent problems are no secret. He has just seven points and a minus-14 rating in the team’s last 17 games. Zibanejad has a full no-movement clause and a buyout-proof contract that runs until 2029/30. Even if he will never reach the 91-point scorer of 2022-23 again, it is crucial for the Rangers to get him back to being a responsible two-way player who can contribute offensively. Whether he can do that or not will have a long-term impact on the club.

Will Laviolette make the season?

There are signs that the Rangers don’t want to make a change behind the bench, but given a lull like the Rangers have endured, it’s difficult to view Peter Laviolette as a safe bet.

“I’ve been here a long time,” Laviolette said before a recent game in Nashville when asked about his job security. “These conversations always happen no matter where you go, especially if you’ve been there for a long time. My real concern, my biggest concern, is getting a win tonight, getting back on track and getting back into the playoff race. These are the things we need to control and focus on. I think that should really be a priority for everyone.”

Even if the coach wasn’t perfect, New York’s problems run deeper than just him. But many coaches have lost their jobs before when they weren’t primarily to blame.

Coach Peter Laviolette couldn’t get the Rangers out of their rapid decline. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Are they real deadline sellers?

With New York completely out of the playoff race, Drury will have no choice but to see what he can get for the pending free agents on the roster. The Rangers won’t get many trades back unless they sign a high-profile player like K’Andre Miller, who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season, but they may reacquire some mid-round picks they traded away replenish in recent years. Reilly Smith, Ryan Lindgren, Will Borgen and perhaps Jimmy Vesey could appeal to playoff clubs.

Is Perreault making his debut?

The Rangers’ top prospect, Gabe Perreault, is a 2023 first-round pick and is a sophomore at Boston College, where he has 23 points in 16 games. He is expected to turn professional after this season. The last time Boston College could play is April 12 in the NCAA Championship. The Rangers then have two games in the regular season. So if they want Perreault to get a taste of the NHL this season, they can do it.

(Top photo of Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad: Claus Andersen / Getty Images)