For all of the calamity and the disaster that greeted the New York Rangers at nearly every turn during the first half of the 2024-25 season, they somehow, almost unbelievably, are still very much in the thick of a playoff hunt.

The boxing-out issues continued against Utah. A minute into the game, Utah’s Ian Cole fired a point shot tipped by teammate Barrett Hayton. Igor Shesterkin made the initial stop, but Matias Maccelli got away from K’Andre Miller and buried the rebound.

Larry Brooks wrote that the Rangers should not be in the player acquisition mode to try and make a run. Instead, New York would be best served to deal UFAs to replenish the pick population they dealt to make two ECF runs.

Ryan Lindgren will to become an unrestricted free agent next season as he’s been the subject of multiple trade rumors. The New York Rangers are at an interesting point right now. The team is currently outside of a wild card spot, and its playoff hopes ...