The New York Rangers may have beaten the Pittsburgh Penguins 5-3, but if you watched the game, you know full well the score doesn’t tell the whole story.
The Rangers spent most of the game trapped in their own zone, getting outshot 39-16.
If not for Igor Shesterkin’s strong rebound performance after a rough night against Buffalo, this could have been another embarrassing loss.
Ryan Lindgren, who had two assists and finished with a plus-two rating, didn’t hold back when asked about the team’s play.
“My evaluation is that it was awful. You guys all saw it,” Lindgren said.
“We were in the D zone the entire time, we were giving them chance after chance. Everything about it was awful.”
His frustration is understandable.
- Ryan Lindgren voiced sharp criticism of the Rangers’ poor performance despite a recent win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, raising concerns about the team’s playoff chances.
- With the trade deadline nearing, speculation is growing around potential moves involving Lindgren, K’Andre Miller, and other players.
- The Rangers’ history of bad trades, including the infamous 1976 Rick Middleton deal, serves as a cautionary tale as they weigh their next moves.
An Ugly Win That Revealed Bigger Problems
The Rangers were dominated in five-on-five play, getting out-chanced 28-10 in the second period alone, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Worse, they allowed the Penguins to generate a 72% high-danger scoring rate.
For a team with playoff aspirations, these are unacceptable numbers.
Lindgren himself has had his own defensive struggles, which have been a major talking point throughout the season.
According to Moneypuck.com, he ranks No. 5 in the NHL in high-danger shot attempts against per 60 minutes, a stat that suggests he has been on the ice for too many prime scoring opportunities.
Now, Lindgren’s blunt assessment of the Rangers’ performance adds fuel to the growing speculation that he could be moved before the NHL trade deadline.
But he’s not the only one.
Trade Rumors Swirl Around K’Andre Miller
K’Andre Miller is one of the most physically gifted players in the organization—fast, strong, and capable of big plays.
But he’s also inconsistent, and the Rangers haven’t helped his development with their shaky defensive coaching.
Miller is set for a new contract, which estimates suggest could last six years and pay $6.5 million per year.
And that’s a big gamble for a player who hasn’t fully put it together yet.
If the Rangers aren’t sure about him, now might be the time to trade him.
Looking at similar trades, the Rangers could likely get a first-round pick and a young player or top prospect for Miller.
Other teams would love to have him, whether they’re contenders looking for a playoff boost or rebuilding teams hoping to develop his talent.
The Rangers Have No Choice But to Sell
After an 8-2 loss to the Buffalo Sabres, one of the worst teams in the East, the Rangers followed up with a sloppy win over Pittsburgh.
In hindsight, that should tell you everything you need to know.
They clearly aren’t built to make a deep playoff run.
Even though they’re just two points out of a wild card spot, making the playoffs won’t mean much if they aren’t strong enough to compete once they get there.
That leaves one clear option: sell now and build for the future.
Lindgren, Miller, Reilly Smith, and Jimmy Vesey could all be traded for valuable assets.
Holding onto them just to chase a playoff spot would be short-sighted.
The Worst Trade in Rangers History
If the Rangers need a reminder of how a bad trade can haunt them, they should look back to May 26, 1976.
A time when GM Emile Francis made one of the worst trades in NHL history—sending Rick Middleton to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Ken Hodge.
Hodge lasted just 96 games in New York.
Conversely, Middleton played 12 seasons for the Bruins, scored 402 goals, and had his number retired in Boston.
The Rangers got almost nothing in return.
That is the danger of making the wrong trade at the wrong time and exactly what Drury has to avoid now.
What’s Next for the Rangers?
There’s a version of this story in which the Rangers do nothing, keep Miller and Lindgren, and convince themselves that a healthy Shesterkin and a little luck will make them a playoff team.
That version ends the way it always does—with an early exit and no real plan for the future.
Or there’s the other version—the one in which they admit this isn’t working, make the hard choices, and actually build something real.
Lindgren sees it. The numbers say it. The standings confirm it.
Now, it’s just up to Drury to act.
