At this time last season, the New York Rangers had just won the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL’s best regular-season team and were gearing up for the playoffs. Although they were eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final by the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers, they had a good run and were expected to do it this season. With most of the roster returning, the Rangers got off to a 12-4-1 start and seemed like they would cruise into the playoffs. That didn’t happen. Instead, the Rangers began a downward spiral in late November and never recovered. They won four of 19 games after their 12-4-1 start, leading general manager Chris Drury to reconstruct a roster that got them to the Eastern Conference Final a season ago. Between trades and waiver claims, the Rangers lost eight players this season. Here’s a look at how they did with their new teams. Barclay Goodrow The Rangers’ downfall began last offseason when management waived Barclay Goodrow, and he was claimed by the San Jose Sharks. According to reports, Goodrow and his teammates were caught off guard by the move, and he was upset that he was not informed beforehand. Drury simply wanted to move out his contract, but the way he did it was disappointing since Goodrow was a leader on the team, and his presence was missed this season. Barclay Goodrow, San Jose Sharks (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) Goodrow returned to San Jose after two seasons and two Stanley Cups with the Tampa Bay Lightning and three seasons in New York. But the Sharks were now going through a full-on rebuild. He was brought in to be a key veteran leader to help young players find their way in the NHL. He has never been known as a good offensive player, and that remained true this season, with five goals and eight points in 76 games. This season will also mark the first time in his career that his team did not make the postseason. Reilly Smith Last offseason, the Rangers were still looking for a top-six right-winger who could play with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. They did not want to overpay for a free agent, so they decided to acquire Reilly Smith from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2027 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick. This trade was still considered an overpay by Drury because Smith was coming off a down season with the Penguins and never really fit in with the team after he was traded by the Vegas Golden Knights. He put up decent numbers with the Rangers, scoring 10 goals and 29 points in 58 games, but when the team was out of the playoff race by the trade deadline, there was no doubt that he would be moved again. Smith was traded back to the Golden Knights for Brendan Brisson and a 2025 third-round pick, which was flipped to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Carson Soucy – so the trade now looks like Soucy and Brisson for Smith. He has been ok with the Golden Knights, scoring three goals and 11 points in 20 games, and he will get another crack at a Stanley Cup. He was very good in their championship run in 2023, with four goals and 14 points in 22 games. Jacob Trouba Then there was the Jacob Trouba drama from last offseason. Reports surfaced that he would be traded to the Detroit Red Wings, but the deal never happened, and nothing happened during the summer, so he entered this season knowing he might be traded at any time. As the Rangers’ captain, it was difficult to lead a team knowing he wouldn’t be around for much longer, and when they began to really struggle in late November, Drury sent out a memo saying he was open for business, naming both Trouba and Kreider, specifically. Related: Rangers Lack Top Defense Partner for Adam Fox Despite Trades Trouba was traded to the Anaheim Ducks for Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick. The good news was that management had moved out his $8 million salary for this season and next, and it finally put an end to all the drama. For Trouba, it was a fresh start on a rebuilding team that needed a veteran leader. He scored one goal and eight points in 52 games with the Ducks. Kaapo Kakko Drafted second overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, Kaapo Kakko was expected to be a star for the franchise. He had so much hype and potential surrounding him, but in typical Rangers fashion, they failed to develop one of their top prospects, and now, he is no longer on the team. Kakko was reduced to bottom-six minutes and was even made a healthy scratch multiple times by different coaches in the regular season and the playoffs. He was never given a chance to shine, and in mid-December, management decided it was time to move on after head coach Peter Laviolette scratched him from the lineup, even though he was not the reason for the team’s struggles. He was traded to the Seattle Kraken for Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2025 sixth-round pick. Although the Rangers signed Borgen to a five-year extension, this trade could be one of the team’s worst moves, as Kakko has thrived in his new role and opportunity in Seattle. He has 10 goals and 30 points in 49 games and is finally starting to look like the player he was expected to be when he was drafted six years ago. While it was time to move on from him, the Rangers might look back on this deal in a few years and regret it. Filip Chytil and Victor Mancini The Rangers’ biggest move of the season was acquiring J.T. Miller from the Canucks to help them make a push for the playoffs. While Miller was very good for the team, he alone couldn’t solve all the team’s issues. To acquire him, Drury traded Filip Chytil, Victor Mancini and a 2025 first-round pick, which is top 13 protected and could flip to 2026 if they decide to keep the pick. Mancini was a fifth-round pick in the 2022 Draft and played his first few NHL games this season with the Rangers. He was one of the better defensive prospects in the organization, and he now has a chance to thrive in Vancouver and learn from Quinn Hughes. Filip Chytil, Vancouver Canucks (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images) The biggest part of the deal, however, was Chytil. At the time of the trade, he was the third-longest tenured Ranger behind Zibanejad and Kreider. He spent parts of eight seasons in New York and could have been a very good player for years were it not for injuries. He scored two goals and six points in 15 games with the Canucks before suffering another concussion that ended his season. Unfortunately, at just 25, he has suffered several concussions in his career already. Ryan Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey Drury knew he could not keep his pending unrestricted free agents when the trade deadline arrived with the team out of a playoff position. So, he sent both Jimmy Vesey and Ryan Lindgren to the Colorado Avalanche. In return, he got Calvin De Haan, Jusso Parssinen, a 2025 second-round pick and a 2025 fourth-round pick. The trade ended Vesey’s second stint in New York, where he had been a great fourth-line player and played higher in the lineup when called upon. However, he was a healthy scratch for most of the season, and it was time to give him a chance with a new team. He has one goal and two points in 10 games with the Avalanche as the team heads into the playoffs. Ryan Lindgren, New York Rangers (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers) It was clear last offseason that Lindgren would not be a Ranger for long when he signed a one-year deal that would walk him to free agency. His play has been on the decline for a few seasons now, and he was playing in a role that was too much for him to handle at this point in his career, especially when paired with Adam Fox. He has two goals and three points in 18 games with the Avalanche and is playing well in a lesser role. While he was great for the Rangers, it was time to move on from him. The Rangers were not expected to be active on the trade market this season. Many assumed they would add around the edges to try and help them make a playoff push, but, in the end, drastic changes were necessary. While none of the players traded away have been severely missed, it was tough to see many familiar faces leave in one season, especially after many great seasons with the team. It will be worth following this former Rangers to see what the future holds for them in the NHL.