That’s the only word to describe what the 2024-25 New York Rangers are becoming. A tragic shell of their former beloved selves. This group, one that rightfully earned adoration and love from the fans over years and years, is in an absolute tail spin. Each loss is worse than the last, and each rumor is more damning than the one you read before. It feels like there has been about five or six rock bottom moments, which is frightening to say out loud and even worse when you contemplate that rock bottom hasn’t been hit yet.

The lifeless performances seem to never end, which is disheartening for a group that planned to play for a title this year and came back constantly last year. Their character and identity is gone, and this race to the bottom is becoming defined by questions like “who’s going next” or “how does this get fixed?” The answer to the first question on Wednesday night was the disgruntled Kaapo Kakko, who was traded to Seattle for backup blue liner Will Borgen and two picks. As for the second question, I have some ideas, which we’ll talk about, but let’s start with the trade and some hard truths.

The trade of Kaapo Kakko was one that ultimately had to happen, as the marriage between both sides was long over. Number 24 never hit any real heights in this uniform, he had moments but he never lived up to the hype of being picked second overall. For years we all built a case around his forechecking and responsible play to convince ourselves it wasn’t a total bust. Sure he’s a fine enough player, one that will likely last in the league, but he was never close to being worth the pick from a production standpoint, which is ultimately what he was picked for, though to be fair no other top pick from that draft was aside from Hughes. I was never his biggest fan, but I wish him well in Seattle.

But Kakko’s failings as a prospect don’t excuse the management of him as an asset by GM Chris Drury. While I understand the reluctance to move on from young players, as they can break out at later ages (see Lafreniere), extracting maximum value for a player is part of being a GM in any league. Kakko was never going to fetch a massive haul for Drury, but he also turned down the opportunity to exchange him for far more than he got Wednesday night at last deadline.

He was rumored to be at the center of a package for Frank Vatrano and Adam Henrique last spring, a move that quite possibly could have yielded more dividends than acquiring the underwhelming Alex Wennberg and Jack Roslovic. That may sound like hindsight, but as someone who wrote at length about being underwhelmed by the moves at the time, my frustration is only more intense. Last year was “THE year,” and Drury allowed trying to hold onto things that weren’t there to deny him the chance to further improve his squad. Drury rightfully earned praise for removing Trouba’s full contract, and his tenure hasn’t been bad overall, but this is gross mismanagement. It feels like time is ticking here though as perhaps ownership will soon step in and deal with a front office currently working through a crisis.

This brings me to Peter Laviolette, who is the individual most deserving of pity in this mess. Lavy came back to coach the Rangers with pride and intensity last year, and did so to achieve real success. While they fell short of the ultimate prize, the 2023-24 Rangers were an outstanding team, in part due to his coaching ability and structured approach. Yes there is likely some merit in pinning some of this mess on him, but there is no glaring problem with how Laviolette is approaching games on a nightly basis. Especially considering the fact that this team has already killed two coaches, in David Quinn and Gerard Gallant. Yes, both had their blemishes and would have likely been moved on from eventually, but under both coaches, this group inexplicably followed successful seasons with ugly starts (sound familiar?). The only difference in the past was that Quinn served out the pandemic season and Gallant’s group somehow pulled the nose up. The behavior is now the consistent pattern and it’s on the players. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me, fool me three times and it’s time to go.

The most responsible party in all this is the players. Not Laviolette and his staff. Not even Drury, who recognized the need for change in the summer, but was denied the chance to make those changes, and then returned a roster almost all of us were in favor of seeing back. This team may have had flaws preseason. It has them now too, especially thanks to injuries. But they should be nowhere near this bad night in and night out. Why are they? Because to be frank most of them don’t show the pride or will enough to dig their way out of their own self-created doldrums. Some of them have done this for a while, like K’Andre Miller, who has spent the better part of two seasons playing about as poorly as a defenseman can in this league. Others are more recent members of the club. Mika Zibanejad has followed up a fine regular season and up and down playoff with a lethargic start that is widely attributed to a loss of confidence…for whatever reason. Chris Kreider, Mr. Ranger himself, looks detached and uninterested on and off the ice. There is more where that came from, like Ryan Lindgren who looks out of gas, to the departed Trouba who was clearly finished last spring. The miserable underachieving play is now a daily thing to “look forward to.”

The list of players who should remain on this roster grows exceedingly smaller by the day. Will all of them be gone? Of course not, as deals are hard to make when this much money and no move clauses are involved. But very few have earned the right to continue to be Rangers. That may sound harsh but it’s time we deal in truth about these players, something too many fans have been reluctant to do, and at times the front office has done the same. That’s how you end up with this much apathy and wasted value. The only people in more denial than some fans, are the players themselves, who spent all camp telling the media how close they were last year as if they need a pity party thrown for them. Last year not being “the year” hurt us all, myself included who spent a few depressed days saying I won’t be excited for next season, because they needed real change to close the gap…but even I talked myself into how “small the margins were.” Look where that’s gotten us all, as this season is crashing and burning before our eyes.

So of course, the question once again becomes, “now what?” In my opinion the changes should only continue from here. Removing Trouba, while a big deal, was rather obvious. Moving on from Kakko was a half measure. If other members of this team don’t want to save themselves with their play, then they should be dealt as well. As I said before that won’t be easy but it’s what needs to be done. Could the season be salvaged? Yes. But that wouldn’t be my focus. Instead, the goal needs to be getting to the bottom of this mess in the room and removing the sickness before it spreads further. Keep those that show they want to be here (whom I laid out above), promote those that want to play hard and can help in some way, and acquire players that shift the culture, vibe and style of play. And no, that does not include Matt Rempe, who will make his return to the lineup. The “experiment” around the big guy needs to end, this team needs toughness for sure, but it also needs people who can play, not sideshows who take selfish penalties 200 feet from their own net. Where is Brennan Othman and why isn’t he getting the call over Rempe? If he isn’t going to play, then let’s move him too to get some players in here to help turn the room over. It’s time to get real and take care of business.

Obviously none of this makes us feel good but let’s not kid ourselves about what we fans are going to do from here. We have lived and died with this franchise everyday of our lives for a long time, don’t pretend this is the year you’re done. Sports sadly is about the journey and not grandeur of winning at the end, since only one team does when it’s all said and done. Hang in there, watch the games, go to them if you want, at least then you can say you survived this utter mess. If not anything else, watch the games for Sam Rosen, as we only have so long left with him before he retires. We’ll have a lot more NYR coverage as things continue to unfold. In the meantime, pray for a miracle turnaround from the boys, I hear they happen this time of year on 34th street. Let’s go Rangers!

On Twitter you can find Mike @Mike_Sheerin, Tyler @TMon_19 and Sean @SeanMartinNFL. Subscribe to the site by hitting the follow button in the bottom right corner and entering your email address. Check out our Instagram feed @thebroadwaybreakdownsports for special gameday and promotional content. Our podcasts are available on Spotify. Visit the Rangers Ed Shop by clicking the link on our homepage. Check out our mailbag page to join the conversation here on the site and on our partners show, The Rangers Ed Podcast! We’ll be back with more soon!