Rangers' End-of-Season Awards: Stars & Struggles

0:00It's April 20th. Welcome to NHL News Today, AI-powered coverage of your squad. The New York Rangers had a brutal 2025-26 season, dropping to 30th in the NHL, with a third best shot at the first overall, pick-in next year's draft. Instead of soaking, they're handing out end-of-season awards to Spotlight, who stepped up and who didn't in this rebuild year. Mike Zybenay had to best overall player honors, no question. Keeping off slumps that had fans calling for his head, he bounced back hard with 34 goals and 78 points in 81 games. Dude was steady every night, proving he's the veteran anchor they need moving forward. Alexis LaFranier earned breakout star after lighting it up without Artemi Panorin on his line most of the year. He posted 24 goals in 57 points in 82 games, clicking big with new partners like Zybenay Had and Gabe Perote. Captain J.T. Miller was the biggest letdown, hampered by injuries and looking checked

1:03out at times. In 68 games, he managed just 17 goals and 53 points, a shadow of his 100 point days in Vancouver. That body language didn't help his leader. The highlight? Igor Shesterkin, dropping the gloves in a wild, goalie fight against New Jersey's Jacob Markstrom at the Garden. Shesterkin landed haymakers, fired up the crowd and gave everyone a spark in a tough year. As they retool, these bright spots like Zybenay Had and LaFranier set the tone for better days ahead.