The New York Rangers are about to miss the playoffs for the first time since the 2010-2011 season. In an era where the top eight teams make the playoffs in each conference, what went so wrong during the year to bring them to this point?
The Defense
The Rangers had 11 defensemen suit up on the blueline at different times this season. Ryan McDonagh, Nick Holden, Anthony DeAngelo, Steven Kampfer, Brady Skjei, Brendan Smith, Kevin Shattenkirk, Neal Pionk, John Gilmour, Rob O’Gara and Ryan Sproul.