The New York Rangers are set to kick off their 100th season, and the opening years of the 2020s have already written some unforgettable chapters. From record-breaking regular seasons to dramatic playoff pushes, this stretch has been fueled by superstar talent and clutch, game-changing moments. As the decade reaches its halfway point, it’s the perfect time to look back at the five players who have defined the Blueshirts and etched their names into Rangers history.
5. Adam Fox – The Hometown Hero
Adam Fox always dreamed of wearing Rangers blue, and since arriving in 2019, he’s been nothing short of spectacular. The 2021 Norris Trophy winner has become one of the NHL’s premier defensemen, racking up 369 points in 431 games and serving as the anchor of New York’s back end.
Fox isn’t just elite—he’s consistent. In the playoffs, he’s already put up nearly a point per game, and at just 27 years old, the best is likely yet to come. Rangers fans don’t just see him as a top defenseman—they see him as the heartbeat of their blue line for years to come.
4. Igor Shesterkin – The Prince of New York
The Rangers went from Richter to Lundqvist… and then seamlessly to Igor Shesterkin. That kind of goaltending pipeline almost feels unfair.
Since making his debut in 2020, Shesterkin has been electric. His Vezina-winning 2021-22 season (36 wins, .935 SV%) proved he wasn’t just good—he was dominant. And when the stakes rise in the playoffs, so does his game. With a career .928 save percentage in the postseason, Shesterkin has been the difference-maker in every series the Rangers have played.
Locked in with a long-term deal, Shesterkin isn’t just New York’s present—he’s the foundation of its future.
3. Mika Zibanejad – The Clutch Centerpiece
When the Rangers traded for Mika Zibanejad in 2016, few could have predicted he’d become one of the franchise’s pillars. Fast forward to today: he’s a first-line center, a 40-goal scorer, and a proven playoff performer.
Zibanejad’s offensive peaks in the 2020s—91 points in 2022-23 and monster playoff runs in 2022 and 2024—cemented him as the guy who delivers when it matters most. His chemistry with linemates and knack for big goals have made him one of Madison Square Garden’s most reliable stars.
Even as he enters the back half of his career, Zibanejad remains the offensive engine the Rangers can count on.
2. Artemi Panarin – The Superstar Signing
Few free-agent moves have changed a franchise like Artemi Panarin’s decision to choose New York in 2019. From the moment he arrived, Panarin has been box-office: dazzling hands, pinpoint passing, and scoring touch that electrifies the Garden.
With 550 points in 430 games, including a 120-point masterpiece in 2023-24, Panarin has been the Rangers’ offensive catalyst. Sure, critics question his playoff numbers, but he’s had his moments—none bigger than his Game 7 overtime winner in 2022.
Panarin hasn’t just put up stats—he’s given Rangers fans a superstar worth the price of admission. The only question left: will he extend his Broadway run, or is this the final act?
1. Chris Kreider – The Clutch King
Chris Kreider may have been traded to Anaheim this offseason, but his 2020s run in New York was legendary. Long considered a streaky scorer, Kreider exploded in 2021-22 with a 52-goal campaign that turned him into one of the league’s most feared finishers.
From 2020 through 2024, no Ranger scored more goals than Kreider (193), and no Ranger delivered more in the playoffs. He’s now the franchise’s all-time playoff goals leader (48), highlighted by his unforgettable hat trick in Game 6 against Carolina in 2024 that sent the Rangers to the Conference Final.
Kreider wasn’t just productive—he was clutch. The kind of player who made the Garden shake when the puck was on his stick. His exit marks the end of an era, but his impact in the first half of this decade is unmatched
Conclusion
The Rangers’ first five years of the 2020s have been a rollercoaster—deep playoff pushes, a Presidents’ Trophy, and a roster loaded with stars. At the center of it all were Fox, Shesterkin, Zibanejad, Panarin, and Kreider, each carving out a place in Rangers lore.
As the team embarks on its 100th season, the question isn’t whether these five defined the decade’s first half—it’s who will step up to join them in defining the next.
Products
