Honestly, walking into Madison Square Garden lately feels a bit like entering a hospital ward. If you’ve been watching the ny rangers injury report grow over the last few weeks, you know it’s not just a list of names; it’s a list of the team’s literal backbone. We aren't talking about fourth-line grinders or depth defensemen. We’re talking about the Vezina-winning goalie and the Norris-caliber defenseman who makes the entire power play tick.
Things are tough.
The Rangers are currently sitting at 20-22-6, which puts them dead last in the Eastern Conference by points percentage. That's a hard pill to swallow for a team that had high hopes after hiring Mike Sullivan. Braden Schneider recently called the group "fragile," and you can see it on the ice. When you lose four straight and seven of your last eight, the weight of those empty locker stalls starts to feel heavy.
The Big Two: Fox and Shesterkin
Everything changed on January 5th and 6th. In a brutal overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth, the Rangers lost their two most indispensable assets.
Adam Fox is currently on Long-Term Injured Reserve (LTIR). This is his second stint on the shelf in just over a month, which is a massive red flag. He previously missed 14 games from early to late December with an upper-body issue. Now, it's a lower-body injury. He isn't even eligible to return until January 31st at the earliest. Coach Sullivan hasn't been optimistic, either. He noted recently that Fox hasn't even started skating yet. When Fox is out, the power play falls off a cliff—dropping from a lethal 26 percent to a measly 15.4 percent during his first absence.
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Then there is Igor Shesterkin.
He’s on the regular Injured Reserve list with a lower-body injury. It happened when he fell backward and couldn't put weight on his left leg. It looked nasty. While he is technically eligible to be activated sooner than Fox, he’s also not skating. Without "Shesty," the Rangers are relying on Jonathan Quick, who is turning 40 this month. Quick has been a legend, but asking him to carry the "lion's share" of the workload at 40 is a big ask. He was pulled in a recent blowout against Boston after allowing six goals, and the backup, Spencer Martin, didn't fare much better.
Who Else is Sidelined?
It's not just the superstars. The depth is getting shredded too.
Conor Sheary is on LTIR with a lower-body injury. He’s been out since New Year's Eve. Then you have Adam Edstrom, who was placed on IR back in December. These are the guys who provide the energy and the defensive structure for the bottom six. When they're gone, the stars have to play more minutes, they get tired, and mistakes happen.
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We also saw Alexis Lafrenière miss practice recently due to illness, and while he's "day-to-day," it just adds to the feeling that this team can't catch a break. Noah Laba is also dealing with an upper-body injury that has him listed as day-to-day. Basically, if you see a Ranger on the ice right now, there's a good chance they're playing a role they aren't quite used to.
Current Status of Key Players:
- Adam Fox (D): Lower-body, LTIR. Ineligible until Jan 31. Not skating.
- Igor Shesterkin (G): Lower-body, IR. No timeline. Not skating.
- Conor Sheary (LW): Lower-body, LTIR.
- Adam Edstrom (C): Lower-body, IR.
- Noah Laba (C): Upper-body, Day-to-Day.
- J.T. Miller (C): Recently returned from an upper-body injury.
The Silver Lining (Sorta)
If there is a bright spot in the ny rangers injury report, it’s the return of J.T. Miller. He missed seven games but came back for the Sabres game. He’s the captain now, and he’s been productive with 26 points in 48 games. Having him back in the middle of the ice helps stabilize things, but as Vincent Trocheck put it: "Lose two, gain one, I guess."
The Rangers are also giving a huge look to Vladislav Gavrikov. He’s been bumped up to Fox’s spot on the top power-play unit. Sullivan likes his "simplicity" and offensive instincts. Is he Adam Fox? No. But he has to be "Gavvy," as the guys call him. Scott Morrow has also been recalled from Hartford to help eat up minutes on the blue line.
What Happens Next?
The schedule doesn't wait for people to get healthy. The Rangers have a massive game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday, January 17th. With the Olympic break for Milano Cortina 2026 looming, the Rangers have about a dozen games to keep their season alive.
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If they keep sliding, the front office might have to look at trades. But for now, Mike Sullivan is adamant that the "answers are inside our locker room." They have to find a way to win ugly. They need to simplify their game and stop letting the "small things" snowball into 8-4 losses like the one they just had against Ottawa.
Keep a very close eye on the morning skates. If you don't see Fox or Shesterkin on the ice by the final week of January, the panic meter in New York is going to hit a ten.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check the morning skate reports on January 29th and 30th to see if Adam Fox has resumed skating; this is the first indicator of whether he'll hit his January 31st return target.
- Watch the waiver wire and AHL recalls; if the Rangers bring up another goalie from Hartford, it’s a sign that Shesterkin’s timeline is being pushed back significantly.
- Monitor the power play percentage over the next three games—if it remains below 16 percent, expect coaching staff to overhaul the secondary unit personnel.