If I'm Mike Sullivan – and I'm looking ahead to 2025-26 – the three teams I'd be worrying about are the New Jersey Devils, Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators.

That trio of clubs includes the ones the Rangers had a chance to beat out for a playoff berth but failed

New York's closing record was 39-36-7 for 85 points.

The Devils finished with 91 points (42-33-7) as did Montreal (40-31-11) whereas Ottawa closed at 97 points (45-30-7).

Contrast the above final points with the preseason projections. Only the Devils were picked to finish ahead of New York.

Ottawa was projected to wind up seventh in the Atlantic Division and Montreal eighth in the same division

"What's scary for the Rangers is that all three teams – Devils, Canadiens and Senators – all are on the upswing. And all have one thing in common; they have a young squad and only figure to get better in the upcoming season."

Pressing Rangers Questions And Answers When a club like the Rangers finishes in the NHL's subterranean depths, it raises questions that must be answered before the autumn leaves start to fall. (Now don't be a wise guy and tell me that they're falling already.)

And now you know why Mike Sullivan should be analyzing the Habs, the Sens and our good friends across the Hudson River.

Study hard Mike, 'cause the Sens, Habs and Devils are not fooling around. So don't let them make a fool of you!