Why John Davidson believes Rangers will ‘come back … make some noise’ next season

Perhaps John Davidson would be more concerned about the New York Rangers if he was still team president. Or even if he still worked in the MSG Network broadcast booth.

But Davidson sounded very calm and reassuring about the future of the Rangers despite their terrible showing this season, when chatting with Neil Smith and Vic Morren on the NHL Wraparound podcast recently.

“I honestly think, in knowing a number of them, that they’ll battle back (next season),” Davidson said on the podcast. “I know them. And I know they compete. I just have a sense that they’re going to come back and battle and get back to a team that’s going to make some noise.”

Now a senior advisor with the Columbus Blue Jackets, Davidson was Rangers president for two season after he was hired in May of 2019. Working with then-general manager Jeff Gorton, Davidson help oversee the two pandemic-shortened seasons, the final two of David Quinn’s tenure as Rangers coach.

Artemi Panarin signed a massive contract on his watch. Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider were key players on his teams. Adam Fox played his first two NHL seasons when Davidson worked for the Rangers and won the Norris Trophy as the League’s top defenseman in 2020-21. Igor Shesterkin established himself as the No. 1 goalie in that time.

So, yes, JD knows the core of this current Rangers team.

But, even from afar and working for a division rival, can Davidson explain what happened to the Rangers this season after making the playoffs three straight years, reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2022 and 2024, and winning the Presidents’ Trophy last season?

“What I found interesting is that the majority of their best players, and there’s quite a few of them, they all kind of fell backwards at the same time. And you’ve got to figure out why that happened,” Davidson said.

Of course, it’s been well-documented that the Rangers were a soap opera this past season. Players were upset with management. Jacob Trouba admitted he was unable to lead before he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks because his legs were cut out from underneath him by general manager Chris Drury. Zibanejad’s malaise about everything. Kreider’s name leaked in a trade memo from Drury to the other 31 GMs in the League.

You know the story. JD’s heard it, but doesn’t comment on those specifics because he wasn’t part of the team. But that sure doesn’t stop him from being confident that the Rangers will right the ship. Especially now that the Rangers hired Mike Sullivan as coach.

“Mike Sullivan as head coach? That’s going to help,” Davidson explained. “He gets it and he knows how to deal with players that are at the top of the heap. So, I think in looking at that situation, when he speaks, people are going to listen. That, I think, will be very helpful to the organization.

“They had a lot of off-years there. And I think after self-reflection, a strong summer, and I really believe Sullivan is good. I think he’s really good. He’s got a presence, he’s smart, he’s unrelenting. I think that’s going to make a world of difference for them going forward.”

Part of John Davidson remains with Rangers, but excited about Blue Jackets rise, future

There’s Still a busy offseason ahead for the Rangers, but Davidson’s Blue Jackets could be a thorn in their side moving forward. The Blue Jackets (40-33-9) stunned the hockey world this season, arriving ahead of schedule to finish two points back of a playoff berth in the Eastern Conference. Even after the tragic death of star forward Johnny Gaudreau, the Blue Jackets were four points ahead of the Rangers (39-36-7) when the season ended.

“When you analyze it after all the disappointment (of just missing the playoffs), we’re in good position. The Columbus Blue Jackets are in good shape right now,” Davidson stated. “I really think there’s genuine room for optimism.”

So, you can say JD is optimistic about both his current team and his old one. And though his allegiance lies with the Blue Jackets, he still has Rangers blue running through his blood.

Remember, he wasn’t just here for two years as president. JD was a Hall of Fame broadcaster, partnering all those years with Sam Rosen. And before that, Davidson was a popular goalie, who led the Rangers to the Stanley Cup Final in 1979. Only two Rangers goalies have done that since — Mike Richter in 1994 and Henrik Lundqvist in 2014.

But as you turn the page on the 2024-25 season, hear JD’s words about the Rangers and believe better days are ahead.