General manager Chris Drury started a retool of sorts last summer, dumping Barclay Goodrow on waivers to be picked up by the San Jose Sharks and unsuccessfully trying to move captain Jacob Trouba. Drury moved Trouba in December, as well as Kaapo Kakko, but the damage to the 2024-25 season was already done, as the Rangers were amid a 4-15-0 skid.

Todd Nelson has won five different minor league championships as head coach in the last two decades. That includes back-to-back titles for the Washington Capitals' AHL affiliate, the Hershey Bears, the past two seasons. He also aided the Dallas Stars to the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 as an assistant who heavily guided team tactics.