For the first time ever NY Islanders, Rangers and Devils fail to qualify for playoffs

For the first time ever, all three New York-area teams — the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, and New York Islanders — will miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Devils came to be in 1982, bringing three local teams to the area after the Islanders joined the league in 1972, following the original six Rangers. It’s a reversal from just three seasons ago, when all three clubs qualified for the postseason in 2023 for the first time since 2007, giving the region a rare, electric spring of hockey. Now, there’s nothing but silence — and what-ifs.

The downfall came in different ways for each team.

The Devils were officially eliminated on April 7 after a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, capping a disappointing season that ultimately led to the departure of general manager Tom Fitzgerald. Once viewed as a rising contender led by Jack Hughes, New Jersey never found consistency and faded from the race.

The Rangers’ season under new head coach Mike Sullivan was dismal from the start, and when Igor Shesterkin went down with an injury, hopes for the season were dashed, leading GM Chris Drury to send an all-too-familiar letter to the fanbase. They were eliminated in late March, undone in large part by a dreadful record at Madison Square Garden.

Then there are the Islanders, whose season may sting the most.

Behind the phenomenal rookie season of Matthew Schaefer, the Isles spent much of the year in playoff position before unraveling late, losing six of their final seven games — including a 4-1 defeat to Montreal at UBS Arena that officially ended their season. It was a collapse defined by missed opportunities, particularly on special teams, and one that cost them a spot in a tightly contested Eastern Conference race.

The result? A playoff bracket without a single local team.

For fans across the metro area, it’s unfamiliar territory — no rooting interest, no rival to root against, no postseason drama tied to home ice. Just a long offseason ahead — and questions that all three franchises must now answer.