Mike Sullivan completes total overhaul of the New York Rangers power-play units once again

During practice, the Rangers unveiled a reworked first power-play unit, once again rolling with five forwards in the absence of Adam Fox. This time, the tweaks were notable. Alexis Lafrenière has taken over the net-front role from Will Cuylle, while Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin swapped spots, with Zibanejad moving to the point and Panarin sliding into the left circle.

The adjustment signals Mike Sullivan's continued effort to jumpstart a power play that has struggled for consistency since Fox was placed on LTIR. The five-forward look has shown flashes, but the lack of clean puck movement and sustained pressure has been an issue. Shifting Zibanejad to the point puts a trusted shooter and distributor up top, while Panarin's creativity may open more seams from the circle.

The changes did not stop with special teams. It was also confirmed that defenseman Scott Morrow and forward Jonny Brodzinski will be coming out of the lineup entirely. Urho Vaakanainen is expected to step in on the blue line, while Taylor Raddysh draws back into the forward group.

Those decisions have sparked plenty of debate among fans. Morrow's removal feels abrupt to some, especially with Fox still out and development opportunities available. Brodzinski's scratch is equally puzzling for supporters who value his energy and reliability.

From Sullivan's perspective, the message is clear. Nothing is locked in. Roles are earned daily, and adjustments will continue until results improve. Whether these power-play tweaks and lineup changes provide a spark remains to be seen, but the Rangers are clearly not standing still.