If they lose tonight, I'll agree the season is over. It's as close to a must win as you can get in early/mid-Feb.
Currently there are 5 teams ahead of them, and they must pass 4 to make the playoffs. If they lose to CBJ tonight they'll be 6 behind them, and it would be very difficult to make that up, despite having 27 games remaining.
Have to win this game, and they'll have to do it with Quick in goal, we'll see if they show up for the second game of a back-to-back on the road.
As for next season, I don't agree. If they can add a LD, bring in a solid middle 6 forward, and give a few kids a chance, I think the Rangers will be back near the top. There is a lot of precedence in the NHL where a team has a down struggling underachieving season out of nowhere, only to bounce back very strong the following season. Sometimes unexpectedly a season gets away from you, and I think that's this season for the Rangers.