News Rangers Team Notes

[New York Rangers]

Former Rangers come together on Shanghai Dragons in KHL

A KHL team based in Shanghai, China, is just about the last place you’d expect to see a reunion of former New York Rangers. But that’s exactly what’s happening with the Shanghai Dragons, who boast four ex-Rangers players as well as former coach Gerard Gallant and assistant Mike Kelly.

Gallant, who coached the Rangers from 2021-23 with Kelly as one of his assistants, has two of his former players back with him — center Greg McKegg (2019-20 and 2021-22) and defenseman Ben Harpur (2022-23). The other ex-Rangers are defenseman Adam Clendening (2016-17) and center Ryan Spooner (2018). Harpur signed with Shanghai this week, and McKegg joined the team in early October and was scoreless Tuesday in his first game, a 7-6 shootout loss to Spartak.

Despite the loss, the Dragons are off to a good start, espite playing thousands of miles from their ostensible home city. The franchise, which entered the KHL as Kunlun Red Star in 2016, hasn’t played in China since 2019-20 due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic in that country. The Dragons play their home games in St. Petersburg, Russia, this season but plan to return to Shanghai for 2026-27.

The Dragons sure know how to make a head coach announcement in style pic.twitter.com/4Y1EY3UXaY

— Uggg (@Uggg_uggg) August 13, 2025

It’s been a whirlwind couple of months for the 62-year-old coach. Gallant went to the KHL after he failed to draw any interest from NHL teams. He is 369-262-70 with four ties in an NHL career that has seen him coach the Columbus Blue Jackets, Florida Panthers and Vegas Golden Knights, as well as the Rangers. He won the Jack Adams Award as the top NHL coach in 2017-18, when he guided the Golden Knights to the Stanley Cup Final in their inaugural season.

“I’ve been out for two years … and nothing’s happened yet,” Gallant said in August on TSN 1050 in Toronto. “Am I a little pissed off? Yeah. But that’s the way it goes and you wait for your turn and your opportunities.

“So, I took this job. I’m going to Russia, going to St. Petersburg. I have a two-year contract and I’m going to honor that contract.”

Gallant’s .662 points percentage in his two full seasons is second-best in Rangers history, behind only Mike Keenan (.667), who coached them to the Stanley Cup championship in 1993-94, his lone season in New York. Keenan, who turned 76 on Tuesday, is also the first man to coach a Stanley Cup champion and a Gagarin Cup winner in the KHL (with Metallurg Magnitogorsk in 2014).

James Guillory-Imagn Images

In mid-August, Gallant agreed to a two-year contract, tasked with filling out a roster in less than six weeks and running a franchise that hasn’t made the Gagarin Cup Playoffs in eight years.

So far, so good. Despite the shootout loss to Spartak, the Dragons have won nine of their first 16 games and are tied for second in the Tarasov Division of the Western Conference. They are four points behind first-place Lokomotiv Yaroslavl, which has played two more games, and even with Severstal, which has played one more game but has 10 regulation wins to seven for Shanghai. The Dragons play their next game at Dinamo Minsk on Friday.

Rangers reunion takes place in KHL​

Clendening has been the most impactful of the former Rangers. He is tied for third in scoring among defensemen with 14 points (two goals, 12 assists) in 16 games and averages 22:54 TOI.

This is his second season with the Dragons franchise; he had 22 points (five goals, 17 assists) for Kunlun last season. Clendening played 31 games for the Rangers in 2016-17, his only season in New York, finishing with 11 points (two goals, nine assists).

The Rangers, who signed him as a free agent, didn’t re-sign him. He had brief stints with the Arizona Coyotes in 2017-18 and Blues Jackets in 2018-19, then played with four AHL teams before joining Ilves of Liiga in Finland for the 2023-24 season and switching to the KHL last season.

Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Spooner, a 33-year-old center, was part of the package the Rangers received when they traded Rick Nash to the Boston Bruins on Feb. 20, 2018. He had 16 points (four goals, 12 assists) for the Rangers in the 20 remaining games that season. But after a slow start in 2018-19, Sponner was traded to the Edmonton Oilers for center Ryan Strome on Nov. 16, 2018.

He’s played with four teams since coming to the KHL in 2020. Spooner has 12 points (four goals, eight assists) in 15 games this season.

Andy Marlin-Imagn Images

The Rangers signed Harpur as a free agent on Oct. 27, 2022, and he had six points (one goal, five assists) in 42 regular-season games with them. He did not dress in the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs and was injured much of the past two seasons with Hartford of the American Hockey League.

New York was also the last NHL stop for the 33-year-old McKegg, who had five points (two goals, three assists) in 43 games during his second stint with the Blueshirts in 2021-22. He also had five goals and nine points in 53 games in 2019-20 before signing with the Bruins as a free agent.

The Rangers did not re-sign him after his second stint on Broadway ended in the summer of 2023. He joined the Edmonton Oilers but spent the next two seasons with their AHL affiliate in Bakersfield before sitting out last season.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/shanghai-dragons-rangers-reunion-khl

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers coach eyes ‘another level’ for Alexis Lafreniere, Will Cuylle

The New York Rangers need much more from young top-six forwards Alexis Lafreniere and Will Cuylle, whose combined slow start mirrors that of the team.

Despite substantial minutes and opportunity, Lafreniere (one goal, one assist, averaging 18:19 TOI) and Cuylle (one goal; 17:29 TOI) have combined for two goals in the first eight games for the Rangers, who carry a disappointing 3-4-1 record into their home game against the San Jose Sharks on Thursday night.

The scoring slump is a team-wide issue. The Rangers are 31st out of 32 teams in the League, averaging 2.00 goals for per game. Of their 16 goals, six were scored in a lopsided 6-1 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 11. They’ve scored a total of two goals in their five defeats, and one in four games at Madison Square Garden, where they are winless and have been shut out three times.

So, no, Cuylle and Lafreniere aren’t the only ones failing to produce. But they were the ones coach Mike Sullivan was asked about after practice Wednesday.

“I think there’s another level to their game,” Sullivan said simply.

Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

That’s an understatement. Cuylle, 23, scored 20 goals last season and is a top-six regular for the first time in three NHL seasons. Lafreniere, 24, scored 28 goals two seasons ago, but remains a mystery after he dropped to 17 in 2024-25.

Sullivan sees a fairly simple solution to their scoring struggles.

“Just encouraging them to get to the interior of the rink a little more, more of a mindset to get inside the dots, whether it be going to the net and staying at the net, or whether it be off the rush with a low-ice mindset, trying to drive pucks deep down below the circles,” Sullivan explained. “If you get a step on a guy, try to get inside. Essentially, the message to them is to get to the interior of the rink because that’s where the goals are scored.”

Lafreniere is sitting on a six-game pointless streak ahead of the game Thursday. He’s put up goose eggs since a two-point effort in a 4-0 road win against the Buffalo Sabres on Oct. 9. Cuylle scored his only goal in that 6-1 thrashing of the Penguins; he is pointless in five straight games.

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan demands better ‘execution … intensity’ at practice​

There were a few F-bombs dropped by Sullivan during practice Wednesday. And he was quite loud getting points across during group meetings on the ice as well.

Most of that was aimed at getting the Rangers to practice their special teams at a higher compete level.

“I just thought we could’ve done a better job with our execution and our intensity. We’re trying to get better on both sides of the special teams,” Sullivan explained. “Our penalty kill has to pay more attention to detail. They get an opportunity to get reps at it. They also have the chance to push our power play to be at its best. … We want our penalty kill to compete extremely hard against our power play, to push them to be at their very best. That was just part of the discussion.”

PP1. pic.twitter.com/XVOCnadT3X

— Colin Stephenson (@ColinSNewsday) October 22, 2025

For the record, the Rangers’ penalty kill is seventh in the League (88.2 percent), after they were 3-for-3 against in a 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Monday night. New York has scored three power-play goals this season and ranks 26th in the NHL at 15.0 percent.

When asked if his final on-ice message Wednesday was directed at the special teams, Sullivan provided little information.

“No, that was different and we’ll keep that between the team.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-lafreniere-cuylle-scoring-struggles

 

[New York Rangers]

Popular Rangers forward leaves game against Sharks after 1st period fight

Matt Rempe left the the New York Rangers’ game against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden after a rousing first-period fight against Ryan Reaves. The Rangers announced at the start of the second period that the popular forward would not return to the game due to an upper-body injury.

Rempe was on the receiving end of several punches to his face and head during the spirited exchange of blows with Reaves just 5:55 into the opening period. Reaves knocked Rempe to the ice with one big right hand, but the rugged 23-year-old got right back up. The combatants finally were separated by the linesmen, with Rempe still punching Reaves on top of the head.

The Rangers announced Matt Rempe will not return to tonight’s game due to an upper body injury pic.twitter.com/vzjUrlcMg6

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 24, 2025

There’s a good chance that Rempe took this fight to help wake up his Rangers teammates and the crowd at MSG. The Rangers got off to a brutal start, allowing the winless Sharks to score less than two minutes into the game.

If so, that strategy didn’t exactly work out right away. The Sharks scored a power-play goal shortly after the fight and carried a 3-1 lead into the first intermission.

Rempe and Reaves have plenty of respect for one another. They also fought two seasons ago when the veteran enforcer played for the Toronto Maple Leafs. This time they exchanged smiles as they skated to their respective penalty box.

However, Rempe soon exited the penalty box before his five-minute major was over and skated to the Rangers dressing room. He didn’t play another shift.

Rempe’s played all nine games this season, and this was his first fight since March 25 of last season. In fact, he had only one minor penalty heading into action Thursday. That’s a far cry from his rookie season in 2023-24, when Rempe debuted in the NHL, took on all comers, and racked up 71 penalty minutes in 17 games.

He also served two suspensions, including one for eight games last season when he boarded and elbowed Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/matt-rempe-injured-fight-ryan-reaves

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers Daily: Blueshirts turn the page; Early NHL trade candidates

When the New York Rangers board their charter flight to Calgary on Friday, they’ll carry the baggage of a sloppy 6-5 OT loss to the San Jose Sharks from the previous night, as well as an 0-4-1 winless record on home ice at Madison Square Garden.

But that doesn’t mean there won’t be laughter and jokes during the flight. Nor will the card table be empty.

The players and coaches aren’t happy about what happened Thursday night, nor with their struggles at MSG. But this is a business, their business. And the Rangers understand that sitting silently for four hours in the airplane cabin isn’t the answer to their troubles.

Now, that doesn’t mean a party will break out mid-flight. But professional athletes and their coaches know the importance of turning the page over the course of an exceedingly long season. Be true to who you are, win or lose. “Not too high, not too low” sounds like a cliche, but it’s their reality.

It’s different when you’re a fan. Emotions typically run like a roller coaster. You have zero control over what happens. Nights like Thursday at The Garden drive you bonkers.

But players and coaches need to re-set quickly. Don’t ignore what happened previously; learn from it and move on. There’s another game to play, in this case another important road trip ahead.

Hey, the bright side here is that the Rangers are Road Warriors, have been for years. They’re 3-0-1 off-Broadway this season. And the woeful Flames await them to start that road trip Sunday night.

Of course, the woeful Sharks were there for the taking Thursday, and that didn’t go so well for the Rangers. But we digress.

You may not like that it’s business as usual for the Rangers on Friday after that unacceptable loss less than 24 hours ago. But that’s how professional sports works.

New York Rangers news and analysis​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Here are our key Rangers takeaways, including an unacceptable mindset, from the overtime loss to the Sharks.

Our John Kreiser weighs in and agrees with coach Mike Sullivan, who said postgame that the Rangers “have to learn how to win.”

Matt Rempe’s being evaluated for an upper-body injury after his first fight of the season, a rousing heavyweight tilt with former Rangers forward Ryan Reaves.

To trade or not to trade Brennan Othmann? That is the question Jonny Lazarus tried to help answer for us and the Rangers.

Before the game, Sullivan explained why he’s not concerned about the ups and downs in the play of rookie center Noah Laba.

The Rangers signed another towering prospect Thursday, agreeing to terms with 2024 draft pick Nathan Aspinall on an entry-level contract.

Here’s a dose of good news: Rangers prospects Dylan Garand and Bryce McConnell-Barker stood out in helping the Hartford Wolf Pack win their first game of the new AHL season.

NHL news and rumors​

Brett Holmes-Imagn Images

Sportsnaut: Marc Dumont’s got the latest from the Montreal Canadiens after Cole Caufield sarcastically called out the referees following a 6-5 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

The Athletic ($$): Chris Johnston breaks down an early top-10 trade candidates list in the NHL, headed by Calgary defenseman Rasmus Andersson.

NHL.com: Ottawa Senators captain Brady Tkachuk told reporters that he’s already skating, six days after he had thumb surgery, and hopes to be stickhandling again in 3-4 weeks.

Sportsnet: Morgan Rielly may miss the Toronto Maple Leafs’ game Friday against the Buffalo Sabres after the defenseman didn’t practice Thursday. All coach Craig Berube said was that Rielly is “dealing with something.”

TSN: That news came on the heels of the Maple Leafs placing veteran defenseman Chris Tanev on IR with an upper-body injury.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Dan Kingerski reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins are gaining respect around the League for their overall play and early-season success under new coach Dan Muse.

Sportsnet: The struggling Oilers could get forward Zach Hyman back in the lineup sometime in early November, per coach Kris Knoblauch. Hyman is still recovering from offseason wrist surgery.

NHL.com: From coach Marco Sturm and all the way through the lineup, the Boston Bruins said they are “embarrassed” by their six-game losing streak, following a 7-5 loss to the Anaheim Ducks at home Thursday.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Zach Berman breaks down how the red-hot New Jersey Devils can manage the inevitable challenges that await them this season.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/turn-page-nhl-trade-candidates

 

[New York Rangers]

Former Rangers star returning to NHL in Hockey Ops department

Brendan Shanahan, whose Hall of Fame career included two seasons with the New York Rangers, is joining the NHL’s Hockey Operations Department.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Thursday that Shanahan is set to take the job following 11 years as the president and alternate governor of the Toronto Maple Leafs, who did not renew his contract following a second-round playoff loss to the Florida Panthers in May. His tenure ended with just two playoff series victories by the Maple Leafs, who have not won the Stanley Cup or even made the Final since their last championship in 1967 – the final season of the NHL’s Original Six.

NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly confirmed to Postmedia on Friday that Shanahan will be taking a position with the Hockey Ops department.

James Guillory-Imagn Images

It’s his second hitch with the NHL; he worked for the league from 2009, when he retired as a player, to 2014, when he joined the Leafs. Shanahan initially worked in NHL business development, then replaced Colin Campbell as senior vice president of player safety in June 2011 to help police the game based on his vast experience as a scorer and scrapper.

“We are excited to have him back,” Daly told Postmedia via email. “We understand that this may not be where he stays long-term, but Shanny’s overall level of hockey knowledge and experience is hard to duplicate and will clearly add value.”

Shanahan will spend time in the NHL’s New York and offices, according to Dreger. “He’ll also attend general manager meetings, board meetings, no question about that, in an advisory capacity, another experienced voice as part of that process.”

Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images

Shanahan was nearly 37 when he signed with the Rangers as a free agent on July 8, 2006. But he showed he had plenty left in the tank by scoring 29 goals and finishing with 62 points in 67 games. He also had his final NHL hat trick with the Rangers against the New York Islanders on Dec. 3, 2006.

In the spring of 2007, Shanahan also had five goals and seven points in 10 Stanley Cup Playoff games, helping the Rangers win a series for the first time since 1997.

His offensive numbers dropped to 23 goals and 46 points in 2007-08; he had one goal and five points in 10 playoff games.

Brendan Shanahan rejoining NHL in Hockey Ops department​

He finished his playing career with the New Jersey Devils in 2008-09 and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2013. Shanahan won the Cup three times with the Detroit Red Wings and finished his career with 656 goals and 1,354 points in 1,524 games. He is 14th all-time in goals, 28th in points and 20th in games played. He’s the only player in league history with more than 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes, and he was named as one of the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players in 2017,

With the Leafs, Shanahan oversaw the hiring of coaches Mike Babcock, Sheldon Keefe and Craig Berube, as well as general managers Lou Lamoriello, Kyle Dubas, and Brad Treliving.

Under Shanahan, the Maple Leafs reached the playoffs for nine consecutive seasons (2016-25), the longest active streak in the NHL. However, their continuing playoff struggles eventually cost him his job; he was informed in late May that he would not be retained when his contract expired at the end of June. The announcement came a few days after the Leafs were steamrolled 6-1 at home by the Panthers in Game 7 of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series.

“While I am proud of the rebuild we embarked on starting in 2014, ultimately, I came here to help win the Stanley Cup, and we did not,” Shanahan said after the decision to let him go was announced. “There is nothing more I wanted to deliver to our fans, and my biggest regret is that we could not finish the job.”

Following his departure, the Maple Leafs granted the Islanders permission to speak with Shanahan on possibly taking a role with their front office. But he wasn’t hired and Mathieu Darche was named general manager and executive vice president.

NHL "excited" to have ex-Leaf boss Brendan Shanahan rejoining office https://t.co/4MQuIDCinH pic.twitter.com/UkdeErDU6U

— Toronto Sun (@TheTorontoSun) October 24, 2025

Dreger also noted that despite his new role, Shanahan could make a move to an NHL front office in the future.

“But I also believe he’s following a path that Ken Holland went down not that long ago as well en route to becoming the general manager of the Los Angeles Kings,” he said. “So, if an opportunity presents, whereby a team decides it’s going to make a significant change atop its hockey department, I would suggest that Brendan Shanahan would be a leading candidate for a job like that as well.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/shanahan-rejoining-nhl-hockey-ops

 

[New York Rangers]

‘Encouraging progress’ for ex-Rangers center Filip Chytil after latest injury

It doesn’t sound like Filip Chytil will play anytime soon for the Vancouver Canucks, but the former New York Rangers center is making positive strides after his latest scary injury.

Chytil hasn’t played since he was leveled by a Tom Wilson open-ice hit in the first period of Vancouver’s 4-3 road win against the Washington Capitals this past Sunday. The 26-year-old is on injured reserve with an unspecified issue. However, with his lengthy history of concussions, another head injury is feared.

“Obviously, [we’re going] through the protocols here. He’s been home [in Vancouver]. He left with our doctor from Washington on Monday, so he’s making progress, but obviously [has] not cleared,” Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin explained Friday. “You’ve gotta’ go through all the stages here [with] where he is, but it’s been some encouraging progress here.”

Chytil’s next game in the NHL will be his 400th. He has three goals in six games with the Canucks this season.

Tom Wilson lays a heavy hit on Filip Chytil.

Chytil went to the dressing room, and after review, there was no penalty on the play. pic.twitter.com/PticaE7LUo

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 19, 2025

This is the second IR stint for Chytil since the Canucks acquired him Jan. 31 in the J.T. Miller trade with the Rangers. Chytil sustained a concussion in mid-March after Jason Dickinson checked him from behind in a game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Though he skated with the team late in the season, Chytil didn’t play another game in 2024-25. However, Chytil was upbeat and cautiously optimistic heading into this season following a healthy summer back home in Czechia.

“Knock on wood, I feel very good and feel very positive,” Chytil told the 100% Canucks Podcast.

These latest health issues, of course, follow a slew of head injuries he sustained in eight seasons playing for the Rangers. That includes 2023-24, when he was limited to 10 regular-season games due to a concussion and a relapse during his recovery.

Canucks acquire Lukas Reichel with ex-Rangers center Filip Chytil sidelined​

Talia Sprague-Imagn Images

With Chytil out indefinitely, and Teddy Blueger week to week with an unspecified injury, the Canucks acquired Lukas Reichel from the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday for a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Allvin explained that Reichel could get a look at center with Chytil and Blueger out, though he’s almost exclusively played on the wing in 174 NHL games with the Blackhawks. The 22-year-old has four points (two goals, two assists) in five games this season, and set career highs in goals (eight), assists (14), points (22), and game played (70) last season.

The Canucks are 4-4-0 this season, heading into a home game Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens. With the injuries, the Canucks have been very thin down the middle behind No. 1 center Elias Pettersson.

Vancouver needs more from Pettersson, who’s scored just one goal in eight games this season. The Canucks are tied for 25th in the NHL, averaging 2.63 goals for per game.

The Rangers visit the Canucks on Tuesday, as part of their current four-game road trip.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...couraging-progress-filip-chytil-injury-update

 

[New York Rangers]

Big night for Gabe Perreault, Rangers prospects in 6-3 Hartford win

Gabe Perreault recorded his first professional multi-point game, and was one of several New York Rangers prospects to stand out in a 6-3 win for Hartford of the American Hockey League on Saturday.

Perreault, New York’s first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, scored his second goal in six games and added a power-play assist against Springfield on Saturday. After opening the AHL season with an assist in his first game and a goal in his second, Perreault was scoreless in three straight outings before his multi-point effort on the road in Springfield.

The 20-year-old handed the puck off to Brett Berard on a first-period power play Saturday, and picked up an assist when Berard wired a shot home from between the circles to tie the game 1-1 at 16:15.

Beebs' first of the season ⤵ pic.twitter.com/Rh8aJAZAtd

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) October 25, 2025

It was a significant goal for Berard because it was his first of the season, after the disappointment of being the final cut at Rangers training camp. The 23-year-old played 35 games with the Rangers last season, and totaled 10 points (six goals, four assists). Berard led Hartford with 25 goals as a rookie pro in 2023-24.

Top defenseman prospect Scott Morrow also assisted on that goal, his first point with Hartford after the Rangers acquired him from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade on July 1.

That goal set off an offensive explosion for the Wolf Pack, who scored five straight goals in a span of 6:11, bridging the first and second periods. The last of the goals was scored by Perreault at 2:26 of the second.

Perreault got to the net front and deflected a Justin Dowling shot into the cage, despite being surrounded by three defenders. Impressively, each of Perreault’s goals thus far came on deflections, with the slight youngster more than willing to go to the dirty areas and not just remain on the perimeter.

GABE GOAL
GABE GOAL
GABE GOAL
GABE GOAL
GABE GOAL pic.twitter.com/PLiuuydTsN

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) October 25, 2025

The former Boston College star, who was scoreless in five games with the Rangers last spring, recorded three of Hartford’s 35 shots on goal Saturday, and earned Third Star honors.

Gabe Perreault not only Rangers prospect to stand out in Hartford win​

Bryce McConnell-Barker Photo Courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Perreault is tied for the Wolf Pack lead with four points in six games, along with second-year pro Bryce McConnell-Barker. New York’s third-round pick in the 2002 draft, McConnell-Barker also has four points (two goals, two assists), after the forward notched a goal and an assist against Springfield. He picked u peach of those four points in the past four games.

McConnell-Barker was credited with a goal at 7:55 of the second period, when his centering pass off a 3-on-2 rush deflected off a Springfield defenseman and into the net. The 21-year-old tied for the team lead with four shots on goal and was named the game’s First Star.

BMB pic.twitter.com/vZwwyjbO7Z

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) October 25, 2025

Defenseman Jackson Dorrington continued his strong play with an assist on Perreault’s goal, four shots on goal, a plus-4 rating, and a fight with Springfield’s Dylan Peterson in the third period. The Rangers acquired the rugged 21-year-old, who stands 6-foot-3 and weighs 216 pounds, from the Vancouver Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade on Jan. 31.

Carey Terrance scored his second goal in three games, and Brendan Brisson potted his first of the season for Hartford. Defenseman Blake Hillman had a goal and an assist, and goalie Dylan Garand stopped 12 of 15 shots.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/wolf-pack-gabe-perreault-multi-point-game

 

[New York Rangers]

Noah Laba 1st NHL goal not enough, Rangers lose 5-1 to Flames: key takeaways

Not even Noah Laba’s timely first NHL goal was enough to shake the New York Rangers out of their recent doldrums Sunday night, when they opened a four-game road trip with a 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Saddledome.

The 22-year-old rookie scored on the very next shift after the Flames increased their lead to 2-0 in the first period. Instead of building momentum, the Rangers surrendered the next three goals and lost to one of the League’s bottom feeders yet again.

Even with the win, the Flames (2-7-1) are last in the NHL. They entered play winless in their previous eight games (0-7-1). But the League’s lowest-scoring team never trailed against the Rangers, who lost 6-5 in overtime to the woeful San Jose Sharks on Thursday.

The Rangers (3-5-2) are winless in their past three games overall (0-2-1) and lost for the first time in regulation on the road this season (3-1-1).

Flames goalie Dustin Wolf shut down the Rangers with 30 saves Sunday. Blake Coleman scored two goals and now leads the Flames with five this season. Nazem Kadri had a goal and an assist; Kevin Bahl and Yegor Sharangovich also scored for Calgary.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Dustin Wolf! pic.twitter.com/F9CzC1d6qv

— Sportsnet 960 (@Sportsnet960) October 27, 2025

Igor Shesterkin allowed five goals on 30 shots for New York.

For the seventh time in 10 games this season, the Rangers allowed the first goal. And in what’s becoming a recurring issue, the Rangers again started slowly and fell behind within the first couple minutes of play.

“We were champing at the bit to get going,” Rangers captain J.T. Miller said postgame. “It’s so frustrating to come out flat on the road.”

Kadri wired his second goal of the season over Shesterkin’s glove just 1:42 into play. And the Flames doubled their lead at 9:21, when Bahl’s shot from the blue line found its way past Shesterkin glove-side to make it 2-0 Calgary.

Shesterkin threw his arms up in frustration after the red light went on, apparently frustrated that his own teammate, Alexis Lafreniere, screened him on the shot.

Laba, though, injected some life back into the Rangers by scoring his first NHL goal just 10 seconds later. Will Cuylle drew two Flames to him and then chipped the puck off the boards and over the blue line. Laba swooped in to collect it, before skating toward the net and beating Wolf over the glove with a pretty forehand finish at 9:31.

Noah Laba gets the Rangers on the board with his first NHL goal pic.twitter.com/FZDgLpm2eC

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 27, 2025

There wasn’t much more offensive push by the Rangers in the first period. They were outshot 12-5 and out-attempted 32-16. The visitors were credited four high-danger chances in the opening 20 minutes, per Natural Stat Trick. However the best of those was a break-in by Miller, who’s shot sailed over the net, after a terrible Calgary turnover at its own blue line

The Rangers had some Grade-A chances in the second period, but Wolf was up to the challenge. The Flames goalie stoned Laba’s 1-on-1 backhand try after a takeaway early in the period, and later robbed Mika Zibanejad near the midpoint with an athletic left-pad save, after the Rangers center sprung out of the penalty box and had a clear breakaway.

Dustin Wolf denies Mika Zibanejad pic.twitter.com/wDQ8CdNukD

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 27, 2025

Wolf then made the save of the night at 16:22, diving to his right to somehow get his arm on Lafreniere’s wide-open opportunity.

The Flames scored the only goal of the second period at 12:28, when the Rangers didn’t properly pick up Sharangovich skating down the middle. He banged a shot off Shesterkin and in for his first goal of the season, extending Calgary’s lead to 3-1.

Coleman buried a give-and-go feed from Mikael Backlund for a short-handed goal 6:22 into the third period to make it 4-1. It was the first shortie surrendered by the Rangers this season. A second nearly was scored against them roughly one minute later, but Joel Farabee rang his short-handed shot off the post after the Flames stormed Shesterkin on a clear 2-on-0 break.

Coleman scored his second goal of the night when his shot deflected off Lafreniere’s back and past Shesterkin at 14:27.

The Rangers look to get on track Tuesday, when the road trip continues in Vancouver with a game against the Canucks.

Key takeaways from Rangers’ sloppy 5-1 loss to Flames​

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

1. Night to remember for Noah Laba​

Not only did Laba score his first NHL goal, he logged a career-high (in 10 games) 14:19 TOI, and was New York’s best forward Sunday. And he accomplished this after a recent downturn in his game that led to fewer shifts and less ice time, that coach Mike Sullivan explained as the natural “rollercoaster ride” for a rookie in the NHL.

Perhaps energized by his goal, Laba was flying Sunday. Skating fast and with purpose, Laba got in the forecheck, won a slew of puck battles, had another great scoring chance, and led a 3-on-2 rush which led to a scoring chance for Brennan Othmann in the second period.

And his goal? It was a beaut.

“A little bit of a shock,” Laba said on MSG during the first intermission. “I didn’t know what to do (after scoring).”

2. Mixed bag for Brennan Othmann in season debut​

Othmann was recalled from Hartford of the American Hockey League and drew into the Rangers lineup with Matt Rempe sidelined by an upper-body injury. The 22-year-old skated on the third line, centered by Laba and with Cuylle on the other wing. Though he didn’t stand out, Othmann wasn’t bad by any means.

He could’ve helped his cause had he not badly missed the net on a glorious scoring chance in the second period. The puckk found Othmann all alone in front, and he was 1-on-1 against Wolf before misfiring. Othmann ended up with one shot on goal, two shot attempts, and two hits.

Othmann was tagged with a minus on his first shift of the season, though hardly at fault when Kadri scored. He also went hard to the net to be an option, when Laba instead chose to shoot, and subsequently score, in the first period. And he received another minus on a complete five-man fail when Sharangovich scored in the second period.

3. Sloppy play and missed chances prove costly for Rangers​

The Rangers began this season so defensively sound. But they were really sloppy Sunday, continuing a recent trend that’s reminiscent of how they played defensively much of last season. The compete level appears to be there. The execution is not. And that includes on the offensive side of the puck, where, again, the Rangers could hardly buy a goal against Wolf.

Blake Coleman scores a shorty to give the Flames some extra cushion pic.twitter.com/dgcgbm0mBI

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 27, 2025

A pair of missed chances at one end of the rink stood out when the Flames came back the other way to score immediately afterward. The first was when Othmann missed badly on his open look, and roughly 10 seconds later Sharangovich scored. Instead of possibly being tied 2-2, the Rangers were down 3-1.

Then in the third period, the Rangers not only failed on their only power play of the night, but surrendered a short-handed goal. And seconds before surrendering that goal, Lafreniere could’ve drawn a hooking call against Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson, and then Zibanejad whiffed on a point-blank shot, sending Coleman and Backlund out the other way on the fateful 2-on-1.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-loss-flames-laba-first-goal

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers Week Ahead: J.T. Miller faces emotional return to Vancouver

J.T. Miller‘s return to Vancouver highlights an important week for the struggling New York Rangers. And perhaps seeing their captain back in Vancouver for the first time since the Canucks traded him to the Rangers on Jan. 31 will get their juices flowing a bit more as they try to end a three-game skid (0-2-1).

Of course, it’s hard to predict with these Rangers. Things looked promising heading into last week, when their three games included a home contest against a team that had lost three in a row, another home game against the League’s only winless team, and a road game against an opponent that was 0-7-1 after a shootout win on opening night.

Be honest: You were thinking anything less than two wins would be horrible, and expecting three victories didn’t appear to be asking too much.

Think again.

Instead, the Rangers headed for Western Canada after losing 3-1 at home to the Minnesota Wild, then dropping a 6-5 overtime decision to the San Jose Sharks.

But the 5-1 loss to the woeful Calgary Flames on Sunday was the low point of a bad week. Dustin Wolf outplayed Igor Shesterkin and Noah Laba’s first NHL goal was the lone highlight on a night when the Rangers started out flat and never recovered — leaving Miller unhappy, to say the least.

“There’s no excuses to come up flat,” he said. “This is not fun right now. We need to correct the starts. I think it’s becoming like the trend now, so we need to fix this now, on this trip. I mean, it’s a hard road trip, so we got to be ready to go to start the game.”

Laba’s first NHL goal = a beauty. pic.twitter.com/dq15lZVrpN

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 27, 2025

Miller will make his return to Vancouver on Tuesday, nearly nine months to the day that they traded him to the Rangers. Maybe a visit to his old stomping grounds will help him find his own scoring touch — Miller has six points (two goals, four assists) and is minus-4 in 10 games. For a player who’s averaged more than a point a game since 2019-20 and had 103 points in 2023-24, more is expected.

Who’s hot​

Taylor Raddysh was the biggest reason the Rangers got even one point last week. The veteran bottom-six forward had one goal in his first eight games with the Rangers, before scoring three times in the loss to the Sharks, including the one that forced overtime and got New York a point in the standings. Hard as it is to believe, Raddysh leads the Rangers with four goals, and has one of their two short-handed tallies.

Who’s not​

It was another lost week for Alexis Lafreniere, who had an assist against the Sharks but hasn’t scored a goal since Oct. 9, the second game of the season. He’s also a team-worst minus-10 that included back-to-back minus-3s against the Sharks and Flames. Lafreniere looks completely lost and saw his ice time cut in Calgary; he played just 16:04 — 2:20 less than he averaged entering the game.

Rangers lookahead this week includes …​

Miller’s homecoming during the first of two games in Western Canada before a Saturday night visit to Seattle.

Rangers at Vancouver Canucks (Oct. 28, 10 p.m. ET; MSG)​

Miller has five goals in 10 career games against the Canucks, including a goal and an assist when the Rangers defeated them 5-3 on March 22 at Madison Square Garden. He played the better part of six seasons with them, scored 30 goals or more three times, and had his three most productive seasons with 103, 99, and 82 points.

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

He was still with the Canucks when the Rangers hit their high point of last season, a 4-3 win at Rogers Arena last Nov. 19 that gave them a 12-4-1 record through 17 games. Things quickly went downhill from there, with a 4-15-0 collapse through the end of calendar year 2024 putting them in a hole they never climbed out of.

New York has won its past three visits to Vancouver and five of six meetings overall since the start of the 2022-23 season. The Canucks have never fared well against the Rangers, who are 86-37-2 with eight ties overall and 41-20-3 with one tie in Vancouver. Of course, that doesn’t include their only playoff meeting in 1994 — a series Rangers fans will never forget.

Since Shesterkin played all three games last week, don’t be surprised if Jonathan Quick gets the start in this one. His 20-20-4 record against the Canucks belies a 2.10 goals-against average and .924 save percentage. Shesterkin is 5-1-1 against Vancouver despite a 3.39 GAA and .886 save percentage. Go figure.

Rangers at Edmonton Oilers (Oct. 30, 9 p.m.; MSG)​

The Rangers and Oilers complete their season series on the night before Halloween. New York looks to avenge a 2-0 loss to Edmonton at MSG 16 days earlier. The Rangers dominated play all night but couldn’t get a puck past Stuart Skinner, who stopped all 30 shots he faced.

EMPIRE STATE OF GRIND

The #Oilers defeat the Rangers 2-0 at MSG. @sentinelstorage | #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/nftfdX4xYQ

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 15, 2025

Perhaps the most frustrating thing that night was that the Rangers limited the high-powered Oilers to just one goal before Edmonton hit the empty net. The Rangers shut down Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl, outshot the Oilers 30-22 and had by far the better scoring chances. All they got for their effort was the dubious distinction of being the first team in NHL history to be shut out in each of its first three home games.

Shesterkin is 1-3-0 against the Oilers with a 3.00 GAA and .886 save percentage. However, the Rangers actually have a winning record in Edmonton – they are 20-16-3 with three ties despite a 6-2 blowout loss last Nov. 23.

Rangers at Seattle Kraken (Nov. 1, 10 p.m. MSG)​

Few opponents have been as successful against the League’s newest team as the Rangers, who are 6-1-1 all-time against the Kraken and 3-0-1 at Climate Pledge Arena. That includes a 2-0 win in Seattle last Nov. 17. But the Kraken got some revenge with a 7-5 win three weeks later, another lowlight in the Rangers collapse of 2024-25

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

Little was expected from the Kraken this season after two straight non-playoff seasons, but they’re off to a 5-2-2 start under former Islanders coach Lane Lambert. The biggest reason for their early-season success is the play of goaltender Joey Daccord, who has all five wins (5-1-1) with a 2.48 GAA and a .915 save percentage.

Shesterkin is 4-0-1 against the Kraken, including the shutout last season Artemi Panarin (two goals, seven assists) and Mika Zibanejad (three goals, six assists) each has nine points in eight games against them.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/jt-miller-vancouver-return-week-ahead

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Jackson Dorrington settling in as AHL defenseman

The Hartford Wolf Pack (2-4-0-0) won two of three games last week, after starting the American Hockey League season with three straight losses. The New York Rangers affiliate not only won their first game Wednesday, but Hartford posted its first shutout in 2025-26, as well.

Rangers goalie prospect Dylan Garand earned his ninth AHL shutout and 50th win in that 3-0 victory over Springfield, which was followed by a 3-0 loss to Bridgeport on Friday.

The Wolf Pack responded on Saturday with a six-goal outburst to defeat Springfield 6-3, with Gabe Perreault recording the first multi-point game of his professional career.

The seventh-place Wolf Pack (2-4-0-0, four points) play three games this week and have an opportunity to move up in the Atlantic Division. They are five points behind third-place Lehigh Valley, and host the Phantoms in consecutive games this upcoming weekend.

Hartford Wolf Pack news-n-notes​

Adam Sykora, photo courtesy Hartford Wolf PackCredit: Hartford Wolf Pack

Jackson Dorrington instrumental in Wolf Pack’s recent surge​

Acquired by the Rangers in the J.T. Miller trade with the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31, Jackson Dorrington is finding his stride with the Wolf Pack. The 21-year-old, a sixth round pick (No. 176) in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Canucks, provides physicality on the back end, and is tied for the scoring lead among Hartford defensemen with three points (all assists) in six games.

He appeared in nine games with Hartford on ATO after the trade last season, and had a goal, an assist, and 12 penalty minutes. So, far this season, Dorrington looks more comfortable and like he belongs in the AHL.

Dorrington recorded his first professional multiple-point game (two assists), had a fight, and tied for a team best plus-4 rating in the win Saturday.

HERE WE GO! Dylan Peterson knees Carey Terrance at neutral ice, and Jackson Dorrington has had enough! They drop the gloves and Dorrington scores the takedown!

They head off with five each for fighting, and Peterson takes an extra two for kneeing.#HFDvsSPR | #NYR pic.twitter.com/NU9e6BszRF

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) October 26, 2025

Adam Sýkora adding scoring punch to his all-around game with Hartford​

Though just 21 years old, Adam Sýkora is in his third season with Hartford, seeking to improve his standing among the top forward prospects in the organization. A second-round pick (No. 63) in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Rangers, Sykora is trusted by the Wolf Pack coaching staff to be diligent on the forecheck and responsible defensively. He’s a young, mature leader, who has an infectious personality and serious compete level.

And it looks like he might be getting his offensive game in gear. Sykora has three points (two goals, one assist) and nine shots in six games. He had eight goals and 23 points as a rookie pro in 2023-24, and nine goals and 30 points last season.

His well-rounded game enables Hartford coach Grant Potulny to use Sýkora in all situations, including as one of Hartford’s key penalty killers. That’s appealing to the Rangers. But more production offensively is a must for him to get serious consideration with the varsity.

Potulny on Sýkora: I think Adam, in two games, has played very well. He’s played hard. Adam will win a fight. You have to win a couple fights to get some offensive zone time. He’s the type of player to…do everything in his power to do what you’re asking him to do. #NYR

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) October 18, 2025

Penalty Kill a Bright Spot​

The Wolf Pack penalty kill is rolling to start the season. They’re 25-for-27 through six games on the PK (92.6 percent), best in the AHL. That’s a big difference from last season, when Hartford was 23rd out of 32 teams, with an 80.0 percent success rate.

In the win Wednesday, Hartford was a perfect 8-for-8 on the kill, including an extended 5-on-3 power play early in the game for Springfield. Goalie Dylan Garand was the backbone of their success Wednesday, but the entire PK unit deserves credit for the massive improvement over last season.

Neither of the two power-play goals allowed by Hartford this season was a difference maker. Hartford was down by two goals already on Oct. 17, when they allowed one. And the Wolf Pack had a three-goal lead Saturday, when they surrendered another power-play goal.

Potulny is concerned that the Wolf Pack are taking too many penalties, though. They’ve been short-handed 27 times in six games, sixth most in the AHL.

Upcoming Games​

All games can be viewed on AHLTV and heard on Mixlr.

Wednesday, October 29 vs Charlotte Checkers (Panthers) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena​

• This is the first of eight meetings in the season series. Hartford was 4-3-1-0-0 against Charlotte in 2024-25.
• Charlotte is 3-2-1-0 for seven points. They are fourth in the Atlantic Division, and lost two straight games (0-1-1-0).
• Wilmer Skoog leads the Checkers with seven points (two goals, five assists). Jack Devine has six points (two goals, four assists).

Friday, October 31 vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena​

• This is the first of six meetings between the teams in 2025-26, and the first of a back-to-back set. Hartford was 3-1-1-1 last season against Lehigh Valley.
• The Phantoms are 4-2-0-1 for nine points. They are third in the Atlantic Division and have points in two straight games (1-0-0-1).
• Karsen Dorwart (three goals, two assists), Garrett Wilson (one goal, four assists), and Emil Andrae (five assists) are tied for the Phantoms lead in with five points each.

Saturday, November 1 vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) at 6:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena​

• This is the second of six meetings in the season series. Hartford will host the Phantoms again on Nov. 22.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ford-wolf-pack-jackson-dorrington-strong-play

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers concern-o-meter: Measuring biggest issues after 1st 10 games

The first 10 games of their centennial season haven’t been the smooth ride the New York Rangers had hoped for, especially coming off a terribly disappointing 2024-25 campaign.

The Rangers (3-5-2) have the second-worst points percentage (.400) in the Eastern Conference, though they are only two points out of the second wild card. They’re also the second-lowest scoring team in the NHL (2.20 goals per game), have a minus-4 goal differential, and remain winless at home (0-4-1).

Of course, there are still 72 games remaining over the next six months or so for the Rangers to get their act together. So, there’s no reason for panic to set in. And there are plenty of good things they did in the first 10 games, notably taking points in four of five road contests (3-1-1).

However, there’s plenty be concerned about. Let’s break down the biggest issues to date, and how concerning each is, using a 1-10 scale, with one being least concerning.

Rangers have zero home-ice advantage at MSG: 6/10​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Let’s start with this: The Rangers won’t remain winless at Madison Square Garden this season. OK, that was an easy take. But 0-4-1 on home ice with three shutout losses already is fairly brutal and does it make it more difficult to wind up with a really good mark by season’s end.

Couple that with their 19-19-3 record at home last season — NHL .500 despite technically losing three more games than they won — and there’s legitimate reason to believe the Rangers are a mediocre team at MSG. Of course, it was only two years ago that the Rangers set a franchise record with 30 wins at home. But that decided home-ice advantage feels like a long time ago now.

It’s a case of cause and effect at The Garden. When things are going well for the Rangers, it’s a tough place for opponents to play. But when the Rangers aren’t so good, the fans are restless and the players get uptight, so it can be a nightmare at home. Expect more of the latter than the former this season.

Igor Shesterkin lost his magic touch: 2/10​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

After a simply brilliant start to the season, Shesterkin allowed 11 goals in consecutive losses to two of the worst teams in the League — a 6-5 overtime defeat at home to the San Jose Sharks, and a 5-1 road loss to the Calgary Flames. Let’s not sugarcoat this — Shesterkin wasn’t good in either game. Perhaps he was affected by shoddy defensive play in front of him, but no excuses. Shesterkin is the Rangers’ most important player, their rock. They don’t win when he’s off his game.

Of course, they lost a few when he was spectacular, too, earlier in the season. But the odds here favor Shesterkin bouncing back soon and resuming his elite play. He does need to be aware that opponents are testing him high-glove for a reason. So, that’s an area to clean up. If we thought for some reason ‘Shesty’ was shot, the concern-o-meter would overheat and spin out of control. But that’s not the case. He should be fine moving forward.

This is who Alexis Lafreniere is: 8/10​

Yet again this season, Alexis Lafreniere is driving play for the Rangers, and even leads them with a 60.29 percent expected goals share 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. When he’s on the ice, the Rangers hold a whopping 34-14 edge in high-danger scoring chances. Yet the Rangers have been outscored 7-3 with Lafreniere playing even strength — and even with a chance to play on the top power-play unit and with his average TOI at a career-high 18:10, Lafreniere has one goal and two assists through 10 games.

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

For sure, he’s had some of the best Grade-A looks of any Rangers player this season. And it reasons that his hard-to-believe 3.8 shooting percentage will improve more to his career norm of roughly 13 percent. But haven’t we seen this before? Doing a lot of the right things offensively, yet incapable of breaking out? Plus, there’s his inadequate defensive play.

Really, it’s fair to question if he’ll ever be a star in the NHL. That’s tough to swallow since, you know, he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 draft. This isn’t about who’s to blame. This is about Lafreniere, now 24 years old, showing us who he is as a player. Not what we want him to be, but who he is. It’s looking like that 2023-24 season (28 goals, 57 points) is the anomaly.

“Egregious” defensive lapses aren’t a blip: 7/10​

After a disciplined, structured start to the season defensively, the Rangers reverted to being, well, the Rangers. That’s concerning because even when the Rangers reached the Eastern Conference Finals in 2022 and 2024, their defensive play was often sloppy and full of turnovers and blown assignments. Never was that more true than last season, when the Rangers seemed to bottom out and Peter Laviolette was fired.

Things looked far different — and better — under Mike Sullivan to start this season. Fewer giveaways, a better job clearing rebounds and limiting second chances, less running around, more attention to detail and a higher compete level. It wasn’t perfect and there were cracks, as to be expected, but then things came crashing down in those inexcusable losses to the Sharks and Flames.

Yegor Sharangovich – Calgary Flames (1) pic.twitter.com/L4MnP1gJsy

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) October 27, 2025

Is this simply who the Rangers are, no matter the coaching philosophy and game plan? Are they not capable of committing themselves to play with sound defensive structure? Must it always be that Shesterkin or Jonathan Quick routinely stands on his head to secure two points? Or shall this stretch of “egregious” defensive play — in the coach’s words — be a blip in an otherwise successful season?

It’s 2024-25 all over again: 5/10​

To that end, is it fair to say it’s 2024-25 all over again? The defense isn’t good enough, the power play no longer saves them, there’s not enough quality depth on the roster, their scoring struggles won’t go away and the clutch gene is nowhere to be found.

It feels like that’s a rush to judgement, born from the PTSD of a truly disastrous season a year ago. The biggest season to believe this is not a 2024-25 rerun is that these Rangers are playing hard, their compete level is legit. That’s setting a low bar, but it’s fair to begin there because the Rangers’ biggest issue last season was a galling lack of effort on far too many nights.

You also see it postgame. The fire and anger are there, from Sullivan and captain J.T. Miller and on through the locker room. There are similar issues to last season that must be addressed, yes. But this doesn’t have the same terrible vibe and body language and woe-is-me feel to it. So, there’s reason to be optimistic, despite some legit red flags early on.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-first-10-games-review

 

[New York Rangers]

‘Grown up’ Rangers captain set tone for key bounce-back win over Canucks

Amid all the hype, noise, and emotion that came with his return to Vancouver on Tuesday, New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller remained focused on what was most important. That was leading his current team to a much-needed victory against the one that traded him away nine months ago.

Consider it mission accomplished. Coming off their two worst losses of the season, the Rangers righted themselves with a 2-0 win over the Canucks at Rogers Arena.

And though Miller didn’t record a point, his fingerprints were all over this victory.

“For me, his example is his best form of leadership,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said postgame. “I thought tonight it was on display. He played a 200-foot game all night long. He was on the ice late when we were defending the lead. He was dominant in the face-off circle. … But he’s leading by example first and foremost, and I think that’s a huge part of his leadership quality.”

Miller admitted before and after his first game back in Vancouver since the Canucks traded him to the Rangers on Jan. 31 that this was an emotional day for him. He came of age as an NHL player after the Canucks picked him up from the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2019 offseason. Miller totaled 437 points in 404 games with the Canucks; Brock Boeser just passed him for 11th place on Vancouver’s all-time scoring list.

The Canucks organization and fans welcome back J.T. Miller to Vancouver @DaveMaloneyMSG | @KennyAlbert | #NYR pic.twitter.com/VLcouVv7AU

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) October 29, 2025

He made his mark in this city, and became an NHL star with seasons of 103 points in 2023-24 and 99 two years earlier among the highlights. There was also the ugly dispute with Elias Pettersson that went public and led to the Canucks trading Miller last season.

So, yes, plenty of memories and emotions. But Miller didn’t overlook the task at hand Tuesday. And that stood out to his coach.

“I thought J.T. did a great job. He has a certain perspective on the game right now. He’s grown up a lot over the years and I think he’s got a maturity level to him right now that’s admirable,” Sullivan stated.

J.T. Miller’s ‘honest game’ set tone for Rangers in win against Canucks​

Bob Frid-Imagn Images

The Rangers held a decisive edge in scoring chances (8-2) and high-danger chances (6-1) when Miller’s line with Alexis Lafreniere and Conor Sheary was on the ice 5v5, per Natural Stat Trick. In over 10 minutes TOI together at even strength, that line allowed only one shot on goal against Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick and had a 60.01 percent expected goals share.

There are several reasons for that. First of all, Miller won 11 of 15 face-offs (73 percent) overall, meaning that when he was on the ice (he played 19:24 in all situations), the Rangers started with the puck much more often than not. And when they didn’t, Miller set the tone by backchecking hard and playing a committed game defensively.

“J.T. plays an honest game out there. He plays both sides of the puck. He competes extremely hard. He’s willing to do all the thankless jobs that add up to winning,” Sullivan explained. “I thought he did a great job tonight.”

J.T. Miller hears boos in his return to Vancouver whenever he touches the puck pic.twitter.com/3BN5IQGcsX

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) October 29, 2025

You can make the argument this was a case of follow the leader. To a man, the Rangers played a smart, disciplined and structured game, and their attention to detail defensively stood out, just as it did earlier in the season, before they allowed 11 goals over their previous two games.

“That’s the game we’ve put on the ice for most of this year, and when we play that way we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win every night,” Sullivan said. “Our mindset was in the right place. We defended hard … I just think, from a team structure standpoint and overall team game, I thought we were much better tonight.”

And it really circled back to the 32-year-old wearing the C on his Rangers sweater.

“I had a lot of nerves. I just tried to move my feet and stay focused, and I really liked the way our line played the first two periods. I thought we had a cycle game, an honest game,” Miller explained afterward. “It was an emotional game. It actually went better than I thought. I thought I’d be a little worse, but I made it through.”

Mission accomplished. Now, on to Edmonton for the next challenge against Connor McDavid and the Oilers on Thursday.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/jt-miller-rangers-victory-canucks-return

 

[New York Rangers]

Former Rangers captain details ‘complete nightmare’ before being traded

The 2013-14 NHL season, which included a memorable run to the Stanley Cup Final, is looked back on fondly in the annals of New York Rangers history. But former Rangers captain Ryan Callahan doesn’t exactly remember it in such positive terms.

“As I go back to that year, that was a complete nightmare for me, just with everything going on with me behind the scenes,” Callahan told the Cam and Strick podcast.

A pending unrestricted free agent that season, Callahan endured painful and prolonged contract negotiations throughout the 2013-14 campaign. When talks finally collapsed, Callahan was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning for future Hall of Famer Martin St. Louis on March 5, 2014, weeks before his 29th birthday.

“I went through that whole year of contract talks, dealing with the media,” Callahan explained. “I mean, I wasn’t sleeping at night. It was a nightmare of a year.”

The popular forward and respected captain still produced 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists) in 45 games before being traded. But the off-ice drama took a major toll on him.

“It was a long year, I’ll put it that way.”

Now 40, Callahan contended that he had “all intentions” to re-sign with the Rangers. And why not? Callahan loved the Rangers, who selected him in the fourth round (No. 127 overall) of the 2004 NHL Draft, and New York City. In return, he was beloved by the fans, who appreciated his grit, and passion — and voted him winner of the prestigious Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award four times.

But business is business. When contract negotiations stalled, the Rangers explored trading Callahan, in some instances letting him speak to interested teams.

“It got to the point where I knew they were starting to shop me, and then a little bit of your pride comes in too. I was a homegrown player there, took a lot of pride in wearing the C,” he recalled. “There was a lot of stuff that went on.”

Ryan Callahan was ‘shocked … hurt’ when Rangers traded him in 2014​

Kim Klement-Imagn Images

In the midst of all this, the Rangers turned their season around under first-year coach Alain Vigneault. After a terrible start, the Rangers were the hottest team in the NHL in the second half of the 2013-14 season.

Behind the scenes, there was optimism that the Rangers would re-sign Callahan. Until there wasn’t, that is.

“Then we’re about two weeks out from the trade deadline, and I thought we agreed to a price, a number,” Callahan shared. “I wanted a no-move [clause] for the first portion of that contract, just because of everything that happened before that. I’ve already talked to others teams … I’m not going to sign this contract and then be shipped off somewhere I don’t want to be for six years.

“So, I asked for that. We didn’t get a phone call back, so I kind of saw the writing was on the wall that something was going to happen.”

Watching TSN in the players lounge after a morning skate on trade-deadline day, Callahan found out via Bob McKenzie on TV that he’d been traded to the Lightning. Moments later, he was told to go to general manager Glen Sather’s office.

And with that, Callahan’s 450-game tenure on Broadway was over.

“I was shocked, I was hurt, it hit me hard. You think about it, about moving on, the possibilities, but when you actually get the news that you’re leaving, it hits you.”

Ushered out a back door to avoid the media, Callahan soon found out that there was a silver lining to the season-long drama. He flew to Tampa that night, was picked up at the airport by Lightning coach Jon Cooper — “What coach does that?!” — and checked into a hotel room that was filled with Lightning merchandise for Callahan’s children, and beers on ice for him.

“I needed some cold ones after that day,” Callahan joked.

Callahan ended up signing with the Lightning that offseason, and played five more seasons with them. Notably, he helped the Lightning reach the 2015 Stanley Cup Final, where they lost to the Chicago Blackhawks. To get there, the Lightning won Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final at Madison Square Garden, shutting out the Rangers 2-0.

Just a bit of sweet payback for their former captain, after Callahan missed out on the Rangers’ run to the Cup Final — fueled in part by St, Louis — the previous spring.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/behind-the-scenes-ryan-callahan-trade

 

[New York Rangers]

Ex-Rangers star Chris Kreider shares ‘awful’ reason he missed 4 Ducks games

Chris Kreider might be cornering the market on unique reasons to miss NHL games. After a bout of vertigo sidelined the former New York Rangers forward last season, Kreider missed four games this past week with an even stranger malady.

The 34-year-old, who was traded to the Anaheim Ducks this past offseason, revealed Thursday that he had hand, foot, and mouth disease, and was quarantined in a hotel room for several days.

“Not pleasant at all. No, it was terrible,” Kreider told reporters after returning to practice with Ducks. “And obviously they didn’t want to give anyone on the team that, so I was locked in the hotel room for a few days. It’s awful. I don’t recommend it.”

Per the Mayo Clinic web site, this disease is a “mild illness caused by viruses,” typically spread through air-born transmission. Symptoms include rashes on the hands and feet, and sores on and in the mouth.

Kreider’s been through the wringer the past year. He also missed games last season with a back injury and a broken hand, though the vertigo illness stood out

“Just a bunch or weird, fluky things this year,” Kreider said at Rangers breakup day in April. “The first half of the year trying to get my back figured out. Then when I got that figured out, I got a weird illness coming out of Christmas break that got into my inner ear, which I don’t recommend. And then finally when I felt like I was getting a little rhythm, getting traction, getting healthy, back felt good, I mess up my hand.

“Yeah, it was challenging.”

On top of that, Kreider’s name was leaked in a from a trade memo Rangers general manager Chris Drury to sent to the other 31 GMs in the League. Suboptimal season, for sure.

Former Rangers star Chris Kreider set for return to Ducks lineup after bizarre illness​

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

Bit it appears even a fresh start in SoCal can’t help Kreider stay out of harm’s way. He played just five games with the Ducks, and had four goals and one assist, before being felled by the hand, foot, and mouth disease.

Kreider’s strong start with his new team came at a time when his former club struggled mightily to do what he does best: put the puck in the net. The Rangers average 2.36 goals scored per game, second fewest in the NHL.

Even though he dropped off to 22 goals last after scoring 39 in 2023-24, Kreider is one of the best net-front forwards in the League, and a real threat on the power play. He has 330 goals in the NHL, including 326 with the Rangers, third most in franchise history. His 116 power-play goals with the Rangers are tied for first all-time, six ahead of current Blueshirts forward Mika Zibanejad, Kreider’s best friend on the club.

To their credit, the Ducks were 3-1-0 without Kreider in the lineup, including a 3-2 shootout win against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. It’s expected that Kreider will return Friday for a home game against the Detroit Red Wings.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ucks-kreider-hand-foot-mouth-disease-recovery

 

[New York Rangers]

Key Rangers takeaways after J.T. Miller OT goal caps 4-3 comeback win vs. Oilers

The New York Rangers showed tremendous resilience in securing their first real signature victory of the season Thursday night at Rogers Arena. They erased a late two-goal deficit and rallied past the Edmonton Oilers on J.T. Miller’s overtime goal for a thrilling 4-3 road win.

It wasn’t their best-played game start to finish. But the good far outweighed the bad, and the effort and result helped the Rangers further distance themselves from last season’s failures.

“That’s just a big team win, something that we can really build on going forward,” Miller stated afterward.

Miller capped off the gut-check win at 2:48 of overtime, driving to the net to beat Oilers goalie Stuart Skinner far side under the right arm after he danced past Leon Draisaitl to enter the offensive zone cleanly. It was Miller’s third goal of the season — and New York’s first overtime win in three tries.

THE CAPTAIN CALLED GAME. pic.twitter.com/AlolKcXiUe

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2025

The Rangers (5-5-2) closed an eventful first month of the season with their second straight win after a pair of ugly losses to the bottom-feeding San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames.

Braden Schneider and Taylor Raddysh each scored in the third period for the Rangers, who are 5-1-1 on the road to start the season. Jonny Brodzinski also scored and Igor Shesterkin finished with 33 saves, including three in overtime.

Skinner, who shut out the Rangers 2-0 earlier in the month at Madison Square Garden, made 30 saves. Darnell Nurse recorded the fourth two-goal game of his career and Matt Savoie scored his first NHL goal for the Oilers. Connor McDavid (no points) and Draisaitl (one assist) were largely held in check by the Rangers.

Trailing 3-1, the Rangers scored twice in less than four minutes to pull even midway through the third period. Schneider buried a loose puck from the slot at 8:18, and Raddysh wired his team-leading fifth goal glove-side past Skinner at 12:04.

Raddysh on the fly! pic.twitter.com/IiTmo1M4iT

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2025

Just as they did in a 2-0 win against the Vancouver Canucks two nights earlier, the Rangers got the start they wanted Thursday in Edmonton. Brodzinski scored his first goal of the season on a breakaway just 5:44 into the first period to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.

Jonny B. on the breakaway. pic.twitter.com/fbk0JbFPsX

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2025

The 32-year-old forward intercepted an Evan Bouchard cross-ice pass at the Rangers blue line and took off the other way, roofing a backhand shot past Skinner. On the very next shift, Skinner was called on to make a sharp save on Alexis Lafreniere’s blast from the slot. And the Oilers quickly rewarded their goaltender for that clutch stop.

Nurse beat Shesterkin between the pads with a one-timer from the right circle at 6:51. Instead of it being 2-0 Rangers, the game was tied 1-1.

The teams traded chances for the rest of the first period and into the second, but Shesterkin and Skinner each was sharp. The Rangers outshot the Oilers 15-10 in the first period and had a 66.12 expected goals percentage, per Natural Stat Trick. But the Oilers began to tilt the ice in their favor late in the period and to start the next one.

They cashed in at the very end of their first power play, when Adam Henrique crashed the net chasing his own rebound and chipped his second attempt off the skate of Savoie and over the goal line at 8:48.

Just 1:36 later, Nurse scored a fluky goal to make it 3-1 Oilers. In deep on left wing, the Oilers defenseman sent a quick, bad-angle shot towards Shesterkin, who thought he squeezed the puck between his left arm and pad. However, it was determined on video review that part of his body slid over the goal line along with the puck, and the Rangers were down two.

Darnell Nurse – Edmonton Oilers (3) pic.twitter.com/CAQR19yr5s

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) October 31, 2025

But the visitors didn’t fold against the two-time Stanley Cup runners-up. The Rangers had a huge successful penalty kill to start the third period, and then took it to the Oilers before the home team finally coughed up its two-goal lead.

The Rangers then closed the period and began overtime by killing off a Mika Zibanejad high-sticking minor. That set the stage for Miller’s heroics to cap a massive comeback victory on the road.

Key takeaways from Rangers’ thrilling 4-3 OT win against Oilers​

Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Sully’s assist​

For the record, Mike Sullivan totaled 82 assists in 709 games playing in the NHL. Though he didn’t lace up the skates Thursday, the Rangers coach deserves a major assist in the their biggest win of the season to date.

Down two and outplayed in the second period, Sullivan juggled his top-three line combinations. And each of the new lines responded in the third period, sending wave after wave of pressure at the Oilers, forcing them to crumble in the end.

Sullivan loaded up the top line with Miller between Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin. Rookie Noah Laba, who had a terrific night, moved up and centered Lafreniere and Will Cuylle. That line set up the Schneider goal, with Cuylle — a force all game — driving hard to the net before the puck was poked off his stick and back to the defenseman, who scored to make it 3-2.

Juuso Parssinen slid over to center from the wing on the third line with Conor Sheary and Raddysh. It was Sheary who set up Raddysh for the game-tying goal.

“The third period was great,” Miller said. “Obviously, changed the lines up a little bit, trying to spark something. We just had so many guys contribute.”

Depth scoring not a surprise to Rangers​

Miller scored the game-winner, and it was a beauty, a real goal scorer’s goal. And Panarin, ZIbanejad and Lafreniere had plenty of good looks again. But they also failed to dent the back of the net again.

So, it was Schneider, a defenseman, and a pair of bottom-six forwards who contributed clutch goals in this one. And that shouldn’t be a surprise. Of the 28 goals scored in 12 games by the Rangers, six are by defensemen, and 11 of the remaining 22 scored by forwards — half — are from bottom-six players. One of them, Raddysh, has more goals than any other player on the team.

It’s a bit of an indictment of the top offensive threats in the Rangers lineup. But it’s also a good sign that the depth scoring is there when needed, beacause odds are Panarin and Co. are going to fill the net at some point this season.

Igor Shesterkin perseveres​

Perry Nelson-Imagn Images

Shesterkin allowed 11 goals in his previous two starts, and likely wasn’t thrilled with the three he surrendered Thursday. He wasn’t set on Nurse’s first goal; left the rebound for the Oilers to score their second goal, by Savoie; and that other goal by Nurse was … bizarre, though perhaps avoidable.

Nonetheless, Shesterkin made a slew of brilliant saves, and clutch ones, too, to backstop this victory. As mentally tough a goalie as there is in the NHL, Shesterkin persevered. He made the biggest save of the game, robbing Draisaitl with a lunging stop at 10:35 of the third period, with the Rangers down 3-2. Less than two minutes later, Raddysh tied the game.

And that final penalty kill? How about Shesterkin’s incredible stop early on overtime to deny McDavid?

There were plenty other highlights throughout the roughly 63 minutes he played Thursday. But when he absolutely couldn’t allow another goal, Shesterkin didn’t. that’s the difference between the Rangers earning two points instead of one, or not even picking up that single point.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-recap-ot-win-oilers-jt-miller

 

[New York Rangers]

Ex-Rangers defenseman set to miss 1st visit back to Garden due to injury

K’Andre Miller was slated to make his return to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday when his new team, the Carolina Hurricanes, visits his old club, the New York Rangers, However, it looks like the 25-year-old defenseman, whom the Rangers traded to their Metropolitan Division rival on July 1, won’t be there for the reunion.

Miller was placed on injured reserve Friday, retroactive to Oct. 20, with a lower-body injury. He has missed the Hurricanes’ past four games, including their 6-2 home win over the New York Islanders on Thursday.

Though Miller began skating with the team on Monday and was on the ice at practice Friday, coach Rod Brind’Amour said he will not travel with the Hurricanes for their two-game road trip — the ’Canes visit the Boston Bruins on Saturday afternoon before coming to New York. The coach said he “hopes it’s not too much longer” that the defenseman will be sidelined.

Pretty much good news all around for the #Canes today on the health front.

• A major bullet was dodged with Seth Jarvis, who left last night's game after blocking a shot. He may be able to play tomorrow in Boston.

• William Carrier and K'Andre Miller (LBIs) both skated today… pic.twitter.com/WKs3Pjp4UG

— Walt Ruff (@WaltRuff) October 31, 2025

The Hurricanes are 7-3-0, third in the division, entering their game against the Bruins despite battling a host of injuries.

They are already without two top-four defensemen, Jaccob Slavin (lower body) and Shayne Gostisbehere (lower body). Gostisbehere returned Tuesday after missing three games but left after one period with another injury, this one to his midsection. Miller took the pregame warmup on Oct. 23 against the Colorado Avalanche but didn’t dress that night and hasn’t played since.

No. 2 goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov was activated off IR on Friday but has yet to play this season because of a lower-body issue. He was assigned to the Chicago Wolves of the AHL for a conditioning stint.

Two regular forwards, William Carrier and Eric Robinson, left the game against the Avalanche with injuries, and Brind’Amour said after that game each could be sidelined for an “extended period.” Carrier skated Friday.

The #Canes have activated goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov from injured reserve.

Defenseman K’Andre Miller has been placed on injured reserve.

Details » https://t.co/zP4LvI330c pic.twitter.com/ZaC3Jj9k1M

— Carolina Hurricanes (@Canes) October 31, 2025

Ex-Rangers defenseman K’Andre Miller set to miss return to MSG​

Miller had surgery in May for an upper-body injury sustained late in the 2024-25 season and didn’t play at all in the preseason with his new team. But he was healthy enough to score two goals in Carolina’s season-opening 6-3 win against the New Jersey Devils. In six games before the injury, he had four points (two goals, two assists) while averaging 23:32 TOI.

The Hurricanes paid a big price for Miller, who was a restricted free agent, both in talent and money. They sent the Rangers a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, a conditional first-round pick in the 2026 or 2027 draft, and their top prospect, 22-year-old defenseman Scott Morrow – who quickly made an impression during the preseason before being assigned to AHL Hartford.

As part of the sign and trade, Carolina inked Miller to an eight-year, $60 million contract ($7.5 million AAV). The trade came on the same day the Rangers signed defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million contract ($7 million average annual value).

James Guillory-Imagn Images

Miller had 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 74 games for the Rangers last season. He was selected by New York in the first round (No. 22 overall) in the 2018 draft and has 132 points (36 goals, 96 assists) in 368 regular-season games, as well as 12 points (three goals, nine assists) in 43 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

But it was no secret that the Rangers were seeking to trade the talented-but-inconsistent defenseman. However, the haul they received and their willingness to deal him within the division were surprises to many — the word around the NHL had been that the Rangers were frustrated in their efforts to consummate a deal and that no one was willing to meet their asking price.

K’Andre Miller posted a farewell message to the #NYR, their fans and the people who make MSG come alive on Instagram pic.twitter.com/SDH8i5S4nD

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) July 17, 2025

After the trade, Miller said the Hurricanes would be a great fit for his game.

“I think we’ve always had great battles in New York, at least when I was on the other side playing against Carolina,” he said. “They have such a fast team. They get up and down the ice in a fast motion and do everything as a team.

“It’s a fun group to watch, and they’ve had a lot of success recently, so I’m excited to join that style of game, and they have a great team over there, so I’m excited.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/miller-set-to-miss-return-to-garden

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Kraken: Lineups, storylines seeking rare 3-game win streak

It’s been nearly a full year since the New York Rangers last won three games in a row. They can swat that monkey off their back with a victory against the Seattle Kraken on Saturday night at Climate Pledge Arena.

Ironically, their most recent three-game win streak Nov. 14-19, 2024, included a 2-0 shutout victory on the road over the Kraken. So, perhaps it’s meant to be that the Rangers extend their winning streak to three games Saturday against this particular opponent.

OK, that’s a bit of a reach. But not as crazy as the fact that the Rangers failed 10 times since — nine times last season and once this one — to win a third consecutive game.

Baby steps. But important ones for the Rangers to fully re-establish a winning culture after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history in 2024-25. In an another plot twist, there’s a chance that this specific road trip to Western Canada and Seattle is a turning point — in a positive way — for the Rangers, just as this same trip a year ago was the beginning of the end for them.

The Rangers (5-5-2) rallied for a thrilling 4-3 overtime win Thursday in Edmonton against the Oilers. They overcame a 3-1 third-period deficit, when Braden Schneider and Taylor Raddysh scored clutch goals to pull them even, and J.T. Miller won it in OT.

THE CAPTAIN CALLED GAME. pic.twitter.com/AlolKcXiUe

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 31, 2025

That came on the heels of a 2-0 shutout win against the Vancouver Canucks. Of course, those two most recent victories followed a three-game winless skid (0-2-1), which included a pair of embarrassing losses to the San Jose Sharks and Calgary Flames.

So, there’s nothing simple nor clearcut with this team. But there’s no question that returning to Madison Square Garden next week on a three-game winning streak and taking three of four on an important road trip is a big deal, if the Rangers can get past the Kraken on Saturday.

“Hopefully [the win Thursday] can help propel us and keep this things going a little bit more in this road trip,” Miller said. “We have a good chance to finish it off in the right way.”

The Kraken (5-2-3) come off a 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday. They did earn a point for the third straight game (2-0-1), scoring three goals in the third period to wipe out a 3-0 deficit and force overtime, before Cole Caufield won it for the Canadiens. Their 13 points through 10 games are most in franchise history.

Seattle’s played six one-goal games out of their first 10, winning three in regulation and losing three in overtime (3-0-3). The Kraken have points in each of their seven games decided by two goals or fewer (4-0-3).

The Rangers are 6-1-1 all-time against the Kraken, though they lost the most recent meeting, 7-5 at Madison Square Garden last Dec. 8.

3 storylines when Rangers visit Kraken​

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

1. Powerful opportunity​

The Rangers power play has been more disadvantage than advantage this season. New York dropped to 30th in the League (13.3 percent) and has one power-play goal in its past five games (11 opportunities). Mika Zibanejad has two of the Rangers’ four power-play goals in 12 games. Artemi Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere are among those sitting on goose eggs.

Perhaps this is the night the Rangers will break through, however. The Kraken surrendered a pair of power-play goals against the Canadiens, and are 29th in the NHL on the penalty kill (64.0 percent). They’ve given up at least one power-play goal in seven of 10 games.

2. Where there’s a Will​

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

All the attention seems to be on Ryan Lindgren and Kaapo Kakko ahead of this contest. It’ll be Lindgren’s first game against the Rangers since they traded him to the Colorado Avalanche last season, and subsequently signed as a free agent with the Kraken in the offseason. Kakko is a game-time decision and could return from a broken hand in time to make his season debut against the Rangers, which would also be his first game against them since they dealt him to the Kraken last December.

But let’s not forget about Will Borgen. The Rangers defenseman was a member of the Kraken’s inaugural team in 2021-22 and played four seasons with them, before he was included in the Kakko trade 11 months ago. This is his first game against his old club, too.

The 28-year-old’s been a staple on the second defense pair with the Rangers ever since arriving on Broadway. Reliable in his own end, and with a serious compete level, Borgen quickly landed a five-year, $20.5 million contract with the Rangers after the trade. This season, he averages a career-high 18:51 TOI, has two assists in 12 games, and is third on the Rangers with 16 blocked shots and tied for seventh with 18 hits.

It’ll be a flashback for Kraken fans when they see Borgen paired with Carson Soucy on Saturday. They formed a solid defense pairing for the Kraken in 2022-23, the only season Seattle reached the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

3. Keeping his Cool​

Will Cuylle has just one goal this season, none at even strength, and hasn’t hit the back of the net since Oct. 11. That was nine games ago. And this is despite a bump up into the top-six forward group and averaging 17:29 TOI, nearly two and a half minutes more per game than last season, when he scored 20 goals, mainly on the third line.

But Cuylle is finding ways to make a difference for the scoring-challenged Rangers. He carries a three-game point streak into Saturday, and was a force all night in the comeback win against the Oilers. He helped start the comeback in the third period, when he powered to the net, beginning the play that resulted in Schneider’s goal that made it 3-2. The game before in Calgary, Cuylle made a brilliant pass off the rush to set up Zibanejad’s game-opening goal.

Braden Schneider scores his 1st of the season off of a hell of a play by Will Cuylle.

3 straight games with a point for #NYR Cuylle. pic.twitter.com/1Gd1KCzTxn

— Jonny Lazarus (@JLazzy23) October 31, 2025

The 23-year-old also has 44 hits, eighth-most in the NHL, after setting a Rangers record with 301 last season. In other words, he’s doing a lot of really good things, and not letting his lack of goal scoring get in the way. With that approach, the goals should come soon enough for Cuylle.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Will Cuylle

Conor Sheary — J.T. Miller– Alexis Lafreniere

Juuso Parssinen — Noah Laba– Taylor Raddysh

Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Jonny Brodzinski

Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Urho Vaakanainen — Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

Rangers vs. Kraken: When, where, what time, how to watch​

Who: New York Rangers vs. Seattle Kraken

When: Saturday Nov. 1 at 10 p.m. ET

Where: Climate Pledge Arena

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...lineups-storylines-game-preview-end-road-trip