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[New York Rangers]

Rangers ‘need to choose the right road’ against Lightning in finale to awful season

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

With nothing on the line and zero to look forward to, the New York Rangers will close out their terribly disappointing season Thursday, when they host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden.

Such is the case after the Rangers were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend in Game No. 80 of 82 on their regular-season schedule. In their first meaningless game in four years Monday, the Rangers rallied from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Florida Panthers 5-3. It was their first win when trailing by multiple goals all season.

Coach Peter Laviolette expects the same kind of professional effort at home Thursday, though he understands it’s not easy for the Rangers to play out the string.

“Nobody wants to be here. It is what it is. This is where we’re at. This is the reality of it,” Laviolette said after the final practice of the season Wednesday. “Your choices are pretty limited — you either don’t put in the effort and don’t play well and you lose the game and feel lousy about it, or you go down in Florida like we did and play hard and win the game. It doesn’t have the meaning that you want it to, but there’s still only two roads you can go down. We need to choose the right road.”

The Rangers had lost four of five before the win in South Florida to start the week. They are 7-10-3 in 20 games since March 5, part of the reason why they’re not using the game Thursday as a final tune up for their fourth straight postseason appearance.

They competed hard against the Panthers and received goals from up (Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller and Will Cuylle) and down (Matt Rempe and Jonny Brodzinski) the lineup. Trocheck’s eventual game-winner early in the third period was New York’s League-leading 17th short-handed goal this season.

Rempe had two points in a game for the first time in his career, and Chris Kreider had two assists for the first time this season. Matthew Robertson didn’t look out of place in his NHL debut.

It was a feel-good win.

So, how will the Rangers approach the season finale on home ice Thursday?

“The same way we always do. The same way we did down in Florida,” Laviolette answered. “You want to win hockey games. You feel better when you win than when you lose, that’s for sure, regardless of the circumstances.”

Related: Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly — Dylan Roobroeck eyes 20th goal; Callum Tung injured in 1st pro win

Rangers coach Peter Laviolette doesn’t address his future after final practice of season​

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When asked Wednesday for his thoughts on what’s next for him after the Rangers season ends, Laviolette wouldn’t take the bait. Earlier in the week, Laviolette said he’s “not blind to anything” and is aware his job is on the line with the Rangers 31 points behind their total from 2023-24.

But on Wednesday, the coach only had this to say when pressed on what lies ahead for him, “Right now I’m just focusing on the game and getting ready for that.”

Laviolette’s been fired five times in his career, including by the Carolina Hurricanes, three seasons after he guided them to a Stanley Cup championship in 2005-06. Most recently, he was canned by the Washington Capitals after two seasons in 2022-23.

That set the stage for him to replace Gerard Gallant behind the Rangers bench last season, when he guided the Blueshirts to the most wins (55) and points (114) in franchise history, finishing first in the NHL to win the Presidents’ Trophy.

This season, though? Not so much.

Which is why he fielded questions Wednesday about how the Rangers will approach their final game of the regular season on Thursday, with breakup day awaiting right after as opposed to Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ose-right-road-lightning-finale-awful-season/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Lightning: 3 things to watch for in season finale to close miserable chapter

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn ImagesDennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

The curtain comes down on the New York Rangers season Thursday, an off-Broadway performance that unfortunately played out under the bright lights of Broadway through 82 games this season.

The Rangers (38-36-7) will host the Tampa Bay Lightning at Madison Square Garden, after failing to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years.

Vincent Trocheck said earlier in the week that the Rangers are playing for one thing, “pride.” Though it’s hard to justify that comment when there’s far more reason to question this group’s pride, compete and effort during a simply miserable season.

They did put forth a representative effort Monday, rallying from 3-1 down to score four unanswered goals in a 5-3 win in South Florida against the Panthers. It was their first meaningless game without any standings implications since the end of the 2020-21 season, but they played hard and with resolve.

It was also their first win when trailing by multiple goals this season.

But all of this will soon be in the past and the Rangers will turn the page to next season as quickly as possible.

First, they have the Lightning, who finished second in the Atlantic Division and will have home-ice advantage in the first round of the playoffs against the Panthers. They defeated the Panthers 5-1 on Tuesday and are 7-3-1 in their past 11 games. They’ve made the playoffs eight straight seasons, which included consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021.

Yes, that’s an organization to model yourself after. And worth noting that after losing in the 2016 Eastern Conference Final, the Lightning missed the playoffs the next season. Sound familiar? They haven’t missed the postseason since.

The Rangers have been outscored 11-3 in losing twice to the Lightning this season. The Lightning skated out of The Garden with a 5-1 win just 10 days ago.

Related: Rangers ‘need to choose right road’ against Lightning in season finale

3 things to watch for when Rangers host Lightning​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

1. Time for goodbyes​

With so much uncertainty heading into the offseason, there could be a slew of farewells — whether we’re aware of it or not — Thursday at The Garden. This very well could be the last time Chris Kreider wears the Blueshirt. Mika Zibanjejad? Well, no-move clause or not, perhaps this is his Rangers swan song, too. From kids to veterans, very few Rangers are assured of being back next season.

Then there’s Peter Laviolette and his coaching staff. Laviolette said earlier in the week that he’s “not naive” and is well aware he could be canned once the season is over.

We do know that this will be Sam Rosen’s final broadcast as voice of the Rangers on MSG Network. Damn shame that his 40th and final season behind the mic didn’t end with some kind of postseason run. You can bet he’ll be shown on the big screen at MSG and will receive the loudest ovation of the night.

2. Another dark cloud​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

A dark cloud continues to follow the Rangers. One day after being named the Rangers Good Guy Award winner by the media, Artemi Panarin’s name surfaced in a sexual assault allegation dating to December of 2023. Reportedly, he and MSG Sports each reached separate financial settlements with a former Rangers employee this past August.

That certainly puts a damper on his Rangers tenure and overall reputation.

Panarin was also named Rangers MVP as voted by the media Wednesday. It’s not as big a deal as being in the Hart Trophy conversation like he was last season, but Panarin found a way to rise above the on-ice muck on Broadway this season to remain an elite force in the NHL.

Panarin is one point shy of reaching 90 for the fifth time with the Rangers. He’s a hat trick away from 40 goals, for the second straight season. The 33-year-old has 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in the past 22 games since March 2.

Laviolette wouldn’t divulge his lineup after the morning skate, so it’s unknown if Panarin will play Thursday following this troubling report.

3. Appreciate the other guy​

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Nikita Kucherov leads the NHL with 121 points, five ahead of Colorado Avalanche forward Nathan MacKinnon, whose team played its final regular season game already. So, the Lightning forward will win the Art Ross Trophy as the League’s leading scorer for the second straight season. It’ll be the third time he’s won the Art Ross Trophy in his career, and this is his fifth 100-point season. He’s also the 14th player in NHL history with at least three seasons of 120 points or more.

The two-time Stanley Cup champion and 2018-19 Hart Trophy winner is an elite player, who often is overlooked for his greatness. He’s just six points shy of 1,000 in his career, and has played 802 games.

Kucherov has six points (two goals, four assists) in two games against the Rangers this season, and 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) in 29 games all-time against the Blueshirts.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Panarin – Trocheck – Perreault

Othmann – J.T. Miller – Zibanejad

Cuylle – Parssinen – Lafreniere

Kreider – Brodzinski –Rempe

Robertson – Fox

Miller – Borgen

Soucy – Jones

Shesterkin

Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers at Tampa Bay Lightning

When: Thursday, April 17 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/game-preview-lightning-season-finale/

 

[New York Rangers]

Chris Kreider scores, Rangers win 4-0 over Lightning to close miserable season

Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images

If this was Chris Kreider’s final game with the New York Rangers, he went out on a high note Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. Kreider had a goal and an assist to help the Rangers close out this massively disappointing season with a 4-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Kreider scored his 326th goal with the Rangers early in the third period to put them up 2-0. He later fittingly assisted on his good buddy Mika Zibanejad’s second goal of the night.

What happens next is anyone’s guess. General manager Chris Drury looked to trade Kreider earlier in the season and very likely could revisit those efforts in the offseason, when much change is expected with the roster.

Kreider has two years remaining on his contract at $6.5 million per. If this was indeed his final game with the Rangers, he will exit as their third leading goal scorer all-time, behind Rod Gilbert (406) and Jean Ratelle (336).

W. pic.twitter.com/BvDwVddjPr

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 18, 2025

It also could’ve been Peter Laviolette’s final game as Rangers coach. And there are other players who may not be back next season, after the Rangers (39-36-7) missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four seasons.

But the Rangers did put their best foot forward after they were eliminated from playoff contention last weekend. They defeated the Florida Panthers 5-3 on Monday and then shut out the playoff-bound Lightning on Thursday.

Igor Shesterkin made 27 saves for his sixth shutout of the season and 21st of his NHL career. Zibanejad had three points (two goals, one assist) and Vincent Trocheck scored New York’s other goal.

Jonas Johansson finished with 20 saves for the Lightning, who will face the Panthers in the first-round of the playoffs.

Related: Bombshell report details Artemi Panarin, MSG sexual assault settlements with Rangers employee

New York Rangers 4 – Tampa Bay Lightning 0​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The Lightning had more of the puck. more of the shots and more of the scoring chances over the first two periods. But the Rangers had the only goal and carried a 1-0 lead into the third period.

Trocheck scored it, short-handed, off a give and go with J.T. Miller at 1:02 of the second period. It was New York’s League-leading 18th shorty of the season, and Trocheck’s team-best sixth short-handed goal. He finished the season strong with four goals in the final five games, and ended with 26, his most in three seasons with the Rangers.

Vincent Trocheck with a shorthanded goal!

(via @NYRangers) pic.twitter.com/SC23wKmty6

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 18, 2025

Other than that, there wasn’t a whole lot going on offensively for the Rangers, who had two shots on goal in the first period before turning it up with 11 in the second. There was another good short-handed opportunity late in the period by Zac Jones. And then in the final minute of the second, Brennan Othmann set up Will Cuylle, the trailer on a 3-on-2 rush, for a clean look that was stopped by Johansson.

At the other end of the ice, Shesterkin was busier, but never under heavy duress. He stopped all 20 shots he faced through 40 minutes.

But the Lightning couldn’t turn those extra shots into goals, though Gage Goncalves came close when he wired a shot of the post 13:20 into the first period. The Lightning had an expected goals share of 62.18 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, but faced a one-goal deficit.

That quickly became a two-goal deficit when Kreider scored at 4:02 of the third period. His first shot from the slot was blocked, but he pounced on the loose puck and wired a shot into the top right corner to make it 2-0.

Chris Kreider from the high slot with Sam Rosen on the call

(via @NYRangers) pic.twitter.com/9okwFE3wwk

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 18, 2025

Cuylle picked up the secondary assist and then picked up the puck, retrieving it for Kreider, perhaps sensing that this was going to be his final goal with the Rangers.

Though it’s still in question if this was Kreider’s final game with the Rangers, everyone knew it was Sam Rosen’s finale with the Rangers, after 40 years behind the mic as the team’s broadcaster on MSG Network.

As such, when Rosen was pictured on the jumbotron shortly after Kreider’s goal, the fans rose as one for an extended standing ovation for the beloved broadcaster. During warmups, each Rangers player wore a No. 40 jersey with Rosen’s name on the back.

Zibanejad put an exclamation point on the proceedings, scoring his 19th and 20th goals before time ran out on the season. He won a face-off in the right circle, drifted over into the left circle and buried a one-timer off a K’Andre Miller feed at 12:50. Then he redirected a centering pass from Kreider at 16:24 to make it 4-0.

It’s the eighth straight 20-goal season for Zibanejad, and the 10th of his career.

There was no pushback from the Lightning, who appeared far more interested in starting the playoffs than rallying in this game. All that was left was the final buzzer, Rosen’s grand farewell and the Rangers handing over their game jerseys to lucky fans in a the end-of-season Garden tradition.

What’s next is anyone’s guess. Next season begins now.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...eider-scores-win-4-0-lightning-season-finale/

 

[New York Rangers]

Return of J.T. Miller highlighted slew of Rangers trades during 2024-25 season

James Guillory-Imagn ImagesJames Guillory-Imagn Images

The roster that skated off the ice for the New York Rangers after their season-ending 4-0 victory against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night had some major differences from the one that took the ice for their opening-night 6-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 10 at PPG Paints Arena.

General manager Chris Drury started the moves during the offseason by waiving veteran forward Barclay Goodrow, who was quickly claimed by the San Jose Sharks, his former team. With the Rangers struggling in early December, Drury traded his captain, defenseman Jacob Trouba, to the Anaheim Ducks – and made another deal two weeks later, sending forward Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, to the Seattle Kraken.

The Rangers GM then swung for the fences on Jan. 31, bringing back former Rangers center J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks in a trade that cost the Blueshirts two young players and their first-round pick in the 2025 or 2026 draft.

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The week leading up to the NHL Trade Deadline on March 7 was also a busy one for Drury, who made four trades in seven days – most notably a deal that sent defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche for veteran defenseman Calvin de Haan and center Juuso Parssinen.

But all the moves didn’t achieve the desired result – the Rangers became the fourth team in NHL history to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs in the season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy as the NHL regular-season champion.

Related: 13 former Rangers playing in 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs, including Mats Zuccarello

Who won, who lost in Rangers’ trades during 2024-25 season​

So did Drury’s wheeling and dealing cost the Rangers a playoff berth or keep them in the hunt longer than they might have been otherwise? Or was he just shuffling bodies on a bad team? Here’s a look at his 2024-25 moves.

Dec. 6, 2024: Rangers trade defenseman Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks for defenseman Urho Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft​

The Rangers tried to trade Trouba during the summer but were unable to work out a deal when the the 30-year-old strategically made it impossible for a trade by invoking his no-move clause. With the veteran defenseman’s game in a state of decline and his $8 million average annual value contract lasting through 2025-26, Drury continued to look for a taker. He found one on Dec. 6 when Trouba was sent to Anaheim for Vaakanainen and a mid-round pick in 2025.

Jessica Alcheh-Imagn Images

The best part of the deal for the Rangers was the fact that the Ducks took Trouba’s entire contract; the Rangers avoided having to eat any of his salary. That freed them to sign star goaltender Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year, $92 million ($11.5 million AAV) contract extension, making him the highest-paid goalie in NHL history.

The Rangers also landed Urho Vaakanainen in the trade.

Neither defenseman was an impact player with his new team, though Vaakanainen did supply some surprising offense.

Trouba had six assists and was minus-3 in 24 games with the Rangers, then had a goal and seven assists in 53 games with Anaheim, finishing minus-5. His average ice time was about the same – 20:00 with New York and 20:45 with the Ducks. He did finish second in the NHL with a combined total of 208 blocked shots.

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Vaakanainen had one assist in five games with Anaheim after recovering from an injury; he put up 15 points (two goals, 13 assists) and was plus-8 in 46 games with the Rangers, mostly in a third-pair role. He averaged 16:45 of ice time, more than three minutes per game higher than with the Ducks. The Rangers signed him to a two-year, $3.1 million contract ($1.55 million AAV) on March 7.

Getting Trouba’s salary off the books was a bigger bonus for the Rangers than anything Vaakanainen did on the ice.

Dec. 18, 2024: Rangers trade forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken for defenseman Will Borgen plus third- and sixth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft​

The Rangers waited five-plus seasons for Kakko to live up to his draft status as the second player chosen in the 2019 draft. He appeared to be on his way to his best season in the first few weeks of 2024-25, combining with Will Cuylle and Filip Chytil to form perhaps the best third line in the NHL.

But his production deteriorated after Chytil was injured and Cuylle moved up in the lineup, and with Trouba’s departure leaving a hole on the blue line, Drury opted to bring in Borgen, a veteran bottom-four defenseman, while giving Kakko a new opportunity in Seattle.

It was an apples-and-oranges kind of trade, one that likely left both sides happy.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Borgen formed a solid second pair with K’Andre Miller for much of the season. The 28-yearold signed a five-year, $20.5 million contract with the Rangers on Jan. 25 and finished with 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and a plus-9 rating in 51 games with New York.

But the Kraken, looking for young talent, are happy with Kakko, who had 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games after the trade. For the season, he finished with a career-high 44 points (14 goals, 30 assists) in 79 games – the first time he’s averaged more than half a point per game — while getting steady top-six ice time.

Jan. 31, 2025: Rangers trade center Filip Chytil, defenseman Victor Mancini and a first-round pick in the 2025 or 2026 NHL Draft to the Vancouver Canucks for center J.T. Miller and defensemen Eric Brannstrom and Jackson Dorrington​

This is the one trade that looks like a solid win for the Rangers.

The Rangers brought back their No. 1 pick from the 2011 draft nearly seven years after trading him to the Tampa Bay Lightning, who wheeled him to the Canucks in June 2019. Miller became an offensive force in Vancouver, averaging more than a point a game in five-plus seasons and topping out with 103 points (37 goals, 66 assists) in 2023-24.

But with Miller and fellow center Elias Pettersson reportedly not getting along, the Canucks opted to deal Miller midway through the season, getting a package that included Chytil, an injury-prone third-line center with upside, Mancini, a rookie defenseman, and a top-13 protected first-round pick in 2025 – which the Canucks quickly traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenseman Marcus Pettersson.

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Miller invigorated the Rangers both on the score sheet and with his gritty style of play. He finished with 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists) in 32 games and was a big reason the Rangers got as close to the playoffs as they did. The only risk is that he’s 32 and signed to a long-term deal. But for the immediate future, there’s no reason he won’t continue to thrive.

Chytil’s path to NHL success has been derailed by injuries, including at least four concussions with the Rangers. He had six points (two goals, four assists) in 15 games for the Canucks but Chytil didn’t play after March 15, when he sustained another head injury. Mancini, who turns 23 next month, was in and out of the lineup with Vancouver, finishing with one goal and two assists in 16 games after putting up a goal and four assists in 16 games with the Rangers.

March 1, 2025: Rangers trade defenseman Ryan Lindgren, forward Jimmy Vesey and defenseman Hank Kempf to the Colorado Avalanche for defenseman Calvin de Haan, center Juuso Parssinen, plus second- and fourth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft​

The Rangers had obviously decided they weren’t going to re-sign free agents Lindgren, a defenseman who was showing the effects of his physical style of play, and Vesey, who spent much of the season as an extra forward. Drury shipped them plus Kempf, a college defenseman, to the Avs. Lindgren averaged 19:00 in 18 games, producing two goals and an assist. Vesey was a spare part in Colorado, just as he was in New York.

Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

It’s likely that Drury was more interested in the draft picks than the players who came to the Rangers. De Haan played just three games for the Blueshirts before being a healthy scratch for the remainder of the season. It was something de Haan wasn’t happy about, and expressed his frustrations publicly last weekend. Parssinen, who Colorado had acquired from the Nashville Predators at midseason, showed flashes of promise, putting up two goals and five points in his final three games, but the jury is still out on his future with the Rangers.

The biggest winners were Lindgren and Vesey, who found themselves on a team that has a chance to win the Stanley Cup.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ler-return-highlighted-trades-2024-25-season/

 

[New York Rangers]

GM Chris Drury takes blame for Rangers mess after firing coach Peter Laviolette: ‘It starts with me’

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Peter Laviolette is out as New York Rangers coach. But the man who fired him, general manager Chris Drury, is well aware that Laviolette is not solely to blame for one of the most disappointing seasons in Rangers history.

“Leading into the season, given the success we had the last few years, we had high expectations. Quite simply, we fell short across the board,” Drury told reporters Saturday. “Nobody here takes it lightly. We know our fans are frustrated and they deserve a better season than this. It starts with me. I need to do a better job and give the staff and players the opportunity to succeed.”

This couldn’t have been easy for Drury. He has tremendous respect for Laviolette, whom he hired two years ago to replace Gerard Gallant. Laviolette led the Rangers to franchise records for wins (55) and points (114) in 2023-24, when they won the Presidents’ Trophy and reached the Eastern Conference Final.

On Saturday, Drury praised Laviolette’s Hall of Fame worthy resume, that includes a Stanley Cup championship with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and 846 career wins, more than any United States-born coach in NHL history and seventh overall all-time.

“I don’t have a Hall of Fame vote, but I’m pretty sure he’s going to be a Hall of Fame coach someday,” he said.

But that wasn’t enough to save Laviolette’s job after the Rangers imploded this season, becoming only the fourth team to win the Presidents’ Trophy one season and fail to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs the next. The Rangers (39-36-7) were a dysfunctional team on and off the ice this season, and it appeared late in the campaign, Laviolette had run out of answers about how to turn things around.

“While ultimately I made the decision a new voice was needed behind the bench, everyone here — players, management, staff — needs to take ownership of this season, and will be having direct, honest conversations during exit meetings on Monday about what our expectations are for the summer and moving forward, getting ready for next season,” Drury explained.

Related: Return of J.T. Miller highlighted slew of Rangers trades during 2024-25 season

Chris Drury’s goal is to make sure Rangers ‘back in the playoffs next year’​

Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Drury was asked specifically if there was a communication issue between Laviolette and the players — several of whom, including Calvin de Haan most recently, spoke out angrily about playing time. The GM didn;t dismiss the notion, but appeared to support his former coach in this area.

“I know for a fact ‘Lavi’ is really big on communication and communicated to his players throughout his two years here. Where they stood and why they were out or why they were in or what their role was or wasn’t,” Drury said. “Communication is a priority. Being a former player myself, I always liked to know where I stood and we always try to do that with players every single day.”

How about a culture issue with the Rangers? It sure appeared there were an inordinate amount of no-shows this season and a distinct inability to dig down and find ways to win and overcome issues, unlike the resilient 2023-24 squad.

“We’re going to be looking at everything. Whether it’s the specific question you ask or other things that have come up along the way this year that we’ve already begun to look at and looked at during the year,” Drury stated. “Unfortunately, we do have extra time with not being in the playoffs to look at a lot of things this offseason and, again, try and make sure we’re back in the playoffs next year.”

Drury wouldn’t address his job status nor his recent conversations with owner James Dolan. But it appears that he’s remaining on the job and set to make his third coaching hire in four years.

As for that next coach, Drury said he wouldn’t rule out bringing in a first-timer at the NHL level. To that end, it’s been reported that assistants Michael Peca and Dan Muse will have the opportunity to interview for the vacancy. University of Denver coach David Carle, who’s also had much success guiding the United States to consecutive gold medals at the World Junior Championships in 2024 and 2025 where he coached Rangers prospects Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortecsue, could also be an option.

Mike Sullivan, Rick Tocchet, Joel Quenneville and John Tortorella are among the well-known current and former NHL coaches who may be considered.

There’s a lot of work to be done with the roster, as well, including major decision on the Rangers futures of Chris Kreider and K’Andre Miller, for example.

“I can tell you my focus is on doing what I think is right to make this organization better. We’re obviously all frustrated and disappointed with how things ended and not being in the playoffs. My focus is on doing everything I can do make sure we’re a playoff team next year.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...rury-takes-blame-fire-coach-peter-laviolette/

 

[New York Rangers]

Top Rangers coach candidates after Peter Laviolette fired following miserable season

Jim Rassol-Imagn ImagesJim Rassol-Imagn Images

Peter Laviolette paid the price for his inability to get the New York Rangers into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season when he was fired on Saturday, less than 48 hours after a 4-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning capped one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.

The question now is where will the Rangers turn next. Whoever gets the job will be their third coach in four years.

Laviolette and his predecessor, Gerard Gallant, each lasted two seasons. Each led the team to the Eastern Conference Final and within two wins of the Stanley Cup Final in his first season, followed by a regression in the second. In Laviolette’s case, the “regression” saw them go from finishing first in the League in 2023-24 to missing the playoffs this season, becoming just the fourth team to do so since the Trophy was instituted in 1986.

So, now the question is: who will replace Laviolette as coach of the Rangers?

Related: GM Chris Drury takes blame for Rangers mess after firing coach Peter Laviolette: ‘It starts with me’

Top available candidates for Rangers’ vacant coaching job​

There’s a variety of candidates available, depending on which way general manager Chris Drury and owner James Dolan want to go. Here’s a look at some of the top names on the market.

Mike Sullivan​

Philip G. Pavely-Imagn Images

Current position: Coach of Pittsburgh Penguins

Call this one the “Fantasy Island” choice.

The two-time Stanley Cup winner with Pittsburgh is under contract with the Penguins through 2026-27, and he said Friday that he intends to stay with them, although they’ve missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons. Sullivan has Rangers roots – he was an assistant under John Tortorella from 2009-13 – and it’s hard to believe that if he expressed even a smidgen of interest in coming back to New York, the Rangers would open the vault for him.

Yet, it’s hard to imagine the Penguins would let him out of his contract just so that he could join a bitter division rival.

And if Sullivan decides he wants to move on, the Rangers won’t be the only ones interested. One possibility is the Boston Bruins, who finished last in the East under Joe Sacco after Jim Montgomery was fired in November. Sullivan is a Massachusetts native, played at Boston University and the Bruins were his first NHL coaching stop – and his son-in-law, defenseman Charlie McAvoy, plays for the Bruins.

Sullivan was Drury’s top choice before he hired Gallant in 2021, and he’d be the top choice again. If he wants the job, it’s his.

John Tortorella​

Bruce Fedyck-Imagn Images

Current position: Unemployed (fired by the Philadelphia Flyers on March 28)

If Sullivan stays put or goes elsewhere, the Rangers could decide that bringing Tortorella, a Dolan favorite, back might be exactly what his team needs. Whether Drury agrees with him is another question – Tortorella was the one who had to tell the current GM that his playing career was basically over after the 2010-11 season.

The second-winningest U.S.-born coach in NHL history (behind Laviolette) had a four-game season-ending stint behind the bench with the Rangers in 1999-2000 before going to Tampa Bay for the 2000-01 season and leading the Lightning to their first Stanley Cup title in 2004. He returned to the Rangers late in the 2008-09 season and enjoyed some success, leading the Blueshirts to the Presidents’ Trophy in 2011-12.

He lasted one more season on Broadway and has coached the Vancouver Canucks (one season), Columbus Blue Jackets (six seasons) and the Flyers (two-plus seasons), though never enjoying the success he had in New York.

Tortorella gets his teams to play hard, regardless of talent level. That could be a major selling point for a team whose compete level was often missing this season.

Joel Quenneville​

Jasen Vinlove-Imagn Images

Current position: Unemployed (has not coached since 2020)

Quenneville’s resume includes three Stanley Cup championships with the Chicago Blackhawks (2010, 2013 and 2015). But it also includes revelations about his role in the Kyle Beach sexual assault case with the Hawks that emerged in 2020. However, the NHL cleared him to coach again — though no team has taken a chance on him since.

It’s hard to imagine Quenneville wanting to work for a rebuilding franchise. But the Rangers, a mostly veteran team with a star goaltender and some talent in key spots, might be an appealing re-entry point for Quenneville – if he wants to coach again.

Whether the recent news that Rangers forward Artemi Panarin and MSG Sports settled a sexual assault allegation last summer has any effect on hiring Quenneville is unknown. But it raises the question of whether the Rangers would hire a coach who tried to sweep a sexual assault under the rug – and would Quenneville want to come to a team with a sexual assault settlement that’s just been revealed?

Rick Tocchet​

Bob Frid-Imagn Images

Current position: Coach of Vancouver Canucks

The Canucks were among the biggest disappointments in the NHL this season, but that hasn’t hurt Tocchet’s stature one year after he won the Jack Adams Award as the League’s top coach. He’s coaching Team Canada at the upcoming World Championships, which indicates the regard he’s held around the hockey world.

Although Tocchet’s contract is expiring, the Canucks have a club option to extend him for 2025-26. What the option really does is give the team some runway to work out an extension. He said Friday he plans to “go through the process,” though Tocchet didn’t say exactly what that meant.

If Tocchet opts not to sign a new deal with Vancouver and the Canucks are uncomfortable at the though of having a lame duck coach who’s planning to leave, he figures to have plenty of potential suitors. One could be the Flyers, the team he played for during most of his career.

Drury interviewed Tocchet four years ago before hiring Gallant, so there’s past interest. J.T. Miller, who came to the Rangers from the Canucks in a midseason trade, reportedly is a fan. If the Canucks can’t get Tocchet’s name on an extension and the job is still open, expect Drury to at least make an inquiry.

David Carle​

Nick Wosika-Imagn Images

Current position: Coach at the University of Denver

At age 35, Carle figures to get a lot of interest from NHL teams after leading Denver to two NCAA championships in his seven seasons with the Pioneers as well as piloting the United States to back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championship in 2024 and 2025 – both rosters included Rangers prospects Gabe Perreault and Drew Fortescue.

One thing that could work against Carle is the fate of the only other coach the Rangers have hired straight from college during Dolan’s 26 years of running Madison Square Garden. David Quinn, who came to the Rangers from Boston University, got the ax in May 2021 after Dolan decided he was done with John Davidson, Jeff Gorton and the rebuild. They hired Gallant soon afterward.

Would Dolan and Drury turn to another coach with no NHL experience (not even as a player; a heart problem ended his career before he got to the NHL)? Not impossible, but it doesn’t seem likely.

Dan Muse/Michael Peca​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Current positions: Assistant coaches with the Rangers

Drury axed associate head coach Phil Housley along with Laviolette. But he kept Muse and Peca, the other two assistants Laviolette brought in two years ago. Reportedly each will have an opportunity to interview for the vacant job in New York.

Muse was Perreault’s coach at the U.S. National Team Development Program and is said to be popular with a number of Rangers players. Peca played 14 seasons in the NHL and won the Frank Selke Trophy in 1996-97 with the Buffalo Sabres and 2001-02 with the New York Islanders – where Laviolette was his coach. His two seasons under Laviolette were his first behind an NHL bench.

Getting the No. 1 job in one of the biggest markets in the NHL might be more than either Muse or Peca is ready for. Both may well receive interviews, but at this point, they’re more likely to be seen as fitting a support role.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...oach-candidates-after-peter-laviolette-fired/

 

[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers Daily: Seeking answers at break-up day; Gabriel Landeskog could end 3-year absence

Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The holiday weekend is over. Coach Peter Laviolette was fired. And now the New York Rangers officially say goodbye to the 2024-25 season and depart for an early summer vacation with break-up day on Monday.

Each player will meet with general manager Chris Drury, take a physical, and clean out his locker after one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.

Many players — though not all — will also meet with reporters.

It will will be fascinating to hear how honest players are assessing exactly what the hell went wrong this season, both individually and collectively. Will anyone be able to pinpoint exactly where and how it all came undone so completely?

How about the coaching change? Since Laviolette’s already out, will anyone take a shot at the departed coach? Or at least explain why this group tuned out its leader just one season removed from winning the Presidents’ Trophy?

We’re going to hear a lot of cliches Monday about needing to be better, this season wasn’t good enough, blah. blah. But who’s going to open up, pull back the curtain on how the dysfunction set in? Anyone?

Chris Kreider’s media session is the most anticipated. He’s avoided reporters most of the season since his name leaked out among those Drury specifically was looking to trade. Most believe he scored his last goal with the Rangers in their season finale, a 4-0 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday.

He still has two years left on his contract. Does Kreider want to go, start fresh elsewhere?

So many questions. But how many answers will we actually get Monday?

Subscribe to the RINK RAP podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page

New York Rangers news​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Here’s a list of coaching candidates for the Rangers to consider.

Laviolette was the one fired, but Drury took his fair share of blame for the Rangers mess this season.

And let’s not forget the lack of Rangers leadership in the dressing room and on the ice this season.

On the bright side, in case you missed it this weekend, Rangers prospect Dylan Roobroeck scored his 20th goal in Hartford’s final game of the AHL season. That’s a pretty darn good rookie pro season for the 6-foot-7 20-year-old center.

NHL news and rumors​

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Gabriel Landeskog could be in the Colorado Avalanche lineup for Game 2 of their first-round playoff series against the Dallas Stars on Monday after missing three years of action due to knee issues. He could replace forward Ross Colton, who sustained a lower-body injury in Colorado’s Game 1 victory.

Laviolette wasn’t the only NHL coach fired this weekend. Greg Cronin was canned by the Anaheim Ducks after two season, despite a 21-point improvement in 2024-25.

Some good new for the Winnipeg Jets. Forward Gabe Vilardi, who’s been out with an upper-body injury since March 23, skated in a no-contact jersey at practice Sunday, taking another step forward to return during the playoffs.

How’s this for tough? Calgary Flames defenseman Rasmus Andersson played the final 12 games of the season with a broken fibula after blocking a shot in late March.

It’s looking like Matthew Tkachuk should be good to go for the Florida Panthers when they open up the postseason against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday. Tkachuk has been sidelined with a lower-body injury since the 4 Nations Faceoff.

The Core 4 (Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander) combined for nine points in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ series-opening 6-2 win against the Ottawa Senators.

The Senators were short-handed six times and surrendered three power-play goals in the loss. Ottawa coach Travis Green wasn’t happy with how Toronto was “selling” some of the penalties, though.

It wasn’t a pretty start to the playoffs for the New Jersey Devils Devils, who were trucked by the Carolina Hurricanes 4-1 in the opener of that best-of-7 series, despite 41 sabes by goalie Jacob Markstrom.

The undermanned Devils lost defenseman Brenden Dillon and forward Cody Glass to unspecified injuries during Game 1. Luke Hughes also left the game for a bit in the third period, but returned to action.

Former Rangers center Brett Howden scored twice and the Vegas Golden Knights held off the Minnesota Wild 4-2 in Game 1 of their series.

Howden also ran into linesman Bryan Pancich and knocked him out of the game in the second period.

Highly-touted defenseman prospect Zeev Buium made his NHL debut for the Wild in the loss. He logged over 13 minutes TOI and “did some good things,” per coach John Hynes.

Watch Logan Stankoven scored a pair of goals for the Hurricanes in Game 1 against the Devils.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...break-up-day-gabriel-landeskog-return-injury/

 

[New York Rangers]

Igor Shesterkin believes ‘something broke this season’ for Rangers, causing lack of confidence

Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images

There were many telling statistics to explain why the New York Rangers missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season following three straight postseason appearances, including two trips to the Eastern Conference Final.

Among the biggest indicators of a season gone massively awry was their lack of resiliency, highlighted by rarely demonstrating the ability to rally from deficits. That especially stands out because the Rangers specialized in comebacks in 2023-24, when they won 55 games and their first Presidents’ Trophy since 2014-15.

It was also something that goaltender Igor Shesterkin seemed to hint at during the Rangers break-up day on Monday.

“In my mind, something broke during the season, and [went] the other way. We couldn’t handle it. It was our job to try to find the way to get back,” Shesterkin told reporters.

Initially it seemed like Shesterkin was referencing some of the off-ice events such as how general manager Chris Drury handled moving on from respected veterans Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba along with including how Chris Kreider’s name was included in a memo to the other general managers about available players on Nov. 25, when the Rangers were starting their 4-15-0 slide following a deceiving 12-4-1 start.

Given a chance to follow up, Shesterkin pointed more to the dearth of comebacks in a season when a multiple-goal deficit usually felt insurmountable.

“Probably not too much confidence,” Shesterkin said. “If we can look on the last season before when we won (the) President’s Trophy, if we’re down 3-0 we still know we get back but during the season I didn’t feel that sometimes.”

The statistics certainly back up Shesterkin’s words.

The Rangers finished with 16 comeback wins, including only five in the third period. In 2023-24, the Rangers led the League with 28 comeback wins, including 14 in the third period.

They were also 5-22-0 when trailing after the opening period and 4-31-1 when trailing through two periods this season. In 2023-24 they were 11-14-1 when trailing through 20 minutes and 10-18-1 when trailing after 40 minutes.

New York didn’t win a single game when trailing by multiple goals until their next-to-last contest of the season, a 5-3 comeback victory against the Florida Panthers when they erased a 3-1 deficit.

Related: Chris Kreider reveals hand injury, discusses Rangers future: ‘This is home’

Rangers ‘pissed away good goaltending’ failing to make playoffs this season​

James Guillory-Imagn Images

The 16 comeback wins occurred after the Rangers combined for 77 comeback victories in the previous three seasons. It was their fewest in an 82-game season since finishing with 14 in a 2017-18, the season when the rebuild under former GM Jeff Gorton started.

“I just think there was a missing sense of cohesion,” defenseman Adam Fox said Monday. “That resilience that we had come to make our identity — the year before we had 20-something comeback wins — and didn’t really have any this year. So, I think that’s something we got to figure out why that was.”

The Rangers’ struggles in their own end, including atrocious lack of defensive structure, resulted in plenty of Grade A scoring chances against Shesterkin and fellow goalie Jonathan Quick. Goals were often scored in bunches against the Rangers, and far too many were off wide-open looks down the middle. The Rangers lost 17 games by more than three goals this season, with little blame falling on the shoulders of Shesterkin and Quick.

“We had a lot of confidence in it and then this year we were not coming back early in the year,” Vincent Trocheck said. “It kind of goes the other way. You don’t have the confidence. You go down in a game. It starts to weigh on you, you start to sink.”

The various issues in front of him contributed to Shesterkin finishing with the first losing record of his career, 27-29-5. His 2.86 goals-against and .905 save percentage were career worsts; Shesterkin faced a career-high 1,751 shots after facing 1,606 in 2023-24.

Shesterkin was forced to make at least 40 saves five times this season and over 30 in 21 games. He was 11-9-1 in those games.

Last season, Shesterkin only needed to make 40 saves once and at least 30 saves in 18 games. In those games, Shesterkin was 13-3-2.

Per MoneyPuck, Shesterkin was seventh in the NHL this season with 21.6 goals saved above expected.

“I think we pissed away good goaltending which is not good,” defenseman Calvin de Haan said. “That’s the most important position. If that starts going to the wayside it’s not good but again, I think you need some bounces here and there. It was just hard to watch at times because you know everyone’s out there trying a hundred percent.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...erkin-something-broke-this-season-confidence/

 

[New York Rangers]

Calvin de Haan opens up on Rangers experience, says team shouldn’t ‘blow everything up’

Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images

Calvin de Haan got some things off his chest about the New York Rangers on Monday. But his break-up day session with reporters wasn’t nearly as explosive as expected following his outburst last week in South Florida.

Back on April 19, de Haan told reporters it’s “f____ed” how the Rangers treated him since he was acquired in a trade from the Colorado Avalanche on March 1. De Haan played three games and then was scratched the rest of the regular season (20 games), despite playing well and the Rangers posting a 2-0-1 mark in those games he played, including a pair of 4-0 shutout victories.

“Not much to assess, you know, I only played three games,” de Haan said at breakup day. “Obviously spoke my mind a week ago. A little frustrating, but it is what it is. Just moving on, going home to enjoy some time with friends and family, and enjoy the offseason. I’ll be getting in the gym somewhat quick, trying to be in the best possible shape for training camp wherever that may be, and go from there.”

It’s a bit of a head scratcher why de Haan sat for 20 consecutive games when the Rangers needed a win every night in their push to try and make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. After the Rangers acquired defenseman Carson Soucy from the Vancouver Canucks shortly after picking up de Haan, the veteran’s playing time dried up. Soucy, Urho Vaakanainen and Zac Jones all played ahead of de Haan, even when K’Andre Miller missed a games due to injury.

After the trade, the notion was that de Haan would play, especially since it was Lindgren, a regular on the blue line, was traded away.

“I was a part of a trade for a Ranger who was a good New York Ranger for a long time,” explained de Haan. “I was told I was going to be a part of the team moving forward and get an opportunity.”

De Haan voiced his frustration to the media with about a week left in the regular season, which went viral online. He got ahead of things, releasing a statement saying that he would dive more into the topic on breakup day.

While he had a lot to say, and was noticeably aggravated about the subject, this excerpt sums it up best.

“Guys who have been in my position for that long just want to play,” said de Haan. “If you’re not upset, you probably shouldn’t be in this line of work. If you’re just content with sitting on the sideline, that’s not a good thing in my opinion. I still have the fire. It is what it is, guys, it’s all good. No hard feelings to anyone in the organization, at the time it was just frustrating.”

Related: Igor Shesterkin believes ‘something broke this season’ for Rangers, causing lack of confidence

Calvin de Haan offers insight into Rangers: ‘this team should be in the playoffs’​

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De Haan won’t be back next season. He’s an unrestricted free agent and will be looking for a new NHL home in 2025-26. The 33-year-old played for five teams the past four years.

His assessment of the Rangers is a valued one, considering his experience. And it’s a bit surprising.

“It’s a good bunch of guys here,” de Haan said. “Guys like each other off the ice. I don’t think that’s a pressing issue, to blow everything up. A lot of good guys here. I think the stars need to align at times and you need a bounce here and there.”

But was it just poor puck luck that sabotaged the Rangers during this miserable season, especially during their failed playoff push?

“There were definitely times that I saw where it was just not cohesive maybe, on the ice,” continued de Haan. “On the ice, for sure, it was frustrating to see some of the goals we were letting in. I’m not pointing fingers at anyone, this is a group of five on the ice that were letting in goals, but then there were flashes of brilliance where you’re like, this team should be in the playoffs, frankly.”

It’s still hard to fathom that the Rangers are not in the playoffs, not one of the eight best teams in the Eastern Conference. Just a year ago they were the Presidents’ Trophy winners, the beasts of the East, the team to beat.

Now, they’re the biggest disappointment of the 2024-25 season. So, what comes next for de Haan and the Rangers?

“There’ll be some changes, obviously. Maybe I’ll be around, maybe not, who knows,” he said. “Going into next year the bar will still be set high for this organization, and it should be. There’s good players here.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...an-opens-up-team-shouldnt-blow-everything-up/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers archrival finally parts ways with GM Lou Lamoriello after missing playoffs

Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images

Lou Lamoriello’s legendary career as an NHL executive and New York Rangers nemesis may have come to an end Wednesday when the New York Islanders said in a statement that the 82-year-old Hockey Hall of Famer’s contract as president and general manager would not be renewed.

No replacement was announced. The Islanders said operating partner John Collins will lead a search to find the next GM.

“The Islanders extend a heartfelt thank you to Lou Lamoriello for his extraordinary commitment over the past seven years,” the team said in a statement. “His dedication to the team is in line with his Hall of Fame career.”

#Isles News: The New York Islanders organization announced today that Lou Lamoriello's contract as President and General Manager will not be renewed. Effective immediately, Operating Partner John Collins will lead a search to find the next General Manager.

— New York Islanders (@NYIslanders) April 22, 2025

The Islanders missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season, finishing 35-35-12 while dealing with a host of injuries to key players. Their most dynamic forward, Mathew Barzal, was limited to 30 games and didn’t play after sustaining a broken kneecap Feb. 1. The defense corps was so injury-riddled that the Islanders at times had three players (Tony DeAngelo, Scott Perunovich and Adam Boqvist) on the blue line who weren’t with the team for the first half of the season.

They were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 4-3 shootout loss at the Philadelphia Flyers on April 12 and finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division. Special teams were a huge problem – the Islanders were 31st on both the power play (72.2 percent) and penalty kill (72.2 percent).

Notorious among Islanders fans for doubling down on his aging core, Lamoriello finally gave in a little this season, when he traded veteran center Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche and received highly-regard forward prospect Calum Ritchie and a conditional 2026 first-round draft pick in return.

Related: Why GM Chris Drury deserves much blame for doomed Rangers season

Rangers nemesis Lou Lamoriello out as Islanders GM​

The Islanders were a mess when they brought in Lamoriello to run the team on May 22, 2018. They finished seventh in the Metropolitan Division, ahead of only the Rangers, and surrendered an NHL-worst 296 goals in 2017-18.

But Lamoriello quickly turned things around, hiring Barry Trotz as coach just weeks after Trotz led the Washington Capitals to their first Stanley Cup championship. Despite losing star center John Tavares to free agency in July 2018, the Islanders made the playoffs in 2018-19 and swept the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round before being swept by the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Islanders then advanced to the Stanley Cup Semifinals in 2020 and 2021, losing to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six and seven games, respectively. Their 1-0 loss to the Lightning in Game 7 during the 2021 postseason was the closest they came to returning to the Stanley Cup Final since their glory days in the early 1980s, when the Islanders won four consecutive championships before losing to the Edmonton Oilers in the 1984 Final.

Andy Marlin-Imagn Images

They missed the playoffs in 2021-22, partly because they were forced to begin the season with a 13-game road trip before opening UBS Arena, then made the postseason in 2022-23 and 2023-24, losing to Carolina in the first round each time.

Lamoriello’s 1,470 wins as GM of the New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs and Islanders are second in NHL history behind David Poile’s 1,533. His 325 Stanley Cup Playoff games are the most by any NHL general manager, and he’s second in postseason wins with 172, behind Glen Sather’s 187.

His success largely came at the Rangers expense since the each of his three teams also reside in the Eastern Conference, and the Devils and Islanders are bitter division rivals.

Most of those playoff wins came during his tenure with the Devils, who won the Stanley Cup three times (1995, 2000, 2003) under Lamoriello after he became team president and GM in 1987. He helped build teams that reached 100 points 13 times, won nine division titles, qualified for the playoffs 21 times, made the Stanley Cup Final five times and won three titles.

New Jersey qualified for the playoffs in 13 consecutive seasons from 1997-2010 and was 1,093-759-179 with 109 ties in the regular season and 136-116 in the playoffs during his time in New Jersey.

Lamoriello actually coached the Devils for 50 games in 2005-06 and again for the final three games of the 2006-07 season, with New Jersey qualifying for the playoffs each time. He left the Devils on July 23, 2015, and was named GM of the Maple Leafs the same day. His Toronto teams were 118-95-33 in three seasons and improved each year – winning the 2016 NHL Draft Lottery and using the No. 1 pick on Auston Matthews.

The Maple Leafs announced April 30, 2018, that Lamoriello would not return but he remained as a senior adviser before joining the Islanders.

In addition, Lamoriello was GM of the United States team that won the World Cup of Hockey in 1996 and played at the 1998 Nagano Olympics. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as a Builder in 2009, and into the United States Hockey Hall of Fame three years later.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/islanders-part-ways-lou-lamoriello/

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rick Tocchet would be perfect coaching hire for Rangers team in transition

Bob Frid-Imagn ImagesBob Frid-Imagn Images

It’s time for yet another coaching search for the New York Rangers, as general manager Chris Drury heads into the offseason looking to hire his third coach in five seasons. Peter Laviolette was shown the door Saturday, an expected casualty of New York’s regressive 39-36-7 record and failur to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Under significant pressure to finally get this right, Drury could go in a number of directions – an experienced coach, an up-and-coming NHL assistant, a highly-regarded neophyte from college. Thankfully for the Rangers GM, there’s a clear choice waiting out West who looks to be available, compatible with the club’s vision of the future and a huge fan of one of the Blueshirts’ most important players.

That’s Rick Tocchet, the Vancouver Canucks coach who is without a contract for 2025-26 and might be looking to move on after failing to make the playoff this season amid the J.T. Miller-Elias Pettersson affair. That personality conflict sabotaged the Canucks, who like the Rangers, crashed from a 50-win, 100-plus point season in 2023-24 to an early summer in 2024-25.

Related: GM Chris Drury takes blame for Rangers mess after firing coach Peter Laviolette: ‘It starts with me’

A Tocchet-Miller reunion with Rangers would fit team’s preferred new style​

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Tocchet, who captured the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year when he guided Vancouver to that 50-23-9 record last season, coached Miller for parts of the past three seasons. Miller, of course, found his way to the Big Apple in January in a much-anticipated trade that put an end to the acrimonious mess between he and Petterson, the Canucks other star center.

Could Tocchet follow Miller from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic this summer? It certainly seems possible. On Monday, the Canucks declined their option on Tocchet’s contract, with president of hockey of operations Jim Rutherford saying that the organization has instead offered a new, more lucrative deal to secure Tocchet’s services for more than one season.

The development came not long after the once-feared power forward, who racked up 2,970 penalty minutes during his NHL career, nervously shuffled around and sidestepped a direct question about whether he’d like to to be back in Vancouver during his season-ending news conference.

Tocchet also appeared to create a perhaps not-so-minor stir during that session when he bemoaned the Canucks lack of center depth.

“If there’s a dynamic guy out there, let us know,” Tocchet said not-so-subtly.

There happen to be a couple of those in New York, both of whom evoke Tocchet’s relentlessly physical approach to the game. Miller mostly thrived under Tocchet, posting a career-best 103-point season in 2023-24 and recording 13 goals and 17 assists in 24 games after Tocchet replaced Bruce Boudreau as coach in January 2023.

“I’m a J.T. Miller fan … J.T. played a lot of great hockey for me,” Tocchet said during a season-ending news conference.

Miller’s close friend and current second-line center on the Rangers, Vincent Trocheck, surely also suits Tocchet’s preferred style – certainly more so than Pettersson, who plays a skill-oriented game. Pettersson significantly regressed this season with 45 points in 64 games after piling up 191 points over the previous two seasons.

One can see Tocchet falling in love with Miller, Trocheck and fourth-liner Sam Carrick down the middle. Mika Zibanejad? Maybe not so much.

Tocchet comes across as a measured, analytical and highly accountable coach. He’s plain-spoken, candid and accommodating with reporters – a big plus, considering Vancouver’s high-pressure media environment. He’d of course face similar scrutiny in the big-market Big Apple, which comes with outsized fan expectations, just as he’s faced in the Pacific Northwest.

Not all is perfect with Tocchet. In nine seasons as an NHL coach, he’s made the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice, the the majoriy of his coaching career was with the Arizona Coyotes. He’s 11-11 in 22 postseason games behind the bench.

And he did show Miller some tough love, benching the veteran at times this season before the trade with the Rangers.

Related: Rangers lack of leadership sabotaged season, threatens team’s future

Rangers need Rick Tocchet’s hard-edged, no-nonsense ways to rub off on them​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

At his core, though, Tocchet is a throwback, hardscrabble player who wants his teams to play the same way. His coaching motto is to “embrace the hard” in reference to meeting tough moments in a game and throughout the season, admitting during his news conference that the Canucks didn’t adequately do that in 2024-25.

The “buy-in needs to be better,” Tocchet said, taking responsibility for his inability to make that happen this season.

All of that suits exactly what the Rangers are looking for. They have to get bigger and tougher, but they also need to transform their identity to one of a more resilient, physical and edgy outfit. The Blueshirts are sorely lacking in resolve; that’s where a coach comes in.

The idea of Tocchet reuniting with Miller, and inheriting Trocheck, as his tone-setters for a team in transition has to be appealing for Drury. In Will Cuylle, Brennan Othmann, Brett Berard, Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom, the Rangers possess a group of young forwards who play a physical and sometimes irritating game. Tocchet, ferocious and utterly fearless during his 952-point career, would seem to be the perfect tutor for them.

Those old enough to have watched Tocchet’s career remember him often torturing the Rangers during his formative years with the Philadelphia Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins, his 28 goals against the Blueshirts being his highest total against any team. Now, the former rival is exactly what the Rangers require.

Tocchet said that he would be engaging in talks with Rutherford and Canucks GM Patrik Allvin soon. There’s no way to know just how serious Tocchet might want to hammer out a new contract to stay in Vancouver, but Drury should be lurking around the edges with an offer. For the Rangers, the possibility of hiring Tocchet to lead them in a new direction just makes too much sense not to try.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rick-tocchet-perfect-coaching-hire/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers give president/GM Chris Drury multi-year extension after trainwreck season

Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Chris Drury will get the chance to right the ship after arguably the most disappointing season in New York Rangers history.

The Rangers announced Wednesday that Drury, their president and general manager, agreed to terms on a multi-year contract extension Wednesday.

“I am pleased that Chris will continue to lead the Rangers hockey operations in his role as President and General Manager,” owner James Dolan said in a statement. “Over his tenure, Chris has shown passion for the Rangers, relentless work ethic, and a tireless pursuit of excellence. While we are all disappointed in what transpired this past season, I am confident in his ability to guide this organization to success.”

Chris Drury Agrees to Multi-Year Contract Extension

Full details: https://t.co/GHE8vZf2uU

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) April 23, 2025

The Rangers have had their ups and downs since Drury became their 12th GM and 12th president on May 5, 2021. This season was a major downer; the Rangers finished 39-36-7 and became the fourth team in NHL history to fail to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs one season after winning the Presidents’ Trophy as regular-season champion. They finished 11th in the Eastern Conference with 85 points, six behind the New Jersey Devils for third place in the Metropolitan Division and six behind the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild card in the conference.

The Rangers fired coach Peter Laviolette on Saturday; no successor has been named. But Drury publicly accepted his share of blame for the 29-point collapse and failure to make the postseason, when he told reporters that “It starts with me. I need to do a better job and give the staff and players the opportunity to succeed.”

New York is 193-105-30 in 328 regular-season games and 23-20 in Stanley Cup Playoff games during Drury’s tenure. The Rangers qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of his first three seasons at the helm, and they got as far as Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2022 and 2024. The Rangers’ 193 wins during Drury’s four full seasons are the most they’ve had during any four-year span since entering the NHL in the 1926-27 season.

Related: Chris Drury deserves much blame for dismal Rangers season

Rangers give president/GM Chris Drury contract extension​

The Rangers set franchise records in 2023-24 with 55 wins and 114 points. Two years earlier, they finished with 52 wins and 110 points, and Drury was chosen as a finalist for the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year Award.

“I am honored to sign this contract extension and continue in this position with the team I grew up supporting,” Drury said. “As I said when I began in this role nearly four years ago, there isn’t a more special organization in hockey and I look forward to continuing our work this offseason to help us reach our goals for next season and in the coming years.”

Before being named president and GM, Drury spent six seasons in the Rangers front office. The Trumbull, Connecticut, native was named Director of Player Development on Sept. 4, 2015. On Sept. 2, 2016, he was promoted to assistant general manager, then named associate GM on Feb. 5, 2021. During his time in the Rangers front office, he also served as general manager of their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Drury played the final four of his 12 NHL seasons with the Rangers after signing with them as a free agent on July 1, 2007. He was named 25th captain in franchise history on Oct. 3, 2008, and wore the “C” for his final three seasons before retiring in 2011.

In all, Drury skated in 892 NHL games with the Colorado Avalanche, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, and the Rangers, finishing his career with 615 points (255 goals, 360 assists). He was a member of Colorado’s Stanley Cup-winning team in 2001, and was second in the NHL with 11 goals in 23 games during the title run. Drury won the Calder Trophy as NHL Rookie of the Year in 1998-99, and his teams qualified for the playoffs nine times in his 12 NHL seasons, reaching the conference final six times.

Drury also helped Boston University win the NCAA championship in 1995, was a two-time First-Team All-America selection, and in 1997-98 became the first player in BU history to win the Hobey Baker Award as the top player in NCAA men’s hockey. He also played on two silver medal-winning teams (2002 and 2010) for the United States at the Winter Olympics.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...multi-year-extension-after-trainwreck-season/

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack weekly 2024-25 team awards, including Dylan Roobroeck impressive 1st season

Hartford Wolf Pack

The Hartford Wolf Pack failed to make the Calder Cup Playoffs after reaching the postseason two straight years. Injuries and key players being called up by the New York Rangers, Hartford’s parent club in the NHL, certainly were factors. But by and large, 2024-25 was a disappointing season for Hartford.

The Wolf Pack (30-33-7-2, 69 points) finished seventh in their division, never able to put together extended winning streaks. Sounds similar to the Rangers.

But there were positives. Alex Belzile, Anton Blidh, and Matthew Robertson each reached career highs in offensive production. Dylan Roobroeck had a strong rookie season. Goalie Dylan Garand had 20 wins in his best and most consistent pro season yet. And intriguing prospects Noah Laba, Jackson Dorrington and Callum Tung looked good getting their feet wet at the pro level near the end of the season.

Let’s break down Hartford’s MVP, best first-year player, most improved performer, and biggest disappointment this season.

Related: Dylan Roobroeck scores 20th goal, Dylan Garand earns 20th victory in Hartford’s season finale

Hartford Wolf Pack 2024-25 team awards​

Alex Belzile — Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Wolf Pack most valuable player: Alex Belzile​

Signed by the Rangers in July 2023 to a two-year deal, Alex Belzile has paid nice dividends for the Wolf Pack ever since. Belzile led them in scoring in back-to-back seasons, including 50 points in 2023-24. This season, he established AHL career highs in points (56), assists (37), game-winning goals (5), shots (182), and penalty minutes (119). Belzile led the Wolf Pack in each of these categories.

Mr. 300!

With this goal, Alex Belzile tallies his 300th AHL point pic.twitter.com/ss3grT0jhs

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) April 12, 2025

The 33-year-old forward was second on Hartford with 19 goals and on the scoresheet in 38 of 66 games. He recorded 13 multiple-point games, including two hat tricks (Nov. 19 and Dec. 4).

Belzile accomplished all this without much help in the top six. Young gun Brennan Othmann was out for two months with an upper-body injury and then spent another two months in the NHL. And Brett Berard, a 25-goal scorer last season in Hartford, spent half the season with the Rangers.

Even Strength Goal ️
Shorthanded Goal ️
Power Play Goal ️
Shootout Goal ️

Alex Belzile found the net 4 times in Hartford's 5-4 win today. @WolfPackAHL pic.twitter.com/kaRkk9ShiY

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) November 19, 2024

An unrestricted free agent this summer, Belzile provides a strong case to stay with the organization. He’s a productive player and a solid example for the prospects trying to build their careers.

Potulny on Belzile: Such a consistent player. I bet you I could count on [one hand] the nights that he was off. He’s so smart, and he’s competitive. I use him as an example to the young guys quite often. #NYR

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) March 6, 2025

Wolf Pack best first-year player: Dylan Roobroeck​

Dylan Roobroeck had himself an impressive first professional season. The 20-year-old center led Hartford with 20 goals, tied for eighth in the AHL among rookies. Roobroeck was the fourth rookie in the past three seasons to score 20-plus goals with Hartford, joining Will Cuylle (team-high 25 in 2022-23), Berard (team-high 25 in 2023-24), and Othmann (21, second on team in 2023-24).

TOP SHELF FOR ROOBS! pic.twitter.com/T2P78mQtgL

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) March 22, 2025

Roobroeck’s four game-winning goals were second most on the Wolf Pack and tied for eighth among AHL rookies. The 6-foot-7 youngster was fourth on Hartford with 34 points, and he had seven multiple point games, including three 2-goal games.

After a slow start, Roobroeck finished strong with nine goals in his final 12 games.

Potulny on Roobroeck: He worked himself from fourth line, no special teams to penalty kill, to moving up the lineup, onto the power play. Now he’s a guy that’s playing top six minutes, power play, and penalty kill. He’s had a really great year, come a long way. #NYR

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) April 17, 2025

Roobroeck also displayed some toughness. He dropped the gloves in four games, including back-to-back games Feb.8 and 12.

Potulny on Roobroeck: I think the elevator is always going up and down for people. His elevator’s been going up. Probably over the last five games, he was our most productive forward. You could argue that from the beginning of the year, he’s had the biggest improvement. #NYR

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) November 16, 2024

Wolf Pack most-improved player: Matthew Robertson​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Returning to Hartford in a “prove it” year, Matthew Robertson made major strides in his fourth professional season. The 24-year-old set career-highs with 24 assists and 25 points in 60 games. He led the defense corps in points, assists, power play assists (10), and shots on goal (126). The 2019 second-round pick was rewarded for his strong season with a call-up to the Rangers, where he played the first two games of his NHL career, closing out the campaign with solid play in wins against the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Robo’s first of the season pic.twitter.com/j3aDYoVm7u

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@WolfPackAHL) October 26, 2024

A workhorse on defense with Hartford, Robertson logged big minutes and played in all game situations. He’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this offseason, but himself in position to remain in the Rangers organization.

This is a hell of a backcheck from Matthew Robertson, who chases down Samu Tuomaala and prevents him from getting a shot away.

Robertson has put together a really nice season in the Connecticut capital.#HFDvsLV | #NYR pic.twitter.com/POc8lUSdYk

— Keegan Jarvis (@TheKeeganJarvis) February 9, 2025

Wolf Pack most disappointing player: Louis Domingue​

Louis Domingue – Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Louis Domingue simply never found his game this season. The 33-year-old goalie was 7-20-1 and clearly second choice to Garand, a younger Rangers prospect. Domingue’s goals-against average was 3.32 and save percentage .896. He conceded three-plus goals in 21 of 28 starts. His biggest highlight was when he won his one start with the Rangers on Jan. 5 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Domingue is likely done in the Rangers organization after three seasons spent mostly with Hartford. He is a UFA and rumored to be signing overseas. He did play a valuable role his first two seasons with the Wolf Pack, helping them reach the playoffs with 22 wins in 2022-23 and 16 last season.

Look for Tung, signed as an undrafted free agent out of UCONN in April, to partner with Garand next season.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...olf-pack-2024-25-team-awards-dylan-roobroeck/

 

[New York Rangers]

Sam Carrick ‘built some good chemistry’ in solid 1st season with Rangers

Joseph Maiorana-Imagn ImagesJoseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Recently extended New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury received fair criticism throughout the season regarding his offseason moves and in-season trades. But signing Sam Carrick last summer certainly was one move that panned out during this miserable season on Broadway.

The numbers don’t jump off the page for Carrick, though the 33-year-old center did have an NHL career-high 14 assists and 20 points this season. Yet, he fulfilled his role as a gritty fourth liner in his 80 games played – also a new career high.

“They brought me in here to be that fourth line center that plays a good two-way game, can kill penalties and that’s kind of been my role for a while now,” Carrick said at break-up day Monday.

Carrick did his job in the 2024-25 campaign despite an ever-changing fourth line. As the roster kept shifting around him throughout the season, Carrick remained a constant.

“It’s tough. Every year, there’s turnover with guys getting called up and guys getting injured, so you’re always having new linemates,” he said. “I thought I built some good chemistry with a few guys here. Hopefully, we can keep building that.”

SAM CARRICK IS THE OT HERO!!

The @NYRangers take this one in @Energizer overtime! pic.twitter.com/4fMVdU1P9Y

— NHL (@NHL) January 10, 2025

The fourth line looked its best when Carrick was flanked by Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom for a month before Edstrom went down with a season-ending injury Feb. 1. Carrick is looking forward to sharing the ice with the towering wingers again next season.

“I thought we were doing our role pretty well,” Carrick explained. “We’d get out there for a lot of D-zone face-offs, and we’d end up in the offensive zone setting up the next line for an offensive zone shift. Those guys made a ton of strides.”

Last summer, Carrick signed a three-year, $3 million contract to replace waived veteran Barclay Goodrow. That deal provided some stability for Carrick, though after spending parts of nine years in the NHL with four different teams, he knows his situation could change at any moment.

“Stability is really just a word,” he stated. “Things can change tomorrow, so I don’t really try to get comfortable or complacent with where I’m at. There’s always things I’m looking to do to improve.”

Related: Rangers owner sends ‘shot across the bow at locker room’ by extending GM Chris Drury: ESPN insider believes

Sam Carrick became key part of Rangers on, off ice: ‘It’s something that I’m super proud of’​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

While putting up a respectable season on the ice, Carrick also made a lasting impression with his Rangers teammates.

Carrick won the Players’ Player Award, given to the Ranger who “best exemplifies what it means to be a team player.” The award, voted on by his teammates, means the world to Carrick.

“We have a ton of really good guys here, a lot of character in this room,” he said. “I’m honored that they voted for me in that. It’s very special, it’s something that I’m super proud of. To be respected by your teammates is probably the best honor you can have.”

Last season Carrick went as far as you can go in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Sent to the Edmonton Oilers in a three-team deal before the trade deadline, he and the Oilers ultimately lost Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Florida Panthers.

It was a much different experience in New York; despite high expectations entering the season, the Rangers missed the playoffs entirely. Even though his first season on Broadway didn’t go as planned, Carrick enjoyed year one of his multiyear contract with the Rangers.

“It’s well known it’s disappointing to not make the playoffs, but at the end of the day, I’m super honored to be a New York Ranger.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...am-carrick-good-chemistry-solid-first-season/

 

[New York Rangers]

Popular former Rangers forward nets hat trick for Blues after goal-scoring woes in playoffs

Jeff Curry-Imagn ImagesJeff Curry-Imagn Images

In the same week that Chris Drury received a contract extension from the New York Rangers to remain general manager, Pavel Buchnevich put forth a major reminder of, perhaps, Drury’s biggest mistake on the job.

Buchnevich recorded a hat trick for the St. Louis Blues in their 7-2 victory over the Winnipeg Jets in Game 3 of their Western Conference First Round series Thursday night at Enterprise Center. His massive performance comes nearly four years after Drury traded the popular forward to the Blues on July 23, 2021.

Pavel Buchnevich has the first hatty of the 2025 #StanleyCup Playoffs!

Hat Trick Challenge presented by @AstraZenecaUS pic.twitter.com/WrW9Jz6Ri1

— NHL (@NHL) April 25, 2025

Faced with a tight salary cap and Buchnevich an RFA with arbitration rights, Drury — then just two months on the job after replacing the fired leadership tandem of Jeff Gorton and John Davidson — shipped Buchnevich to the Blues for forward Sammy Blais and a second-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Buchnevich had already scored 20 goals twice for the Rangers at that point, and was a nice fit on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. Buchnevich has scored 30, 26, 27 and 20 goals for the Blues since the trade, and established NHL career highs with 30 goals, 46 assists and 76 points in 2021-22.

Blais sustained a brutal knee injury and was eventually traded back to the Blues. The Rangers spent much of the past four seasons trying to find a suitable replacement on right wing for Zibanejad and Kreider.

So, yeah, with Rangers fans already angry that Drury received a contract extension after overseeing one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history in 2024-25, it was twisting the knife a bit more to see Buchnevich explode in the postseason for the Blues on Thursday.

Related: Rangers owner sends ‘shot across the bow at locker room’ by extending GM Chris Drury: ESPN insider believes

Popular ex-Rangers star Pavel Buchnevich explodes for playoff hat trick​

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

With his team trailing 2-0 in the best-of-7 series but back on home ice, Buchnevich wasted little time in showing the Jets that this was not going to be their night. The 30-year-old scored 48 seconds into the game and made it 2-0 less than three minutes later. He capped his hat trick early in the third period to make it 4-1.

Buchnevich has had plenty of success in the NHL, though not so much in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Before his breakthrough Thursday, Buchnevich had just one goal in 22 career postseason games with the Rangers and Blues.

It should be noted he had 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 12 games during the 2022 playoffs and two assists in the first two games against the Jets in this series, so it’s not like he was completely unproductive. He just couldn’t find the back of the net. Until Game 3 against the Jets.

“I thought ‘Buchy’ has been good in the first two games, especially defensively, but offensively i thought there was more in his game and I thought he brought that tonight,” Blues coach Jim Montgomery stated.

Each of his three goals was scored from within a few feet of the net. The first was on a rebound, when he kicked the puck toward the cage and then deftly got a piece of it in midair before it crossed the goal line. Had he not touched the puck with his stick, the goal likely would’ve been waved off.

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

“The crowd got nuts and the emotions get even more and we keep going,” Buchnevich explained postgame.

Buchnevich then deflected a Robert Thomas shot past reigning Vezina Trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck at 3:11 for a power-play goal. He capped off his big night by capitalizing on a Hellebuyck turnover behind the net caused by back pressure from Thomas, wrapping a shot into the vacated net at 5:24 of the third period.

“‘Buchy’ stepped up right away, came out flying, and made some great plays and got us off to a great start,” Thomas explained. “So, he deserves a lot of credit.”

Three goals, one assist, five shots on goal, six hits. Just a little reminder of what the Rangers traded away.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/pavel-buchnevich-hat-trick-blues-playoffs/

 

[New York Rangers]

8 NHL assistants for Rangers to consider as next coach, including Jessica Campbell

Robert Edwards-Imagn ImagesRobert Edwards-Imagn Images

For the third time since he was named president and general manager of the New York Rangers in May 2021, Chris Drury will hire a new coach. After receiving a multi-year contract extension from Rangers owner James Dolan on Wednesday, it is now on Drury to ace his next coaching hire following Peter Laviolette’s dismissal last weekend.

Drury promised to leave no stone unturned in his search for the new bench boss on Broadway, and said he’ll consider coaches who’ve not worked in the NHL yet. His first two hires were veteran NHL coaches, Gerard Gallant and Laviolette, each of whom led the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final their first season only to get fired after a disappointing second season.

Laviolette oversaw a dysfunctional team in 2024-25 that dropped 29 points from the season before and was the fourth team in NHL history to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

Among Drury’s options are a string of well-respected assistants currently working in the NHL. Expect several if not all of these assistants named below to interview for the Rangers coaching vacancy.

Related: Rangers owner sends ‘shot across the bow at locker room’ by extending GM Chris Drury: ESPN insider believes

Michael Peca and Dan Muse​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Rangers assistants Michael Peca and Dan Muse were not fired when Laviolette and associate coach Phil Housley were canned a week ago. And reportedly each will have the opportunity to interview for the current vacancy.

Peca played 864 NHL games, won the Selke Trophy as the League’s top defensive forward twice and was captain of the Buffalo Sabres and New York Islanders. He’s well-respected for his experience and intelligence.

The 51-year-old got his first taste behind an NHL bench serving on Laviolette’s staff the past two seasons. He broke into the League as a development coach with the Washington Capitals in 2021 and also was an assistant with Rochester in the American Hockey League.

Muse is considered one of the bright young minds in the sport. The 42-year-old was on Laviolette’s staff the past two seasons and was head coach for the United States National Team Development Program, where he helped develop current Rangers forward Gabe Perreault.

Jessica Campbell​

Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Jessica Campbell made sports history when she became the first woman to work full-time behind an NHL bench as an assistant for the Seattle Kraken this season. Since Dan Bylsma was just fired, she may get the chance to interview for the Kraken vacancy, as well.

The 32-year-old is a renowned skating coach, helping several NHLers over the years, including Stanley Cup champion Joel Edmundson. She also has a history with the Rangers; Drury brought her in to coach at their 2022 prospects development camp. From there, she spent two seasons as an assistant with Coachella Valley in the AHL.

Like Muse, Campbell is considered a real up-and-comer in the NHL coaching ranks. She may need more experience before landing a head coaching gig, but Campbell is likely in line for a legit interview already.

Sylvain Lefebvre​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

For a team like the Rangers in desperate need of a better defensive structure, Sylvain Lefebvre (above, right) is an intriguing coaching option. The 57-year-old is in his third season as an assistant with the Florida Panthers, in charge of their suffocating defense. He earned a Stanley Cup ring last season as an assistant, and also won the Cup as a defenseman with the Colorado Avalanche in 1996.

If the Rangers wish to emulate the Panthers structure and tenacity, they must have already taken note of how Lefebvre helped bring out the best in Gustav Forsling, Brandon Montour and former Rangers d-man Nikko Mikkola. His six seasons as an AHL head coach and four seasons playing with the Rangers from 1999-2003 should be considered plusses, as well.

D.J. Smith​

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

D.J. Smith not only is an assistant with the Los Angeles Kings and was a respected Toronto Maple Leafs assistant for four seasons, he has NHL head coaching experience, as well. Smith guided the Ottawa Senators for four-plus seasons from 2019-24 through their rebuild. He has an NHL coaching record of 131-154-32 in 317 regular-season games.

With Smith overseeing the defense, the Kings allowed 25.5 shots per game this season, second fewest in the League. That’s appealing to the Rangers, considering their shoddy defensive play which led to them being ranked 27th allowing 29.9 shots per game.

Marc Savard​

Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

You may have seen the Maple Leafs assistant go viral recently after toning down his celebration during Toronto’s first-round playoff series against the Senators.

Leafs assistant coach Marc Savard has learned from Craig Berube not to celebrate playoff goals behind the bench pic.twitter.com/0sOumEmVKy

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 23, 2025

Marc Savard is another first-time NHL head coach option. The 47-year-old has experience in the League as an assistant with the Flames and Maple Leafs and head coaching experience with the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. In his first season there, the Spitfires made it to the OHL final. And guess who was the captain of the Spitfires that year? Rangers forward Will Cuylle. That relationship is certainly a positive for his candidacy.

A fourth-round pick by the Rangers in the 1995 draft, Savard played 98 of his 807 NHL games with them from 1997-99. He retire in 2011 after helping the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup that spring.

Jeff Halpern​

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Jeff Halpern in thriving as an NHL assistant and learning from one of best coaches in the business, Jon Cooper. Halpern has been part of the Tampa Bay Lightning staff for seven seasons, including two Stanley Cup championships and a trip to the Final in 2022.

He primarily coaches the forwards and the power play, which ranked fifth in the NHL this season (25.9 percent). Halpern is another former NHLer, a solid bottom-six forward who played 976 games, and briefly was with the Rangers in the lockout-shortened 2013 season

In 2019, Halpern drew praise from Washington Capitals president of hockey operations Brian MacLellan.

“I think he’s the type of player that becomes a good coach because he was a player that paid attention to detail,” said MacLellan, who was a pro scout for Washington when Halpern broke into the NHL with his hometown team.

Jay Leach​

Photo: Seattle Kraken

If the Bruins do not keep interim coach Joe Sacco, Boston assistant Jay Leach would be a solid candidate to land his first NHL head coaching gig there. If not, the Rangers will have interest, especially since he interviewed for their opening two years ago, when Laviolette ultimately got the job.

The 44-year-olf was an assistant with the Kraken from 2021-24 and head coach with Providence of the AHL before that, when he posted a record of 136-77-26. He played 70 NHL games, with the majority of his playing experience at the AHL and ECHL levels.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...istants-consider-next-coach-jessica-campbell/

 

[New York Rangers]

ESPN insider considers ‘pie in the sky’ Connor McDavid option for Rangers in 2026

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

There’s a world where the New York Rangers reconstruct their roster this offseason but save their biggest move for 2026. Whether that world is one of reality or fantasy can be debated, but ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski believes it’s worth at least considering Connor McDavid landing with the Rangers, when his contract with the Oilers is up after next season.

“There’s a pie in the sky part of this that I can’t ignore, which is that Connor McDavid doesn’t have a contract with the Edmonton Oilers as of yet, and, frankly, watching an Oilers situation that is not in the best interests of Connor McDavid with the way the playoffs are going right now,” Wyshynski told Forever Blueshirts on the RINK RAP podcast this week.

“I mention that because you have to mention it. Until he puts pen to paper, there’s every possibility that Connor McDavid could hit the open market. And if that’d ever happen, I truly believe that the Rangers would be one of the teams he’d look at.”

Let’s start with the obvious. McDavid is already one of the greatest and most exciting players to lace up the skates in NHL history. He’s notched 100+ points in eight of his 10 seasons in the League, led the NHL in scoring five times and won the Hart Trophy as League MVP three times. He’s averaging 1.52 points per game in his career — 1,082 points in 712 games.

McDavid can become an unrestricted free agent for the first time after next season. He’s also eligible to sign a (massive) contract extension with the Oilers after July 1. That’s what his talented teammate Leon Draisaitl did ahead of his walk season this past September.

The Oilers locked Draisaitl up for eight years and $112 million ($14 million average annual value). They will surpass that — $16 million AAV? $17+ million? — to keep McDavid. There’s not anyone in the sport who believes the Oilers won’t go to any length to re-sign McDavid.

“He’s the most important player we have here, so that is priority number one,” Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said recently. “We’ll get to that this summer. Now’s probably not the time to be talking about that, but we all know Connor is going to be here and that we’re going to make it happen.”

But what does McDavid want? He wants to win, that’s for sure. And it sure doesn’t feel like the Oilers are going to win the Stanley Cup any time soon with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard sharing goaltending duties. That’s even after the Oilers, with McDavid winning the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP, pushed the Florida Panthers to Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final last spring.

The Rangers, you may heard, have Igor Shesterkin locked up as their No. 1 goalie for the next eight seasons. You think James Dolan, Chris Drury and a rabid fan base that last saw their team win the Cup in 1994 wouldn’t sign up to have, arguably, the best goalie in the world and best player in the world on the same roster, regardless of how much it costs?

Keep in mind that the salary cap rises to $104 million in 2026-27 from $95 million next season. And Artemi Panarin’s $11.64 million cap hit comes off the books in the 2026 offseason. There’s a good chance Mika Zibanejad and/or Chris Kreider are pressured into waiving their no-trade/move clauses by then and will be off the ledger.

“He certainly does (come off the books). But they’ll shoot [Alexis] Lafreniere into the sun to open up salary-cap space to sign McDavid. They’ll find a way to make it happen,” Wyshynski said with a laugh.

Related: Rangers owner sends ‘shot across the bow at locker room’ by extending GM Chris Drury: ESPN insider believes

After Rangers take care of most pressing issues this offseason ‘there’s other things to consider too’ ​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Now, let’s be honest, if you’re Drury, you can’t be counting on landing McDavid in 2026. You need to go about your business this offseason and if it becomes a real possibility down the road, do everything you can to make it happen.

But Wyshynski does raise another intriguing angle, since the Rangers need to hire a new coach this offseason. The Rangers really should vet and interview Jay Woodcroft, the former Oilers coach. And if the Rangers believe he’s equal with other top candidates — or better, of course — that’s not a bad thing, when considering McDavid.

“If you really wanted to get conspiratorial about it, if the Rangers hire Jay Woodcroft, who’s a guy that Connor really loved as a coach in Edmonton, that’d be interesting. That’s a bread crumb, if we’re being honest,” Wyshynski said. “I’d be intrigued by the possibility of that ever happening. I’ve thrown this out there before. Edmonton gets very angry when I do.”

The reality of their immediate situation is that the Rangers need to remake their core while maintaining a high level of skill on the roster. That’s what makes, say, Sam Bennett a very intriguing free-agent option this summer. Drury has much work to do to adjust the roster and maneuver his way around limited salary cap space.

So, there needs to be a laser focus on the here and now, with an eye on the future.

“In the short term, the obvious answer is they’re going to try to make this team into the mode of a J.T. Miller type as far as what they want out of their core,” Wyshynski stated. “I think Bennett is an intriguing possibility to that end. And then big picture, pie in the sky, there’s other things to consider too.”

WATCH the entire RINK RAP interview with Greg Wyshynski at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page.

Or you can LISTEN TO RINK RAP HERE, or wherever you enjoy your podcasts.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...d-2026-free-agent-option-espn-greg-wyshynski/

 

[New York Rangers]

What’s next for Rangers GM after contract extension, including clearing air with Mika Zibanejad

James Guillory-Imagn ImagesJames Guillory-Imagn Images

After overseeing one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history, Chris Drury landed a contract extension to remain as president and general manager last week.

You can view that one of two ways. Owner James Dolan has blind faith in the man he hand-picked back in 2021, the one he wanted so badly to be in charge of the operation that he canned popular team president John Davidson after two years on the job and sent GM Jeff Gorton packing, as well. Or Dolan has taken in the big picture, sees a Presidents’ Trophy and two trips to the Eastern Conference Final in four seasons, and truly believes in Drury’s vision of remaking the roster to rise from the ashes of 2024-25.

Maybe it’s a combination of both. Certainly it appears the public timing of the contract extension was meant to send a message to the players that Drury is in charge, no matter how much they complain about him and/or his methods.

“The fact that they did this is a shot across the bow at the locker room to say ‘You should know who’s in charge. You should all fall in line. And the squeaky wheels will be rolled out of the locker room before next season,’” ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski told Forever Blueshirts on the latest RINK RAP podcast.

And, listen, like it or not, that’s probably good business by Dolan. It’s clear the general manager has the full support and backing of the team owner. That Dolan expressed those sentiments is smart. He made this a black-and-white issue. There’s no grey here. That should make it easier for Drury to go about the job of retooling the Rangers roster and getting them back on track to being a playoff team, one that could contend for its first Stanley Cup championship since 1994.

So, now that Drury has that contract extension, let’s examine what’s on his plate moving forward in this critical offseason.

Related: Sam Bennett among free-agent forwards should watch in 1st round of playoffs

Chris Drury’s to-do list for Rangers before free agency July 1​

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Let’s focus on what’s right on front of Drury to deal with in the more immediate future. We will revisit his to-do list later in the offseason before NHL free agency begins July 1.

1. Clear air with Mika Zibanejad​

After firing Peter Laviolette last week, you’d think the first major thing to do for the Rangers would be to hire a new coach. And, yes, it’s massively important, of course. But don’t you also think that any prospective coach wants to know where things stand with Mika Zibanejad after the veteran center sulked through most of this season and expressed — without mentioning Drury by name — how upset he is with the poor communication from management and how it handled the departures of Barclay Goodrow and Jacob Trouba, not to mention floating Chris Kreider’s name in trade talks?

It must be a priority for Drury to sit down and clear the air with Zibanejad, who will play for Sweden in the upcoming World Championships. One way or the other, the two sides need to come to an understanding. Is Zibanejad all in on remaining with the Rangers? If not, will he waive his no-move clause to allow Drury to shop him this offseason?

There can be no half-measures here from the 32-year-old center. His sullen nature and half-hearted on-ice efforts helped submarine the Rangers this season. Whether one believes he was justified in feeling, acting and playing the way he did, the bottom line is that Zibanejad is a team leader and one of their most talented two-way players. But the Rangers need him at 100 percent.

The flip side is, do the Rangers want him? Did Drury and Co. see something in Zibanejad this season that makes them desperate to get out from under his $8.5 million salary cap hit the next five seasons?

Only one way to find out. Drury and Zibanejad must talk this out. Then the Rangers can plan moving forward. Perhaps a conversation is in order with Kreider, as well.

2. Hire the next coach​

Drury is likely well into the vetting process to determine who to interview as Peter Laviolette’s replacement. The GM promised an extensive search and said he’s open to hiring a first-time NHL coach. It should be of interest then to the Rangers that David Carle, the two-time NCAA champion with Denver and back-to-back gold medal winner with the United States at the World Junior Championship, pulled out of the running for the Chicago Blackhawks job.

Several current NHL assistants, like former Rangers players Marc Savard and Sylvain Lefebvre, could be in the mix, too.

Luring Mike Sullivan away from the Pittsburgh Penguins is a pipe dream, though we suspect that’s Drury’s perfect scenario. Perhaps Rick Tocchet, if he turns down a long-term offer from the Vancouver Canucks, or Jay Woodcroft will be options.

No matter who ends up with the gig, this will be Drury’s biggest decision this offseason, as he sets out to hire the third coach in his four-year tenure as GM.

3. Decide if Rangers keep their 1st-round pick in 2025 draft​

The Rangers finished with the 11th-worst record in the NHL this season, meaning that not only are they in the draft lottery, they have a shot at the No. 1 overall pick — albeit a 3 percent chance, according to Tankathon — since teams are allowed to move up a maximum of 10 spots, per NHL Draft Lottery rules. The worst-case scenario here is that the Rangers fall back the maximum two spots in the lottery and have the No. 13 overall pick.

So, if the Rangers remain in that 11-13 area, Drury has a big decision to make. The Rangers dealt this conditional pick to the Canucks in the J.T. Miller trade; the Canucks quickly shipped it to the Penguins to acquire defenseman Marcus Pettersson.

The pick’s condition is that it’s top-13 protected, meaning the Rangers can keep the pick this year and give up their first-round selection in 2026 instead. Or they can let the Penguins use the pick this year and hold on to their own selection next season, when experts project a deeper, more talented draft pool.

Unless the Rangers vault up in the draft after the lottery, when they would certainly keep the pick, there’s no clear-cut simple answer for Drury. They don’t plan on missing the playoffs next season, so that first-rounder might be lower in a deeper draft. Of course, no one expected the Rangers to finish with one of the League’s worst records this season. So, yeah, all bets are off.

The NHL Draft Lottery is expected to be held in May, though a date is not yet set. The Rangers have until 48 hours before the start of the draft on June 27 to inform the Penguins of their decision.

4. Make call on K’Andre Miller’s future with Rangers​

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Drury must make several important personnel decisions, including with Zibanejad and Kreider, as mentioned above. He’s got another to call to make on K’Andre Miller, who’s a restricted free agent with arbitration rights and due a sizeable raise.

The thing is, though, that the 25-year-old minute-munching defenseman has had some pretty wild swings with his overall play the past two seasons. Not only is his production way down (from 43 points in 2022-23 to 30 last season to 27 this), but Miller’s made a boatload of egregious mistakes in his own end, many of which cost the Rangers wins and points in the standings.

Then on the other hand, his advanced stats were not terrible this season, considering he’s typically out there against the opposition’s top line night after night. With Ryan Lindgren gone, Miller could very well be the long-term answer as Adam Fox’s partner moving forward.

The Rangers could get a decent haul in return if they trade Miller in his prime, though they’d then have to replace him on the blue line. Or they could re-sign him to a bridge contract — but that could be a sticky negotiation, considering he can become a UFA in 2027 and is likely seeking a rich long-term commitment from the Rangers.

On a smaller scale, Drury must decide the futures of pending RFAs Zac Jones, Jusso Parssinen and Arthur Kaliyev this offseason. Easier calls will be to re-sign RFAs Will Cuylle, Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...rury-after-contract-extension-mika-zibanejad/

 

[New York Rangers]

Massive Rangers opportunity after Mike Sullivan leaves Penguins, becomes option as coach

Charles LeClaire-Imagn ImagesCharles LeClaire-Imagn Images

A stunning turn of events with a division rival may have massive ramifications for the New York Rangers after the Pittsburgh Penguins parted ways with coach Mike Sullivan on Monday.

The Rangers fired Peter Laviolette more than a week ago after a trainwreck of a season left them on the outside looking in at the Stanley Cup Playoffs, just one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

Sullivan, who had two years remaining on his lucrative contract with the Penguins, seemingly jumps to the top of their list of candidates to replace Laviolette. Especially since it’s widely believed general manager Chris Drury tried to lure him to New York before.

It’s not just the Rangers who will have interest in Sullivan, though. There are six teams seeking a new coach (not including the Penguins), and Sullivan likely will have many options if he wishes to be behind a bench this season.

A former Rangers assistant from 2009-13 under coach John Tortorella, Sullivan guided the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. The 57-year-old is the all-time coaching wins leader in Penguins history with a record of 409-255-89 and is the 14th coach all-time in the NHL to win 400 games with one team.

Sullivan also coached the Boston Bruins from 2003-06, and his 479 wins are 32nd in NHL history. Of note, the Bruins have a coaching vacancy, and Sullivan is a Massachusetts native, starred at Boston University and could have interest in going back to the Bruins, where his son-in-law Charlie McAvoy is a star defenseman.

The Penguins are caught in between wanting to be a contender and in dire need of a rebuild. Despite a roster that includes Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Erik Karlsson, the Penguins missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the third straight season in 2024-25, finishing seventh in the eight team Metropolitan Division (34-36-12).

“On behalf of Fenway Sports Group and the Penguins organization, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan for his unwavering commitment and loyalty to the team and City of Pittsburgh over the past decade,” Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement.

“Mike is known for his preparation, focus and fierce competitiveness. I was fortunate to have a front-row seat to his dedication to this franchise for the past two seasons. He will forever be an enormous part of Penguins history, not only for the impressive back-to-back Cups, his impact on the core of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang and Bryan Rust, but more importantly, for his love and loyalty to the organization. This was not a decision that was taken lightly, but as we continue to navigate the Penguins through this transitional period, we felt it was the best course forward for all involved.”

Related: What’s next for Chris Drury after contract extension, including clearing air with Mika Zibanejad

THIS IS A DEVLEOPING STORY, MORE TO COME

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...y-mike-sullivan-leaves-penguins-option-coach/

 

[New York Rangers]

Gabe Perreault ready to ‘make an impact’ with Rangers next season after getting taste of NHL

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While there wasn’t a lot to be excited about for the New York Rangers in the final month of this lost season, one bright spot was the debut of highly-touted prospect Gabe Perreault. Though the 19-year-old burned a year of his entry-level contract to suit up in five games for the Rangers, it was a worthwhile experience and gave player and team a taste of what’s to come.

“It definitely helps,” Perreault said of his NHL initiation. “I played against some good teams. I think all five games I played in were against playoff teams. I think getting that experience, to see what it’s like a little bit, definitely helps me going into training this summer, knowing a little bit more of what to expect.”

Perreault didn’t register a point in those five games, but he certainly flashed his vast skill set at times. He recorded three shots on goal in his NHL debut April 2 against the Minnesota Wild, and created scoring chances for his linemates.

Gabe Perreault is a New York Ranger

Welcome to the League! pic.twitter.com/O9gKXU2vrl

— NHL (@NHL) April 2, 2025

He played a total of 72:11 in the five games, ranging from a low of 13:06 to a high of 16:01. There were signs of Perreault’s high IQ and playmaking ability, but it will likely take a full camp and preseason before he can truly settle in to a regular NHL role, should he make the team next season.

The 2023 first-round pick also got to watch some games from the press box over the final stretch for the Rangers. Scratching him was a controversial move in the eyes of many, but the young forward saw it as a valuable learning experience.

“Seeing from up top was also good,” Perreault said. “I think the communication overall was great. Just really overall thankful for the opportunity I was given.”

Related: ESPN insider considers ‘pie in the sky’ Connor McDavid option for Rangers in 2026

Gabe Perreault looks to add size, speed this summer​

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So what comes next for Perreault as he looks to become a mainstay in New York’s lineup?

“Just getting physically stronger,” he said. “Doing everything I can to put myself in a position to be ready at camp to make the team and make an impact.”

Putting on a bit of size would work wonders for the son of longtime NHL center Yanic Perreault, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 178 pounds. He’s the lightest player on the Rangers’ roster.

There’s no need for the young forward to add a ton of muscle, but getting stronger and faster would really help his game, as his playmaking and IQ are already at such a high level. More speed and added strength would make things easier for him when it comes to making plays, avoiding injury and preparing for the grind of an 82-game schedule.

“I think (putting on size and muscle) has always been a thing for me growing up,” Perreault explained. “That, and I think trying to get faster. Build my base, especially for my legs. Just trying to become more powerful, a better skater and overall stronger.”

If Perreault can do those things, he should make an impact for the Rangers in 2025-26. He’s found success at every level he’s played at, including 108 points in 73 NCAA games during two seasons at Boston College, as well as 20 points in 14 games while helping the United States win back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championship in 2024 and 2025.

Making the jump to the NHL is a tall task — one that many recent Rangers prospects have struggled with. Let’s see if he indeed can make that impact he promised.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/gabe-perreault-impact-next-season-taste-nhl/