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[New York Rangers]

Two ex-Rangers among 23 players to hit NHL waiver wire Sunday

Wendell Cruz-Imagn ImagesWendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Two former members of the New York Rangers were among 23 players to hit the NHL waiver wire Sunday.

Defenseman Zac Jones, who spent parts of five seasons with the Rangers, and forward Jake Leschyshyn were placed on waivers by the Buffalo Sabres.

In addition, forward Alex Belzile, who was an AHL All-Star last season with the Rangers’ affiliate in Hartford but became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 and signed with the Montreal Canadiens, was played on waivers for the purpose of sending him to Laval of the AHL. Belzile spent two seasons in the Rangers organization but never dressed for an NHL game.

Jones became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 after the Rangers elected not to tender him a qualifying offer. The lefty-shooting defenseman signed a one-year contract with the Sabres.

Today’s waiver wire:https://t.co/so7qgeK2D3 pic.twitter.com/GKl3z6N1CO

— PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) September 28, 2025

In 46 games with the Rangers last season, Jones had 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) and 46 blocked while averaging 17:15 of ice time. He also scored one goal in two games for Hartford. In 115 games during five seasons with the Blueshirts, he had 28 points (four goals, 24 assists) and was minus-10.

Jones began last season on the third defense pairing, then lost playing time to rookie Victor Mancini – who was sent to the Vancouver Canucks in the trade that brought center J.T. Miller back to the Rangers. Jones re-established himself in the top six only to be supplanted by incoming defensemen Urho Vaakanainen, Calvin de Haan and Carson Soucy after a flurry of trades.

But when the Rangers’ best defenseman, Adam Fox, went down with an injury in late February, Zones got back into back into the lineup and largely played well.

Related: Rangers stock report: Who’s trending up, down halfway through preseason

“I thought there were some good parts of the year,” Jones said on breakup day. “When I had some consistent time, I thought I played well. I thought my defensive game was a lot better this year as opposed to years prior. I lost the offensive game a little bit, but that’s something that this summer I’m really going to try and focus on and get back to.”

Per Natural Stat Trick, Jones was on ice for 157 high-danger scoring chances against and just 118 for, and the Rangers’ expected goals 5v5 was 47.79 percent when he was on the ice.

Sabres place former Rangers Zac Jones, Jake Leschyshyn on waivers​

The rub against Jones continued to be that he was viewed as being too small (he’s listed at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds) to adequately defend in his own end. But the Rangers certainly could have used his ability to move the puck quickly and exit the zone smartly when they imploded as a group defensively in 2024-25.

Consistent playing time was the biggest issue for Jones, who made his frustration known in an outburst to the media during an extended stretch when he was out of the lineup. It was a major struggle for Jones, who had stayed mostly optimistic throughout his time in the organization but told reporters in January, “I just feel like I’m rotting away a little bit.”

Leschyshyn also became a free agent when he did not receive a qualifying offer from the Rangers and ended up signing with the Sabres. He spent all of last season with Hartford, finishing with 24 points (13 goals, 11 assists) in 69 games.

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

The son of longtime NHL defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn played in a total of 14 games with the Rangers in 2022-23 and 2023-24. He was scoreless and went minus-4 with 17 hits.

Belzile had 19 goals, a team-high 56 points and 119 penalty minutes in 66 games with the Wolf Pack last season, his second with Hartford after signing with the Rangers in the summer of 2023. The 34-year-old signed a one-year contract with the Canadiens this summer. All 44 of his NHL games came with the Canadiens from 2020-21 to 2022-23; he scored six goals and 15 points. All but one assist came in 2022-23, when he played 33 games for Montreal.

Among other notable names to hit the waiver wire Sunday were ex-Islanders forward Hudson Fasching (Columbus Blue Jackets), forward Brendan Gaunce (Blue Jackets) and forward Kole Lind (Dallas Stars).

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/zac-jones-jake-leschyshyn-nhl-waivers/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers captain J.T. Miller appears to sustain injury at practice

James Guillory-Imagn ImagesJames Guillory-Imagn Images

J.T. Miler appeared to sustain a lower-body injury at New York Rangers practice Monday, in what could potentially be a major blow before the 2025-26 season even begins.

The Rangers captain was working with the top power-play unit when the apparent injury took place. Miller lunged to push a loose puck past a defender toward the left point. As play continued around him, Miller remained on all fours. He pushed himself up on his left leg, then gingerly took careful skating strides toward the bench. He glided the last several feet, before departing back into the locker room area.

Oh no: Miller went lunging to save a puck here and came up favoring his leg. You can see he’s in pain and he heads off to the locker room. #NYR pic.twitter.com/poxnzlOFNk

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) September 29, 2025

Miller reportedly was unavailable to the media after practice concluded, and was instead with team trainers.

The Rangers didn’t immediately have an update on Miller. Coach Mike Sullivan wasn’t at the MSG Training Center the apparent injury. Instead, Sullivan was with the game group at UBS Arena, preparing for a preseason game Monday against the New York Islanders.

All he said from Long Island is that Miller is being evaluated.

Related: Rangers coach eager to build relationship with new captain J.T. Miller

THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY, MORE TO COME

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-captain-jt-miller-injury-update/

 

[New York Rangers]

Key takeaways after Noah Laba’s OT goal lifts Rangers past Islanders 3-2

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn ImagesDennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Noah Laba is making it tough for the New York Rangers to keep him off the opening-night roster.

The 22-year-old center entered the Rangers preseason game against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena on Monday night leading the team with four points (all assists) in three games. He scored his first goal of the preseason at 1:01 of overtime to give the Rangers a 3-2 win.

Laba took a pass from Gabe Perreault, cut in from right wing, went across the top of the crease and beat Isles backup goaltender David Rittich with a backhander, giving the Rangers (2-1-1) a win on a night when they were outshot 32-19, out-attempted 70-34 and failed to earn a power play.

Laba with a beauty for the OT winner. pic.twitter.com/g8s7x3OLx7

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 30, 2025

The Rangers left many of their big guns back in Tarrytown, but they did bring No. 1 goaltender Igor Shesterkin, who stopped 21 of 22 shots in two periods before being replaced by Dylan Garand. The Islanders dressed most of their opening night lineup but played Rittich instead of starter Ilya Sorokin.

The difference in goaltending showed early.

The Rangers were outshot 10-2 and out-attempted 24-5 in the first 20 minutes, but they took advantage of some poor defensive zone play by the Isles to score the period’s only goal. Juuso Parssinen was in the right place at the right time when Will Cuylle’s pass caromed off Rittich’s skate and into the slot. He got inside position on former Rangers defenseman Tony DeAngelo and swatted the puck into the net at 5:30 for a 1-0 lead on the Blueshirts’ first shot on goal.

Rebound. Score.

Parssinen buries it! pic.twitter.com/hQVL8pgpDJ

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 29, 2025

The Islanders continued to dominate possession and made Shesterkin work, but the Rangers had two great chances to add to their lead. Taylor Raddysh misfired on a wide-open shot from the right circle, and Rittich made his only save of the period when he denied Dylan Roobroeck after the 6-foot-7 rookie got behind the defense.

Meanwhile, Shesterkin looked like he was ready for opening night. His best stop came when he got the top of his glove on a wide-open shot from the slot by DeAngelo not long after Parssinen’s goal.

Former Rangers forward Anthony Duclair tied the game 1-1 at 1:14 of the second period when he was left alone in front of the net and swatted Mathew Barzal’s pass from the left corner off Shesterkin and over the goal line. But Cuylle put the Rangers back in front at 3:45 when he circled the net and tossed a shot that went right through Rittich, who should have had it.

Cools from a sharp angle. pic.twitter.com/tMSRFEhWc4

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) September 30, 2025

Matt Rempe had the best chances for the Rangers when he came in alone after leaving the box following a tripping penalty at 14:13, forcing Rittich to make his best two best saves of the game.

Garand took the ice for the third period and allowed the tying goal at 11:33 when DeAngelo beat him with a screened wrist shot from the high slot.

The Rangers are 2-1-1 and don’t play again unjtil Thursday, when they host the New Jersey Devils before completing their preseason schedule Saturday afternoon with a road game against the Boston Bruins. Their regular-season opener is Oct. 7 against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden.

Related: Rangers captain J.T. Miller sustains injury in practice, could practice Tuesday

Key takeaways after Rangers’ 3-2 OT win against Islanders​

1. Igor Shesterkin is ready to go​

The Rangers’ hopes of returning to the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season largely rest on the NHL’s highest-paid goaltending. If Shesterkin’s play against the Islanders was any indication, he’s primed for a big season.

Matt Krohn-Imagn Images

The Blueshirts were outplayed the Islanders for the vast majority of the game. But Shesterkin was more than equal to the task. Duclair’s goal came after a defensive breakdown, but aside from that, he was flawless. Shesterkin looked like the goalie who won the Vezina Trophy in 2021-22. He was quick moving across the crease, challenged shooters and aggressive in moving the puck.

Shesterkin has allowed two goals on 33 shots in 70 minutes of preseason play. He’s likely to play one more preseason game before taking the net at the Garden on opening night.

2. Will Cuylle-Jusso Parssinen-Gabe Perreault line excels​

With J.T. Miller, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere and Vincent Trocheck left behind, the unit of Cuylle, Parssinen and Perreault was the Rangers’ best trio. Cuylle had a goal and an assist, Perreault contributed two assists and Parssinen helped his cause in the battle for the third-line center role by scoring his first preseason goal. Perreault was plus-3; his linemates were each plus-2.

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Cuylle was selected as the game’s First Star. The big question for coach Mike Sullivan is whether to leave him on the third line or play him in the top six. Judging by his play against the Islanders, Cuylle – a 20-goal scorer last season – looks capable of handling the advanced responsibility.

“He isn’t 6-foot-3, but he plays like he’s 6-foot-5, 230 pounds,” Parssinen said of Cuylle. “He hits everybody. He’s really good with the puck. He’s kind of like a horse.”

Related: Rangers coach eager to build relationship with new captain J.T. Miller

3. Noah Laba comes through again​

This was the toughest of the rookie center’s four preseason games. Laba had his most difficult test so far going primarily against Barzal’s line and wasn’t much of a factor through regulation.

But he wasted no time making the most of his opportunity during the 3-on-3 overtime, using a slick move to get in alone before beating Rittich to win the game.

It’s still more likely than not that Laba will begin the season in the AHL with Hartford in order to get more playing time, but he continues to give Sullivan and his staff something to think about.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/key-takeaways-after-ot-win-vs-islanders/

 

[New York Rangers]

Popular ex-Rangers forward out 7-8 weeks with lower-body injury for Wild

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn ImagesStephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

It turns out that the Minnesota Wild will be without Mats Zuccarello for more than “a bit.” It was revealed by the team Tuesday that the popular former New York Rangers forward is out at least 7-8 weeks with a lower-body injury.

Zuccarello’s been sidelined since the start of training camp with what is believed to be a back injury. After telling reporters earlier this month that Zuccarello could miss several days, Wild coach John Hynes extended that guesstimate Sunday.

“‘Zuccy’ is going to be out for a bit … I don’t know the timeline yet,” Hynes stated Sunday.

Now the Wild and their coach know the timeline, and it’s certainly not good news for them. Zuccarello played a big role helping the Wild land the first wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Western Conference last season. They did so despite superstar forward Kirill Kaprizov missing 41 games with a lower-body injury that required surgery.

Zuccarello was fourth on the Wild with 19 goals and 54 points. His 16 power-play points tied for second most on the club, behind Matt Boldy (21).

The 38-year-old plays in all game situations and special teams for the Wild. Last season, he averaged 19:39 TOI. So, his absence leaves a sizeable hole in the lineup.

Earlier Tuesday, the Wild signed Kaprizov to a massive eight-year, $136 million contract extension, that begins in 2026-27. The $17 million average annual value is most in NHL history.

Zuccarello is in the final season of a two-year, $8.25 million extension he signed in September of 2023, which pays him $4.125 million annually.

Related: How J.T. Miller ‘handled taking s***’ from Mats Zuccarello as Rangers rookie

Mats Zuccarello latest ex-Rangers forward injured this preseason​

Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

This is Zuccarello’s 16th NHL season, seventh with the Wild. He’s played more games (904), scored more goals (217), had more assists (473), and totaled more points (690) than any other player born in Norway in League history.

Signed by the Rangers as undrafted free agent in May 2010, Zuccarello was an immensely popular player for nine seasons on Broadway. The 5-foot-8 forward won the admiration of teammates, coaches, and Rangers fans alike, beginning in the 2010-11 season until he was shipped to the Dallas Stars ahead of the 2019 NHL Trade Deadline.

Zuccarello won the prestigious Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award three times. Only Adam Graves (five) and Ryan Callahan (four) won it more often than Zuccarello.

He scored an NHL career-high 26 goals and had 61 points for the Rangers in 2015-16. Zuccarello’s twice scored 20+ goals for the Wild, including 24 in 2021-22, when he also registered a career-best 79 points.

Just last week, another former Rangers forward received suboptimal injury news. Kaapo Kakko sustained a broken hand after he was slashed in a preseason game for the Seattle Kraken and is out six weeks,

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/zuccarello-injury-update-wild/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers ‘err on side of caution’ with injured J.T. Miller, Sam Carrick

Danny Wild-Imagn ImagesDanny Wild-Imagn Images

When the New York Rangers took to the ice for practice Tuesday at training camp, two of their top four centers were missing. Captain J.T. Miller and gritty fourth-liner Sam Carrick each sat out practice with a lower-body injury.

The good news, though, is that neither veteran appears to be seriously hurt. Per coach Mike Sullivan each is day to day.

“Obviously, we’re going to err on the side of caution with all these guys with where we’re at,” he explained after practice.

The Rangers are one week away from the start of the 2025-26 season. There are still two preseason games on the docket, though it’s unclear whether Miller and/or Carrick might play Thursday against the New Jersey Devils at Madison Square Garden or Saturday in Boston against the Bruins.

Miller came up lame after extending himself to play the puck during a drill during practice Monday. It appeared he could be badly hurt when he struggled to push himself up off the ice and then gingerly skated off to the dressing room. But Sullivan confirmed Monday night that Miller was day to day, and that was reiterated by the coach the following afternoon.

Oh no: Miller went lunging to save a puck here and came up favoring his leg. You can see he’s in pain and he heads off to the locker room. #NYR pic.twitter.com/poxnzlOFNk

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) September 29, 2025

Sullivan has said a few times in camp that he prefers for his veterans to play three preseason games. Miller and Carrick each appeared in one preseason game, so far. But there’s no way either will play if not healthy before the regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Oct. 7.

Mike Zibanejad, Vincent Trocheck, Alexis Lafreniere, Adam Fox, and Vladislav Gavrikov are all healthy but none played more than one of the first four preseason games, so far. Artemi Panarin, who missed time earlier in camp with a lower-body injury, practiced again Tuesday. However, there’s no word if he’ll get into either of the remaining two preseason games.

Defenseman Braden Schneider made his preseason debut Monday and assisted on Noah Laba’s overtime goal in a 3-2 win against the Islanders. Schneider was held out of all camp scrimmages and preseason games until Monday after he had shoulder surgery in April to repair a torn labrum.

Rangers coach knows Mika Zibanejad ‘capable’ of shifting back to center if/when needed​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

The Rangers made another round of cuts Tuesday, trimming the training camp roster to 29 players. But they had enough centers to practice, even without Miller and Carrick.

In fact, you know who took Miller’s spot in the middle of his line? Zibanejad, that’s who.

Now, that shouldn’t come as a surprise since Zibanejad has played the vast majority of his 14 seasons at center. But the 32-year-old is set to start this season on right wing on a line with Miller.

Sullivan was asked after practice if there’ll be times Zibanejad shifts back to the middle for a stretch.

“Yes. I know Mika can play center. He’s an excellent center iceman,” Sullivan responded. “Nothing’s etched in stone. We’re beginning to go on a journey as a team and we’re going to have to figure out how do we have success week to week, month to month.

“So, we know Mika is capable of playing in the middle and there potentially could be a scenario where we do move him in the middle.”

Zibanejad centered Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault at practice. Trocheck was flanked by Panarin and Will Cuylle. Juuso Parssinen was the 3C with Conor Sheary and Taylor Raddysh on the wings. Carrick was replaced by Noah Laba on the fourth line, with Matt Rempe and Adam Edstrom as the towering wings.

Brett Berard and Jonny Brodzinski rotated in with the forward group Tuesday.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-miller-carrick-injury-update/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers NCAA prospects preview: Ty Henricks eyes championship repeat

Jeff Curry-Imagn ImagesJeff Curry-Imagn Images

As the calendar turns from September to October, the NCAA men’s ice hockey season is set to begin. The New York Rangers have seven prospects currently playing at the collegiate level, continuing their paths in hopes to one day make it to the professional ranks.

A sixth-round pick by the Rangers in the 2023 draft, sophomore Ty Henricks played 41 games for the Western Michigan Broncos last season, scoring 13 points (eight goals, five assists). Highlights from his freshman campaign included a goal in his NCAA debut against Ferris State on Oct. 11, and scoring the game-winning goal in the National Championship game against Boston University.

OKAY TY! @ty_henricks makes it 3-1 Broncos with 14:42 left in the second period. #MFrozenFour x ESPN2 / @WMUHockey pic.twitter.com/ARfmIHXfgw

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) April 13, 2025

After spending the majority of his freshman year in a limited depth role on the fourth line for the Broncos, Henricks is poised for a breakout season in an elevated spot on the depth chart and will be relied on to produce more offensively. Western Michigan is ranked first overall in the USCHO.com Men’s Division I Poll, receiving 29 first place votes. The Broncos host an exhibition game against the U.S. National Under-18 Team on Saturday to begin their quest to repeat as national champion.

Drafted in the third round in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, Sean Barnhill of Michigan State spent the 2024-25 season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound defenseman tallied four goals and eight assists for 12 points and had a plus-8 rating in 54 games. According to EliteProspects 2025 NHL Draft Guide, “With a deep, balanced stance and quick feet, Barnhill denies rushes and then jumps up into the play. He matches the footwork of smaller, high-skill attackers with ease, and he rarely overextends. The skating appears most in his rush defense, where he makes some high-level stops with his feet moving after taking away the middle.”

Barnhill fits the mold of a towering prospect the Rangers front office seem to like. He is a good, mobile skater, which complements his long reach, and has the ability to move the puck well. He is viewed as a solid two-way defenseman, “an animal,” per the NHL Network analysts at the draft. He’ll have plenty of time to fill out and develop at the NCAA level, being part of a strong Michigan State team.

The Spartans were chosen as the top team in the 2025 Big Ten preseason coaches poll and are ranked No. 3 overall nationally, receiving 14 first-place votes. Michigan State hosts an exhibition against Windsor on Friday.

After watching teammate Gabe Perreault turn pro with the Rangers and skate in five NHL games last spring, defenseman Drew Fortescue chose to return to Boston College for his junior season. The 6-foot-2 left-shot blueliner skated in 36 games for the Eagles in 2024-25, registering 11 assists and 29 blocked shots. His plus-28 rating was tied for seventh-best nationally and second-best in Hockey East.

Fortescue also helped the United States win a second consecutive gold medal at the 2025 World Junior Championship. Despite recording no points in the tournament, Fortescue tied for 3rd among all defensemen with a plus-6 rating, and played on the top pairing for the Americans. During the semi-final against Czechia, the TSN broadcast said this about Fortescue “Sometimes you don’t notice him in a game and it’s because he’s doing everything right. He’s a Rangers draft pick – a good, solid, reliable defender coming your way pretty soon.”

Boston College ranks fifth in the Hockey East Men’s Preseason Coach’s Poll and sixth in the USCHO.com Men’s Division I Poll. They kick off the season against Quinnipiac University on Friday.

Senior forward Brody Lamb was named as one of three captains at the University of Minnesota for the 2025-26 season.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 '𝗖' 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗱

Introducing our #PrideOnIce captains for 2025-26! 〽 pic.twitter.com/KfmNpvrbCY

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) September 5, 2025

The Byron, Minnesota, native is back on campus as the Golden Gopher’s highest returning scorer, after he posted a career-best 17 goals and nine assists for 26 points. He also led the team in power-play goals with eight. Lamb’s been named Big Ten Conference Star of the Week four times in three seasons, and skated in 117 career games.

Minnesota is ranked eighth in the USCHO.com Men’s Division I Poll, and third behind Michigan State and Penn State in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. They host a weekend series against Michigan Tech this Friday and Saturday.

Related: New York Rangers 2025 NHL Draft tracker: Selection, analysis for each pick

2 top Rangers prospects playing in NCAA this season​

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

EJ Emery, the Rangers first-round pick in 2024, returns to North Dakota for his sophomore season, looking to round out his game after recording a lone assist in 31 games with the Fighting Hawks. The 6-foot-3 right-shot defenseman blocked 29 shots as a freshman and finished with a plus-3 rating. After being a late roster cut from the United States World Junior Championships team in 2025, Emery hopes to crack the lineup for the 2026 tournament.

Despite a lack of offensive production, Rangers director of player development Jed Ortmeyer believes that Emery’s development is on the right track and he showed flashes of promise at the NCAA level.

“He had a really good year. He’s one of the youngest defensemen in college hockey as a true freshman,” Ortmeyer said this summer. “It’s a tough league he was playing in. He was able to step in and have a big role and play big minutes for them. I think his development is heading in the right direction and he’s on a great path at a great school. We are excited about what he’s doing and where he’s going.”

The Rangers don’t want Emery to rush through his development process. Ortmeyer feels Emery is not only making strides as a player, but his mind is in the right place.

“I can’t put a timeline on it, everybody develops at their own pace,” Ortmeyer said. “He’s growing into his body. He’s put in a lot of work with the nutritionist and everybody to make sure he’s developing as best as he can, as fast as he can. He’s great to work with. He’s eager to get better. Again, he’s in a great situation in North Dakota and we are excited to keep working with him.”

North Dakota was picked third in the NCHC preseason media poll, receiving five first place votes. The Fighting Hawks rank 11th in the USCHO.com Men’s Division I Poll and open the season Saturday with an exhibition against Manitoba.

The Rangers may have gotten a steal during the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft selecting Malcom Spence. The 6-foot-1 forward was a projected by many to be a first-round pick. Serving as an assistant captain this past season with the Erie Otters of the Ontario Hockey League, Spence recorded 32 goals and 41 assists for 73 points in 65 games.

“I’m really excited to get going.”

More from Malcolm Spence: https://t.co/OfxmJR7kwv pic.twitter.com/Vtdh2s5HJJ

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) June 28, 2025

New York ultimately selected Spence with the No. 43 overall pick, and the Rangers love his speed and strong skating abilities.

“His speed is a weapon,” Ortmeyer explained. “His skating ability too. He’s tenacious with the puck. He’s been able to produce at the junior level. I think it’ll be a good spot for him to develop.”

The 18-year-old forward is set to play at the prestigious University of Michigan this upcoming season.

“I know to play in the NHL, you have to be physically ready,” Spence said. “Maybe there are parts of my game skill-wise that may be ready, but physically I’m not. I know going to Michigan is going to give me more runway time. For me to jump in as an impact player, that’s what I want to do.”

Michigan is ranked 12th in the USCHO.com Men’s Division I Poll, and picked fourth in the Big Ten hockey preseason coaches poll. The Wolverines host Mercyhurst for a weekend series Friday and Saturday to begin the 2025-26 season.

Swedish defenseman Rasmus Larsson transferred to Robert Morris University after skating in 29 games for the Northern Michigan Wildcats last season as a freshman. Larsson ranked second among NMU defenseman with three goals and 60 blocked shots. A fifth-round selection in 2023 by the Rangers, Larsson is the first NHL Draft pick to join Robert Morris University men’s ice hockey program. The Colonials open the season Saturday at Bowling Green.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-ncaa-ice-hockey-prospects-2025/

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers appear set on defense, despite being ‘thrilled’ with prospect

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesVincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Scott Morrow’s made quite the impression at his first training camp with the New York Rangers. But that might not be enough to earn a spot on their opening-night roster.

The 22-year-old is one of 26 players remaining on the training-camp roster. More importantly, he’s among eight defensemen vying for seven spots on the roster. And by the looks of things, Morrow could very well be the odd man out when the Rangers open the regular season Tuesday at Madison Square Garden against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The past two practices, Morrow’s partnered with Matthew Robertson on a de-facto fourth pair. Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox make up the No. 1 pair; veterans Carson Soucy and Will Borgen reunited on the second pair after doing so earlier in their careers with the Seattle Kraken; and the third pair appears set with Urho Vaakanainen and Braden Schneider.

Great patience from Scott Morrow eventually leads to an absolute snipe from Othmann, 2-2. #NYR pic.twitter.com/Snbrov52aY

— Snark Messier (@NYRFanatic) September 25, 2025

If that remains the case, Morrow seems destined to begin the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League. Sitting in the press box as the seventh defenseman makes no sense for a top prospect like Morrow. In the minors, he’d likely play more than 20 minutes a night in all game situations and on both special teams.

“We’re thrilled that he’s a Ranger, and we really like what we’ve seen at this point,” coach Mike Sullivan raved about Morrow following practice Wednesday.

Though Morrow’s played in all four preseason games to date, Sullivan’s recent actions speak louder than his words. It appears the Rangers will go with a more experienced top six on defense, despite Morrow’s high-end skill set offensively.

“I think he’s a big, strong kid,” Sullivan said about the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder who has two points (goal, assist) in the preseason. “I think he skates well and has some offensive instincts. He has the ability to run a power play up top. I think he’s getting better defending, and that’s an area I’m fairly confident our coaching staff can help him there.”

Scott Morrow – New York Rangers (1)* pic.twitter.com/u8LcH1biPn

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) September 21, 2025

There’s no doubt the coach likes Morrow, whom the Rangers acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes this summer in the K’Andre Miller trade. The 2021 second-round pick (No. 40 overall) is as advertised offensively, but might not quite be NHL-ready on the defensive side of the puck.

Reliable defensive play is one of the main reasons highly-regarded forward Brennan Othmann was cut Tuesday and will begin the season with Hartford, and not on Broadway. Obviously, defending is an even bigger responsibility for Morrow, considering his position.

Scott Morrow could begin season in minors instead of with Rangers​

Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

An NCAA star over three seasons at UMass, Morrow turned pro last season and totaled 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 52 games with AHL Chicago, third-most among first-year defensemen. He also appeared in 14 games with the Hurricanes, scored his first NHL goal, and finished with six points.

Whether it’s now or a bit down the road, Morrow’s going to play an important role with the Rangers. He profiles as puck-moving defenseman on the third pair, who can quarterback the second power-play unit, behind Adam Fox on PP1.

And if Morrow is sent to the minors to begin the season, keep this in mind.

“Rosters in the NHL are fluid. They can change in a day. They could change next week,” Sullivan said Tuesday. “If a decision is reached today, it’s not like it’s etched in stone.”

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Robertson is a bit of a late-bloomer, entering his fifth pro season after the Rangers selected him in the second round (No. 49 overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft. The 24-year-old took a clear step forward in his development last season with Hartford after battling injuries and inconsistencies the previous three years.

He’s got good size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds), is a decent puck mover, and played his first two NHL games with the Rangers at the end of last season. Robertson has the makings of a trusted seventh defenseman, but not a prospect whose development would be stunted in that role.

The Rangers conclude the preseason with a home game against the New Jersey Devils on Thursday and a matinee contest on the road Saturday against the Boston Bruins.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...row-rangers-training-camp-roster-competition/

 

[New York Rangers]

How Mike Sullivan weighs ‘balancing act’ with Rangers youngsters

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

The question asked to Mike Sullivan on Thursday morning was about Scott Morrow. But the coach’s answer pertains to each of the New York Rangers prospects and younger players.

To paraphrase the question: if one of the kids lands a spot on the Rangers roster, does that mean he needs to play regularly as opposed to spending the bulk of his time watching from the press box as an extra and healthy scratch?

Again, the question was specifically about Morrow, the 22-year-old defenseman getting a long look to possibly earn a spot on the bottom pair in New York. But it applies to young forwards Gabe Perreault and Noah Laba, still here trying to earn a spot in the lineup, and Brennan Othmann, who already was assigned to Hartford of the American Hockey League earlier in the week.

“My experience tells me there’s no one right way or wrong way to do things,” Sullivan explained. “I think every player is unique and I think all players need to be handled on a case by case basis … and then we try to make the best decision for the both the player and the organization. Usually, they go hand in hand.”

Noah Laba scores the overtime winner as he continues to impress in his preseason with the Rangers.@NYRangers | #NYR pic.twitter.com/bPYXvo61EM

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) September 30, 2025

Sullivan acknowledged “it’s hard [for a young player] to get better on the sidelines.” He added that some youngsters can be put right into the NHL fire “and never look back.” However, others may need to go through a “process” before ascending to the NHL.

Othmann appears to be such a case. Sullivan explained earlier in the week that the 2021 first-round pick needs to improve his two-way game, especially “on the defensive side of the puck.” So, Othmann will work on those things and play big minutes in the minors to start the season.

On Tuesday, the coach emphasized that the roster isn’t” set in stone” and it remains “fluid” throughout the season. Translation: a demotion doesn’t need to come with any finality at all.

“That’s part of the balancing act,” the coach said. “The question I think we’re all trying to answer is what path is best suited for a young player so that the young player can become the impact player we hope they can be in the most expeditious fashion?

“So, we can just throw guys into the lineup and say ‘Go figure it out.’ Or we can try to be a little more calculated and more proactive in trying to influence that development process, so that player progresses in the most optimal way.”

Scott Morrow trying to crack Rangers defense corps at ‘hardest position to play’ in NHL​

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Morrow, Perreault, and Laba each is in the lineup Thursday, when the Rangers host the New Jersey Devils in a preseason contest. Laba is trying to beat out Juuso Parssinen for the 3C role, and leads the Rangers with five points (one goal, four assists) in four preseason games. Perreault has two goals and an assist in four games, looking to prove he’s worthy of a top-nine opportunity in the lineup.

And Morrow? Sullivan had high praise for the highly-skilled defenseman the other day, though it feels like Morrow will start the season in Hartford. Still, the Connecticut native does get another opportunity to impress the coaching staff Thursday against the Devils, including a chance to quarterback the top power-play unit featuring Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere, and Vincent Trocheck.

Great patience from Scott Morrow eventually leads to an absolute snipe from Othmann, 2-2. #NYR pic.twitter.com/Snbrov52aY

— Snark Messier (@NYRFanatic) September 25, 2025

So, we’ll see how his situation shakes out.

When talking about 24-year-old defenseman Matthew Robertson on Thursday, Sullivan emphasized that there’s a steep learning curve for young defensemen in the NHL. Keep that in mind before there’s a decision announced on Morrow.

“I think it’s the hardest position to play in the League,” Sullivan stated. “The goaltending position might be the most important position. But playing defense is the most difficult.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-coach-on-young-players-development/

 

[New York Rangers]

Key takeaways after Rangers lose 3-1 to Devils with roster cuts looming

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn ImagesDennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Perhaps the New York Rangers and New Jersey Devils were in a rush to get the regular season started. Because they sure played a quick-moving preseason game Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, one that the Rangers lost 3-1 despite surrendering only 12 shots on goal.

The Devils (3-2-1) scored twice on six shots in the third period to break a 1-1 tie. Ondrej Palat scored a power-play goal at 2:44 to make it 2-1. And Dawson Mercer scored into an empty net on a shot from beyond center ice with 1:23 remaining in regulation to finish the Rangers off.

Adam Edstrom scored New York’s only goal, and didn’t even shoot the puck to record his first of the preseason. New Jersey defenseman Simon Nemec tried to clear the puck out of his own end of the ice, but instead shot it off Edstrom’s skate and between the pads of Jacob Markstrom, who was caught off guard at 13:30 of the second period.

Eddy finds the back of the net. pic.twitter.com/OiPRd1YeRm

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 3, 2025

That goal tied the game 1-1. New Jersey opened the scoring in a fast-paced first period that featured very few play stoppages. Matt Rempe’s turnover in the offensive zone led directly to Paul Cotter’s goal off the rush at 16:58.

Rempe won a battle for the puck along the right-wing boards, but his pass back to the blue line split rookie defensemen Brendan Morrow and Matthew Robertson. New Jersey’s Arseny Gritsyuk took off the other way, and his cross-ice pass was buried past Rangers goalie Jonathan Quick by Cotter.

FILTHY TWO-ON-ONE FROM THE DEVILS AND PAUL COTTER CASHES IN pic.twitter.com/qgaZXNppsK

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) October 5, 2024

The Devils owned the puck in the first period, forcing the Rangers to defend in their own end most of the opening 20 minutes. However, the Rangers didn’t allow clear shooting lanes and the Devils managed only three shots on goal — which was still one more than the Rangers.

However, the home team flipped the script in the second period, out-shooting the Devils 12-3 and posting a 73.2 percent expected goal share, per Natural Stat Trick. Still, the only they scored was off a fluky bounce. Markstrom made a pair of solid saves late in the period, point-blank against Edstrom at 17:20 and then against Conor Sheary on the doorstep 90 seconds later.

Palat’s eventual game-winning goal in the third period came on New Jersey’s only power play — the Rangers only had one, as well. The veteran Devils forward had his stick on the ice to redirect Dougie Hamilton’s low shot between Quick’s pads.

Alexis Lafreniere nearly tied the game at 17:17, bursting behind the defense before his backhand attempt off the rush was stuffed by Markstrom, who finished with 21 saves.

The Rangers (2-2-1) have one more preseason game, Saturday afternoon in Boston against the Bruins, before opening up the 2025-26 season schedule at home against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. They don’t face the Devils again until March 7.

Here are three takeaways after the Rangers dropped a 3-1 decision to the Devils in this preseason contest.

1. No Bread for you​

There was some concern when the Rangers took the ice for warmups and Artemi Panarin was not out there with his teammates. The Breadman was expected to make his preseason debut after missing the first four games due to a lower-body injury. But instead, he was held out of this game, too, as a precaution.

Panarin returned to practice last Friday and was a full participant at the morning skate Thursday. Hence the surprise, and concern, when he was a late scratch.

“I told you guys, he’s day to day, and we were going to err on the side of caution, him and J.T. [Miller]. And that’s where we are right now,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said postgame.

Miller sustained a lower-body injury and didn’t play Thursday.

Sheary moved up from the third line to take Panarin’s place on a line with Vincent Trocheck and Lafreniere. Edstrom bumped up from the fourth line into Sheary’s spot next to Juuso Parssinen and Taylor Raddysh. Jonny Brodzinski drew into the lineup on the fourth line and skated alongside Noah Laba and Rempe.

2. Vincent Trocheck brings snarl, skill combination to Rangers preseason​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Don’t tell Trocheck this was just a preseason game. It was the Devils on the other side of the ice, and the 32-year-old center only knows one way to play the game. Full on.

Trocheck led the Rangers with three shots on goal and six hits. He also made the passes on each of New York’s best scoring chances — those mentioned above by Edstrom, Sheary, and Lafreniere.

He also drew the ire of Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler in the final minutes of regulation and the pair were assessed coincidental minor penalties for roughing. Sitting in the penalty box, Trocheck removed his bubble mask (used to protect his broken nose) and helmet and barked at Siegenthaler.

“I think that’s a big part of his game,” Sullivan explained. “I think he’s at his best when he’s in the middle of it. That’s the type player he is, he’s a fierce competitor. … He plays the game with a lot of courage.”

There’s a reason it can be argued that Trocheck remains the heartbeat of the Rangers.

3. Next round of Rangers cuts could come before final preseason game​

Sullivan is eager to get his opening-night roster in place. The Rangers currently have 26 players and need to get down to the maximum 23 by next week. It’s ecpected they’ll cut four players and start the season with 22 on the roster.

“Ideally we’d like to get a little closer to the roster, and , obviously, I’ll talk to [Rangers general manager Chris Drury] tonight and tomorrow morning, and pout a gameplan together for that,” Sullivan stated after the loss to the Devils.

Each of the young players on the bubble played his fifth straight preseason game Thursday, though none noticeably stood out. Laba, who leads the Rangers with five points (one goal, four assists) this preseason, started on the fourth line, but moved up in the third period to take extra shifts with Parssinen on the third line. They teamed with Gabe Perreault — who had a quiet night — for one extended O-zone shift, buzzing the Devils net 13 minutes into the final period.

Morrow logged 15:07 TOI and was on ice for all four goals (three against, one for) in the game.

“We’re trying to give some of these guys as long a look as we can and give them every opportunity to play so that we can get more and more familiar with their play and how they might fit within the roster right now,” Sullivan said.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-devils-preseason-game-recap/

 

[New York Rangers]

What’s next for Rangers after Gabe Perreault, Scott Morrow assigned to AHL

Ed Mulholland-Imagn ImagesEd Mulholland-Imagn Images

Gabe Perreault and Scott Morrow won’t begin the 2025-26 season in the NHL with the New York Rangers. Arguably their two best prospects were assigned to Hartford of the American Hockey League on Friday, one day before New York’s preseason finale against the Boston Bruins.

Each youngster impressed Mike Sullivan and the coaching staff during training camp. But it was always going to be difficult for either to crack the opening-night lineup considering how deep the veteran Rangers roster is.

Perreault played all five preseason games to date and leads the Rangers with two goals. His four points are second most on the team, behind rookie center Noah Laba (five points; one goal, four assists), who’s one of 24 players remaining on the roster.

Gabe Perreault finds Noah Laba with a head full of steam, and Laba puts on a great move for the OT winner #NYR pic.twitter.com/nQoi75x4C2

— Broadway Block (@Broadway_Block) September 30, 2025

Sullivan was pleased with the way each played during camp and said he sees them as impact players in the not-too-distant future.

“We’re really excited about both of those guys,” he said Friday. “We think they had terrific training camps; they certainly made an impression on everybody, and we believe these guys have the potential to have a lasting impact on the New York Rangers.

“We’re trying to make the best decisions we can to try to help that process and get these guys as close to pushing their way onto the roster as they can.”

The Rangers must trim one more player to be at the 23-man limit before the regular season opens Tuesday with a home game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Perreault, 20, was held without a point and did not have a shot on goal in a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday despite playing on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Will Cuylle. Perreault (2023) is the second first-round pick by the Rangers assigned to the minors this week; Brennan Othmann (2021) will also begin the season in Hartford.

Like Perreault, Morrow was given a long look in training camp. The 22-year-old defenseman, who was acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes this offseason in the K’Andre Miller trade, had two points (a goal and an assist) in five preseason games.

“We’re thrilled that he’s a Ranger, and we really like what we’ve seen at this point,” Sullivan raved about Morrow following practice earlier in the week.

With Adam Fox not playing, Morrow quarterbacked the top power-play unit against the Devils. Though the Rangers had only one opportunity with the man advantage, Morrow didn’t look out of place at all, playing to his strength as a highly-skilled puck-moving defenseman. He was on ice for all four goals in the game (one for, three against).

Perreault, a standout the previous two seasons at Boston College, turned pro last spring and was scoreless in five games with the Rangers. Morrow, an NCAA star at UMass for three years, had 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 52 games during his rookie pro season with AHL Chicago in 2024-25. He’s played 16 NHL games with the Hurricanes and had six points (one goal, five assists).

What’s next for Rangers after trimming roster, assigning 2 rookies to minors​

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

1. Not end of the world for Rangers rookies​

The writing was on the wall for most of training camp, and especially of late, that the Rangers likely were going to keep veterans over the kids to begin the season. For one, players like Perreault and Morrow don’t require waivers to be sent down to the minors. Second, it makes no sense to keep either youngster in the NHL if he’s not going to play regularly. Sitting in the press box isn’t the best place to develop talented 20-somethings, neither of whom made it impossible for the Rangers to cut them.

“They’re two young players that we’re extremely excited about,” Sullivan said. “These guys, in our estimation, are NHL players in the making. Our job is to try to create a path to help them grow and develop, and to become what we hope will be the impact players that we think they’re capable of being.”

So, they will join Othmann in Hartford, play big minutes in every game situation and on both specialty teams, and continue to grow their respective games. There’s no question each has the talent to play now in the NHL, but the experience they’ll get in the AHL is invaluable — and it will make each a better player once they inevitably get the call to join the Rangers.

That’s something Sullivan emphasized earlier in the week when he discussed Othmann’s demotion.

“Rosters in the NHL are fluid,” the coach said Tuesday. “They can change in a day. They can change in 24 or 48 hours. They can change next week. If a decision is made today, it’s not etched in stone. There’s no finality to it.”

2. Rangers must make decision on Noah Laba​

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The biggest surprise of training camp is also the last-standing rookie remaining on the roster with one more small round of cuts to come this weekend. Though he didn’t stand out against the Devils on Thursday, Laba has impressed right from the start of rookie camp right up until this point. He’s big (6-foot-3, 213 pounds), strong, fast, smart, and very mature for a 22-year-old — who just a year ago was playing at Colorado College.

Laba has all the attributes of what you want in a 3C. He’s good on face-offs, responsible defensively and skilled offensively. It’s not that his main competitors, Juuso Parssinen and Jonny Brodzinski, have been bad in the preseason. It’s just that Laba’s been that good.

But like Perreault and Morrow, Laba would still benefit from AHL seasoning and also doesn’t require waivers to be sent down. His immediate fate could be tied to injuries further up the lineup. If J.T. Miller (lower-body injury; practiced Friday in non-contact jersey) and/or Artemi Panarin (upper-body injury; didn’t practice Friday) aren’t ready for opening night, Laba could slip into the lineup, with Parssinen on the wing, as was the case at practice Friday when Panarin didn’t participate.

3. Sign or release Conor Sheary from PTO​

Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

Should the Rangers decide not to sign veteran wing Conor Sheary, who’s in camp on a PTO, then Laba could make his way on to the roster as the 3C, centering Parssinen and Taylor Raddysh. The problem there is that Sheary’s been really good in the preseason, a demon on the forecheck, and productive with one goal, two assists, and a slew of prime scoring chances.

The 33-year-old also is a favorite of Sullivan’s. They won consecutive Stanley Cup championships together with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017. And the coach spoke glowingly about Sheary this week.

“I’ve coached him for a while,” Sullivan said. “I know his game pretty well, and I know what it looks like when he’s at his best. He’s a great puck-pursuit forward. He’s a dog on a bone on the puck. He knocks a lot of pucks down. He’s got a great stick. He has an offensive dimension to his game. He’s shown an ability to score some goals in this league. He can play on a second power play. I wouldn’t deem him a top-six forward in this league, but he’s a guy that can play in your top six if you need him to, because he has the offensive instincts to do it.”

Sheary moved up into the top six when Panarin was a late scratch Thursday and again at practice Friday. But he appears to be a good fit on the third line. It just feels like he’s going to make the team, likely at the expense of Brett Berard, who feels like an afterthought right now.

4. Who pairs with who on Rangers defense corps​

The Rangers are down to their seven defensemen following Morrow’s demotion. Matthew Robertson is clearly the extra here, so the regular six is set. But Sullivan and assistant David Quinn, who handles the defensemen, must finalize what the pairings look like. That shouldn’t be too difficult.

The most likely scenario has Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox as the No. 1 pair. Carson Soucy and Will Borgen have history together and been paired throughout camp and the preseason. So, they seem set as the second pair. Which leaves Urho Vaakanainen and Braden Schneider on the third pair again, despite the chatter about moving Schneider up into the top four.

5. Rangers likely to trim roster to 22 players before opening night​

Since the defense corps and two goalie are set, the Rangers must trim from the forward group to get down to 23 players. However, general manager Chris Drury’s preference typically is to carry 22 players on the roster.

That would mean carrying 13 forwards. Assuming Panarin and Miller are healthy, that leaves Laba, Sheary, Berard, and Brodzinski competing for two spots. Brodzinski, who plays wing and center, proved the past couple seasons he’s a really good fit as the 13th (extra) forward. If the Rangers sign Sheary to a standard NHL contract, that would mean two more kids head back to Hartford. If Sheary is released, it would be difficult to see Laba not making the team (with Parssinen shifting to the wing).

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-assign-perreault-morrow-to-ahl/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Bruins: Lineups, storylines, how to watch preseason finale

Bob DeChiara-Imagn ImagesBob DeChiara-Imagn Images

In the midst of a team-building trip, the New York Rangers will also find time to play their final preseason game Saturday, when they visit the Boston Bruins in a matinee at TD Garden.

The “excursion,” as coach Mike Sullivan called it, is a weekend getaway for the Rangers at the end of training camp and before they prepare for the regular-season opener Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“We’ve got a window of opportunity for a couple of days where we’ve got a chance to spend some time together, get to know one another a little bit better, and hopefully come together as a team,” Sullivan explained Friday.

As for the preseason finale, that too holds significance. The result won’t matter, but the Rangers still want to build chemistry on the ice and sort out the lineup before the regular season begins.

The Rangers (2-2-1) come off a 3-1 loss to the New Jersey Devils on Thursday, They followed that up by assigning top prospects Gabe Perreault and Scott Morrow to Hartford of the American Hockey League on Friday. That leaves the roster at 24 players, one over the 23-man limit to begin the season.

Artemi Panarin is out with an upper-body injury after recently getting over a lower-body issue. The star winger didn’t practice Friday and enters the 2025-26 campaign without playing a single preseason game.

J.T. Miller is questionable to play Saturday. He’s battling a lower-body injury, though the Rangers captain returned to practice Friday wearing a no-contact jersey.

“We’re trying to err on the side of caution with these guys,” Sullivan explained after practice Friday. “Artemi skated this morning before the team skated, and so it’s not that he’s not on the ice. He is. We’ll continue to rehab him and go through a return-to-play process that he’s been going through. We’re hopeful that he’ll be ready (for opening night). He’s certainly making strides.

“The fact that [Miller] joined the team today is a real encouraging sign. It’s hard for me to put a time frame on when the red jersey is going to come off, but I don’t anticipate it being long.”

Sam Carrick, who missed the game against the Devils with a lower-body injury, practiced Friday and is expected to play against the Bruins (3-1-1), who defeated the Rangers 5-4 in overtime on Sept. 23.

3 storylines when Rangers visit Bruins​

1. Final impressions​

Noah Laba — Peter Carr/The Journal News / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

If Panarin and Miller are healthy and able to play Tuesday against the Penguins, the Rangers likely will cut two forwards following the preseason finale. That would give them 13 forwards (one extra) and 22 players overall. General manager Chris Drury prefers carrying 22 players as opposed to 23 to save salary cap space.

However, the health of Panarin and Miller factor into the equation should one or both not be available when the puck drops on the regular season.

Sullivan will watch rookie center Noah Laba closely against the Bruins. The 22-year-old likely did enough to earn a roster spot with his strong two-way play in the preseason that includes a team-high five points (one goal, four assists). But it’s a numbers game and Laba can be sent to the minors without clearing waivers. That’s a big deal and is why, in part, Perreault and Morrow, didn’t land roster spots.

With Panarin out, Conor Sheary — in camp on a PTO — gets a look in the top six. It’s his last chance to show the Rangers he deserves an NHL contract and a roster spot. If Miller doesn’t play, either Jonny Brodzinski or Brett Berard draws in against the Bruins, to make another case to stick around.

2. Igor! Igor!​

Igor Shesterkin starts in goal for the Rangers, after Sullivan explained earlier in the week that “spacing” between starts three days before the season opener is the reason why the No. 1 gets the call here and not Thursday against the Devils.

Shesterkin’s been terrific in his first two preseason starts, allowing two goals on 33 shots (1.72 goals-against average, .932 save percentage). The 29-year-old will go the distance Saturday, and another solid showing will foster a feel-good vibe going into the Penguins game Tuesday.

Igor’s on a mission after a sub-par — by his standards — season in 2024-25. He’s also now the highest-paid goalie in the NHL and, simply, the most important player on the Rangers. Seeing him at the top of his game lifts everyone on the roster,

3. Finish strong​

It’d be nice to close out the preseason schedule with a win. More importantly, the Rangers want to play a smart, well-structured game to use as a springboard into their centennial season.

Speaking of finishing strong, something to keep an eye on is that the Rangers have been outscored 10-0 in the third period this preseason. They’ve allowed at least one third-period goal in each of their first five preseason games, and blew three third-period leads (1-1-1).

Nikita Zadorov completes the comeback OT win

What a game. pic.twitter.com/zFmuXRF4EC

— NESN (@NESN) September 24, 2025

When these teams met at Madison Square Garden in September, the Rangers surrendered three goals in the third period to let a 4-1 lead slip away. Nikita Zadorov scored the winner in overtime, Boston’s fourth consecutive goal of the night.

The Rangers prefer to avoid that this time and finish the preseason with a strong third period, a spart of a solid overall showing.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Conor Sheary — Vincent Trocheck — Alexis Lafreniere

Will Cuylle — J.T. Miller — Mika Zibanejad

Juuso Parssinen — Noah Laba — Taylor Raddysh

Adam Edstrom — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe

Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Urho Vaakanainen — Braden Schneider

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers at Boston Bruins

When: Saturday, Oct. 4 at 2 p.m. ET

Where: TD Garden

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/new-york-rangers-boston-bruins-preview/

 

[New York Rangers]

Brandon Halverson joins AHL-bound ex-Rangers after clearing waivers

Jean-Yves Ahern-Imagn ImagesJean-Yves Ahern-Imagn Images

Brandon Halverson, a goaltender selected by the New York Rangers two rounds before Igor Shesterkin in the 2014 NHL Draft, was assigned to Syracuse of the American Hockey League by the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday after clearing waivers, joining a number of ex-Blueshirts who’ve gone through the waiver wire in the past week.

The Rangers selected Halverson in the second round (No. 59 overall) in 2014, then chose Shesterkin in the fourth round (No. 118). Shesterkin came to North America from Russia in 2019 and had become one of the NHL’s top goaltenders; Halverson made one appearance in relief for the Rangers in a 6-3 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Feb. 17, 2018.

The Rangers let him become a free agent in 2019, and he didn’t resurface in the NHL until last season. Halverson’s second NHL appearance, and first start, came with the Lightning on March 22, when he allowed five goals in a 6-4 road loss to the Utah Hockey Club (now the Utah Mammoth).

Peter Creveling-Imagn Images

With starter Andrei Vasilevskiy sidelined due to injury for much of training camp, Halverson made three appearances for the Lightning during the preseason, going 2-0-0 with a 2.15 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage. But Tampa Bay claimed goalie Pheonix Copley on waivers from the Washington Capitals earlier this week, and Halverson is headed back to Syracuse, the Bolts’ AHL affiliate.

Halverson was an AHL All-Star last season with the Crunch and was a co-winner of the Harry “Hap” Holmes Memorial Award for allowing the fewest goals in the AHL.

Brandon Halverson, Ryan Graves among ex-Rangers waived​

Another Rangers draft pick, defenseman Ryan Graves, is also likely headed for the AHL after he was placed on waivers Saturday by the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Rangers’ opponent on opening night at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

The Rangers selected Graves in the fourth round (No. 110) in the 2013 draft. But he never made it to Broadway: After nearly three seasons with AHL Hartford, the Rangers traded him to the Colorado Avalanche for Chris Bigras on Feb. 26, 2018.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Graves joined the Avs for 26 games in the 2018-19 season, then led the NHL in plus-minus (plus-40) in 2019-20. Colorado traded him to the New Jersey Devils in July 2021, and he played two solid seasons in Newark before the Penguins signed him to a six-year, $27 million contract ($4.5 million average annual value, according to PuckPedia) in July 2023.

But the 6-5, 227-pound defenseman’s time in Pittsburgh hasn’t worked out, to say the least. His struggles have been among the reasons the Pens have failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the last three seasons – and the term and money left on his contract make him almost untradeable. He’s likely to spend the season in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

The Buffalo Sabres waived two former Rangers, defenseman Zac Jones and center Jake Leschyshyn, on Sunday. Jones signed with the Sabres as a free agent this summer after the Rangers didn’t make him an offer. He had 11 points (one goal, 10 assists) in 46 games with the Blueshirts last season. Leschyshyn, son of longtime NHL defenseman Curtis Leschyshyn, spent all of last season in Hartford but had small stints with the Rangers in each of the previous two seasons.

Bob Frid-Imagn Images

One of the Rangers’ worst draft picks in recent years, forward Vitali Kravtsov, was waived by the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday; he cleared and was assigned to Abbotsford of the AHL. The Rangers took the Russian forward with the No. 9 pick in 2018, but he had just 10 points (five goals, five assists) in 48 games with New York before being traded to the Canucks in February 2023.

Kravtsov played 16 games in Vancouver before spending the past two seasons in the KHL, then signed with the Canucks in August after a 27-goal, 58-point season with Chelyabinsk Traktor in 2024-25.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/halverson-graves-ahl-bound/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers Daily: Preseason wraps up; Gavin McKenna impresses in NCAA debut

Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesEric Canha-Imagn Images

A mixed bag of a preseason is over. The New York Rangers are two days away from opening up their centennial season, when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

They have a day off Sunday, part of their weekend retreat to New England. Team-building is at the heart of the getaway, something coach Mike Sullivan discussed with the leadership group over the summer.

The Rangers closed out their preseason schedule with a 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins at TD Garden on Saturday afternoon. This time it was another painfully slow start which doomed the Rangers. At least it wasn’t another terrible third period that cost them — the Rangers were out-scored 10-0 in preseason third periods prior to Saturday.

The Mitts on display. pic.twitter.com/SrmjtMJ2qw

— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 4, 2025

What the Rangers didn’t do in their 2-3-1 preseason is play a full 60 minutes of representative hockey in any of those six games. Perhaps, the 5-3 win in Newark against the Devils in the preseason opener. Certainly not since.

Is that a concern? Yes and no.

At the end of the day, preseason results don’t matter. And no one should be in a panic about stats, especially when it comes to lineup regulars, who are simply shedding the rust and prepping for when the games count.

However, the Rangers looked mighty disjointed at times, and some of the old habits (ie: blown third-period leads) raise PTSD levels after their heinous play just a year ago. The absences of Artemi Panarin and J.T. Miller didn’t help the lineup cohesion. Moreover, their injuries are cause for at least mild concern at this point.

Panarin didn’t appear in a single preseason game, first because of a lower-body injury and then with an upper-body issue. Miller played one game — and scored a goal — but has his own lower-body injury.

“We’re trying to err on the side of caution with these guys,” Sullivan explained after practice Friday.

Panarin skated on his own Friday and Miller wore a no-contact jersey in his return to Rangers practice the same day. Sullivan remains optimistic about both being ready Tuesday. We’ll see.

Most importantly, training camp is over. The preseason is complete.

When the Rangers show up to practice Monday, it’s Game On. The 2025-26 journey officially begins Tuesday.

New York Rangers news and analysis​

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Here are our key Rangers takeaways from a 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins in their preseason finale.

So, what’s next for the Rangers, who have some big roster decisions to make now that the preseason is over.

ICYMI: Mike Sullivan and the Rangers have a serious “balancing act” to consider when it comes to making roster decisions on their young players and prospects.

NHL news and rumors​

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NHL.com: Nick Cotsonika reports how Gavin McKenna, expected to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, had himself quite the successful season-opening weekend for Penn State.

Minnesota Sports Fan: The Minnesota Wild locked up goalie Filip Gustavsson with a five-year, $34 million contract.

Forever Blueshirts: Ryan Graves was one of several former Rangers to land on the waiver wire and/or clear waivers this week, when the Pittsburgh Penguins placed the defenseman on waivers Sturday.

Florida Hockey Now: The Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning combined for a whopping 65 penalties totaling 312 PIM in their preseason finale, a a 7-0 Panthers win.

Sportsnet: Cole Perfetti is being evaluated for a lower-body injury by the Winnipeg Jets and could miss significant time.

Front Office Sports: The Dallas Stars are considering future arena options, including one in Plano, when their lease runs out at American Airlines Center in 2031.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...rs-training-camp-insights-preseason-analysis/

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers 2025-26 fortunes most linked to Igor Shesterkin success

Eric Canha-Imagn ImagesEric Canha-Imagn Images

Though Igor Shesterkin is the highest-paid goalie in NHL history, with a contract that has an average annual value of $11.5 million, he’s coming off a down season by his lofty standards. In fact, the New York Rangers’ No. 1 netminder has seen his goals-against average rise and save percentage drop in each of the past three seasons. And it’s possible that no team in the League is more dependent on its goalie in order to contend for a playoff berth than the Rangers.

Oddly, though, Shesterkin flew almost completely under the radar during this just-completed training camp and preseason.

Instead, the focus was elsewhere. There’s a new high-profile coach, Mike Sullivan. J.T. Miller was named captain — and then sustained a lower-body injury. Artemi Panarin didn’t appear in a single preseason game due to injuries. The kids — Noah Laba, Gabe Perreault, and Scott Morrow — were the three most talked about players in camp. And bounce-back performances were expected from Mika Zibanejad, Alexis Lafreniere and Adam Fox.

Shesterkin was more or less an afterthought.

But the Rangers won’t return to the postseason unless Shesterkin reverses some concerning trends. With the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner’s monster eight-year, $92 million extension kicking in this season, the Rangers need the 29-year-old to return to the spectacular form that earned him that record-setting contract.

Igor Shesterkin’s effectiveness has fallen for the past three seasons​

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It’s important to note that Shesterkin was not exactly bad last season. He saved 21.6 goals above expected, seventh-best in the League, per Money Puck. His six shutouts were tied for second-most in the NHL. Yet his 2.86 GAA was the highest of his career; and his .905 save percentage was far and away the worst of six NHL seasons.

Shesterkin put together one of the best seasons by a goalie in NHL history in 2021-22, leading the League with a .935 save percentage and a 2.07 GAA. Some regression was of course expected from those heights, but in the three seasons since, his save percentage fell to .916 in 2022-23, .912 the following season and .905 last season. His GAA jumped to 2.48 in 2022-23, then 2.58 the next season before rising to his career-worst mark in 2024-25.

Shesterkin’s results, of course, must be qualified by the fact that the Rangers simply have never been an elite defensive team during his six-season career. That’s why he’s been as crucial to his club’s fortunes as any goalie in the NHL. The Rangers don’t get anywhere near the 2022 and 2024 Eastern Conference Finals without his brilliance. Shesterkin’s often-spectacular work in net, consistently covering up for defensive breakdowns, has been the No. 1 reason the Rangers have been a playoff contender during the past four seasons.

Last season, Shesterkin faced the most shots (1,751) and made the most saves (1,584) in the NHL, playing for a team that gave up 3.11 goals per game, 14th-most among the 32 teams. Despite the lack of support from his teammates, the player whose consistency and focus has been a hallmark of his play seemed to show cracks at times.

Whether Shesterkin was worn down mentally and/or physically by having to constantly keep his defensively-challenged team in games — he also made 61 starts and played 3,505 minutes, each a career high — isn’t known. Perhaps Sullivan’s demand for increased commitment to team defense — along with key new personnel — will go a long way to help Shesterkin at least somewhat resemble his 2021-22 self as he gets set to enter his 30s.

Sullivan, general manager Chris Drury’s long-preferred coach, was hired in large part to clean up New York’s chronic goal-prevention failings. The club struggled badly last season with former coach Peter Laviolette’s hybrid man/zone approach in its own end. Sullivan’s zone system, which emphasizes pushing play to the perimeter and then winning puck battles in the defensive zone, should better suit this roster and, in theory, tighten things up in front of Shesterkin.

The thinking is that if the Rangers give Shesterkin even just a little more consistent help, he’s capable of handling the rest as an elite goalie in the middle of his prime.

Arrivals of Mike Sullivan, Vladislav Gavrikov might help Igor Shesterkin’s game​

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Of course, it’s not as if Sullivan has been asked much, if anything, about this during camp. There’s a sense that Shesterkin’s return to elite form is all but a given. For the sake of the Rangers, who made what was a necessary but huge financial bet on that happening, they better hope so.

The addition of free-agent defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov should be a major help to Shesterkin and the Rangers. Signed to a seven-year, $49 million contract July 1, Gavrikov is expected to team with Fox and solidify the top pair. Though plenty of questions about the blue line remain beyond that duo, Gavrikov should help settle down a group that often collapsed last season.

While it’s tough to judge the meaning of preseason results for netminders, it’s worth noting that Shesterkin was very good in his first two starts, giving up one goal in each, before he allowed three goals on 15 shots in the preseason finale, a 4-1 loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday.

The Rangers won’t be back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs after missing them last season if Zibanejad and Lafreniere don’t rediscover their past form. They won’t be back if they can’t find more offensive production from the bottom-six forward group, or if Fox continues to look a step slow and chaos continues to reign in their own zone.

Even if Sullivan and his staff can fix all of that, however, it won’t matter if the club’s most important player can’t reverse what has been slow but steadily sinking effectiveness. Without Shesterkin at his best, all of the higher-profile storylines from this Rangers camp will become secondary. In that case, the new coach will surely face plenty of questions from the media about the highest-paid goalie in history — one who holds the biggest key to whether Sullivan’s tenure on Broadway will be a success.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/igor-shesterkin-rangers-playoff-hope/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers preseason: The winners, losers, and everything in between

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn ImagesVincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

The New York Rangers concluded a six-game preseason on Saturday afternoon in somewhat underwhelming fashion, falling 4-1 to the Boston Bruins. New York finished sixth in the Metropolitan Division with five points and a 2-3-1 record, dropping four of their last five contests.

But in the preseason, wins and losses often take a back seat to the eye test, with line chemistry, key positional races, and rookies trying to make the varsity taking on greater importance.

The Rangers find themselves at a pivotal crossroads entering the 2025-26 season. With the hiring of two-time Stanley Cup champion head coach Mike Sullivan, New York seeks redemption after they failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in four years. At the same time, there’s pressure to develop a promising young core — headlined by 2023 first-round pick Gabe Perreault — and usher in a new era of Rangers hockey.

Accomplishing both will be a tricky tight-rope to navigate for the Rangers, putting the preseason battle between the exciting yet inexperienced youngsters and seasoned, less flashy veterans under a microscope.

Of course, the preseason isn’t always an accurate indicator of regular-season success. It was but two years ago that Alexis Lafreniere and Jonathan Quick floundered in camp, only for the former to post career highs in goals and points, and the latter enjoyed a resurgent season as New York’s backup goalie.

With that in mind, here are the winners and losers from the Rangers exhibition slate.

Winner — Noah Laba​

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The 22-year-old center is the talk of the town — and for good reason. The fourth-round pick from 2022 burst onto the scene in his first NHL training camp, leading the Rangers with six points in six games and tying Perreault for the team lead with two goals.

Beyond his point-per-game pace, Laba played a complete 200-foot game and appeared to be a capable penalty killer as well. Though their profiles don’t perfectly align, it’s reminiscent of Will Cuylle’s 2023-24 preseason, when the then-20-year-old forward led the Blueshirts in points and earned a top-nine role to begin the regular season.

Congratulations to Noah Laba on winning the Lars-Erik Sjoberg Award, given annually to the top #NYR rookie in training camp as selected by the media. pic.twitter.com/gxBm8nVm8q

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 6, 2025

Laba’s path to starting on opening day is clouded by a handful of veterans, one of whom would need to pass through waivers to create space on the roster for the exciting youngster. While it would be exciting to see him get run from the jump, the alternative — first line reps alongside Perrault in the AHL — isn’t too bad either. Regardless, Laba left a lasting impression this preseason and has all but cemented an NHL call-up this season, whether it be right now or somewhere down the road.

Winner — Gabe Perreault​

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Sure, Perreault starts his first pro season in the minors, but the 20-year-old made a solid first impression on Sullivan and the Rangers coaching staff. The 2023 first-rounder didn’t shy away from the dirty areas of the ice, won puck battles along the boards and in the corners, displayed high-end skill and hockey IQ, and had four points (two goals, two assists) in five games.

Perreault will only benefit from playing major minutes in Hartford. And he’ll be back to help the Rangers at some point this season. Count on it.

Winners — Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov​

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Fox and Gavrikov were tethered at the hip during training camp, working as New York’s top defense pair. Each was productive in the preseason — Fox tallied a pair of assists, while Gavrikov netted a goal and led the Rangers with a plus-3 rating. Stats aside, this preseason confirmed the enticing prospect of pairing New York’s best playmaker on the blue line with an elite shutdown defenseman.

It’s easy to see why the Rangers signed Gavrikov to a seven-year, $49 million free-agent deal in the offseason. The 29-year-old seems the perfect fit to bring out the best in Fox, the 2020-21 Norris Trophy winner who’s looking to bounce back from somewhat of a down season in 2024-25 — at least by his elite standards.

The two looked compatible in preseason action, and if Gavrikov doesn’t lose a step from his days with the Los Angeles Kings, he’ll be far and away the best partner Fox has played with in the NHL. No offense to Ryan Lindgren but Gavrikov has a higher offensive ceiling and graded out as one of the top defensive defensemen last season. There are plenty of questions surrounding New York’s blue line, but the No. 1 pair shouldn’t be one of them.

Winner — Conor Sheary​

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After failing to lock down a consistent NHL role with the Tampa Bay Lightning the past two seasons, Conor Sheary joined the Rangers for training camp on a professional tryout (PTO). The undersized (5-foot-8) forward was a pleasant surprise this preseason, notching a goal and two assists in four games.

Moreover, the 33-year-old displayed a non-stop motor and ability to play both sides of the puck effectively. That could make him a solid third-line addition. But Sheary’s not a lock to make the NHL roster, and has considerably less upside than some of New York’s prospects. He is an intriguing option nonetheless. Sheary spent the better part of three seasons playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins under Sullivan, helping them win consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2016 and 2017. That familiarity could make the difference as to whether Sheary lands a standard NHL contract or not.

Loser — Brennan Othmann​

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Brennan Othmann showed improvement after a rough preseason debut, but it wasn’t enough to land a spot on the opening-night roster. The 2021 first-round pick appeared in 22 games across the final three months of the 2024-25 season, and while his stats (two assists) left plenty to be desired, the hope was that Othmann would earn a spot in the top nine this season, particularly after the offseason trade of Chris Kreider.

The most interesting cut is Othmann. I'm a little surprised they're doing it now, but the writing has been on the wall. He's fallen behind Berard, Perreault and Sheary for what likely amounts to one spot. It's a numbers game that will result in most kids starting in the AHL #NYR https://t.co/xoBxJVWAZe

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) September 30, 2025

Instead, Othmann starts the 2025-26 season with the Hartford Wolf Pack in the AHL, just as he did the prior two campaigns. It’s not the end of the world for a once-lauded prospect who’s still only 22 years old, but it certainly feels like a letdown. Othmann was sent down before Perreault, Laba, and Brett Berard, indicating he might not be one of the first call-ups either.

Loser — Matt Rempe​

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For all his warts, Matt Rempe proved himself an effective and valuable fourth-liner for the Rangers in the second half of last season. Unfortunately, some of his inconvenient flaws persist as he enters his third NHL season.

Rempe appeared in five of six games, recording a team-worst rating of minus-five this preseason. New York was out-chanced 16-to-28 with Rempe on the ice, the fourth-worst percentage of any Rangers skater. Issues with puck control and stringing together passes linger as well.

Rempe’s best assets remain his size (6-foot-9), physicality, work ethic, eagerness, and surprisingly good skating ability. But his role in the fourth line may remain inconsistent until he tightens up the other areas of his game.

Loser — The defense corps​

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The loss Saturday in Boston was a less-than-ideal showing, especially with the entirety of New York’s projected blue line in action. The Rangers overcommitted on multiple plays, leaving the net-front open for the Bruins to capitalize.

Braden Schneider, returning from labrum surgery, posted the fourth-worst xGF percentage on the team. Urho Vaakanainen and Will Borgen both sat under 50 percent in the same metric. Outside of Fox and Gavrikov, the Rangers defense corps could be a significant problem, and this preseason did little to alleviate any concerns.

In between — Juuso Parssinen​

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When the Rangers shipped Lindgren and Jimmy Vesey to the Colorado Avalanche before the 2025 NHL trade deadline, Juuso Parssinen was part of the return package. While many fans clamor for Laba to land the third-line center role, it feels like it’s always been Parssinen’s job to lose.

Parssinen didn’t dazzle in preseason like Laba, but he’s put together a solid enough stretch nonetheless, tallying a goal and an assist — and playing decent defensively — in five games. He’s got good size at 6-foot-3 and, despite being drafted back in 2017, is just 24 years old. Parssinen wasn’t particularly memorable in 11 games with the Blueshirts last season so the leash could be short, especially after Laba’s emergence, but he’s probably worth another look in the NHL to see if he can put his tools to use. It doesn’t hurt that he’s versatile and can also play on the wing.

In between — Scott Morrow​

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Scott Morrow was an exciting return piece from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade this summer, just 23 years old and fresh off an All-Star campaign in the AHL. The No. 40 overall pick from the 2021 draft has good puck skills and profiles as a quarterback for the second power-play unit.

Despite some valid excitement surrounding his arrival and potential role in the NHL, Morrow was assigned to Hartford along with Perreault on Friday. Morrow had a decent preseason, notching two points (one goal, one assist) and was minus-two in five games.

Though disappointing that a talented puck mover couldn’t earn a spot out of a camp, he’ll log valuable minutes with the Wolf Pack and likely run the top power-play unit. It’s also worth noting that, barring an injury to one of New York’s right-shot defensemen, Morrow’s promotion would likely force Schneider to his off (left) side. While Sullivan doesn’t seem to be against that, he’s opting to start the year with Schneider on his dominant side and Vaakanainen to his left.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...is/new-york-rangers-preseason-winners-losers/

 

[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers preview, predictions for 2025-26 NHL season

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There are plenty of reasons for the New York Rangers to feel reasonably good heading into the 2025-26 season. Not the least of which is that this season can’t be nearly as dysfunctional and disappointing as the previous one.

The 2024-25 campaign was an all-timer, for sure. Just for all the wrong reasons, though. If it could go wrong — on or off the ice — it did a year ago. From general manager Chris Drury completely misreading the room, to Peter Laviolette not having any answers for the team-wide faceplant, to trades and roster upheaval and poor effort and simply putrid play … well, we could go on, but you get the idea.

It was a complete mess for the Rangers last season.

But now there’s a new coach, a new captain, and an apparent fresh start that’s embraced by everyone from Drury on down through the organization. “No BS” is their motto.

The Mike Sullivan bump, a full season of J.T. Miller leading the way with his no-nonsense approach, and expected bounce backs by key players should be enough to vault the Rangers right back into the mix this season. Remember, as bad as the Rangers were in 2024-25 (39-36-7; 85 points), they only missed the postseason by six points.

Rangers season preview: Path to success​

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Of course, they’ll need to start — and finish — games better this season. In fact, sprinkling in more than a handful of complete 60-minute efforts should go a long way because those were few and far between last season.

Sullivan, a former Rangers assistant, and Miller, a former first-round pick by the Rangers, aren’t the only old faces back in the organization. David Quinn, fired as Rangers coach four years ago in Drury’s first major move as general manager, returns as Sullivan’s assistant.

Quinn’s in charge of the power play and the defensemen — two of the club’s biggest areas of weakness from the previous campaign. The Rangers dropped to 28th in the League on the power play (17.6 percent) and 19th in team defense (3.11 goals allowed per game) in 2024-25. They were third on the power play the season prior (26.4 percent) and seventh in team defense (2.76 GAA).

The power play grew stale last season, and returns the same PP1 unit — minus Chris Kreider. Perhaps, Quinn will work in a new wrinkle or two. More TOI for the second unit — with Will Cuylle, Alexis Lafreniere, Braden Schneider, Conor Sheary, and Matt Rempe (!) to start the season — would be a novel approach.

Vladislav Gavrikov scores his first preseason goal as a @NYRangers shorthanded!@KennyAlbert | #NYR pic.twitter.com/W3bub121Ph

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) September 24, 2025

The addition of Vladislav Gavrikov bolsters the defense corps, and should free up Adam Fox to do his thing offensively 5v5, each a major positive. If Igor Shesterkin doesn’t face the most shots in the League this season playing behind a Keystone Cops defense — minus the laugh track — there’s a good bet he’ll return to form as one of — if not the — best goalies in the NHL.

In a season of retribution for the Rangers, rebounds by Shesterkin, Fox, Lafreniere, Carson Soucy, Jonathan Quick, and (especially) Mika Zibanejad are paramount. Cuylle must take the next step as a top-six forward after his first 20-goal season. And breakouts from Noah Laba, Schneider, Rempe, and Juuso Parssinen would be most welcome.

Noah Laba scores the overtime winner as he continues to impress in his preseason with the Rangers.@NYRangers | #NYR pic.twitter.com/bPYXvo61EM

— Rangers on MSG (@RangersMSGN) September 30, 2025

Vincent Trocheck? He just needs to keep doing all that he does. Trocheck’s an invaluable two-way player for the Rangers, one of the best face-off men in the League, and an important member of the leadership group.

Keep an eye on the kids. Laba, Gabe Perreault, and Scott Morrow were the talk of training camp. Even though the latter two begin the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League — as do Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard — there’s a good chance that the Rangers youngsters will get a chance to contribute this season. The improved depth in New York and Hartford this season is a big plus for the Rangers.

Rangers season preview: Red flags ahead of centennial campaign​

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There are concerns for the Rangers heading into their centennial season, though. Their forward group is top heavy, and most of those key players are age 32 or older. Artemi Panarin, who turns 34 in late October and is the Rangers most consistent and dynamic offensive threat, missed all of the preseason with a pair of injuries. Miller, 32, sustained a non-contact lower-body injury in camp and played just one preseason game. Zibanejad is also 32 and his production slipped significantly the past two seasons.

The defense corps doesn’t inspire a lot of faith after the top pair of Gavrikov and Fox. Schneider is a key here. The 24-year-old had surgery to repair a torn labrum and is a full go, hopefully to return to his physical “Baby Trouba” style of play, with more minutes promised by Sullivan. The Rangers are also banking on Urho Vaakanainen being a sleeper, overlooked by many but a consistent regular contributor on the back end. They also hope steady Will Borgen can bring out the best in Soucy, his defense partner back in their days together with the Seattle Kraken.

They say old habits die hard, so the Rangers must hope that their third-period failures during the preseason are not a carryover from last season. If so, they’re in trouble. The Rangers were outscored 10-0 in the third periods from the their first five preseason games, and blew three third-period leads, including two multi-goal leads. Of course, neither Shesterkin nor Quick was in goal for any of those meltdowns, but it’s worth watching if this trend becomes an uncomfortable fixture in the regular season.

Forever Blueshirts staff predictions for Rangers in 2025-26 season​

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Jim Cerny – Executive Editor​

Rangers: 3rd in Metro; 6th in Eastern Conference; Lose second round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

It’s not always going to be pretty, but the Rangers will be far steadier this season than a year ago. Minus the off-ice drama, the Rangers should settle in to play a more consistent game under Sullivan. It’s a somewhat flawed roster, but there’s still plenty of talent on it. A more successful power play, combined with Shesterkin’s brilliance between the pipes again will be at the heart of New York’s success. Gavrikov will greatly impact the Rangers on the back end, where they needed the most help. Fox should thrive with Gavrikov as his steady partner 5v5. And the kids will provide a spark when called on. The Metro is a good — not great division. The Rangers will eke out a spot in the division’s top three and win a round in the postseason, before the Carolina Hurricanes finally get over the hump and defeat them in Round 2.

Metro champion: Hurricanes

Stanley Cup champion: Stars defeat Hurricanes

Rangers MVP: Igor Shesterkin

NHL MVP: Connor McDavid

John Kreiser — Senior Writer​

Rangers: 4th in Metro; 9th in Eastern Conference; Miss Stanley Cup Playoffs

The playoff pickings are pretty slim for the Rangers. The Hurricanes are loaded and will likely outlast the New Jersey Devils for first in the Metropolitan Division. The Atlantic Division is a lot stronger than the Metro, and as was the case last season, should be home to the two wild cards (likely from among the Ottawa Senators, Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings). The two-time defending champion Florida Panthers should have enough to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs despite missing star center Aleksander Barkov for the whole season with a knee injury. The Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Maple Leafs should also make the top three in the division.

Bringing in Sullivan behind the bench will help the Rangers; his defensive system seems a much better fit than Laviolette’s. Shesterkin is an elite goaltender, Fox is a top-five defenseman and the top two lines have plenty of firepower (assuming Panarin and Miller are healthy). The Rangers are better than the two Pennsylvania teams and (probably) the Islanders. But to get into the playoffs, they’ll also have to be better than the defending division champion Washington Capitals and the young-but-talented Columbus Blue Jackets, who finished ahead of them last season. It’s not impossible, but it won’t be easy.

Metro champion: Hurricanes

Stanley Cup champion: Golden Knights defeat Hurricanes

Rangers MVP: Igor Shesterkin

NHL MVP: Cale Makar

Tom Castro — Staff Writer​

Rangers: 3rd in Metro; 8th in Eastern Conference; Lose first round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

There’s every reason to believe the Rangers will be better this season after last season’s crash from Presidents Trophy winners in 2023-24 to missing the playoffs. Sullivan, Drury’s long-sought coach, is a difference-maker behind the bench, and he’ll inherit what should be a much better mood in the dressing room than what the Blueshirts experienced a year ago. A full season with Miller, the newly-minted captain, setting a more physical, no-nonsense tone should also help, especially if he can continue to bring the best out of expected linemate Zibanejad. The defense also has a chance to perform at a higher level thanks to the addition of Gavrikov. And the Rangers are counting on a return to elite form from Fox, with whom Gavrikov is expected to pair. The roster, however, remains flawed, with significant doubt surrounding the third line in particular. If Shesterkin can also improve his performance after playing at least somewhat below his usual lofty standards last season, and Sullivan and his staff can tighten up the team defense, the Rangers should be back in the playoffs, even if they’re not the Stanley Cup contenders of two seasons ago.

Metro champion: Hurricanes

Stanley Cup champion: Stars defeat Lightning

Rangers MVP: Igor Shesterkin

NHL MVP: Connor McDavid

Lou Orlando — Staff Writer​

Rangers: 3rd in Metro; 5th in Eastern Conference; Lose Eastern Conference Final

Over the last decade, the Rangers have a pretty good track record during the inaugural season of a new head coach. I expect that to continue as Sullivan takes the helm and introduces a fresh system to a familiar core. New York will return to the postseason, clinching a top-three spot in the Metro. While I don’t have the Rangers vying for a Presidents’ Trophy, a full season of Miller and a Norris Trophy-winning campaign from Fox will ensure a bounce back from the maaive disappointment last season. It could be an uneven product to start, but the injection of some young blood into the lineup — including Laba — will be enough of a spark to fuel a strong second half. A Stanley Cup championship is a long shot, but I can see the Blueshirts knocking off their Metro rivals to reach the Eastern Conference Final for the third time in five seasons.

Metro champion: Hurricanes

Stanley Cup champion: Stars defeat Panthers

Rangers MVP: Adam Fox

NHL MVP: Kirill Kaprizov

Jennifer O’Regan — Features Writer​

Rangers: 4th in Metro; 7th in Eastern Conference; Lose second round of Stanley Cup Playoffs

I believe the Rangers are set up to claw their way back into serious playoff contention in 2025–26. The question is whether they can stabilize around a core that underperformed last season. Shesterkin’s rebound is nonnegotiable — if he can return to form, the ceiling rises fast. The offense still has upside, especially if Cuylle continues to grow into a full-time top-six role. The defense, now bolstered by Gavrikov, needs to sustain structure in Sullivan’s system. If all those pieces click, I see New York not just sneaking in as a wild-card but possibly winning a round in the postseason. But there’s no room for sloppy nights or mental lapses. In a loaded Metro, the margin for error is razor-thin.

Metro champion: Hurricanes

Stanley Cup champion: Avalanche defeat Panthers

Rangers MVP: Will Cuylle

NHL MVP: Connor McDavid

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/new-york-rangers-2025-26-season-preview/

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Mika Zibanejad is Rangers biggest X-factor this season

Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesSam Navarro-Imagn Images

A whole bunch of things need to go right — or at least better than a year ago — for the New York Rangers to play their way back into the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. And Mika Zibanejad is a massive part of that equation.

So much so, in fact, that Zibanejad feels like the true X-factor for the Rangers this season.

Zibanejad isn’t exactly a typical selection for that distinction. He’s a star player, one of the best on the Rangers. Usually, a team knows what it’s going to get from its best players.

But it’s different with Zibanejad, especially this season. That’s because — outside of goalie Igor Shesterkin — no one affects the Rangers more than their longest tenured current player. And since there’s been a fairly wild swing of extremes with Zibanejad, the Rangers can’t say for sure they know which player — and leader — they’ll get this season.

Hence, X-factor.

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

When Zibanejad is going good, you can see and feel his teammates feed off his positive energy. He makes those around him better, and there’s a definite fun, cool vibe when he and the Rangers are crushing it. When Zibanejad is right, so are the Rangers. He’s that influential on and off the ice.

The power play hums when he’s on. The Rangers play their best 5v5 when Zibanejad’s engaged in all three zones. He’s a tone-setter. Think of the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2024 as the latest best example of that.

But when he’s off his game, Zibanejad drags down the rest of his teammates. There’s a distinct cause and effect. That certainly happened in the 2024 Eastern Conference Final, when the Florida Panthers turned him into a non-factor.

The most negative example is what took place last season, when Zibanejad carried resentment toward management and hurt feelings out on to the ice with him. His body language was atrocious. So, too was his effort on many nights. And his production dropped to a seven-season low.

The Rangers? Their power play was an eye-sore, they couldn’t get out of their own way defensively, lack of effort was a hallmark more often than not, and they missed the playoffs for the first time four years.

Coincidence? Think not.

There’s a reason Mike Sullivan made it priority No. 1 to win over Zibanejad after being named Rangers coach in May, flying to Sweden for a face-to-face get-to-know-you. Or why the coach elected to start the season with Zibanejad on J.T. Miller’s line, per the players’ wishes.

Zibanejad is the X-factor.

Jonathan Quick, Matt Rempe among other X-factor candidates for Rangers​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

There are other Rangers who fit the bill as an X-factor this season.

For instance, they need Jonathan Quick to bounce back and be a better version of himself as the No. 2 goalie. If the 39-year-old complements Shesterkin to the level he did in 2023-24, during the Presidents’ Trophy-winning season, it sets the Rangers up as a legit playoff contender.

Will Cuylle, Alexis Lafreniere, and/or Braden Schneider taking that next big step in their development makes each an X-factor candidate. If Noah Laba locks down the 3C role in his rookie season, he’s on the short list, too. Ditto if one of the kids starting the season with Hartford of the American Hockey League gets the call and sparks the Rangers at some point in the season. That’s you Gabe Perreault, Scott Morrow, Brett Berard, and Brennan Othmann.

Matt Rempe? Yeah, there’s another candidate. Especially if he can spark the second power-play unit with his towering net-front presence, and continue to improve as an even-strength force.

Each of these players factors in to the ultimate success or failure of the Rangers this season. But none holds more power, more sway, or a wider variance of what direction things go for the Rangers than Zibanejad.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/x-factor-mika-zibanejad-new-york-rangers/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers have ‘long way to go’ after opening-night clunker

Brad Penner-Imagn ImagesBrad Penner-Imagn Images

Mike Sullivan learned a painful lesson Tuesday night as he watched the New York Rangers turn in a lackluster effort in his first game as their coach.

“My first impression is we have a long way to go to become the team we want to become,” Sullivan said after the Blueshirts skated off to boos from the sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden following a 3-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the team he coached for the previous 10 seasons.

To get his first win with the Rangers, Sullivan must get better effort from his players when they visit the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. There was no sense of urgency, no desperation in the third period when they tried to overcome a 1-0 deficit. They rarely made rookie goalie Arturs Silovs work hard in his debut with the Penguins, while Igor Shesterkin faced far more Grade A chances while stopping 27 of 28 shots before the Penguins hit the empty net twice after he was pulled for an extra attacker.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

“I thought we had moments in the game where we were playing the game that we envisioned,” Sullivan said, “… but it’s not nearly consistently enough.”

Forward Mika Zibanejad, who had seven of the Rangers’ 25 shots, wasn’t as forgiving.

“They played hard, but I think we are looking at ourselves,” he said after the Rangers were outshot 15-5 in the third period. “Maybe the desperation at the end, but not much of a push.”

Rangers must regroup quickly after opening-night loss​

If there was ever a night when the Rangers should have come out with fire in their nostrils, it was Tuesday. The Garden was full, the fans were pumped — and they were playing Sullivan’s former team, which missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in each of the past three seasons.

Instead, they played most of the game as if they were in a fog. The Rangers did shut down longtime nemesis Sidney Crosby, but that’s about all they accomplished. They looked lost in Sullivan’s new system, which relies on zone coverage rather than the mostly man-to-man system former coach Peter Laviolette used.

“We’ll just have to keep working at it,” Sullivan said of his system. “We’re trying to simplify the process here, take some of the thinking out of it so we can hopefully overcome any sort of hesitation. But I think as we get more familiar, we should see a whole lot less of it.”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

But all in all, he wasn’t happy with what he saw and knows that the Rangers can’t play like they did Tuesday and expect to get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs after failing to qualify last season.

“We had opportunities to get on pucks and anticipate,” Sullivan explained. “We would have liked to have more pushback, especially on the 6-on-5. We’ve got a chance to keep pucks alive. We’ve got to dig in.”

Among the players the Rangers need to make some quick adjustments is defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov, their big free-agent signing this summer. Gavrikov partnered with Adam Fox on the first pair, but he often looked lost. According to Natural Stat Trick, the Rangers had only 22 percent of the expected goals with him on the ice at five-on-five — the worst mark of any of their six defenseman. Gavrikov did not record a shot on goal, blocked one shot and had two of the Rangers’ 17 giveaways.

Your 2025-26 New York Rangers. pic.twitter.com/gbXZLLTzoD

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) October 8, 2025

True, this was the first game these 18 Rangers skaters played together. Chemistry, communication, and dependability should grow in the games to come. Miller played only one preseason game due to a lower=body injury. Artemi Panarin had a pair of injuries and didn’t appear in any preseason contests. So, there’s a baked-in excuse for the disjointed feel to the overall performance Tuesday.

Still, the Rangers had better find their game quickly, because the visit to Buffalo begins a three-games-in-four-nights stretch. They make a return visit to Pittsburgh on Saturday before hosting Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Sunday.

“I don’t think it was our best,” Rangers captain J.T Miller said afterward. “They outplayed us for majority of the game. We had some good moments in the third, but I think where we’re trying to get to is better than what we showed today.

“On the other side of that is it’s the first game. I know we are going to be better.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-opening-game-loss-analysis/

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers NCAA prospects report: Malcolm Spence has 5-point weekend

GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesGREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Malcolm Spence made quite the first impression in his NCAA hockey debut last weekend. The New York Rangers top pick (second round; No. 43 overall) in this year’s NHL Draft recorded five points for the University of Michigan in his first two collegiate games.

Spence started with a goal and two assists, when Michigan steamrolled Mercyhurst 11-1 in non-conference action Friday night.

The freshman forward skated at left wing on the second line for Michigan along with Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage and Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Nick Moldenhauer. Spence earned the primary assist — and first NCAA point — on the Wolverine’s fifth goal of the game, coming at 7:47 of the second period. Spence skated up left wing on the counter attack, drawing the Mercyhurst goaltender to his side, before making the heads up pass to Hage for the goal.

All net for Hager. pic.twitter.com/mtUi9Cu1sn

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 4, 2025

At 14:54 of the third period, Spence set up Aidan Park for a power-play goal, Michigan’s 10th score of the game. The Wolverines worked possession down low, and Spence slid the puck across the crease for his second assist of the night.

He later scored his first NCAA goal at 18:40, Michigan’s last of the game. Alone at the back post, Spence stuffed a loose puck into the open net, after a pass from Hage.

All gas, no brake. pic.twitter.com/AfF2ihHe4a

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 4, 2025

Michigan completed the weekend sweep over Mercyhurst with a 7-0 victory Saturday. Spence added another goal and assist in the contest. At 12:34 of the third period, Spence picked up a rebound in front, and tucked the puck into the net for a power-play goal.

Anotha one pic.twitter.com/IvLgzFdG8D

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) October 5, 2025

Spence, who scored 32 goals and totaled 73 points in 65 games last season with Erie of the OHL, added a secondary assist on Matthew Mania’s goal coming at 19:17 to complete his five-point weekend.

Michigan rose three spots to ninth in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll and climbed up to seventh in the USA Hockey NCAA Division I Men’s Poll. The Wolverines travel to Rhode Island this weekend for games Friday and Saturday against Providence College.

Related: Rangers NCAA prospects preview: Ty Henricks eyes championship repeat

Rangers prospect Drew Fortescue scores first goal in two seasons for Boston College​

Eric Canha-Imagn Images

After failing to score a goal his entire sophomore season, defenseman Drew Fortescue wasted no time finding the back of the net for Boston College last weekend. Fortescue opened his junior season with a goal at 4:31 of the third period, though BC still lost 4-3 to Quinnipiac. Fortescue received a pass from Andre Gasseau at the point, and fired a shot through the Quinnipiac defense and past goaltender Dylan Silverstein to make it a one-goal game.

Back in it as Fortescue gets his first of the year!

Watch on @ESPNPlus | https://t.co/bIgeucEYC8 pic.twitter.com/7drwrzKyrQ

— BC Men's Hockey (@BC_MHockey) October 4, 2025

The Eagles failed to score the equalizer and Fortescue finished the game with one goal on one shot, one blocked shot and a minus-1 rating. Boston College dropped to 11th in the USCHO.com poll with the loss and 10th in the USA Hockey poll. The Eagles travel to Minnesota for games Thursday and Friday against the Golden Gophers.

As for Minnesota, they split a weekend series against Michigan Tech, winning 6-3 on Friday, before falling 5-3 Saturday. Senior captain Brody Lamb started at right wing on the second line, and recorded a goal and assist, three shots on goal, two blocked shots, and a plus-1 rating in the first game. Lamb broke a 3-3 tie at 4:13 of the third period and scored the eventual game-winner, picking up a loose puck along the boards in the offensive zone and firing a shot from the slot past the Huskies goaltender. He also assisted on an empty-net goal at 17:59 to seal the victory.

The boys are buzzin' pic.twitter.com/ZS3CSBC1kj

— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) October 4, 2025

Lamb opened the scoring Saturday at 1:30 of the first period off a 2-on-1 rush. Unfortunately for Minnesota, Michigan Tech responded with four unanswered goals, pacing an upset victory. Lamb finished the game with one goal on one shot, one blocked shot, and was a minus-1. Minnesota fell to 12th in both the USCHO.com poll and USA Hockey poll. The Golden Gophers look to rebound at home Thursday night against Boston College.

Sophomore Ty Henricks recorded an assist and had four penalty minutes for the defending national champion Western Michigan Broncos, when they defeated the U.S. National Team Development Program 7-0 in exhibition play Saturday. Henricks was credited with the primary assist on Western Michigan’s final goal of the game at 10:07 of the third period, on the power play.

Henricks was called for slashing in the second period, and a minor penalty for cross-checking in the third. He was bumped up to the third line for Western Michigan to begin his second season. The Broncos remain first in the USCHO.com and USA Hockey polls, and host their regular-season opener Thursday night at Lawson Arena against Ferris State University.

Michigan State moved up one spot to second in both the USCHO.com and USA Hockey polls following a 4-0 exhibition win over Windsor. Freshman defenseman Sean Barnhill was on the right side of the third pairing for the Spartans, registering three shots on goal and a plus-1 rating. Michigan State begin the regular season with a non-conference matchup against New Hampshire on Thursday.

EJ Emery, New York’s first-round pick (No. 30 overall) in 2024, was not in the lineup for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks during a 7-0 exhibition win over Manitoba last weekend. According to Brad Elliott Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, the sophomore defenseman is day to day with an unspecified injury. North Dakota climbed one spot to 10th in the USCHO.com poll and is 11th in the USA Hockey Poll. The Fighting Hawks begin the regular season Friday night at home against St. Thomas.

Swedish defenseman Rasmus Larsson debuted with Robert Morris University, when the Colonials skated to preseason victories over Bowling Green University and Waterloo. The fifth-round selection in 2023 is the first NHL draft pick in program history for Robert Morris. He transferred from Northern Michigan University, where he had three goals as a freshman. Robert Morris’ next game is October 16th against Michigan.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/malcolm-spence-ncaa-hockey-debut/

 

[New York Rangers]

Ex-Rangers forward signs 1-year contract with Oilers

Sam Navarro-Imagn ImagesSam Navarro-Imagn Images

Jack Roslovic, a forward who helped the New York Rangers get within two wins of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final, has a new home after agreeing to a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Edmonton Oilers.

The move ends Roslovic’s wait to join a new team after he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1 – he was arguably the best UFA remaining on the market. The 28-year-old changed agents after going unsigned earlier in the summer and was skating in Columbus, waiting to join a new team. He signed late Wednesday and was not in the lineup for the Oilers’ season-opening 4-3 shootout loss to the Calgary Flames.

The Rangers acquired Roslovic on March 8, 2024, sending a fourth-round pick in 2026 to the Columbus Blue Jackets.

“We think he’s a real good player,” general manager Chris Drury said after making the deal.

Jack Roslovic makes it 3-2! pic.twitter.com/RQjI4Vp7fh

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) April 2, 2024

In 19 regular-season games with New York after the trade, the 2015 first-round pick (No. 25 overall) by the Winnipeg Jets, had eight points (three goals, five assists). He also played in 16 Stanley Cup Playoff games, finishing with eight points (two goals, six assists).

One of the assists came on Alexander Wennberg’s overtime winner in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers. That goal gave the Rangers a 5-4 win and a 2-1 lead in the best-of-7 series, but they lost the next three games.

Alex Wennberg’s first goal of the playoffs was a BIG ONE!@NYRangers | #NYR | #StanleyCup
pic.twitter.com/IU66heOk7X

— NHL Media (@NHLMedia) May 26, 2024

However, Roslovic averaged just 13:27 of ice time during his brief time on Broadway, and the Rangers didn’t re-sign him. He started out on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, and finished his Rangers tenure playing on the fourth line.

Roslovic inked a one-year, $2.8 million contract with the Carolina Hurricanes for 2024-25. He played 81 games with Carolina, matched his career high with 22 goals (largely because of a career-best 15.8 shooting percentage) and finished with 39 points. He was third on the ‘Canes with 37 even-strength points, averaging just 13:49 of ice time.

However, he played in just nine playoff games for Carolina, and finished with one goal and four points. The Hurricanes didn’t re-sign him — likely because he’s something of a liability defensively. Though his xGF was 50.28 percent last season, per Natural Stat Trick, the Hurricanes were outscored 55-46 with him on the ice at 5-on-5 and were out-chanced 205-173 in high-danger opportunities.

James Guillory-Imagn Images

Roslovic has struggled at times with consistency during his career. He can bring fans out of their seats, but tends to overhandle the puck and turn it over — a big reason that he’s spent most of his career as a bottom-six forward.

Oilers general manager Stan Bowman said after the loss to the Flames that Edmonton was in touch with Roslovic dating back to the summer, and that talks picked up in recent days.

“(I told his agent) ‘We love the player, but we don’t have a whole lot of money to spend right now. So, if he wants to come here and kind of bet on himself and get a bit of a chance to play, we’d love to have him.’” Bowman said. “I think he was weighing his options and came to the decision that this is the place he wanted to be.”

Officially signed #LetsGoOilers pic.twitter.com/PZklk9oWiv

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) October 9, 2025

Bowman didn’t say when Roslovic could make his Oilers debut; their next game is Saturday, when they host the Vancouver Canucks. Though Roslovic was skating on his own, he missed all of training camp and may need some time to get into game shape.

Roslovic has 260 points (102 goals, 158 assists) and is minus-37 in 526 regular-season NHL games. He has 17 points (three goals, 14 assists) in 45 Stanley Cup Playoff games.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/roslovic-signs-with-oilers/