News Rangers Team Notes

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Ducks: Lineups, storylines when Kreider, Trouba return to MSG

There’s no escaping the fact that it’s going to be an emotional night Monday at Madison Square Garden, when the New York Rangers host the Anaheim Ducks,

That’s because Chris Kreider, one of the most popular players of this current Rangers era, returns to MSG for the first time since being traded to the Ducks this past offseason. There’s sure to be an outpouring of love for Kreider, who’s third in Rangers history with 326 goals, first with 48 goals in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and tied for first with 116 power-play goals.

As for a bit of revenge or extra motivation on Kreider’s part, don’t expect him to admit to anything, based on his comments to The Athletic last week.

“I don’t think that’s something that you can use consistently,” the 34-year-old forward explained. “I think that ends up being more of an energy sap. I’m intrinsically motivated. I don’t need anyone else to push me. That daily process, that daily mission — I know what I want to work on, what I want to accomplish. I think all the other stuff is just noise.”

Perhaps that’s so. But Kreider played 883 regular-season games over 13 seasons with the Rangers, and there’s a good chance his No. 20 gets raised to the MSG rafters one day after his career is over. He helped the Rangers reach the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, win the Presidents’ Trophy twice, and play in the Eastern Conference Final five times.

That video tribute Monday will bring cheers and a standing ovation from the Rangers Faithful. And more than a few tears from fans, and perhaps Kreider, too.

If all that’s not enough, it’s also Jacob Trouba’s first return to The Garden since the Rangers traded the 28th captain in franchise history to the Ducks on Dec. 6, 2024. He’s not nearly as beloved as Kreider, but the Trouba Train running through MSG again should elicit powerful memories, as well.

So, you’ve got the makings of a must-see event.

Plus, this should be a real good hockey game. The Rangers (16-13-4) come off a thrilling gut-check victory over the Montreal Canadiens, winning 5-4 in overtime Saturday after rallying from down 3-0 and 4-2. The Rangers earned points in eight of their past 10 games (6-2-2), including each of their past four home contests (2-0-2).

The Ducks (19-12-1) are second in the Pacific Division, and among the biggest surprises in the NHL this season. However, they lost two straight, including 4-1 at the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, and are 8-9-0 since Nov. 11.

In their past 12 games against the Ducks, the Rangers have a 9-1-2 record. The Rangers are on a 10-game home-winning streak against the Ducks at MSG.

3 storylines when Rangers host Ducks​

John Jones-Imagn Images

1. Setting friendship aside​

An intriguing subplot to this one is how Kreider and his best friend on the Rangers, Mika Zibanejad, fare going head-to-head against one another. The longtime linemates are very close, with Zibanejad serving as Kreider’s best man in his wedding in 2023. Each is a proud athlete and competitor, as well, so this should be a doozy if each pushes the other on the ice Monday.

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

After struggles on and off the ice for each last season, Kreider and Zibanejad are back in top form in 2025-26. Kreider is third on the Ducks with 13 goals, and his six power-play tallies not only lead them, but are tied with Zibanejad for 10th most in the NHL.

Zibanejad leads the Rangers with 11 goals, and is third with 25 points. The 32-year-old set up J.T. Miller’s overtime winner against the Canadiens and has points in eight of his past nine games (three goals, six points). He also owns the Ducks, with points in 10 of his past 11 games against them (nine goals, eight assists).

2. It’s not just Kreider ​

The Ducks are second in the NHL, averaging 3.44 goals per game. Kreider’s a big part of the explosive Ducks core, one that features some of the best young talent in the NHL.

Forward Leo Carlsson, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, has 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 32 games, tied for 10th in the NHL scoring race. Teammates Cutter Gauthier (16 goals, 18 assists) and Troy Terry (10 goals, 24 assists) each have 34 points, giving the Ducks three players with more points than the Rangers leading scorer, Artemi Panarin (33 points; 11 goals, 12 assists).

Scoring goals isn’t an issue for the Ducks, but keeping the puck out of their own net is. Anaheim is 25th in the League with a team 3.34 goals-against average.

3. Power Ranger​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Rangers coach Mike Sullivan simply gushed about Miller following the big win Saturday. Miller scored the tying and winning goals, including his second OT goal this season. And Sullivan loved how each was scored.

“The two goals he scored are prototypical J.T. Miller hockey. One’s at the blue paint, he plays his power game. And the overtime winner is, that one-timer is a missile. That’s a goal scorer’s goal, and that’s what he’s capable of,” Sullivan said postgame.

Miller arrived back on Broadway last season in a trade with the Vancouver Canucks, nearly eight weeks after the Rangers dealt Trouba to the Ducks. So, they weren’t Blueshirt teammates. But they’re forever linked since Miller became the 29th captain in Rangers history at the start of this season, replacing Trouba.

Miller now has nine goals and 20 points in 32 games this season. Trouba’s excelled with the Ducks as a top-pair defenseman, and has 14 points (five goals, nine assists), averaging 22:02 TOI in 32 games.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Artemi Panarin — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere

J.T. Miller — Vincent Trocheck — Conor Sheary

Will Cuylle — Noah Laba — Brett Berard

Jaroslav Chmelar — Sam Carrick — Taylor Raddysh

Vladislav Gavrikov — Braden Schneider

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Urho Vaakanainen — Matthew Robertson

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Anaheim Ducks

When: Monday, Dec. 15 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-ducks-preview-kreider-trouba

 

[New York Rangers]

Ex-Rangers Kreider, Trouba ready for return to ‘amazing building’ with Ducks

Chris Kreider’s 13 seasons with the New York Rangers never involved dealing with which door the visiting team at Madison Square Garden uses to get on the ice. That’s why he needed directions when his new team, the Anaheim Ducks, hit the ice for their morning skate prior to their game against the Blueshirts on Monday night.

“No,” he told the assembled media when asked if he’d ever been in the visitors’ locker room, then nodded when asked if he needed to be shown the door the visitors use to take the ice at the Garden.

Kreider’s 912th NHL game will be the first at MSG as a member of the visiting team. The Rangers traded him to Anaheim in June for forward prospect Carey Terrance and a swap of draft picks.

Chris Kreider, ladies and gentlemen. Wearing orange. pic.twitter.com/B2KFaoPiJs

— Colin Stephenson (@ColinSNewsday) December 15, 2025

He’s not sure how emotional it will be to step on the Garden ice wearing another team’s sweater for the first time.

“I don’t know,” he said. “Trying to go on with no expectations and just get ready to play a hockey game. But it’s a passionate fan base. It’s a place that I’ve spent the majority of my life, so I’m sure it’ll be emotional for me. To what extent, I don’t know. I’m just trying to worry about the here and the now.”

One thing that has helped him adapt to his new surroundings is the presence of three former teammates – forwards Frank Vatrano, center Ryan Strome and defenseman Jacob Trouba. The Rangers traded Trouba to Anaheim last December; he’s also making his first visit to the Garden since the deal.

“It’s made the transition easier,” he said. “Having Jacob there, having Frank, Stromer – that familiarity certainly helps. The entire group’s been great.”

Ex-Rangers Kreider, Trouba ready for return to ‘amazing building’​

Kreider’s 326 goals are third in Rangers history; his 48 playoff goals are first and he’s tied for the franchise record with 116 power-play goals. But the Rangers let him go after he dropped to 22 goals and 30 goals last season while battling injuries and illness.

But Kreider is healthy this year, and his scoring touch has returned. The 34-year-old has 13 goals and 20 points in 28 games for Anaheim, which is second in the Pacific Division and trying to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.

“It’s great to be truly healthy,” he said.

He also paid tribute to the fans who supported him during his 13 seasons in New York.

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

“I think it’s hard to express my appreciation for all the support we had over all those years, over all those runs,” he said. “It’s an amazing building; it’s the most famous building in the world, right? But it’s a building. The fans are what makes it a special place. Just being out there this morning, pregame skating on that ice, it’s cool.

“But it’s an empty building; at the end of the day, it’s the fans that make it what it is. It’s hard to put into words my gratitude and appreciation for the support and the passion over all those years.”

The Rangers undoubtedly will give Kreider a video tribute, and he can expect an ovation from the fans who cheered him on in New York.

So, will he watch the video?

“I don’t know how the angle is from that (visitors) bench; probably. What am I going to do – stare at my shoes,” he said with a laugh. “I don’t know. I’ll let you know after it happens.”

Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images

The Rangers kept Kreider in the loop after deciding to trade him. Trouba’s departure wasn’t as amicable, but he said Monday that he preferred to think of the good times with the Blueshirts rather than his departure.

“I didn’t enjoy it in the moment, but it’s just a small piece of what was a very, very memorable and impactful 5 1/2 years for me,” he said. “That’s not the moment I focus on.”

Trouba faced his former team in Anaheim on March 28, when the Ducks rallied for a 5-4 win. But this is his first visit to the arena he called home for five-plus seasons.

“You don’t know exactly how you’re going to feel,” he said of coming back to the Garden. “It was pretty good for me. I went downtown, back by my apartment, last night and walked around. That one got me a little bit. It’ll be fun being back here tonight.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/kreider-trouba-return-to-msg-with-ducks

 

[New York Rangers]

‘A little weird’: Kreider, Trouba honored by Rangers in return to Garden

Chris Kreider left the Madison Square Garden ice high-fiving his teammates after a win Monday night. There was nothing unusual about that — except for the fact that he wasn’t wearing a New York Rangers uniform as he did it.

Kreider and his Anaheim Ducks teammates — including former Rangers Jacob Trouba, Frank Vatrano and Ryan Strome — left the Garden with a solid 4-1 victory. Kreider didn’t hit the score sheet, but Trouba, who was traded to the Ducks last December, started the play that led to the game’s first goal, a shorthanded tally by Jackson Lacombe at 7:18 of the second period.

That came after Kreider was honored for his 13 seasons on Broadway with a video tribute during the first media timeout in the opening period, as well as a standing ovation not only from the sellout crowd of 18,006 but also from his former teammates.

Kreider said playing against the Rangers was “a little weird. It took me a couple of shifts to remember the guys in blue weren’t my teammates.”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Though Kreider said he didn’t see most of the video tribute because coach Joel Quenneville was talking strategy, he caught the end before taking a lap in front of the Ducks bench, waving his stick and patting his heart to the crowd while trying to control his emotions.

“What I did see was awesome,” he said. “Just really grateful for the experience. It was certainly a warm welcome back. That was incredible. Really, really, really cool moment.

“It’s hard to put into words what the experience was like for 13 years, what that experience was like tonight. I don’t know. It kind of leaves you speechless.”

A few minutes later, it was Trouba’s turn.

Unlike Kreider, the Rangers’ former captain faced his former teammates on March 28 in Anaheim after being dealt to the Ducks just over a year ago. He received his own video tribute and a warm ovation.

“Means a lot to me,” he said of The Garden and the fans who cheered him there, “and this place will always be special.”

After the game, Kreider and Trouba shared the “Bombay Jacket,” Anaheim’s version of The Broadway Hat.

For the first time ever, the Bombay Jacket is being shared!!#FlyTogether pic.twitter.com/KKOq2m5wKJ

— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) December 16, 2025

Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba get huge welcome in return to Garden​

Those teammates were very aware that this was no ordinary game – something that was apparent when all four ex-Rangers took the ice for the opening face-off.

“That was a cool move by coach,” Kreider said. “It’s a fun building to play in, even as an opponent.”

The Ducks were very conscious of wanting to win one for Kreider and Trouba.

“We said before the game that we’ve got to play for these guys,” said Anaheim goalie Lukas Dostal, who made 26 saves and was sharp all night.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Kreider and the Ducks left MSG with the win after Cutter Gauthier broke a 1-1 tie with a power-play goal 5:51 into the third period, then hit the empty net with 22 seconds left to ice the win. He slapped gloves with his teammates and received the game puck as a souvenir of his first MSG victory as a visiting player after 13 seasons with the Rangers.

“It’s hard to put into words what the experience was like,” he said after the game. “Kind of leaves you speechless, I guess.

“Maybe next time it’ll feel a little more normal. I had a little adrenaline dump in the first period, a little bit of tunnel vision and nerves like my first game here in New York.”

One ex-teammate Kreider didn’t face on the ice was one of his best buddies, center Mika Zibanejad, who was scratched for the game after missing a meeting. Zibanejad was on hand for the game and was seen catching up with his old teammate in the hallway after the game.

The fans in New York welcome back Chris Kreider, who played 13 seasons with the @NYRangers, in his return to the world's most famous arena. pic.twitter.com/hWHVHi4AnK

— NHL (@NHL) December 16, 2025

Kreider’s 326 goals are third in Rangers history; his 48 playoff goals are first and he’s tied for the franchise record with 116 power-play goals. But the Rangers let him go after he dropped to 22 goals and 30 goals last season while battling injuries and illness.

However, Kreider is healthy this year, and his scoring touch has returned. The 34-year-old has 13 goals and 20 points in 29 games for Anaheim, which is second in the Pacific Division and trying to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2017-18.

Chris Kreider gets his tribute video and takes a lap to salute the MSG faithful pic.twitter.com/tDR0ukGFIA

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) December 16, 2025

“It’s great to be truly healthy,” he said after the morning skate.

Rangers forward Matt Rempe, who returned to the lineup after missing 24 games with a broken thumb, was happy that his comeback coincided with the return of two former teammates.

“It was real cool,” he said. “Both of those guys were really good mentors to me and awesome teammates. It was great seeing them.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/kreider-trouba-honored-in-return-to-garden

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Brennan Othmann Finds Scoring Touch

The Hartford Wolf Pack are trending in the wrong direction, after they lost three of their past four games.

Last week featured mixed results. The New York Rangers AHL affiilliate was shut out for the second time this season, when they lost 3-0 to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton on Wednesday. Hartford responded with a 2-1 win over Utica on Friday. But unable to carry that momentum forward, the Wolf Pack dropped a 7-2 decision to Syracuse on Saturday, allowing a season high in goals against (the previous high was six against Bridgeport on Dec. 6).

The Wolf Pack are tied for sixth (9-12-4-0, 22 points) with Bridgeport in the Atlantic Division. They play two games this week before heading into AHL holiday break.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes​

Brennan Othmann Finds Scoring Touch​

Third-year pro Brennan Othmann is heating up for the Wolf Pack. After slow start and mired in a scoring drought prior to his first goal this season on Nov. 26, Othmann has four goals in his past seven games, including on consecutive nights last weekend.

The 22-year-old forward scored Hartford’s first short-handed goal of the season Friday, after netting his first power-play goal on Dec. 6.

Ottsy snipe on the PK pic.twitter.com/ztnTM0h9m3

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 13, 2025

It’s been a rough season for the 2021 first-round pick. Othmann struggled during the preseason when there was an NHL job to be won in New York. And his play in the AHL hasn’t cut it.

Not surprisingly, there are many Othamnn trade rumors out there. But he remains a key cog for the Wolf Pack. His 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 19 games are tied for seventh on the team with Bryce McConnell-Barker. Hartford needs steady production from Othmann, who recorded 20 points (12 goals, eight assists) in 27 games for them last season 2024-25, and was second on the Wolf Pack with 21 goals in 2023-24.

TIC-TAC-GOAL pic.twitter.com/DZdj3Xr4zg

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 14, 2025

Adam Sýkora Providing Strong Two-Way Play​

Adam Sýkora continues to provide a reliable game at both ends of the ice for Hartford. The second-round pick (No. 63 overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Rangers has five goals through 25 games, and is on pace to surpass his professional career high of nine set last season. More importantly, he continues to be a trusted forward defensively.

Syky turned on the jets for this one pic.twitter.com/T38pcgpigY

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 13, 2025

The 21-year-old is a force on the penalty kill. He scored a short-handed goal this past weekend, and is smart, disruptive player defensively. At even strength, Sýkora is reliable and adept at forcing turnovers, helping Hartford in its transition game.

He’s also more physical this season, despite being somewhat undersized (5-foot-10, 179 pounds). Sykora does not back down from opponents and has shows plenty of feistiness in his game.

His potential fit in the NHL clearly is in a bottom-six role, though he needs to add some size before the Rangers give serious thought to recalling him.

Roster Updates​

• Center Justin Dowling is day to day with an upper-body injury. He left in the first period of the game Friday and did not return.
• Hartford called up forward Kyle Jackson from Bloomington of the ECHL on Monday. Jackson appeared in 23 games with the Bison, recording a team-high 30 points (11 goals, 19 assists), second most in the league.

Upcoming Games​

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

Friday, December 19 vs Syracuse Crunch (Lightning) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena​

• This is the second and final meeting in the season series. Hartford lost the first game, 7-2 on Dec. 13.
• Syracuse is 15-9-1-0 (31 points), tied for second in the North Division (with Rochester) and tied for fourth in the Eastern Conference (with Rochester).
• Jakob Pelletier leads the Crunch with 31 points (15 goals, 16 assists) and is tied for the AHL scoring lead. Next on the Crunch is Nick Abruzzese with 24 points (six goals, 18 assists), who is tied for 13th in the league’s scoring race.

Saturday, December 20 vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) at 7:05pm, PPL Center​

• This is the fourth of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 0-1-2-0 against Lehigh Valley.
• Lehigh Valley is 13-9-1-2 (29 points), third in the Atlantic Division and sixth in the Eastern Conference.
• Alex Bump leads the Phantoms with 19 points (six goals, 13 assists). Next is Anthony Richard with 18 points (eight goals, 10 assists).

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...wolf-pack-brennan-othmann-finds-scoring-touch

 

[New York Rangers]

‘Same thing every game’: Rangers seek answers after 6th home shutout loss

Perhaps the biggest cheer at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night came after the announcement that there was one minute remaining in what turned out to be a 3-0 loss by the New York Rangers to the Vancouver Canucks.

Before that, the Rangers spent most of the evening being booed during their sixth shutout defeat in 17 home games (4-10-3) – this one against the team that began the night last in the NHL standings. Despite allowing just 17 shots on goal and out-attempting the Canucks 60-34, the Rangers again came up empty – and were left frustrated.

“We feel good during the game, but right now it (stinks),” captain J.T. Miller said after New York dropped to 1-3-2 in its past six games overall. “This can’t be the standard we expect to play to. Go home tonight and feel we outplayed the other team. We didn’t score. To come up 0-2 this week at home, it (stinks). Same thing every game, it feels like.”

For the second straight night, the Rangers failed to turn opportunities into goals in front of their home fans. They had the better of play in a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday and did the same for much of the night against the Canucks – but have now scored one goal or fewer in 13 of their 35 games this season – including 10 of 17 at The Garden.

Coach Mike Sullivan’s concern about the Rangers’ offensive struggles continues to grow.

“If I had the solution, we would certainly bring it,” he said postgame. “We’re doing our best to control the process, because that’s really, at the end of the day, what’s within our control. I thought we defended hard tonight. They had a few looks. Their first goal was a little unfortunate. After that, they had a few looks, but not a lot.

“I thought we defended hard. I thought we controlled territory. We had a significant amount of O-zone time. The power play had a lot of good looks. So, I feel like we’re trying to solve it, for sure. But is it a little bit concerning at this point? Yeah.”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The Adam Fox-less power play continued to produce nothing but short-handed goals for the other team. Conor Garland’s empty-netter was the third short-handed goal the Rangers allowed since Sullivan opted for a five-forward first unit after Fox went down with a left arm injury on Nov. 29 and landed on long-term injured reserve soon after.

The Rangers were 0-for-4 with the extra man against Vancouver, and the five-forward group hasn’t scored on 21 power plays in the seven games since the injury to Fox.

“I thought we did a better job today,” said center Mika Zibanejad, one of the five-forward PP1 unit. “I would say it’s a good job if we score and we win. A better job of creating chances. We’ve got to find a way to get a few for us.”

Rangers look for goals, answers after shutout loss to Canucks​

One challenge for Sullivan and his players continues to be keeping morale up on a team that struggles to put the puck in the net, especially at home.

“We can score goals,” said Zibanejad, who returned after being scratched Monday for missing a team meeting. “How many games have we played on the road that we’ve shown that we can score? I’d be more worried if it’s all through the season. I don’t know what else to say. I just wish we scored more goals.

“We have to find a way to add on to what we did today and maybe be a little bit more desperate and more resilient in front of their net and force that puck to go in. That’s what I see from tonight’s game.”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

To Miller, the answer is just to work harder.

“Bear down,” he said. “Like myself, I had chance after chance, I feel like. It’s just not enough. It’s not enough to my standard, it’s not enough to the team’s standard to just play well, outplay the other team and not bury your chances. We deserve better a lot of these nights, but that being said we’re not bearing down and the other teams are. We’re kind of stuck. Win three, lose a couple, win three, and we are where we are. It’s very frustrating.

“I’m just (angry). You feel like you work so hard and you make a lot of plays and a lot of nights, I feel like we’re outplaying the other team, and we end up in here (angry) because we didn’t score enough goals. It’s a fine line.”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It’s a problem that the Rangers must solve soon. They continue a brutal stretch of seven games in 11 days before the Christmas break when they visit the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night, followed by a home game against the Philadelphia Flyers on Saturday afternoon and visits to the Nashville Predators on Sunday and Washington Capitals on Tuesday.

The Rangers (16-15-4) played more games than anyone else in the 16-team Eastern Conference and are 15th in points percentage (.514). They must solve their problems soon or risk missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs a second straight season.

“It’s tight in the standings, and the points really matter,” Zibanejad said. “We have to start winning games, especially at home.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/jt-miller-rangers-seek-goal-solutions

 

[New York Rangers]

What’s next for Rangers after top 2 prospects called up from minors

The day after suffering their seventh shutout loss of the season, the New York Rangers recalled Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann from Hartford of the American Hockey League in hopes that their top two forward prospects can pump some life into an anemic offense.

Each is a past first-round pick by the Rangers and is known for his offensive skill set. Perreault, selected in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft, leads Hartford with 10 goals and 17 points in 20 games. The 20-year-old also picked up his first NHL point, an assist, during a three-game call-up in mid-November.

Othmann, a 2021 first-round pick, has 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 19 games with Hartford this season; he was pointless in one game with the Rangers back on Oct. 26. The 22-year-old scored 21 goals with Hartford as a rookie pro in 2023-24 but has yet to score a goal in 26 NHL games over parts of three seasons.

However, Othmann’s playing his best hockey of the season right now. He scored three goals in his past four AHL games and has five points (four goals, one assist) in his past seven contests with Hartford. This comes after a slow start led to a slew of Othmann trade rumors.

Perreault was AHL Player of the Week for the week ending Nov. 2 and largely played well in his first pro season, after two outstanding seasons at Boston College. However, his production dried up recently — Perreault was pointless and minus-7 in his past four games with Hartford.

UPDATE: #NYR has recalled forwards Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann from the Hartford Wolf Pack.

Additionally, the Rangers have assigned forwards Brett Berard and Jaroslav Chmelař to the Wolf Pack. pic.twitter.com/AbsxO7uyFK

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) December 17, 2025

To make room on the active roster, the Rangers assigned forwards Brett Berard and Jaroslav Chmelar to Hartford. Berard was without a point in 11 games, mainly playing on the third line, where he averaged 10:59 TOI. Chmelar averaged 7:51 TOI in six games on the fourth line. He didn’t record a point and totaled seven penalty minutes.

What’s next for Rangers after calling up Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othmann​

Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Why Rangers called up two rookies at same time​

The Rangers are 30th out of 32 NHL teams in scoring, averaging 2.51 goals per game. They’ve been shut out in 20 percent of their games (seven times in 35 games) and held to one goal or fewer 13 times, after a 3-0 loss to the last-overall Vancouver Canucks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.

New York’s power play is a mess, especially without injured defenseman Adam Fox available to run point the past seven games. The Rangers are 20th in the NHL on the power play, converting at 18.3 percent.

The Rangers need a pretty drastic change to shake them out of their doldrums. Thus, even though coach Mike Sullivan has reservations about each youngster plays defensively, their offensive upside is too appealing right now.

Perhaps NHL Network’s E.J. Hradek explained it best when he discussed Perreault on the RINK RAP podcast last week.

“It’s interesting to see what’s going on with Gabe Perreault, because he’s playing real well in the American [Hockey] League,” Hradek told Forever Blueshirts. “I am someone who believes in letting guys ripen at the lesser levels, and so that’s probably a good thing that he’s getting that experience there. But that said, they need help at the NHL level, which is a problem. Maybe that injection of, as they say, that youthful enthusiasm and youthful talent to your mix up front would give them a little bit of a jump.”

Where Gabe Perreault, Brennan Othman fit in Rangers lineup​

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

To paraphrase Rangers defenseman Braden Schneider, it’s time for Perreault and Othmann to put their big boy pants on. Or maybe a better way to phrase it is that Sullivan must let the rookies put their big boy pants on.

His concern about their readiness on the defensive side of the puck is valid. But unless one or both is so in over his head defensively, the coach must let the kids play and do what they do best. That starts with putting each in a position to do so, improving the chance for success.

Start with Perreault. Put him in the top-six forward group. He’s uber creative, thinks the offensive game at a high level and has the skills to make plays with the best players on the roster. Playing him with J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck is appealing, as is having him riding shotgun with Mika Zibanejad in some iteration. Or maybe with Trocheck and Alexis Lafreniere? Or have him queue up Artemi Panarin?

Also, get the kid some power-play time. The idea of Perreault out there with more open ice is exciting.

Former @BC_MHockey star Gabe Perreault opens the scoring with the Rangers’ first goal of the preseason pic.twitter.com/pUp3H9uzJB

— Game Notes (@GameNotesBud) September 21, 2025

As for Othmann, his confidence should be at its highest level this season right now. So, tap into that. No fourth-line duty please. A third line of Othmann, Noah Laba, and Will Cuylle? That’s intriguing, since each plays a North-South style and is physical. A top-six role for Othmann? There’s absolutely a case for that — just not at the expense of Perreault getting that shot.

Would the Rangers move Lafreniere into a third-line role to get Othmann and Perreault into the top six? Unlikely. Lafreniere continues to drive play and his analytics are always good, but he’s got one goal in nine games and seven all season. So, there’s an argument to be made here. But it just feels like Sullivan’s not going to do anything that drastic with Lafreniere or his top-six group.

brennan othmann with the shorty pic.twitter.com/kuOHovbQ0O

— hope (@nohopeleague) December 13, 2025

Odd men out​

The obvious odd men out are Berard and Chmelar. Berard did bring energy to the lineup, playing 11 straight games after his recall before he was a he was a healthy scratch against the Canucks. But unlike last season, when he scored six goals and totaled 10 points in 35 games on Broadway, Berard barely sniffed the score sheet this time around. With Perreault and Othmann in New York, Berard should get quality top-line minutes on the wing in Hartford, which certainly can’t hurt.

Chmelar didn’t look out of place in a limited fourth-line role with the Rangers. But there’s no room for the rugged 22-year-old with Matt Rempe back in the lineup and Taylor Raddysh available to play on the fourth line.

Conor Sheary works hard and plays a committed 200-foot game. But he simply can’t score. He’s got one goal in 32 games and logged far too many minutes in the top six. The 33-year-old two-time Stanley Cup winner is a bottom-six forward at this stage of his career — and likely ends up a healthy scratch Thursday, when the Rangers visit the St. Louis Blues.

Jonny Brodzinski remains an extra forward, trusted to play up and down the lineup as needed. Assuming no one gets hurt, and Perreault and Othmann play well enough to remain in the lineup, Brodzinski remains in the press box for the foreseeable future.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-gabe-perreault-brennan-othmann-boost-scoring

 

[New York Rangers]

Towering Rangers prospect Nathan Aspinall having breakout OHL season

Nathan Aspinall is used to standing above most everyone else. That comes with being 6-foot-7, even before the New York Rangers prospect puts his skates on.

But right now, the 19-year-old forward also stands above everyone else in the Ontario Hockey League, leading the OHL in scoring with 48 points (22 goals, 26 assists) in 30 games for the Flint Firebirds.

This is most definitely a breakout campaign for Aspinall, whom the Rangers selected in the fifth round (No. 159 overall) of the 2024 NHL. Draft. He’s had at least one point in all but five games this season, and his recent 13-game point streak ended Saturday in a 3-2 loss to Sarnia.

Aspinall already surpassed his previous OHL best of 47 points, set in 62 games last season. His 22 goals are second in the OHL and four more than his previous career high of 18 set in 2023-24 with Flint.

The big man continued his big season

Nathan Aspinall currently leads the #OHL in points with 48 as he scored last night to extend his point streak to 13 games!@FlintFirebirds | #NYR pic.twitter.com/gl6wzHD6SH

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 13, 2025

Flint (22-7-2-2) sits atop the Western Conference in the OHL with 48 points, due in large part to Aspinall’s major uptick in production and leadership as team captain. He had a career-high five points and recorded his first OHL hat trick in a 9-1 rout of Guelph on Dec. 10.

A first for the captain of the Firebirds

The @FlintFirebirds has his first career #OHL hat-trick with three big-time goals.@FloHockey | #NYR pic.twitter.com/JylKgmvbvH

— Ontario Hockey League (@OHLHockey) December 11, 2025

In his fourth season of major junior hockey, the towering forward acted on the advice to shoot more, and averages 4.25 shots on goal per game this season. Improvements to the power and accuracy of his shot, especially shooting the puck in stride, helped Aspinall immensely in his breakout season. His fast start was recognized when he won OHL Player of the Month honors for November.

After playing five games with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League on an amateur tryout at the end of last season, Aspinall took part in training camp with the Rangers this fall. Aspinall opened some eyes when he fought rugged forward Nathan Legare in the preseason opener against the New Jersey Devils.

The Rangers signed Aspinall to a three-year, entry-level contract in October. He’s expected to rejoin Hartford once his season with Flint is over.

Rangers prospect Artem Gonchar also playing well in OHL​

Artem Gonchar is another Rangers prospect playing well in the OHL this season. The 19-year-old defenseman from Russia scored his eighth goal Saturday, helping Sudbury to a wild 7-6 shootout victory over Owen Sound.

Gonch gets a friendly deflection and puts us within one!

6-5 pic.twitter.com/MWewTWoczm

— Sudbury Wolves (@Sudbury_Wolves) December 13, 2025

He has 15 points in his past 12 games, and is third on Sudbury with 19 points in 29 games.

The Rangers selected the left-shot d-man in the third round (No. 89 overall) of the 2025 draft. He is the nephew of Sergei Gonchar, who played 1,301 games in the NHL.

“Artem is a player that we have been high on from this past season.”, Sudbury general manager Rob Papineau said prior to the season. “He is a very intelligent smooth skating defenseman who was just selected in the third round in the NHL. He has great vision and offensive instincts and is a skilled playmaker.”

Gonchar played most of his 2024-25 season in the MHL with Magnitogorsk Stalnye Lisy, recording 25 points (seven goals, 18 assists) in 50 games

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...gers-prospect-nathan-aspinall-breakout-season

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Blues: Lineups, storylines with Artemi Panarin ‘under the weather’

The New York Rangers will have to try to regain their scoring touch and get back on the winning track Thursday night against the St. Louis Blues without Artemi Panarin. Their leading scorer is “under the weather” and was scratched after skipping the morning skate at Enterprise Center.

Panarin has 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) while playing all 35 games so far this season. The durable 34-year-old’s missed just two games since the start of the 2022-23 season. He’s also led the Rangers in scoring each of his first six seasons after signing a seven-year, $81.5 million contract as a free agent on July 1, 2019.

Though Panarin’s production is more inconsistent this season, his absence from the lineup is a major concern.

Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

The Rangers (16-15-4) average 2.51 goals per game, 29th of 32 teams in the NHL. New York was shut out 3-0 by the last-overall Vancouver Canucks at home on Tuesday to complete a miserable back-to-back set at Madison Square Garden. The blanking by the Canucks followed a 4-1 loss to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday.

New York’s been shut out seven times this season, with six of those defeats on home ice. Though the Rangers lead the NHL with 12 road wins, they were blanked in Chicago by the Blackhawks in their most recent road contest eight days ago.

So, yes, they’ll miss Panarin. But reinforcements did arrive from the minors leagues on Wednesday, when the Rangers recalled Gabe Perreault and Brennan Othmann from Hartford of the American Hockey League. Neither former first-round pick scored a goal yet in a combined 34 NHL games, but each possesses plenty of offensive skill.

Perreault leads Hartford with 10 goals and 17 points in 20 games as a rookie pro. The 20-year-old also picked up his first NHL point, an assist, during a three-game recall earlier this season. Othmann scored 21 goals for Hartford two seasons ago and had three in his past four AHL games before this recall.

The Blues (13-15-7) are one of the three teams that actually scores fewer goals than the Rangers. St. Louis is 31st in the League, averaging 2.49 goals per game, and its unsightly minus-36 goal differential is worst in the NHL.

Still, the Blues found a way to win two of their past three games despite scoring a total of six goals. They’re coming off a 1-0 victory at home over the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, the first of this back to back for them.

Joel Hofer shut out Winnipeg, so Jordan Binnington likely starts against the Rangers. Igor Shesterkin gets the call for the Rangers.

3 storylines when Rangers visit Blues​

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

1. Going fourth​

The Rangers didn’t do line rushes at the morning skate, but Othmann told reporters he’s slated to skate on the fourth line with Sam Carrick and Matt Rempe. If coach Mike Sullivan actually gives that line some decent playing time, it could be a source of much-needed energy. When Othmann is at his best, he’s engaged and playing physically, which often leads to offensive success.

It would be nice to see Othmann get some run in the top-nine. But Sullivan trusts Carrick and Rempe, so hopefully that means Othmann earns some trust, too, and plays more than a handful of minutes.

Credit: Brennan Othmann

Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

After a slow start this season that led to plenty of Othmann trade rumors, the 22-year-old forward has five points (four goals, one assist) in his past seven games with Hartford.

“The last two or three weeks it’s been trending upwards,” he explained after the morning skate. “I feel like I’ve been playing pretty good hockey in Hartford and getting good feedback from the top of the organization to the bottom.”

There’s no indication where Perreault slots in Thursday, though a top-six role is likely — whether Panarin plays or not. Perreault also practiced with the second power-play unit at the morning skate.

2. Hit parade​

Outside of not scoring a lot of goals, there’s another thing the Rangers and Blues have in common. They are among the most physical teams in the NHL, at least according to one statistic. The Rangers lead the NHL with 927 hits; the Blues are fourth with 820.

Will Cuylle again leads the Rangers, and is third in the NHL, with 121 hits in 35 games. Last season, Cuylle set a franchise record with 301 hits, tied for third in the League.

Nathan Walker leads the Blues with 95 hits and averages a whopping 18.05 hits per 60 minutes. Dylan Holloway is second on the team with 91 hits. Neither of these rugged forwards will play Thursday. Walker remains out longer-term with an upper-body injury; Holloway injured his ankle a few days ago and won’t be evaluated again for six weeks.

3. Did you see the red Fox?​

Good morning from St. Louis, where the Rangers are having a morning skate at the Enterprise Center. The man in red is Adam Fox. pic.twitter.com/HlxJS8KSeO

— Colin Stephenson (@ColinSNewsday) December 18, 2025

This won’t help the Rangers against the Blues, but it’s certainly good news that Adam Fox took part in the morning skate, albeit wearing a red no-contact jersey. He remains on LTIR with an upper-body injury, and will miss his ninth game Thursday.

New York is 3-3-2 since Fox sustained his injury in a 4-1 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 29. Without Fox quarterbacking their top power-play unit, the Rangers are 2-for-21 with the man advantage. The second unit scored one of those power-play goals and the other was a 4-on-3 score in overtime. The five-forward PP1 unit is without a power-play goal.

It should be noted that in Panarin’s absence Thursday morning, rookie defenseman Scott Morrow ran point on PP1, either signaling a change of plans or that he’s a placeholder for the Breadman.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Will Cuylle — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere

J.T. Miller — Vincent Trocheck — Conor Sheary

Gabe Perreault — Noah Laba — Taylor Raddysh

Brennan Othmann — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe

Vladislav Gavrikov — Braden Schneider

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Matthew Robertson — Scott Morrow

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. St. Louis Blues

When: Thursday, Dec. 18 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Enterprise Center

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...-storylines-artemi-panarin-game-time-decision

 

[New York Rangers]

‘Sometimes they go in’: Miller’s 3rd OT goal of season ties Rangers record

New York Rangers captain J.T. Miller isn’t generating much offense in regulation so far this season. But it’s a whole different story when the game goes past 60 minutes.

Miller scored his third overtime goal of the season at 2:21 of the extra period to give the Rangers a 2-1 road win against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday night, ending their two-game slide. He’s responsible for their past two victories; Miller also got the OT winner on Saturday in a 5-4 victory over the Montreal Canadiens at Madison Square Garden, after which they lost 4-1 to the Anaheim Ducks on Monday and 3-0 to the Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday, also at MSG.

The overtime goal Thursday, a rocket of a shot from the high slot through defenseman Vladislav Gavrikov’s screen that beat goalie Jordan Binnington, was the 17th of Miller’s career. He’s tied for seventh on the all-time NHL list.

HE DOES IT AGAIN pic.twitter.com/FeZP0sZsjE

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 19, 2025

Miller also scored the OT winner in a 4-3 road victory against the Edmonton Oilers on Oct. 30 and had the primary assist on Will Cuylle’s OT goal in a 3-2 road win against the Seattle Kraken two nights later. For good measure, he also scored the deciding goal in a 2-1 shootout win on the road against the Blue Jackets in Columbus on Nov. 15.

“Sometimes they go in, sometimes they don’t,” Miller said Thursday about his OT success. “I feel like I’ve had some success in previous years in overtime. Today was kind of a weird one. I was pretty tired out there and they had a little breakdown in their coverage and [Vincent Trocheck] made a [heck] of a play. Tried to shoot the puck a little bit more today, and it’s nice to get off the schneid a little bit.”

J.T. Miller’s latest OT goal lifts Rangers to 2-1 win against Blues​

Miller is hard on himself for not producing more in regulation for an offense-starved team – he has just seven goals and 17 non-OT points in 34 games. He has seven points (three goals, four assists) overall in his past eight games, and said his success in extra time should give him more of a boost.

“It’s good for the confidence,” he said. “Last couple weeks, I feel like my game’s there. I don’t think it’s kind of back to the same as the beginning of the year. It’s like not getting as much as I’d like, I think, on the score sheet.

“But I’ve got to believe that if you just play like that most games than not over the course of the season, good things will happen. Just try to be confident.”

HUG. YOUR. CAPTAIN. pic.twitter.com/HsEvjY1Kql

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 19, 2025

Goalie Igor Shesterkin, who made 26 saves, said Miller is “a huge player for us.”

“He’s a leader,” Shesterkin told the New York Post. “He has a great personality. He played great. He always plays hard. So we just try to follow him, especially in overtime.”

Miller passed Max Pacioretty for the most overtime goals by a U.S.-born player in NHL history. And he tied a Rangers record for most OT goals in a season – matching Tomas Sandstrom, Adam Graves, and Marian Gaborik.

“It was a great shot, and a great screen by ‘Vladdy’ – Vladdy goes to the net.” coach Mike Sullivan said postgame. “It was a good play all around.”

Sullivan wants Miller to let ‘er rip more often rather than looking for the perfect play.

“I had a conversation with him this morning and tried to encourage him to shoot the puck a little bit more,” the coach explained. “Sometimes he passes up the opportunity to shoot it. He has a heavy shot.

“He’s one of the few guys we have on our team (who) can beat goaltenders clean, with a clear-sided shot. That’s how heavy I think his shot is. That was a great example of it.”

Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Sullivan also liked with the teamwork and smart puck play that led to Miller’s OT winner.

“[Overtime] is a possession game. You’ve got to be selective about when you shoot. Overtime, for me, is all about possession. Those guys were patient when they needed to be. They came up the ice together. Vinny made a nice play, Vladdy goes to the net – it’s a good screen.

“Good players make good plays.”

The Rangers need more plays like that when they continue their grueling five-games-in-seven-days week with a Saturday afternoon contest against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Garden, followed by visits to the Nashville Predators on Sunday and the Washington Capitals on Tuesday before the Christmas break.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...t-miller-overtime-success-ties-rangers-record

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Flyers: Lineups, storylines for Metro matinee

It’s been nearly a month since the New York Rangers last played a game within the Metropolitan Division. But that’ll change Saturday, when the Rangers host the Philadelphia Flyers in a matinee at Madison Square Garden.

In fact, the Rangers schedule features five of their next six games through the end of the calendar year against divisional foes. So, this is a good time for them to start playing consistently better within the division if the Rangers wish to make a serious run at a playoff spot this season.

The Rangers (17-15-4) are 3-4-0 against Metropolitan Division teams, most recently skating to a 4-2 road win over the first-place Carolina Hurricanes on Thanksgiving Eve. This upcoming stretch through Dec. 31 sees the Rangers face-off twice against the Washington Capitals, and once each against the Flyers, Hurricanes, and Islanders.

As of Friday, the Rangers are sixth in the eight-team Metropolitan Division, though just three points behind the third-place Islanders. They’re two points behind the Flyers, who hold the first wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.

This is the first meeting in 2025-26 between the Rangers and Flyers. Neither team qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, when the Flyers took two out of three in the season series.

The Rangers come off a 2-1 overtime win in St. Louis against the Blues on Thursday. Gabe Perreault scored his first NHL goal early in the second period to tie the game, before J.T. Miller netted his third OT winner this season.

That was their second win in seven games (2-3-2) and their League-leading 13th on the road. It’s well documented that the Rangers are not nearly as successful this season on home ice, where they have a 4-10-1 record. Earlier in the week, New York scored one goal when they lost back-to-back home games to the Anaheim Ducks and Vancouver Canucks.

The Flyers have points in five of their past six games (2-1-3), but lost 5-3 to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. Philly hasn’t lost consecutive games in regulation since Nov. 1-2, and is 5-1-3 within the Metropolitan Division.

3 storylines when Rangers host Flyers​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

1. Working overtime​

With these two teams playing one another, be prepared for the game to last more than 60 minutes Saturday. The Rangers played their 10th overtime game Thursday, improving to 6-4. They’re 5-4 in sudden death and 1-0 in the shootout. Miller had a direct hand in five of those six OT wins. He scored three goals in overtime and assisted on one by Will Cuylle, and also notched the shootout winner against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

MILLER TIME IN OVERTIME

J.T. Miller scores the Subway Canada OT winner for the Rangers pic.twitter.com/NXdtaiW29g

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 19, 2025

Thirteen of the Flyers’ 33 games to date were decided in overtime. That’s a whopping 39.4 percent of their games. Three of their past five games went past 60 minutes. Philly is 7-6 in overtime this season — 2-4 in sudden death and 5-2 in the shootout.

2. Goalie focus​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

This is an intriguing goalie match up. The Rangers starting goalie is expected to be Igor Shesterkin, who stopped 26 of 27 shots in St. Louis, the sixth time he’s allowed one goal or fewer in 28 starts this season. Since 2021-22, no NHL goalie has more starts allowing one goal or less than Shesterkin, who’s done it 74 times.

Among goalies to start at least 20 games this season, Shesterkin is tied for the sixth lowest goals-against average (2.49). His 16.0 goals saved above expected is sixth most in the League, per MoneyPuck. And he has a solid .910 save percentage, which is tied with Flyers goalie Dan Vladar for seventh in the NHL among those who’ve played 20 games.

Vladar signed a two-year, $6.7 million contract with the Flyers this past offseason. After spending four seasons as the No. 2 goalie with the Calgary Flames, where he never played more than 30 games, Vladar already started 20 for the Flyers as their No. 1. The 28-year-old’s been excellent, and his 2.41 GAA, so far, is the best of his career and better than his New York counterpart heading into their clash Saturday.

3. Flyers pain could be Rangers gain​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Earlier this week, the Flyers revealed that forward Tyson Foerster is out for the rest of the regular season following arm surgery. That’s a big blow to the Flyers. The 23-year-old scored at least 20 goals in his first two NHL seasons, including 25 a year ago. He was off to a fast start with 10 goals in 21 games before sustaining an injury two weeks ago.

Foerster, you might remember, had a hat trick against the Rangers last April in an 8-5 Flyers win. So, it’s safe to say the Blueshirts won’t miss playing against him.

In his absence, the Flyers must find more production within their lineup. Trevor Zegras, the Bedford, New York native, is off to a nice start with 14 goals, and Travis Konecny scored his 10th of the season in the loss Thursday. But the rest of the forward group is hit or miss. Especially Matvei Michkov, the uber-talented 21-year-old, who scored 26 goals as a rookie in 2024-25, but has eight so far this season.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

Will Cuylle — Mika Zibanejad — Alexis Lafreniere

J.T. Miller — Vincent Trocheck — Conor Sheary

Gabe Perreault — Noah Laba — Taylor Raddysh

Brennan Othmann — Sam Carrick — Matt Rempe

Vladislav Gavrikov — Braden Schneider

Carson Soucy — Will Borgen

Matthew Robertson — Scott Morrow

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers

When: Saturday, Dec. 20 at 12:30 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: MSG

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ineups-storylines-metropolitan-division-clash