RSS Rangers Team Notes

[New York Rangers]

Do Rangers need to retool, rebuild … or blow it up, start over?

New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury made it clear in his letter to fans on Jan. 16 that the team was about to enter a retooling — but added that “this will not be a rebuild.” However, with the Rangers plummeting like a stone to the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings, losing their past three games, six of seven and 14 of 17, it’s fair to ask if there’s really a difference between the two processes.

A Message from Chris Drury to Our Fans pic.twitter.com/JVimBJ59B7

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) January 16, 2026

The Rangers made a minor trade this week, sending defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders for a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Big deal – they bought another lottery ticket. Similarly, they claimed Vincent Iorio off waivers from the San Jose Sharks on Saturday. A former second-round pick (No. 55 overall) in the 2021 draft by the Washington Capitals, the big (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) 23-year-old defenseman is worth a shot, but, yes, is another lottery ticket.

They’re holding team scoring leader Artemi Panarin of the lineup for what’s euphemistically known as “roster management” – in other words, the Rangers want to make sure he won’t get hurt before they can trade him.

But the market for “Bread” figures to be limited by his no-movement clause, the Rangers’ decision not to offer the pending free agent a new contract, and the fact that the 34-year-old and his agent reportedly want a “home run” contract extension in place before they OK a deal. That could come today, before the Olympic trade freeze that begins Thursday, before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6 – or not at all.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

With a few exceptions (center Mika Zibanejad being the most obvious), the Rangers play like a team that needs to be stripped down to the studs for a complete overhaul – exactly what Drury indicated he wasn’t going to do. He wrote of focusing on obtaining “young players, draft picks and cap space that allow us flexibility moving forward.”

Left unsaid is who he would use this cap space on. Panarin would arguably be the best free agent available on July 1, and Drury already ruled out bringing him back. All the potential big names re-upped with their current teams.

Yes, injuries to cornerstones like goaltender Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox helped sink this season – but the Rangers aren’t the only team that’s had to contend with serious injuries to key players. More important is that they are an older, slower team that keeps making the same mistakes game after game and shows no signs that anything will change.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Their 6-5 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday was a perfect example.

As has been the case too often this season, the Rangers chased the game before they knew what hit them. Their inability to break the puck out of their own zone, with turnovers leading directly to goals, is a go-to for the Rangers and allowed the Penguins to go up 2-0 before the first media timeout.

“It’s a bit of a s***storm in the D-zone,” center Vincent Trocheck said. “Whenever you’re trying to break pucks out, we’ve got to be a lot tighter and try to support guys from a closer spot, just to make it even that much easier to come out as a group of five. That’s the only way you can really fix that.”

That’s a broken record Blueshirts fans are tired of listening to. This was the third time in the past six games — and 18th time this season — that the Rangers allowed the opponent to score in the first five minutes of a game.

Retool, rebuild or more? What’s next for Rangers?​

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

“I’d like to think we’re very prepared and motivated and ready to start the game,” Miller said in a postgame speech he should have on an audio loop. “We talk about it all the time, but we’re not really executing that game plan. Other teams are getting out to better starts, so obviously, it’s an issue for us. But I’m just trying not to be negative. I don’t know what to say. I feel like we’re ready to go. When we go on the ice, we’re ready to play the game. Then we get out there, and they jump out to the lead, it seems like a lot of nights. So, it’s definitely something we’ve got to try to shore up.”

Stop me if you’ve heard this before. Oh, and don’t be fooled by the final score — the Penguins led 5-1 with less than 11 minutes remaining. Turning a big loss into a one-goal loss means nothing. Moral victories aren’t the end goal here.

The Rangers counted on rookie defenseman Scott Morrow, the key piece they received from the Carolina Hurricanes in the K’Andre Miller trade on July 1, to pick up some of the slack after Fox was injured on Jan. 5. Instead, he continues to show that he’s not ready for the NHL. The 23-year-old committed one turnover that led to a first-period goal, took a hooking penalty later in the period and finished minus-2 while logging 14:50 TOI.

His underlying metrics, per Natural Stat Trick, aren’t terrible 5v5 for a third-par rookie defenseman. But the eye test isn’t great, nor are his six assists in 28 games.

MAN O-MANTHA.

Anthony Mantha is riding a four-game point streak pic.twitter.com/zcjzsXzb8q

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 31, 2026

Meanwhile, the Penguins are on track to end a three-year absence from the Stanley Cup Playoffs because they’ve finally found some young talent to augment future Hall of Famers Sidney Crosby (38 years old), Evgeni Malkin (39), Kris Letang (39) and Erik Karlsson (35). One of those players is Ben Kindel, an 18-year-old forward who scored his 12th goal Saturday and was a shrewd first-round pick at No. 11 overall last June.

The Rangers have plenty of thirty-somethings skaters on the roster, but none anywhere near the level of the Penguins’ senior quartet: Zibanejad, Miller and Trocheck, the three highest-scoring forwards who dressed Saturday, are all 32. Each has a long-term contract that includes some form of trade protection.

So, where’s all the Rangers’ young talent? Good question.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Drury sacrificed their 2025 first-round pick in the trade that brought Miller from the Vancouver Canucks last Jan. 31; the Canucks quickly wheeled it to the Penguins for defenseman Marcus Pettersson. The Rangers look like they’ll get a top-five (if not No. 1 overall) pick in the 2026 draft, as well as the Dallas Stars’ pick, which should come late in the opening round.

They better hope this high pick works out better than No. 1 overall selection they got six years ago, when they chose forward Alexis Lafreniere. Despite his two-goal, three-point outing against the Penguins, the 24-year-old has yet to develop into an impact player and is in the first season of a seven-year contract.

The Rangers also had picks within the top nine in each of the three drafts before 2020; none of those players is still with the team.

Brennan Othmann, taken with the No. 16 pick in 2021, has yet to show he can play at the NHL level. Forward Gabe Perreault, selected No. 23 in 2023, shows flashes of skill and looks like an NHL player, but the 20-year-old needs more size and speed to augment his smarts and skill. Noah Laba, a 2022 fourth-rounder, is a bright spot this season, regularly centering the third line as a rookie – but that looks like his ceiling (and he left the game Saturday with an injury).

Not exactly a rosy outlook.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

In another world, a GM whose team went from Presidents’ Trophy winners to bottom feeders in two years would be a logical candidate to be fired as the first part of a retool/rebuild/whatever you want to call it. But Rangers owner James Dolan went on WFAN radio early last month to tell the world that Drury was his guy. Dolan’s reward was watching the Rangers do their best Wile E. Coyote imitation and run right off a cliff.

The Rangers had some dreary stretches in their history. Most of the past 25 years of the Original Six Era were dreadful, as were the late 1970s, the late 1990s through 2004 and the “Letter 1.0” stretch from 2017-21. The 2024-to-whenever span has the potential to join this Forgettable Foursome.

The question isn’t whether the Blueshirts need to rebuild or “just retool.” It’s whether they can pull a rabbit out of a hat, inject young talent into a system that has very little of it, and figure out how to get the most out of the players they keep while getting the most value for the ones they don’t.

For that, they might need a magician rather than a general manager.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-retool-rebuild-future-analysis

 

[New York Rangers]

Here’s what the Rangers have with ‘happy-go-lucky’ Vincent Iorio

Two days after he was claimed off waivers by the New York Rangers, Vincent Iorio closed his first practice with his new team Monday by skating through a gauntlet of players slapping their sticks on the ice to welcome him to Broadway, or more specifically, Tarrytown, where the training facility is.

It was a fitting moment for the affable newest Rangers defenseman.

“It was cool. I don’t know who started that. They all started tapping their sticks and asked if I wanted to do a gauntlet, so I really can’t say no,” Iorio told reporters with a smile on his face.

An initiation for Vincent Iorio. #NYR pic.twitter.com/W3pnmMwdaP

— Remy Mastey (@MasteyRemy) February 2, 2026

Get used to that smile. The 23-year-old maintains it as best he can, even during a season when he’s now on his third team and claimed twice on waivers.

“For me, it’s just to continue having that positive mindset and just be the happy-go-lucky kid that I am,” he explained. “I pride myself on smiling coming to the rink every day and just being happy, and I’m going to continue doing the same thing here.”

A 2021 second-round pick (No. 55 overall) by the Washington Capitals, Iorio was snatched up the San Jose Sharks in October and played 21 games with them before they lost him on waivers to the Rangers this past weekend. Not surprisingly, Iorio only had good things to say about his time with the Sharks, for whom he registered three assists and averaged 16:30 TOI

However, he’s clearly happy to be with the Rangers now.

“I was obviously really excited. This is such a storied franchise. So, I’m just excited,” he said. “First practice was good. I know a couple of the guys, so that it made it a little bit easier. … It’s just nice to have a couple familiar faces.”

New #NYR Vincent Iorio is here wearing No. 6 pic.twitter.com/3imN9iko0P

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) February 2, 2026

Interestingly, two of the players he knows are fellow defensemen Braden Schneider and Scott Morrow. Iorio was teammates with Schneider in junior at Brandon in the Western Hockey League, and in prep school with Morrow at Shattuck St. Mary’s.

Each is a right-shot defenseman, ahead of Iorio on the depth chart. But Schneider’s name is attached to a bunch of trade rumors what with the Rangers beginning to retool their roster. Morrow’s had an uneven rookie season, so the Rangers could pivot to Iorio to play ahead of him on the right side of the third defense pair.

There’s time to let this play out, though. The Rangers have three days of practice this week before their next game, Thursday at home against the Carolina Hurricanes. After that comes the three-week Olympic break.

What Rangers can expect from Vincent Iorio​

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Iorio brings 30 games of NHL regular-season experience to the Rangers. He also played in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round playoff series against them in 2024, and helped Hershey of the American Hockey League win consecutive Calder Trophy championships in 2023 and 2024.

“I thought he looked good today. First time seeing him up close, he looks like he has decent puck skills, he’s got good size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds). So, I thought for a first practice, it’s not an easy thing just jumping into a brand-new team like that, I thought he executed pretty well in some of the drills we were doing,” Rangers coach Mike Sullivan said Monday. “Maybe the biggest thing that jumped out at me was his ability to move the puck. That skillset certainly will help us.”

Indeed. The Rangers struggled mightily in that area without the injured Adam Fox in the lineup most of the past two months. It’s worth noting that Fox skated in a no-contact sweater Monday, but the Rangers don’t expect him to play until after the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Fox missed 12 games so far with a lower-body injury — after missing 14 games in December with an upper-body issue.

So, what does Iorio believe he brings to the Blueshirts?

“Solid two-way defenseman,” he explained. “I just want to break pucks out, play hard defensively, try and contribute and join the rush as much as I can. … I try and pride myself trying to close as hard as I can in the D-zone. Obviously, you want to be as physical as possible and I want to continue to build on that.”

This is partly what this retooling phase the rest of the season is about for the Rangers. Identifying young players with upside, giving them an opportunity, and deciding whether they’re part of the answer moving forward. It’s a big opportunity for Iorio, who fits that mold.

“He’s a young guy that’s been fairly sought after. I know his name has come up in a few discussions throughout the course of this season with our hockey operations, and so we’re looking forward to getting to know him and watching him up close,” Sullivan concluded.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...nt-iorio-analysis-role-claimed-waivers-sharks

 

[New York Rangers]

Ex-Rangers star recalls trade to Coyotes: ‘heart ripped out of your chest’

Not all trades are created equal in the NHL. And there’s no question few if any trades in New York Rangers history mirror the circumstances of the one they’re attempting to make this season involving Artemi Panarin.

Simply, it’s not every day a team ships out one of its all-time greatest offensive players. But that’s the case with retooling Rangers, who opted to re-stock their pipeline and re-set their roster by trading Panarin, an unrestricted free agent at season’s end. Though no trade’s been completed just yet, Panarin played his final game with the Rangers and is now focused on leveraging where his next NHL destination will be, considering he owns a full no-movement clause in his contract.

Panarin reportedly was surprised by the Rangers’ decision to publicly announce a retool and move on without offering him a contract extension a few weeks ago. But any angst or sad feelings likely are tempered by the fact that he has control over what happens next and there’ll be no surprises ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline.

That wasn’t exactly the case for Derek Stepan nine years ago.

Stepan is the first to tell you he’s not in the same league as Panarin. But make no mistake, Stepan was a very important — and popular — member of the Rangers’ core for seven seasons. So, when the homegrown Blueshirt got the call from general manager Jeff Gorton on June 23, 2017, that the Rangers traded him to the Arizona Coyotes, he was, shall we say, less than thrilled.

“I got the call from ‘Gorts,’ and as soon as I saw it, I was kind of like ‘He’s never called me before.’ It was kind of a sick feeling. There’s no way this is a good call. This isn’t a ‘Hey, just wanted to check in and see how your summer was going,'” Stepan told Forever Blueshirts on the RINK RAP podcast. “Then I picked up the phone and your heart kind of sinks, and there’s a lot of emotions with it, and kind of like your heart ripped out your chest type feeling.”

Where Panarin is one of the few star players to have time to adjust to the idea of being traded well before it actually happens, Stepan received no such heads up from the Rangers.

“From a standpoint of if I knew it was coming, there was … a lot of chatter (rumors) about me, but I was kind of like ‘No way, this is my home, I’m going to be here forever,’ which, I still was young at the time (27), maybe a little naive,” Stepan explained. “But yeah, I had an inkling, I knew there was a probability, but I was like ‘man, there’s no way,’ in my own head.”

Stepan was able to draw some similarity between his trade out of New York and Panarin’s current situation. Each occurred after a Rangers downturn following several years of success. The Stepan trade — for defenseman Tony DeAngelo and a first-round pick (No. 7 overall, which ended up being bust Lias Andersson), with goalie Antti Raanta also heading to the Coyotes — really set up what happened next, when the Rangers announced a full-on rebuild in February 2018. Panarin’s upcoming trade is the next big move in the latest organizational retool following a string of deals in the past year.

“Now, if I sit back and really take a look at it, the group we had when I was there was pretty much gone a few years later after I left. Maybe I was one of the first dominoes,” Stepan shared.

Derek Stepan ‘wanted to stay in New York’ when traded by Rangers in 2017​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Stepan never missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs in his sevens seasons on Broadway. He helped the Rangers reach the Eastern Conference Final three times (2012, 2014, 2015) and the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, when Jonathan Quick and the Los Angeles Kings defeated them in five games.

The 97 postseason games Stepan played with the Rangers are fourth-most in their history. His 49 playoff points (19 goals, 30 assists) are ninth all-time — and his Game 7 series-winning goal in overtime against the Washington Capitals in the 2015 second round is one of the most iconic postseason moments in Rangers history.

“No disrespect to the other organizations that I played for, but, hell no, I wanted to stay in New York,” Stepan stated firmly.

Still, he played six more seasons in the NHL, including the final four remaining on a $6.5 million AAV contract he originally signed with the Rangers in July 2015. Stepan retired after the 2022-23 season and now works for the Minnesota Wild in a player development role.

In 890 regular-season games as a solid two-way center with the Rangers, Coyotes, Ottawa Senators, and Carolina Hurricanes, Stepan totaled 515 points (182 goals, 333 assists).

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/derek-stepan-trade-reflection

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers coach provides brief Artemi Panarin update, waiting for trade

Artemi Panarin once again didn’t practice with the New York Rangers on Tuesday. And that had nothing to do with the fact that coach Mike Sullivan allowed the veterans to skip the on-ice session, kind of a group maintenance day.

Panarin remains in limbo, if you will, awaiting a trade that’s either hours or weeks away from happening. One of the most exciting players in franchise history won’t practice with the Rangers again, much less play in another game wearing the Blueshirt. The Rangers made that clear last week, scratching him in three straight games for “roster management” purposes.

And even if the Rangers don’t manage to trade Panarin before the NHL roster freeze for the Winter Olympics on Wednesday at 3 p.m. ET, The Breadman won’t be in the lineup Thursday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Sullivan did acknowledge he’s been in contact with Panarin, though. It’s not as simple as out of sight, out of mind.

“I talked to him yesterday, yeah, he’s good,” Sullivan said Tuesday after practice. “He is continuing to skate on his own schedule. But I spoke to him yesterday and we’ll continue to control what we can until the business side of the game resolves itself.”

When that resolution arrives is anyone’s guess. There’s no doubt that the Rangers, Panarin, and an acquiring team each prefers this trade to happen sooner rather than later. But no one’s going to force the issue just to get it done by the roster freeze Wednesday. Trades can happen again after Feb. 22 and up until the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6. So, there is time to work through a very complicated process.

“I do think we are getting to this pressure point, because of [Wednesday’s] 3 p.m. deadline and something should happen because now there is enough momentum, but we’re sitting here today and I’ve heard nothing concrete, just a lot of conflicting information, and I cannot guarantee to you that it will happen,” ESPN hockey reporter Emily Kaplan said Tuesday on The Sheet with Jeff Marek.

Artemi Panarin trade limbo has ‘impact’ on Rangers ​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

In the meantime, the Rangers make do without Panarin on the ice. Replacing their leading scorer isn’t exactly easy, they’ve lost all three games without him, though it’s not like the Rangers were a well-oiled machine with Panarin in the lineup this season. After all, they’re 22-28-6, last place in the Eastern Conference, and careening toward a second straight season missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. And that’s with Panarin playing 52 of their 56 games.

So, how does Sullivan think the Rangers are handling things these days?

“I’d probably be lying to you if I said it doesn’t have an impact. These guys are human beings, and of course it does. The uncertainty is not easy, and the other aspect is these guys build relationships with one another, they care about each other, they’re friends,” Sullivan explained, “The business side of the game can be the most difficult. We all understand it, it’s what we all signed up for me. But it doesn’t make it easy. That’s just the reality of it.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/artemi-panarin-trade-limbo-analysis

 

[New York Rangers]

Did former Rangers center sustain another head injury?: ‘I hope not’

Filip Chytil left the ice late in the second period of the Vancouver Canucks’ 6-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth on Monday night and didn’t finish the game. Whether or not the former New York Rangers center sustained yet another head injury wasn’t exactly clear after Canucks coach Adam Foote met with reporters postgame.

“He tweaked something. They [medical personnel] said he tweaked something and we’re going to evaluate it. Should know more [Tuesday],” Foote said after the game.

Then Foote was asked specifically if Chytil left the game due to a head injury.

“I hope not,” was the coach’s repsonse.

Oy. Not exactly the type response that will quell rumors or concerns about Chytil’s latest injury.

However, on Tuesday Foote said that Chytil has migraines and likely won’t play Wednesday when the Canucks visit the Vegas Golden Knights in the final game before the three-week Olympic break.

The 26-year-old already missed most of this season with a head injury, sustained on a bruising open-ice hit by Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson on Oct. 19. Chytil was out three months, finally returning Jan. 23 against the New Jersey Devils.

In six games back in the Canucks lineup, Chytil hasn’t looked like himself on the ice. He is pointless with just nine shots on goal, and is minus-seven. On Monday, Chytil was on ice for Utah’s two first-period goals; and his final shift with 3:55 remaining in the second period resulted in a goal by Mammoth forward J.J. Peterka.

Chytil spoke out a couple weeks ago about “people who don’t know” the truth about his injury history, and specifically how many concussion he’s had. He clearly was annoyed about speculative stories and chatter “on the internet.”

But there’s no running from the fact that Chytil’s missed significant time over the course of his nine-season NHL career because of head injuries. Whether that’s concussions, neck issues, or other injuries, Chytil just can’t seem to stay on the ice, unfortunately.

A year ago, his season came to a premature end after the Rangers traded Chytil to the Canucks in December of 2024. Just three months later he was knocked out of a game against the Chicago Blackhawks and didn’t play again the rest of the 2024-25 campaign.

Of course, Chytil missed all but 10 regular-season games with the Rangers in 2023-24 following a concussion in November and ensuing setback in January of that season.

The history is not good. Hopefully, these migraines are not concussion related, nor a long-term issue for Chytil.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/filip-chytil-possible-head-injury-canucks

 

[New York Rangers]

Artemi Panarin: 10 Greatest Rangers Moments Ranked

Artemi Panarin’s run on Broadway is over. After seven memorable seasons with the New York Rangers, Panarin’s off to Hollywood following a trade to the Los Angeles Kings.

Panarin had 607 points (205 goals, 402 assists) in 482 regular-season games over seven seasons with the Rangers, and his 1.26 points-per-game average is best in franchise history. He ranks eighth all-time for the Rangers in assists, ninth in points, and 14th in goals.

He left behind a treasure trove of memorable highlights in New York, and will be remembered as one of the most exciting players ever to wear the Blueshirts sweater.

Let’s break down the 10 greatest moments for Panarin during his tenure with the Rangers.

10. The Dangle Around Bob​

When: Dec. 29, 2021

Why it was great: Panarin and former Blue Jackets teammate Sergei Bobrovsky are dear friends, but the Breadman made his countryman — and star defenseman Aaron Ekblad — look silly when he dangled around both and snuck a back-hand shot past the Florida Panthers goalie for a highlight-reel goal in the first period in Sunrise, Florida.

9. The First Rangers Hat Trick​

When: Dec. 12, 2019

Why it was great: Before arriving in New York, Panarin owned the Rangers, with 12 goals and 18 points in 12 career games. So it was a relief to see Panarin register his first three-goal game in a Blueshirts sweater in Game 31 of his first season. Panarin had an assist on Mika Zibanejad‘s power-play goal that tied the game, then sealed the hat trick with a pair of goals late in the third period of the Rangers’ 6-3 win over the San Jose Sharks.

8. The 4-Goal Game In Raleigh​

James Guillory-Imagn Images

When: Feb. 11, 2023

Why it was great: Panarin scored a career-high four goals against the Carolina Hurricanes, helping the Rangers turn a 2-1 second-period deficit into a 6-2 laugher. He also had an assist to record points on five of New York’s six goals.

7. The Winter Classic GWG​

Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

When: Jan. 2, 2026

Why it was great: Maybe the last memorable moment for Panarin in a Rangers sweater. With New York up 1-0 late in the first period, Panarin floated a seeing-eye shot past Bobrovsky in the outdoor contest played in Miami. It ended up being the game-winning goal, and Panarin also added an assist in the Rangers’ 5-1 win over the Panthers.

6. Signing in New York​

When: July 1, 2019

Why it was great: It’s easy to forget how far the Rangers had fallen and how quickly that drop off was after so much success for most of the 2010s. But the Letter 1.0, authored in February 2018 by then-GM Jeff Gorton and team president Glen Sather, ushered in a rebuild that climaxed earlier than expected when Panarin signed a mammoth seven-year, $81.5 million contract. The Rangers outbid the Islanders and Blues Jackets for his services, and Panarin was worth every penny. He led the Rangers in scoring six straight seasons before traded to the Kings, and the Blueshirts reached the Eastern Conference Final in 2022 and 2024, and won the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24 with Panarin a vital member of their core.

5. The 15-Game Point Streak​

Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images

When: Oct. 12, 2023-Nov. 18, 2023

Why it was great: The 2023-24 season was undoubtedly Panarin’s best ever, and he started it with a bang by setting the Rangers record for longest season-opening point streak. Panarin had 10 goals and 16 assists, and the Rangers were 12-2-1 in that stretch. That streak set New York on the path toward its Metropolitan Division championship and the franchise’s fourth Presidents’ Trophy. It also started Panarin on the way to 120 points, second most in Rangers history.

4. The Broadway Kick​

When: Jan. 31, 2020

Why it was great: Panarin often showed off his Rockettes-style leg kick after big goals, but it all started with this highlight-reel tally against the Detroit Red Wings early in 2020. Panarin dangled around Detroit defenseman Alex Biega then snuck a back-hand shot past Jimmy Howard to put the Rangers up 3-0. He sealed the goal with a kick, which became his signature celebration.

3. The Stadium Series OT Goal​

When: Feb. 18, 2024

Why it was great: Playing outside at MetLife Stadium in front of a pro-Rangers crowd crowd of roughly 80,000, the Blueshirts fell behind 4-1 in the second period then trailed 5-3 in the late stages of the third period against the rival Islanders. Yet, Chris Kreider deflected Panarin’s point shot on the power play past Ilya Sorokin to make it 5-4. After Zibanejad tied it with another power-play tally, Panarin sent the Rangers fans into delirium by stealing Noah Dobson’s pass on the opening shift of overtime and beating Sorokin for an emotional 6-5 comeback win, though only after video review upheld his OT winner.

2. The OT Tip in Carolina​

When: May 9, 2024

Why it was great: Panarin scored the game-winning goal in Game 1 of the Rangers’ second-round playoff series against the Hurricanes, then had three assists in a 4-3 win in Game 2. But the Rangers coughed up a late 2-1 lead in Game 3 on the road when Andrei Svechnikov tied the score with the net empty at the other end. But Panarin’s hard work paid off early in OT, when he got inside position on Carolina’s Jalen Chatfield and redirected Vincent Trocheck‘s pass by Pyotr Kochetkov for the game-winning goal at 1:43 of the extra session, giving the Rangers a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. The Rangers ultimately claimed the series in six games.

1. The Series Clincher vs Penguins​

When: May 15, 2022

Why it was great: It had been five years since the Rangers won a series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and they looked destined for another early exit after losing a three-overtime classic in Game 1 and fell behind 3-1 to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the best-of-7 first round — especially after they allowed seven goals apiece in Games 3 and 4. But after the Rangers won Games 5 and 6, sending the series to MSG for Game 7, Panarin authored his signature Rangers moment, fittingly on the power play in overtime of the do-or-die game. He dusted off a pass from Adam Fox twice then wristed the game-winner through traffic and past Tristan Jarry, sending the Rangers to the second round.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...mi-panarin-10-greatest-rangers-moments-ranked

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers GM Chris Drury opens up after Artemi Panarin trade: key takeaways

If there’s one thing Chris Drury dislikes more than having to trade away his best player, it’s likely answering questions from reporters. But the New York Rangers general manager actually did each of those things in the same day on Wednesday.

First, Drury traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward prospect Liam Greentree and a pair of mid-round conditional draft picks — a third-rounder in 2026 and a fourth-round selection in 2028.

Less than five hours after finishing that unpleasant task, Drury spoke with the media to discuss details of the Panarin trade — and a whole lot more.

The #NYR have acquired forward Liam Greentree, a conditional 3rd-round pick in 2026 and conditional 4th-round pick in 2028 in exchange for Artemi Panarin

Details → https://t.co/ROtQfVw2MR pic.twitter.com/oNHczAU6MM

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 4, 2026

The overriding theme of his press conference was that there’s a plan in place for this Rangers retool.

“Our fans deserve a Stanley Cup, not a team just hoping to get in as the last wild card. So we felt it was best to start this organizational shift sooner than later,” Drury explained. “That will be the guiding principle of every decision we make as an organization. How does this help us return to a Stanley Cup contender? We are going to work tirelessly at this every day to continue to improve and push towards that goal.”

Drury accepted blame for the Rangers’ nosedive into the cellar of the Eastern Conference this season, which will be their second straight missing the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The massively disappointing season prompted Drury to send a letter to the fans a few weeks ago signaling a pivot into a retool phase.

“As I stated in the letter to our fans, no one is happy with the way we have performed this year. As the president and GM, this is ultimately my responsibility,” he stated Wednesday. “Coming into this year, we were viewed collectively, internally and externally, as a playoff-caliber team, and we have underachieved. I have great faith in ‘Sully’ [Mike Sullivan], he is one of the premiere coaches in this League, also a very accomplished group of assistants. It’s my job to work with them to fully understand why we have underachieved and how we all improve moving forward.”

Key takeaways from Chris Drury’s comments after Rangers trade Artemi Panarin​

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

Rangers basically had no leverage in Artemi Panarin trade​

Panarin’s no-movement clause in his current contract — and his desire to have an extension in place with the team he chose to be traded to — pretty much wiped out any leverage the Rangers had when dealing away one of the most dynamic offensive players in franchise history.

Faced with an NHL roster freeze for the Olympic break at 3 p.m. ET Wednesday, Drury faced another obstacle in prying away a respectable package in return for Panarin. He explained that waiting until before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6 wouldn’t help land a sexier package for the Breadman.

“With that no-move [clause], he’s got a lot of control over the situation. As I said, he earned it and deserved it. Late this morning, I was informed the only place he was willing to sign and willing to move to — as he had an extension done with L.A. — was L.A.,” Drury stated. “Whether that was at today’s 3 p.m. deadline, or on March 6. After a long few weeks of trying to figure out the best spot for him and where he wanted to go, like I said, I was alerted this morning, and excited with the return we got with Liam and a draft pick.”

For all the highlight-reel plays, countless smiles and unforgettable moments – thank you, Bread, for seven outstanding seasons as a New York Ranger. pic.twitter.com/ca8A0MvVta

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 4, 2026

Whether the GM is pissed off with Panarin about his lack of control or lack of trade options, he said all the right things about the star forward afterward.

“Artemi’s an incredible player, arguably the best free agent signing in the 100-year history of the franchise. He deserves a chance to win and we wanted to give him that chance as we retool the team,” he said. “It’s never easy to move a player of Artemi’s caliber, but it’s provided us an opportunity to accumulate valuable assets for the future.”

What did the Rangers get in Liam Greentree?​

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Greentree fits the mold of the type player the Rangers are hungry to add more of to the organization. He’s 20 years old, has the pedigree of being a first-round pick (No. 26 overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft, is a skilled forward who scored 49 goals in the OHL last season, and appears to be on the cusp of being NHL-ready as soon as next season.

He also has good size (6-foot-2, 207 pounds) and is captain of the Windsor Spitfires in the OHL. His upside is intriguing, even if his scouting profile projects him to be a top-nine forward as opposed to a top-line one.

“We valued him, a prospect like him, higher than a ’26 or ’27 first-round pick. He’s an ’06 birth year and ready to turn pro and wrapping up on his junior career,” Drury explained.

Welcome to the Rangers organization, Liam! pic.twitter.com/VnRcLiIqFw

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 4, 2026

In a barren prospect pool, it’s likely Greentree is now No. 1 in the Rangers pipeline. That makes him more valuable to the Rangers right away, best fitting the plan for a quicker retool more than a future first-round pick.

Remember, it’s a retool, not a rebuild​

Drury emphasized that point several times. There’s a distinct difference in this being a retool, and not a rebuild. Like trading Panarin ahead of this roster freeze as opposed to waiting another month, sooner rather than later is a big part of the Rangers’ overall game plan. That’s what makes Greentree so attractive to the Rangers.

“I think there’s a difference in a retool and a rebuild. As we said in the letter, it is a retool,” Drury explained. “We’re certainly not going to sit here and put a timeline on it right now. We’re going to try to do everything we can to get back to being a contending team as quickly as we can. We have identified and continue to identity players that we want here and want to stay here and go forward and build around and move forward with.”

What’s next, and are Braden Schneider & Alexis Lafreniere part of Rangers core moving forward?​

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

As expected, Drury didn’t get into specifics about who might get traded next, or even how many more moves could be on the horizon as part of the first phase of the retool ahead of this year’s trade deadline. Veterans like Vincent Trocheck, Sam Carrick, and Taylor Raddysh sure feel like options to be traded. Then there are all those trade rumors swirling around younger players like Braden Schneider, Alexis Lafreniere and Brennan Othmann.

Drury actually sounded pretty upbeat about the Rangers roster.

“I’m not going to go player by player on our team, or players we’re going to target in the League, obviously. Again, I think we have a lot of really good players at key positions. It has not worked out the way we had hoped. We’re going to continue to look back at decisions we made and choices we make and try to make better ones,” Drury said. “But I can tell you, I still believe in a lot of players in that room. We’re going to try to build around some of them and try keep pushing this thing forward. As I said in the letter, try to be a contender as soon as we can.”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Asked specifically about Schneider and Lafreniere, the GM also spun positive. Whether that’s because he views each as a core piece moving forward, or to maintain whatever trade value each has, is open for debate.

“I still believe in them as players and as people. As I said, I’m not singling them out. I think there’s been a number of areas and different spots where we’ve underachieved this year. I know they’re continually working on their individual games, those two individual players, and trying to find ways to be more impactful,” he explained. “They’re still young players even though it feels like they’ve been around for a number of years now, but we’re going to continue to work with them.

“We think they both have bright futures in this League, and I know Sully and his staff and me and my management staff are excited to have them here and keep trying to help them reach their potential.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...opens-up-after-artemi-panarin-trade-takeaways

 

[New York Rangers]

Mike Sullivan hopes Rangers can ‘move on’ after Artemi Panarin trade

Now that the New York Rangers traded Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings, Mike Sullivan hopes a cloud of uncertainty’s been lifted from the team he coaches.

Panarin was held out of New York’s previous three games — all losses — for “roster management purposes” and didn’t practice with his teammates as his agent and Rangers general manager Chris Drury worked together to finalize a trade before the NHL roster freeze Wednesday.

They accomplished that when the Rangers traded Panarin to the Kings for forward prospect Liam Greentree and a pair of conditional draft picks. The Rangers coach believes the current group of Blueshirts is better for it.

“Sometimes just the anxiety and uncertainty is more difficult to deal with than the finality of it,” Sullivan said Thursday. “Everybody can move on.”

That doesn’t mean the Rangers are better off without their leading scorer and most dynamic player, of course — just that the uncertainty of when and where Panarin was going to be traded was the issue.

Panarin still leads the Rangers with 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) in 52 games this season. But even with him, the Rangers season went off the rails long ago. They are last in the Eastern Conference with a 22-28-6 record, and lost 11 of 13 (2-10-1) heading into their final game before the Milan-Cortina Olympic break against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

Mike Sullivan and Artemi Panarin had ‘great relationship’ with Rangers​

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Panarin ranks ninth in Rangers history with 607 points and is the franchise leader in points per game (1.26). So even though Sullivan spent nearly Panarin’s entire Rangers tenure coaching against him with the Pittsburgh Penguins, he appreciates all that the Breadman brought to the organization.

“We’ve had a great relationship, and he is a terrific hockey player — one of the Rangers’ very best of his generation,” Sullivan said. “His body of work here speaks for itself.”

Panarin infused life into the Rangers’ organization upon signing a seven-year, $81.5 million contract on July 1, 2019. He helped lead the Rangers to a pair of appearances in the Eastern Conference Final, including in 2022 when he knocked Sullivan’s Penguins out of the playoffs with a series-deciding overtime goal in Game 7 of the first round.

“He’s a guy that is unique in the way he plays the game,” Sullivan said. “He certainly can drive an awful lot of offense, and he’s one of those game-breaking-type players. We wish him the very best.”

Named Rangers coach last spring, Sullivan only worked directly with Panarin for a bit more than a half season. Not nearly long enough, for sure. The ending of their working relationship was certainly frustrating.

“When you don’t have the ability to put one of your very best players in the lineup, it doesn’t help your chances,” Sullivan said. “But I also understand it. It’s just the reality of the circumstance and its part of where we are right now.”

The reality is a retool. One that may see plenty more roster upheaval before it’s complete. Also one that won’t sway Sullivan from the task at hand.

“It’s my job to coach the group that I have available each and every night, and that’s what we’re going to do,” Sullivan said. “Chris and I have had a lot of conversations around this and what the game plan is moving forward to try and reshape the organization to be as competitive as it can be in the most expeditious fashion. This is part of the process.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...e-sullivan-move-on-after-artemi-panarin-trade

 

[New York Rangers]

Jonathan Quick gem not enough, Rangers blanked by Hurricanes 2-0: takeaways

On a night when the New York Rangers saluted some of the greatest goaltenders in franchise history as part of their centennial celebration, it was only fitting that future Hall of Famer Jonathan Quick played his best game in quite some time.

However, in a season where nothing seems to go right for the Rangers, they wasted Quick’s gem and lost to the Carolina Hurricanes 2-0 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

With Henrik Lundqvist, Mike Richter, John Vanbiesbrouck, John Davidson, and Gilles Villemure looking on, Quick made 41 saves and allowed only one goal before the Hurricanes iced their road victory with an empty-net tally in the final minute.

Once a Ranger, always a Ranger. pic.twitter.com/z0pI9pUPaH

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 6, 2026

“He brings it no matter what. He’s a guy that we lean on a lot,” defenseman Braden Schneider said about Quick. “We need to put a better effort in front of him because that’s not fair. He’s doing everything he can, and we need to make sure that we’re doing our job a bit better.”

It was the fourth straight defeat for the Rangers (22-29-6), who arrive at the NHL’s Winter Olympics break dead last in the Eastern Conference and tied for the fewest home wins (6) in the entire League. It was the ninth time the Rangers were shut out this season, and seventh time on home ice. Two of those shutout losses at MSG came at the hands of the Hurricanes.

Rookie goaltender Brandon Bussi stopped all 16 Rangers shots for his second NHL shutout, improving to 23-3-1 on the season. The Long Island native, who grew up a Rangers fans and idolized Lundqvist, had 40 friends and family in attendance for his first-ever start at The Garden.

Andrei Svechnikov scored the only goal of the first two periods, despite the Hurricanes holding a massive territorial edge and dominating play, especially at even strength. The Hurricanes limited the Rangers to just 10 shots on goal through 40 minutes of play, only six at 5v5.

Carolina had an insane expected goal share of 85.68 percent in the first two periods, including 90.71 percent in the opening 20 minutes, per Natural Stat Trick. The only thing the Rangers had going for them was Quick, who stopped 28 of 29 shots in that stretch to keep it a one-goal game.

The one shot that got by him was Svechnikov’s wrister to the glove side 6:26 into the first period. The Hurricanes forward jumped off the bench, hustled to collect a loose puck before it crossed the blue line, danced around Matt Rempe, and beat Quick one-on-one for his 21st goal of the season and ninth in the past 10 games.

Andrei Svechnikov is SCORCHING hot

He now has 9 goals in his last 10 games! pic.twitter.com/uI83PM0kmo

— NHL (@NHL) February 6, 2026

The Rangers stabilized things after Svechnikov’s goal, due in large part to a pair of power plays on consecutive Carolina penalties at 7:28 and 12:50. Mika Zibanejad nearly tied the game at 13:40, but his point-blank look on the power was denied by Bussi, and his follow-up rebound attempt hit the post.

Without the benefit of a single power play in the second period, the Rangers simply couldn’t get anything going. They exhausted themselves trying to defend against the tenacious Hurricanes attack. Quick stopped all 19 shots he faced — and caught a break when Shayne Gostisbehere’s power-play blast caught iron with 90 seconds to go in the period.

The Rangers managed only four shots in the second, but Bussi came up big with a sharp pad save on J.T. Miller’s deflection midway through. The Carolina netminder was a bit busier in the third period, and preserved Carolina’s lead by denying Will Cuylle flying in off the rush at 6:17 and then stopping Alexis Lafreniere’s point-blank snap shot at 12:15.

Jordan Staal buried a Nikolaj Ehlers feed into an empty net with Quick on the bench for a sixth attacker at 19:06 to finish off the Rangers.

Key takeaways after Rangers lose 2-0 to Hurricanes​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Angry heading to Milan​

The Rangers will be represented by three players (Zibanejad with Sweden; Miller and Vincent Trocheck with the United States) and two coaches (Mike Sullivan and his assistant David Quinn for the United States) at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. Not one of them left MSG with a a good taste in their mouth after an extremely subpar team effort Thursday night.

Sullivan was dour in the aftermath of New York’s 15th loss in its past 18 games (3-13-2). He said the Rangers were outplayed in the first two periods, not exactly a shocking assessment.

Miller displayed more emotion.

“We got outplayed the whole night. Wasn’t good enough,” the Rangers captain said postgame. “Wanted to go into the break feeling good about ourselves, but it’s quite the opposite right now. It sucks.”

Gonna be a long flight to Italy.

Setting record straight about Brennan Othmann​

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Rookie forward Brennan Othmann was a healthy scratch against the Hurricanes, and Anton Blidh took his spot on the fourth line. There was an assumption by some media members that the Rangers scratched their 2021 first-round draft pick because of a rule stating that if a player dressed for 16 of 20 games heading into the Olympic break, he couldn’t be assigned to the minors and play over the three-week break. And Othmann would’ve hit that 16-game mark if he played Thursday.

However, Sullivan shot down that notion postgame.

“‘Otter’ and I had a number of conversations. We had a conversation today on why I made the decision I made,” Sullivan explained. “I think there are elements of his game that have to continue to improve in order for him to establish himself as an NHL player.”

The 23-year-old has one goal in 16 games this season, and averages 9:51 TOI in a very limited role. That goal is the only one he’s scored in 41 career games in the NHL, and he hasn’t come close to earning the trust of this coaching staff.

Vincent Iorio makes Rangers debut​

Vincent Iorio made his Rangers debut Thursday, and Sullivan thought the 23-year-old defenseman was “OK” but that he needed to see him play more games before really making a fair judgement on him.

The Rangers claimed Iorio off waivers from the San Jose Sharks this past weekend. Iorio replaced Scott Morrow on the right side of the third pairing with Urho Vaakanainen; he blocked three shots and was credited with one hit in 14:15 TOI. He made a nice recovery to come back and break up a 2-on-1 down low in the second period by blocking a Logan Stankoven shot with his long reach.

Iorio was on ice for a team-high 10 scoring chances, though the Rangers were outshot 12-8 with him out there 5v5.

Rangers remain hungry without Bread​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

It’s not like the Rangers had much success or produced a lot offensively when Artemi Panarin was in the lineup this season. Even though he led them in scoring with 57 points (19 goals, 38 assists) in 52 games, there’s a reason why the Rangers didn’t offer Panarin a contract extension and instead traded him to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday.

But the Rangers really are hard to watch without Panarin. Including this first game since he was traded, the Rangers are winless in all five games they played without him this season. The Rangers appear lifeless. And it could get much worse, with the possibility more players — like Trocheck, for example — will be traded as part of this latest retool.

“I will acknowledge that we’re in a little bit of a difficult circumstance,” Sullivan stated. “None of us really want to be in this position. The reality is we are where we are.”

The reality sure isn’t pretty right about now.

One bright spot: The Rangers don’t play again until Feb. 26, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers.

Enjoy the Olympics everyone.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/recap-jonathan-quick-gem-lose-hurricanes

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers captain must help coach ‘make sure his message gets through’

Somewhere on their flight from New York to Milan, don’t you just hope that the coach and captain of the New York Rangers had a long talk? And not just about the immediate task at hand, trying to help the United States win a gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. But more importantly, Mike Sullivan and J.T. Miller must discuss how to team up and somehow keep the Rangers afloat once they return from Italy.

That’s because right now, not even rock bottom is too low for these last-place Rangers (22-29-6).

You can see how much all of this wears on Sullivan and Miller. Each showed variations of anger, bewilderment, and frustration when speaking to the media following a one-sided 2-0 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes at Madison Square Garden on Thursday night.

J.T. Miller on the message to the Rangers heading into the Olympic break:

"I don't know. We just need to enjoy or take time – I literally don't know. Come back with a better mindset I guess" pic.twitter.com/aKcb5M2KYz

— Rangers Videos (@SNYRangers) February 6, 2026

Yet again, Miller was at a loss for words. And that didn’t sit well with NHL insider Elliotte Friedman.

“I watch Miller and understand he’s frustrated and I know losing sucks, but he’s got to find a better way to deliver the message. Because the way he’s doing it unfortunately right now it’s making it worse,” Friedman said Friday on his 32 Thoughts podcast. “I know he doesn’t want to talk and I know he’s frustrated, but you’re the captain and you have to do it.

“You have to go out there and come up with a better message than that.”

It’s up to general manager Chris Drury to find better players, preferably ones who are a combination of younger, faster, hungrier, and more physical, to enhance this current retool. But it’s up to Sullivan and his coaching staff, and Miller and the leadership group, to keep this season somewhat on the rails despite the retool. The culture, play style, and effort level under Sullivan in his first-year as coach must be enforced by the bench boss and captain so that future seasons do not end up in the same dumpster fire.

Asked Thursday what message he left his team with heading into the three-week Olympic break and following another dispiriting defeat, Sullivan said a mouthful.

“I thought tonight we lacked a certain competitive spirit,” Sullivan said. “That just is simply unacceptable on our part, and that was my discussion.”

Sullivan’s spent much of this season staying as positive as possible. This was as down and irritable as he appeared all season.

“You can see Sullivan’s frustration too. You can see he feels his message is not getting through. And I think that’s one of the reasons the Rangers are taking it down a bit, is they picked this coach, they gave him term, they gave him a big contract, two-time Stanley Cup champion, this is our guy, and they look at it that the message is not getting through, it’s the fault of the room as opposed to the fault of the coach,” Friedman explained.

“So, they’re backing their guy. But also, Miller’s your captain, and Sullivan and Miller have to find a way to make sure his message gets through.”

‘No excuse’ for Rangers not to push for strong finish despite miserable season​

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

It wasn’t supposed to be this way, of course. The Rangers hired Sullivan this past spring with the belief that his experience, and gravitas as one of the most respected coaches in the NHL would help make his message resonate with a team that embarrassingly went from winning the Presidents’ Trophy and reaching the Eastern Conference Final in 2023-24, to missing the playoffs last season.

It was a miscalculation that this group had it within itself to turn things around in 2025-26, even under Sullivan’s guidance. There’s a reason Braden Schneider and Mika Zibanejad each referred to the Rangers as being “fragile.” Long-term injury absences by Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin only exacerbated the situation. And the Rangers, teetering on the playoff bubble the first three months, cratered with a 3-13-1 record since Dec. 27.

Drury publicly threw in the towel on this season and proclaimed a retool is underway. That included trading Artemi Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings this week, instead of working out a contract extension with their most dynamic player, who was in the final season of a seven-year, $81.5 contract.

More trades are coming. More roster upheaval. But Drury’s not going anywhere. Neither is Sullivan. And Miller’s staying too. As Drury does his job, it’s up to the coach and captain to band together and do theirs, hold this team together and hold it accountable at the same time.

“You can’t just come back and waste your last six weeks of the season,” Friedman stated.

The Rangers schedule is hectic down the stretch; they play 25 games over the final 49 days of the regular season. The NHL Trade Deadline is March 6. Outsiders may suggest tanking as a strategy to try and win the NHL Draft Lottery.

Tanking likely isn’t in Sullivan’s vocabulary, nor Miller’s. And Friedman is on board with that.

“Even if you have a bad season and a nightmare year, as it’s unfortunately been for the Rangers, there’s no excuse [not] to try and make it end well.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/jt-miller-help-deliver-mike-sullivan-message

 

[New York Rangers]

‘We are where we are’: Rangers’ season looks hopeless after latest loss

The New York Rangers’ 2-0 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night was a fitting end to the pre-Olympic portion of their schedule.

At 22-29-6, the Artemi Panarin-less Blueshirts are dead last in the Eastern Conference and third from the bottom in the overall standings. The shutout loss was their NHL-worst ninth of the season, with seven of those coming at the Garden. They’ve lost four in a row and seven of eight. The Rangers won just three times in 18 games following the Christmas break and haven’t won in regulation at MSG since defeating the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Nov. 24. Their six home wins are tied for the fewest in the NHL.

It was their first game since trading Panarin, their leading scorer and most dynamic player, to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday. One night later, they played like a team that already threw in the towel.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

“I will acknowledge that we’re in a little bit of a difficult circumstance,” coach Mike Sullivan said postgame in perhaps the understatement of the season. “None of us really want to be in this position or having any enjoyment or fulfillment in the position we’re in, but the reality is we are where we are.

“I’m trying to be understanding of that as their coach, and (to) do our best as a coaching staff to support those guys and push them through the process.”

At least they can’t lose another game for three weeks.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

The NHL is off for three weeks to allow players to compete at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The Rangers don’t play again until the Philadelphia Flyers visit the Garden on Feb. 26. It’s the first of 25 games in the final 49 days of the season.

That should be a fun stretch.

The final score Thursday belied the Hurricanes’ domination. Carolina outshot New York 43-16, out-attempted them 86-37 and made Andrei Svechnikov’s goal 6:26 into the game stand up until Jordan Staal hit the empty net with 54 seconds remaining. Jonathan Quick’s 41-save performance was all that prevented a rout on the scoreboard.

“I think he did his very best to drag us into the fight,” said Sullivan, who was clearly unhappy with his team’s effort. “We needed more guys to do that for us.”

Rangers’ post-Olympic outlook bleak after loss to Hurricanes​

Quick was just about the only Ranger who showed up — in the words of an old Pete Seeger folk song, the rest of the team’s “get up and go, done got up and went.” That’s what really perturbed Sullivan; he made it clear after the game that he wants to see more pride from his players despite the fact that they’re all but certain to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season

“I thought tonight we lacked a certain competitive spirit,” Sullivan said. “That just is simply unacceptable on our part, and that was my discussion.”

Captain J.T. Miller was a little more succinct.

“From the drop of the puck, we got outplayed all night,” Miller said afterward. “It wasn’t good enough. We wanted to go into the break feeling good about ourselves, and it’s quite the opposite right now. So, it sucks.”

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Three Rangers – Miller and center Vincent Trocheck (Team USA) and center Mika Zibanejad (Sweden) — are headed to the Winter Games, as is Sullivan, who will coach the United States, and assistant David Quinn, who will serve the same role under Sullivan in Italy.

“It’s a huge honor to be able to go over and represent your country — something I’ve dreamt of my whole life,” Trocheck said. “Going to make sure I take it all in.”

For everyone else, it’s a chance to get some time off before the sprint to what looks like a dreary finish. The Rangers missed the playoffs last season but were in the hunt until the final week or so; this year’s team is done like dinner.

Trocheck is among those who might not be a Ranger when play resumes in three weeks.

As a solid two-way center with a very manageable contract (three seasons remaining with a $5.625 million average annual value), he could find himself on the move after the roster freeze ends on Feb. 22. GM Chris Drury, who got very little in return for Panarin – largely because the Breadman had a full no-move clause that gave him all the leverage – said in “Letter 2.0” on Jan. 16 that the Rangers want to “target players that bring tenacity, skill, speed and a winning pedigree with a focus on obtaining young players, draft picks and cap space to allow us flexibility moving forward.”

Sounds great. The near-term reality is a lot bleaker. No. 1 goaltender Igor Shesterkin and top-pair defenseman Adam Fox figure to be back soon after play resumes, but the lack of scoring that’s been obvious all season is still a major issue. The Rangers can’t win with the kind of effort they put forth on Thursday – and getting his team to play hard as the season continues to collapse around them could be the biggest challenge of Sullivan’s career.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/mike-sullivan-assesses-dismal-effort

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers prospect Liam Greentree joins elite company with 300th OHL point

Liam Greentree is keeping some serious company these days. The New York Rangers forward prospect reached 300 points in the Ontario Hockey League, joining the likes of John Tavares, Mitch Marner, Nick Suzuki, and Jason Robertson as one of only 21 players to do so in the past 20 years.

The Windsor Spitfires captain had a goal and two assists Friday in a 5-2 win over the Sudbury Wolves to surpass 300 career points in the OHL. He reached the milestone with a second-period power-play goal, and then added a helper three minutes later on Windsor’s next goal. His third point of the night was a a power-play assist in the third period.

Liam Greentree nets his 24th of the year and his 300th career point pic.twitter.com/4U7H0f1ube

— Game Notes (@GameNotesBud) February 7, 2026

All this came one night after Greentree was assessed a 10-minute misconduct penalty for abuse of the officials midway through the third period of a 5-4 shootout loss to the North Bay Battalion. The 20 year-old is fourth on Windsor with 48 points this season and second with 24 goals.

He now has 302 points (134 goals, 168 points) in 225 OHL games, all with Windsor. Last season, playing on a line with dynamic Washington Capitals prospect Ilya Protas, Greentree established career highs with 49 goals, 70 assists, 119 points, 12 power-play goals, and five game-winners in 64 games.

The Rangers acquired Greentree from the Los Angeles Kings as the key return in the Artemi Panarin trade Wednesday. He’s a big (6-foot-3, 216 pounds) forward was a first-round pick by the Kings in the 2024 NHL Draft.

“Greentree has an NHL ready shot selection and has shown that he can score from anywhere on the ice. He knows exactly where his teammates are and has some strong passing skills,” noted Jess Rubenstein from The Prospect Park. “For a power forward, his creativity is what is going to stand out as he can create scoring opportunities out of any situation. He is not afraid to attack the net, nor does he lose many puck battles along the boards.”

Picture of the night: Introducing Liam Greentree (Image courtesy Windsor Spitfires) pic.twitter.com/QyYCTHZ02l

— Jess Rubenstein AKA Rangers Prospect Report (@TheProspectpark) February 7, 2026

Rubenstein believes fair NHL comparables in the NHL are Dallas Stars captain Jamie Benn and Robertson, their talented high-scoring wing.

“Greentree is like them because he does not go looking for the big hits, but uses his size to protect the puck,” he explained.

Now, Greentree joined Robertson as one of only seven OHL players with 300 points since 2025-16. He’s 26 points from equaling Suzuki, who sits atop this particular list.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/liam-greentree-elite-company-300th-ohl-point

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers would be wrong to give up on Brennan Othmann now

Not that long ago, a young forward named Brennan Othmann was the Big Apple of the New York Rangers eye.

Much like new Rangers forward prospect Liam Greentree, acquired as the principal asset in the Artemi Panarin trade with the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday, Othmann was a first-round draft pick who put up serious offensive numbers in junior hockey. As general manager Chris Drury’s first-ever draft pick, Othmann also played with a fiery edge that represented exactly where the Rangers’ new head of personnel wanted to take the organization in the near future.

Nearly five years since being chosen 16th overall in 2021, Othmann’s star dimmed to the point where he’s teetering dangerously close to getting hit with the “bust” label. Over 41 NHL games in parts of three seasons with the Rangers, Othmann hasn’t come close to popping, with one goal and two assists.

That’s a far cry from Othmann’s 2021-22 season with the Flint Firebirds of the OHL, when he piled up 50 goals and 47 assists in 66 games, along with 65 penalty minutes. Or even his 21-goal rookie pro season with Hartford of the American Hockey League in 2023-24.

Despite his apparently arrested developmental track, however, it’d be a mistake if the Rangers gave up on Othmann now.

Brennan Othmann’s offensive game, confidence disappeared with Rangers​

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

It’s true that Othmann has produced barely anything scoring-wise on the NHL level. What he has done is flashed, if briefly, the exact skills that Drury and the organization saw when they selected him. The 6-foot, 192-pound winger is quick and goes to the net, playing the north-south game that the Rangers so desperately need, and when he gets into position, will show off the quick release and potent wrist shot that he used so effectively in juniors to gain a reputation as a finisher.

That’s what happened when Othmann scored his first NHL goal Jan. 17 against the Philadelphia Flyers, coming in on a 3-on-1 break and firing a feed from Will Cuylle past goaltender Samuel Ersson in the first period of a 6-3 victory.

FIRST NHL GOAL ALERT

Congratulations, Brennan Othmann! pic.twitter.com/ZU1d2cm6c2

— NHL (@NHL) January 17, 2026

That milestone didn’t open the floodgates, though. Othmann didn’t record another point the next seven games and was a healthy scratch in the Rangers’ final game before the Olympic break, a 2-0 home loss to the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

So why is Othmann not on the rise since becoming a lineup regular in January? What’s clear is that the 23-year-old lacks confidence, with the jagged, irritating on-ice persona he exhibited with Flint nowhere to be found at the moment. For a player who thrives on bravado and an eagerness to engage with opponents – he readily dropped the gloves in juniors, the AHL and once last season with the Rangers – Othmann’s muted presence suggests he’s anything but comfortable at this point.

There are numerous potential reasons for that. The biggest is probably the fear of making mistakes, of which there have been more than a few – hardly an uncommon occurrence for young players trying to establish themselves in the NHL.

Coach Mike Sullivan made clear that Othmann needs to get better defensively and play more responsibly in all three zones. There’s little doubt that the winger is trying to prioritize that, and is overly cautious as a result. His impact has accordingly been tough to measure, even when he avoids gaffes that lead to goals or good scoring chances for opponents. And his Rangers tenure looks to be at its most precarious point after he sat out the loss to the Hurricanes.

When asked whether he scratched Othmann in order to keep him eligible to play in the AHL during the Olympic break, Sullivan replied tersely that had “nothing to do with it.”

“Well, ‘Otter’ and I have had a number of conversations, we had a conversation today, on why I made the decision I made,” he said Thursday . “And I think there are elements of his game that have to continue to improve in order for him to establish himself as an NHL player.”

Those comments were very similar to the ones Sullivan expressed when making Othmann one of the first cuts of training camp. It’s clear the coach feels like he isn’t seeing nearly enough to reward Othmann with increased responsibility.

The Rangers recalled Othmann for the second time this season Jan. 11, looking for a spark in the wake of an embarrassing 10-2 loss to the Boston Bruins. Other than the goal against the Flyers, though, it’s obvious that Othmann is at least partly in his own head, trying to justify the promotion by playing the way the coach wants him to. Right or wrong, being scratched against the Hurricanes doesn’t exactly send the message that what he’s doing is working.

Many reasons why Brennan Othmann is Rangers disappointment​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

As accomplished as the two-time Stanley Cup-winning coach Sullivan is, it’s also fair to question his handling of Othmann, who is averaging 9:55 of ice time this season mainly on the fourth line, a role for which he’s largely miscast. The Ontario native of course shouldn’t be gifted a top-six spot, but what about a consistent role on the third line? Othmann certainly didn’t look out of place in that role, when he played several games there with Noah Laba and Cuylle.

With the Rangers (22-29-6) going nowhere, losing 15 of 18 before the break, it’s difficult to see what harm any more Othmann mistakes will do in a lost season, one which should be used precisely to allow youngsters to work through such bad moments in the name of their development. Of course, if Sullivan doesn’t feel like Othmann is committed to doing what the coach expects of him, his usage becomes a secondary issue.

The considerable shadow of the Rangers’ developmental program, in fact, hangs over Othmann and numerous other prospects that have stalled or failed to pan out entirely in recent years. The Blueshirts are anything but the NHL model for bringing along highly-regarded kids who were expected to grow into core players. Those failures have plenty to do with why the Rangers entered a formally-stated “retool” period as they look to get younger and faster.

The idea of trading veterans for prospects is all well and good. But the club should take a hard look at its processes and the potential for growth that’s already on the roster. The tantalizing player that Othmann was at the lower levels is still there; it’s worth remembering that he was also productive with Hartford of the AHL, scoring 39 goals with 44 assists in 117 games over parts of three seasons. The Rangers must take at least some responsibility for seeing if he can be that edgy, emotional player with above-average offensive skills again, this time on Broadway.

It’s been a disappointing season for Othmann, who along with his uncertainty on the ice, took a beating from top NHL enforcer Nic Deslauriers in an ill-advised fight Dec. 20 against the Flyers. The fact that he’s beaten down, however, is exactly why the Rangers should be trying to lift him up. Quitting on Othmann now only reaises more questions about whether the organization possesses the ability to competently administer this supposed retool – whether Othmann ends up being a part of it or not.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/brennan-othmann-future-retool-opportunity

 

[New York Rangers]

Ex-Rangers star ‘super-fan’ for Team USA 12 years after Olympics experience

When the United States men’s hockey team opens the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics on Thursday afternoon with their first game against Latvia, you better believe that Derek Stepan’s going to be watching. The former New York Rangers center is absolutely dialed in on Team USA’s bid to win gold.

Part of the reason that Stepan’s so invested is that he was a member of the U.S. squad that took part in the 2014 Sochi Games, the last time the NHL allowed its players to take part in the Olympics before this winter.

“I think it’s going to be great hockey. I’m obviously very biased about who I want to win. But I’m like a super-fan. I’m super excited,” Stepan told Forever Blueshirts on the RINK RAP podcast. “I’m excited for the U.S. group, I like the way they’re shaping up and how they’re going to compete over there. Yeah, I’m excited. I wish them all the best of luck over there, and I hope they come home with gold medals around their neck.”

Stepan and his teammates weren’t fortunate enough to medal in 2014. The United States won it’s three prelim games, including the epic 3-2 shootout victory over Russia, when T.J. Oshie recorded the decisive goal in the eighth round. However, after a quarterfinal victory, the U.S. lost to Canada 1-0 in the semis, and then dropped the Bronze Medal Game 5-0 to Finland and finished fourth overall.

At the time, Stepan was 23-year-old and in his fourth season with the Rangers. He dressed for only one game as the extra forward, playing six shifts with 4:59 TOI in a 5-1 win over Slovenia.

If you think for one second that Stepan’s bitter about not playing more, you’re completely wrong.

“It was super fun. I was young-ish, I should say, I wasn’t young-young. But to be a part of that team, great group of guys. I was grateful. I got to play in a game, wear the sweater, and it was a really special moment in my career,” Stepan explained.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Stepan didn’t come home empty-handed from Sochi, either.

“It was awesome. And we came home with one of the dogs, too, so he’s 13, 14, now. We got Jake when he was six months old or something. Yeah, what a great story for our family.”

The Rangers have quite the contingent of players and personnel from their organization representing Team USA in Milan. Forwards J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck are on the U.S. roster, which is coached by Rangers bench boss Mike Sullivan and his assistant David Quinn. Rangers general manager Chris Drury, a three-time Olympian as a player, is part of Team USA’s management group.

Likewise, back in 2014 Stepan joined then Rangers teammates Ryan Callahan and Ryan McDonagh on the U.S. squad. Future Rangers Jonathan Quick, Patrick Kane, and Kevin Shattenkirk also were on that 2014 team in Sochi.

All in all, it was a memorable experience for Stepan, one that he didn’t get the chance to repeat. The NHL didn’t allow its players to take part in the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics nor the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing.

Stepan hopes the NHL players in Milan take the time to appreciate their opportunity, and absorb all that’s going on, even outside of their own competition. Just as he did 12 year earlier.

“When I wasn’t in the lineup, I got to experience the Olympics day to day. I’ve got nothing but great stories and great things that came along with it, but they’re great stories that come from just being a fan. That’s cool to me. It was super fun.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/derek-stepan-olympics-team-usa-hockey

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers could view Travis Dermott as depth defenseman option

An NHL roster freeze is in effect during the three-week Olympic break from Feb 4-22. But that didn’t stand in the way of a veteran player addition to the New York Rangers organization this weekend

Travis Dermott signed a PTO with the Hartford Wolf Pack, the Rangers’ affiliate in the American Hockey League, on Saturday. Though this is a minor-league transaction, it has some significance to the Rangers moving forward.

UPDATE: The Hartford Wolf Pack have signed defenseman Travis Dermott to a professional tryout agreement (PTO). pic.twitter.com/tiDFljJID1

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 7, 2026

The 29-year-old defenseman has 348 games of NHL experience and another 22 in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He had shoulder surgery in July and a was a free agent after playing 19 games for the Edmonton Oilers and Minnesota Wild last season.

Signing with Hartford allows Dermott to get in game shape, prove that he’s healthy, and audition for an AHL or NHL contract. PTOs are for 25 games, though the player and/or team can terminate the deal at any point. These professional tryout agreements can be extended in similar fashion.

With the Rangers in a retool, and already in need of more organizational depth on the back end, they’ll watch Dermott closely to see if he might fit the bill as a defenseman worthy of an NHL contract at some point. The Rangers have 46 players under standard contract; the maximum for any one team is 50.

They already traded Carson Soucy to the Islanders, creating the need for another experienced left-shot blueliner in the system. The Rangers recently claimed Vincent Iorio, a right-shot defenseman, off waivers from the San Jose Sharks.

The worst-case scenario here is that Dermott provides better play for an underwhelming Hartford defense corps in front of top goalie prospect Dylan Garand. The best case is that the Rangers find a serviceable defenseman, who’s again healthy and ready for a regular NHL role.

Though Dermott battled injuries the past three seasons, the previous four he played 50 or more games, including 64 with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2018-19. The 2015 second-round pick (No. 34 overall) in the 2015 NHL Draft has 62 points (16 goals, 46 assists) and 130 penalty minutes with the Maple Leafs, Vancouver Canucks, Arizona Coyotes, Oilers, and Wild.

Dermott played only four AHL games since 2017-18, when he helped the Toronto Marlies win the Calder Cup championship. He didn’t play Saturday, when Hartford lost 2-1 in a shootout to the Providence Bruins. Dermott could make his Wolf Pack debut next weekend when they visit the Charlotte Checkers on Saturday and Sunday.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/travis-dermott-hartford-wolf-pack-pto

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers stars, friends may battle for same spot in U.S. Olympic lineup

It’s only been two practices in Milan, and there are still several days before the preliminary round begins with a game against Latvia on Thursday, but it’s looking like New York Rangers stalwarts J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck very well could compete for the same spot in the lineup for the United States at the Winter Olympics.

Each expects to play a bottom-six role for Team USA at the Milan-Cortina Games, as opposed to the top-six assignments they fill with the Rangers. An incredibly deep and talented U.S. roster is the reason for that. And those roles are not unfamiliar for Miller nor Trocheck since that’s where they slotted in when Team USA finished second at the 4 Nations Face-Off a year ago.

The difference now, though, is that there might just be one opening in the lineup for coach Mike Sullivan to fill with either Miller or Trocheck.

Getting to work #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/j2kjrKe5pF

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 9, 2026

At practice Monday, Miller took a regular turn at left wing on the a fourth line centered by Brock Nelson, with Jack Hughes on right wing. Trocheck was an extra forward, along with Clayton Keller.

The day before, in their first practice since arriving in Milan, Team USA deployed Trocheck in the middle of Nelson and Keller on the fourth line. Miller rotated in, but Trocheck was more the constant.

Now, who’s to say that Sullivan isn’t trying out new looks first at practice before he leans into using a fourth line that features Trocheck in the middle and Miller on the wing? That very well could be the case, given the familiarity the players have with one another, and Sullivan has with them since he’s also their coach with the Rangers.

Or Miller could skate on the third line when the games begin, too. Dylan Larkin and Tage Thompson appear set on that line, remaining together the first two days. But Hughes skated on their wing Sunday, and Kyle Connor practiced there Monday. Perhaps Miller lands in that spot and Trocheck centers the fourth line? That’s certainly a possibility.

But for now it appears Team USA’s coach may decide between which of his star players with the Rangers sits and which plays in the Winter Games. Each is a respected leader, who plays a hard-nosed game, wins face-offs, and is a complete 200-foot player at each end of the rink. Miller and Trocheck also are excellent penalty killers, and were paired in that role together during the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Bottom-six opportunities await Rangers’ J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck at Olympics​

David Kirouac-Imagn Images

Sullivan seems set with his top-six forward group and all three defense pairings, though. The U.S practiced each day with Jack Eichel centering the Tkachuk brothers — Matthew and Brady — and Auston Matthews was flanked by Jake Guentzel and Matthew Boldy. The one thing that jumps out here is that Boldy replaced Hughes in that top-six spot compared to the 4 Nations lineup. Hughes battled injuries much of the season, and missed the final three games for the New Jersey Devils ahead of the Olympic break with a lower-body injury.

Boldy’s 32 goals are tied for third most in the NHL, and are more than any other player on the U.S. roster.

The defense pairings are Quinn Hughes and Charlie McAvoy, Jaccob Slavin and Brock Faber, and Zach Werenski and Noah Hanifin. The extra d-men are Jake Sanderson and Jackson Lacombe.

A little more clarity on the Team USA bottom-6 at Monday's practice. pic.twitter.com/uJj2C0MDig

— Daily Faceoff – Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) February 9, 2026

Despite being in the middle of a down season, the United States is expected to ride goalie Connor Hellebuyck, the reigning Hart and Vezina Trophy winner in the NHL.

Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad ‘game changer’ for Sweden​

Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Mika Zibanejad loves wearing the Tre Kronor sweater, and often lifts his game on the international stage. The Rangers forward famously scored in overtime for Sweden in the gold medal game at the 2012 World Junior Championship; and last spring, he had eight points (five goals, three assists) in nine games to help Sweden finish third at the 2025 IIHF World Championship. He also had one goal in two games at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Victor Hedman told Mollie Walker of the New York Post that Zibanejad brings “a lot” to Sweden’s lineup at these Winter Olympics.

“Not just the power play. His shot, but his leadership, too. His dedication to his two-way game. And that’s a tremendous guy, too, as well, like all other Swedes. He’s going to mean a lot. He’s a game changer. He’s going to be a big, important piece for us.”

Walker reported that Sweden held a closed practice Monday. But Elias Pettersson told reporters that he practiced on a line with Zibanejad and Rickard Rakell.

Sweden, which is in Group B, opens Olympic play Wednesday when they skate against host Italy.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/miller-trocheck-olympic-spot-team-usa

 

[New York Rangers]

After Artemi Panarin Trade, This Rangers Star Could Be Next To Go

The Artemi Panarin trade is behind the New York Rangers, but there’s no reason for Chris Drury’s retool to stop there.

Panarin was the second Rangers player traded before the Milan-Cortina Olympic roster freeze, and his longtime linemate on Broadway, Vincent Trocheck, could be the next to go, after trades are allowed again Feb. 23.

The Rangers traded Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings last Wednesday for forward prospect Liam Greentree and two conditional draft picks, ending his seven-year run with them. He joined defenseman Carson Soucy, who was dealt to the rival Islanders a week prior, as the first two Blueshirts moved ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.

With the Rangers last in the Eastern Conference, and 30th overall in the NHL, they should be very busy in the 12 post-freeze days.

Vincent Trocheck could be next Rangers star traded​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

Chris Johnston of The Athletic unveiled his sixth trade board Wednesday morning before the Panarin trade, and the 34-year-old wing topped the list.

Trocheck was No. 2.

“A center who makes an impact on both sides of the puck, Trocheck’s game remains at a level that earned him a spot on Team USA for [the Milan-Cortina] Olympics,” Johnston wrote. “Known for playing with grit and determination, he’s got the tools to play in all situations and can handle heavy, difficult minutes.

“He’s viewed as a leader for the Rangers and represents a prime chip for them to play in the retool. His contract includes a 12-team no-trade list, though.”

The 32-year-old is in his 12th NHL season, and tied with J.T. Miller for third on the Rangers with 36 points. He is a 0.82 point-per-game player and has topped 20 goals in each of his first three seasons with the Rangers.

Though he could slot in as a perfect third-line center on a deep Stanley Cup contender, Trocheck’s proven he can be a top-six pivot, as well. Skating on a line with Panarin and Alexis Lafreniere, Trocheck had 77 regular-season points, and 20 more in 16 playoff games, when he helped the Rangers win the Presidents’ Trophy in 2023-24 and get within two wins of reaching the Stanley Cup Final that spring.

How Rangers could supercharge retool by trading Vincent Trocheck​

Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Trocheck is signed for three more years after this season at an extremely reasonable $5.625 million AAV. He is both a center and proven playoff performer, who has 17 goals and 37 points in 56 playoff games and averaged 0.91 points per game in the postseason with the Rangers. And he’s not simply a rental for one playoff run.

That means Trocheck could be the centerpiece of a larger deal to fetch valuable prospects and picks from a contender like the Tampa Bay Lightning or Carolina Hurricanes. It may make Rangers fans nauseous to think of them helping Carolina get better, but he’s already been traded there ahead of the deadline once, when the Florida Panthers shipped him to Raleigh in 2020.

Or the Rangers could shop Trocheck to an young, up-and-coming team, like the Buffalo Sabres or San Jose Sharks. Acquiring Trocheck would bulk up either team’s offense and veteran leadership ahead of an impending playoff run.

The Sabres are rumored to be stalling on a contract extension with skilled pending unrestricted free agent Alex Tuch and could use a No. 2 center. Though 29 years old, Tuch might interest the Rangers as a talented and reliable point producer for their top-six forward group, though, of course, they could simply try and sign him next summer instead. So, perhaps, any Sabres proposed deal for Trocheck, should focus on prospects and young NHL-ready talent instead.

The Sharks have reportedly been sniffing around Braden Schneider and are also rumored to be shopping pending UFA defenseman Mario Ferraro. As long as New York could lock in Ferraro to an exctension, and collect additional younger assets, trading Trocheck and Schneider together could fetch a nice haul from the ultra-young Sharks and turn the retool around quickly.

Of course, that’s if the Rangers even plan to Schneider, who, at 24, could have a place in the Rangers core moving forward.

As far as Trocheck is concerned, keep an eye on the Kings, too. They desperately need a center, especially with Anze Kopitar retiring at season’s end, and knowing the history of Trocheck and Panarin together.

But let’s face it, Trocheck has plenty of value to almost any buyer on the trade market. If Drury plays his cards right, the Rangers should be able to land a sizeable return which will help fuel their retool.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...nt-trocheck-trade-rumors-after-artemi-panarin

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Juuso Pärssinen again returns from injury

Losers in six consecutive games (0-5-0-1), the Hartford Wolf Pack are free falling. They were swept by the Providence Bruins last week, losing 3-1 on Friday, followed by a 2-1 shootout loss on Saturday.

Scoring, an issue all season, is an even more massive struggle in the past six games. The Wolf Pack scored eight goals in the losing streak, and just one in five of their past six games.

The New York Rangers AHL affiliate is seven points out of a playoff spot, and its postseason hopes are fading fast. The Wolf Pack are tied for seventh (16-23-4-2, 38 points) with Springfield in the Atlantic Division. They will play a pair of games this weekend against the Charlotte Checkers.

The Wolf Pack added veterans Anton Blidh and Spencer Martin on Feb. 5, when the Rangers assigned them to Hartford for the NHL Olympic break. Hartford also signed Travis Dermott to a Professional Tryout (PTO) to bolster the blue line. The 29-year-old has more than 300 games of NHL experience, and was a free agent following offseason shoulder surgery.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes​

Juuso Parssinen — Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Juuso Pärssinen returns from injury, again​

Juuso Parssinen returned to the Wolf Pack lineup last weekend and played consecutive AHL games for the first time this season. The 25-year-old forward played four games with Hartford this season since the Rangers placed him on waivers and assigned him to the minors on Nov. 26.

He was hurt in his Hartford debut Nov. 28, and missed 19 games with an upper-body injury. Upon his return on Jan. 23, Pärssinen scored his first AHL goal of the season. However, he was injured again in the second period and did not return to that contest.

Juuso's first as a member of the Pack pic.twitter.com/bJtcDJWQru

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) January 24, 2026

After missing an additional four games, Pärssinen returned last Friday and played on back-to-back nights. He was inserted on the Wolf Pack’s second line, centering Brendan Brisson/Brett Berard (they were swapped in back-to-back games) and Trey Fix-Wolansky.

Parssinen was pointless in both games against Providence, recording one shot on goal Friday before going without one Saturday, and failing to score on his shootout attempt.

Though a disappointment with the Rangers earlier this season, Parssinen does have 151 games of NHL experience and some higher-end skill. So, coach Grant Potulny should lean on the forward, considering the Wolf Pack are lacking in each of those areas.

Derrick Pouliot picking up points amid defensive struggles​

Derrick Pouliot, a 12th year pro with 680 games of experience (226 NHL, 454 AHL), has seven assists in his last 11 games. The 32-year-old leads Hartford’s defensemen with 22 assists and 23 points. As quarterback of the first power-play unit, Pouliot leads the team in power play assists with seven. Despite having a down year offensively, he recorded points in 19 of 44 games, including three multiple point performances (one goal and two assists on Nov. 21, two assists on Dec. 27 and Jan 23.).

Fixy finds the twine to get us on the board! pic.twitter.com/w1zOTVHL5g

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 7, 2026

Defensively, Pouliot struggles far too often in his own end. He’s minus-13, worst among defensemen and fourth lowest on the team. In fact, he posted a minus rating in 17 games despite scoring in eight of those. Too often, opponents find a way around Pouliot to generate scoring chances. For instance on Jan. 30 against Bridgeport, former Rangers forward Julien Gauthier scored when Pouliot misread the play and led to a partial breakaway. On Jan. 28 against Charlotte, the Checkers were flying with the puck and Pouliot was ineffective for two goals against.

Rangers Night a big hit with Wolf Pack fans​

Nick Fotiu signs autographs at Rangers Night — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

The Wolf Pack hosted “Rangers Night” at PeoplesBank Arena on Saturday. Three former Blueshirts from several different generations — Nick Fotiu, Tom Laidlaw, and Cristoval “Boo” Nieves — did a meet-and-greet with fans. The night also featured Rangers trivia, giveaways, and recorded organ music from the Garden.

Unfortunately, former Rangers general manager Neil Smith, the architect of the 1994 Stanley Cup champions, was unable to attend, despite scheduled to do so.

Tonight is the night!

New York Rangers alumni Boo Nieves, Nick Fotiu, and Tom Laidlaw will be in attendance for a meet-and-greet. These Rangers legends will be available behind Section 107 for roughly 45 minutes starting at 6 pm thanks to CTDOT.

Unfortunately, Neil Smith… pic.twitter.com/nZR2EfXRG8

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 7, 2026

The 7,186 fans in attendance also experienced a throwback hockey game between the Wolf Pack and Bruins. Similar to the Rangers – Bruins in their Original Six rivalry, this one was a physical clash Saturday. The first period alone had 46 penalty minutes, including two fights, a near goalie fight, and several scrums.

It took all of 29 seconds before Hartford’s Connor Mackey dropped the gloves with Joey Abate to get the hostilities underway. Similarly, the second period began with Jaroslav Chmelar throwing down with Riley Tufte after just 12 seconds.

how fun, how exciting! pic.twitter.com/nsHsXYrRqE

— hope (@nohopeleague) February 8, 2026

Despite a poor reacord overall, the Wolf Pack continue to draw fans regularly, as they average 5,348 per game. They are drawing similar numbers in comparison to 2024-25 (5,590) and 2023-24 (5,456). Upcoming promotions include Star Wars, Emo, Soccer, 90s, Sensory Inclusivity, and Fan Appreciation nights.

Upcoming Games​

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

Saturday, February 14 vs Charlotte Checkers (Panthers) at 4:00pm, Bojangles Coliseum​

• This is the third of eight meetings in the season series. Hartford is 1-1-0-0 against Charlotte.
• Charlotte is 26-15-3-0 (55 points), third in the Atlantic Division and fifth in the Eastern Conference.
• Wilmer Skoog leads the Checkers with 30 points (17 goals, 13 assists). Ben Steeves (16 goals, 13 assists) and Jack Devine (12 goals, 17 assists) are tied for second in scoring with 29 points apiece.

Sunday, February 15 vs Charlotte Checkers (Panthers) at 4:00pm, Bojangles Coliseum​

• This is the fourth of eight meetings in the season series. The Wolf Pack will return to Charlotte on Feb. 17 and 18.
• Hartford is 9-11-1-1 on the road.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...o-parssinen-returns-injury-hartford-wolf-pack

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers best, worst, and everything in between at NHL Olympic break

Perhaps no team in the NHL needed the three-week break for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics more than the New York Rangers. One of the most disappointing teams in the NHL, the Rangers couldn’t have scripted a much worse centennial season.

The Rangers (22-29-6) are last in the Eastern Conference and 30th overall in the League. Their goal differential is a horrifying minus-29, due in large part to being 27th in the League, averaging 2.61 goals-for per game.

Extended injury absences to Igor Shesterkin, Adam Fox, Vincent Trocheck, J.T. Miller, and Matt Rempe haven’t helped, and exposed the lack of quality organizational depth. But no excuses. This Rangers team simply hasn’t been good enough through the first 57 games this season.

Like any season, though, there’s been a mix of good and bad. So, let’s get to it and break down the best, worst, and everything in between for the Rangers so far this season.

MVP: Igor Shesterkin​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

All you need to know is that the Rangers are 5-17-2 when Shesterkin (17-12-4, 2.45 goals-against average, .913 save percentage) doesn’t play or receive a decision this season, including 2-11-1 since he sustained a lower-body injury Jan. 5. So, remember that MVP stands for most valuable player. Igor is that, and then some. The 30-year-old goalie is their most irreplaceable player and the very definition of most valuable. And that was proven by how the Rangers cratered without him following his injury.

Best Player: Mika Zibanejad​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Give Mika Zibanejad credit, he did a complete about-face following his extremely disappointing showing last season. The 32-year-old committed to playing a 200-foot game on a nightly basis, and was properly engaged from the first puck drop this season. He leads the Rangers with 23 goals, 11 power-play goals, two short-handed goals, 22 power-play points, and is second with 29 assists and 28 even-strength points. Mika will soon pass Artemi Panarin for the team lead in scoring, and remains one of the few bright spots for the Rangers this season.

Most Disappointing Player: Braden Schneider​

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

There’s a lot of competition on this roster for most disappointing player. But Braden Schneider gets the nod here because he finally got his big opportunity to move up the lineup and prove he’s a top-four defenseman, after years sheltered in a third-pair role, and didn’t quite meet the moment. That’s not to say Schneider’s been terrible filling in on the top defense pair during a pair of extended injury absences by Fox. But there’s a reason his xGF is 43.68 percent, per Natural Stat Trick, and he’s been on ice for a minus-18 goal differential 5v5 (team-worst 48 goals against). The 24-year-old competes hard and cares deeply about this team, there’s no question. His 90 blocked shots leads the team, and he’s third with 123 hits. But his overall game simply may not be as good as we all hoped.

Best Game: 5-1 win over Panthers at Winter Classic (Jan. 2)​

Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The Rangers throttled the two-time defending Stanley Cup champions outdoors in Miami, generating a feel-good vibe that maybe, just maybe, they could make a run at a playoff spot in the second half of the season. Zibanejad recorded the first hat trick in Winter Classic history and notched the first five-point game in any NHL outdoor game; Panarin scored twice; Alexis Lafreniere had a career-high three assists; and Shesterkin made 36 saves.

Worst Game: 10-2 loss to Boston Bruins (Jan. 10)​

Winslow Townson-Imagn Images

Seriously, where do we even start? The list is painfully long, with any number of their League-high nine shutout defeats worthy of some level of consideration. Not to mention all of the games where their weak effort mirrored poor execution. But let’s go with this humiliating beatdown in Boston, just eight days after that exhilarating Winter Classic victory. The Rangers actually started on time and took an early 1-0 lead in this one before the roof caved in and they allowed a season-worst 10 goals.

Best Stretch: Oct. 28 – Nov. 15​

Aaron Doster-Imagn Images

From October 28 through November 15, the Rangers won seven of nine games and improved to 10-7-2 overall. They appeared to be stabilizing after a wonky start to the season, and even finally won their first home game (6-3 over the Nashville Predators on Nov. 10) after seven straight losses at MSG. Their torrid success away from the Garden continued with six consecutive road wins, including a 7-3 thrashing of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Nov. 12 and an exciting 2-1 victory on Miller’s shootout winner three days later. With three of these seven wins coming in overtime, it appeared the Rangers regained their mojo.

Worst Stretch: Jan. 5 – Feb. 5​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Everything came undone for the Rangers on the night of Jan. 5, and completely collapsed thereafter. In their next game after the Winter Classic, the Rangers not only lost (again) on home ice to the Utah Mammoth, blowing 1-0 and 2-1 leads on their way to a 3-2 defeat in overtime. But they lost Shesterkin and Fox, each to a lower-body injury. Neither’s played since, and the Rangers stumbled to the Olympic break losing 12 of 14 games. It was enough for general manager Chris Drury to publicly announce a retool of the roster, which included trading Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 3 and is far from complete.

Biggest surprise (positive): Matthew Robertson​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

So, who had Matthew Robertson averaging 17:15 TOI as a steady regular on the Rangers defense corps? Put your hands down, you’re not being truthful. The 24-year-old rookie, a late-bloomer for sure after four uneven seasons with Hartford of the American Hockey League, didn’t exactly wow anybody during training camp, and not surprisingly started the season on Broadway as the extra defenseman. But when he got his chance on the third pair, Robertson took off, playing a solid two-way game, full of poise and confidence, which grows by the day. He’s now on the second pair with veteran Will Borgen, has 11 points (four goals, seven assists) in 47 games, and scored one of the most memorable goals of the season, capping an inspiring rally with a solo rush and overtime winner against the Bruins on Jan. 26.

Biggest surprise (negative): Madison Square Garden struggles​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

You can go up and down the roster to find a long list of individual candidates to be the biggest negative surprise this season. But let’s go with an absolute collective fail here. The Rangers are 6-15-4 at MSG this season. Those six home wins are fewest in the Eastern Conference — less than half the total of the teams who have the next least amount (13). Only the last-overall Vancouver Canucks have as few losses at home (6-17-4). Great way for the Rangers to celebrate their centennial anniversary at The World’s Most Famous Arena.

Coach’s Pet: Noah Laba​

Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

Noah Laba could’ve been listed as the most pleasant surprise this season, though he ranked just below Robertson. But the rookie center, a fourth-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, is an absolute keeper, and a clear favorite of coach Mike Sullivan. Laba forced his way on to the opening-night roster and won his coach over with a tremendous prospects camp and then full training camp. His non-stop motor, 200-foot game, speed, tenacity, and maturity make him a future leader on this team, and a core piece coming out of this retool. A perfect fit as the 3C, the 24-year-old has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists), averaging 13:18 TOI over 54 games.

Doghouse: Brennan Othmann​

Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Where Laba’s quickly earned Sullivan’s trust, the opposite is true of Brennan Othmann. The 2021 first-round draft pick clearly is in the coach’s doghouse, and that started all the way back in training camp when Sullivan questioned Othmann’s commitment defensively. It was a telling sign that Othmann was an early cut in camp, and it appears his confidence is pretty much at an all-time low. The 23-year-old only plays in the bottom-six, often on the fourth line, and averages less than 10 minutes of ice time over his 16 NHL games this season. He did score his first NHL goal, but more telling is that he was a healthy scratch in the final game before the Olympic break.

Best offseason move: Signing Vladislav Gavrikov​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

That seven-year, $49 million contract the Rangers handed Vladislav Gavrikov in free agency last summer appears to be money well spent. The 30-year-old defenseman’s been everything the Rangers could hope for as a steady, top-pair blueliner. And his career-high nine goals is an added bonus for a team that doesn’t score a lot. When Fox is healthy, he and Gavrikov had the best underlying numbers and metrics of any defense pair in the League. And with Fox missing 27 games with two separate injuries this season, Gavrikov stepped up in all areas, and leads all Rangers by averaging 24:04 TOI.

Worst offseason move: Chris Drury contract extension​

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

That the Rangers rushed to re-sign Drury to a contract extension AND publicly announced it shortly after the disastrous 2024-25 season ended was poor optics at best and foolhardy at worst. Keep in mind, the Rangers never publicly announce new contracts for their front office executives, except when they hire a new one. Clearly, owner James Dolan wanted the players and fans to know that Drury’s in charge no matter how terrible the results were the season before. And make no mistake, Drury’s fingerprints were all over that terrible season, mainly how the downturn directly started with his mishandling of veteran players and their exits from the organization. Of course, things only got worse for the Rangers this season and few — outside of Dolan — have faith in Drury to pull off this latest organizational retool moving forward.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-best-worst-list-nhl-olympic-break

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad helps Sweden win Olympics opener over Italy 5-2

Sweden struggled early in its Olympics opener against Italy, but thanks in part to New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad, the Tre Kronor pulled out a 5-2 win over host Italy in Group B pool play Wednesday in Milan.

Zibanejad scored a key third-period goal and had a primary assist on Gabriel Landeskog’s first-period power-play tally to finish with two points in his Olympic debut. The 32-year-old totaled four shots on goal and was plus-2 in 13:43 TOI.

Rasmus Dahlin of the Buffalo Sabres had three assists for Sweden, and William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs scored the game-winning goal.

Sweden earned three points for the regulation win and sits tied atop Group B with Slovakia, who upset Sweden’s Scandinavian rival Finland, 4-1, earlier Wednesday.

Zibanejad and Sweden square off against Finland on Friday.

Mika Zibanejad scores crucial goal for Sweden​

Sweden played with fire for much of its opener against Italy. Despite outshooting the Italians 60-22, and 27-3 in the opening period, Italy scored the game’s first goal and Sweden clung to a narrow 3-2 advantage late in the third period.

But Zibanejad changed that with less than five minutes to play. Mere seconds after missing an empty net that would have given Sweden some breathing room, he took a pass from Dahlin and fluttered a wrist shot past Italy goalie Davide Fadani — who was screened by Zibanejad’s linemate Elias Pettersson — for his first goal of the tournament.

Mika Zibanejad ices the game for Team Sweden. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/KPjvE2YaEd

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 11, 2026

The goal gave Sweden a 4-2 lead with 4:18 to play — on Sweden’s 58th shot on goal for the game — and some valuable insurance.

Zibanejad carried his scorching play over from the NHL onto the international stage. He leads the Rangers with 23 goals this season, including 11 over the span of 14 games in January.

Mika Zibanejad set up Gabriel Landeskog’s first-period PPG​

Zibanejad was initially given an assist on Victor Hedman’s empty-net goal with 2:49 to play. The Rangers center won the defensive-zone face-off that set up Hedman’s long-range shot which found the back of the net. Yet, that apparent helper was taken away, and Gustav Forsling ended up with the lone assist on Hedman’s ENG.

But Zibanejad did help Sweden break the ice in the first period on the power play. Playing on Sweden’s second unit, Zibanejad snapped a cross-seam pass that Landeskog one-timed past Italy starting goalie Damian Clara to tie the score 1-1 at 9:06.

Gabe Landeskog in prime form pic.twitter.com/XhvnYCIKtD

— Avalanche Forever (@citchmook) February 11, 2026

The ice-breaking goal was enormous, since Sweden peppered Clara with shot after shot, yet trailed midway through the period after Luca Frigo sent the home crowd into delirium by scoring for Italy at 4:14 of the first.

Mika Zibanejad centered line with Elias Pettersson, Rickard Rakell​

Photo courtesy @NYRangers

Zibanejad was on Sweden’s third line, centering Pettersson of the Vancouver Canucks and Rickard Rakell of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Aside from his goal and assist, Zibanejad also played a sound defensive game. He nearly had a scoring chance when he blocked a shot in the Sweden defensive zone and then rushed down the ice, but was turned away by Clara.

Italy’s starting goalie also denied Zibanejad earlier in the period on a great chance at the side of the net. Zibanejad then nearly made the Rangers’ worst fears from these Winter Games come true when he got up gingerly after getting tangled up with Italy forward Tommy Purdeller.

But the Rangers and their fans breathed a sigh of relief when Zibanejad didn’t miss a shift after the awkward fall.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/zibanejad-olympic-debut-sweden-victory