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[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers report cards: Grading coach Mike Sullivan at Olympic break

Mike Sullivan is in Italy right now, trying to help the United States capture gold at the 2016 Milan-Cortina Olympics. But the business of the New York Rangers certainly is not out of mind for their coach.

And the business of the Rangers, of course, is not pretty. No gold in these Blueshirt mountains, not this season at least.

The Rangers (22-29-6) are last in the Eastern Conference, and 30th out of 32 NHL teams overall. Artemi Panarin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings right before the Olympic roster freeze and more moves are coming ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline.

There are still 25 games left in the regular season, time to convince us that the Rangers collectively deserve something better than a failing grade. But that’s where they sit right now, an overall F,

As for the coach? Let’s break down what grade he deserves on his report card at this juncture of the 2025-26 season. And, any success Sully achieves at the Olympics should lift his spirits, but not his grade here.

Coach Mike Sullivan: Grade C+​

Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

There are several major things that submarined the Rangers season which can’t be blamed on Sullivan: injuries, not enough talent, lack of quality organizational depth, and stunning inability to consistently score goals.

That last one stands out. The Rangers are 27th in scoring, averaging 2.61 goals-for per game. They were shut out nine times already this season.

You’ve heard it before, but it’s true. The coach can’t score for his players. And in this case, quite often, the Rangers generated enough quality chances, but simply failed to cash them in. Sullivan’s preached the right things about puck movement, getting bodies to the net, and playing more of a north-south game, though remaining flexible enough to allow their most talented players to be creative.

That hybrid style makes much sense, considering the makeup of the Rangers roster. But it hasn’t translated into nearly enough offense. More blame falls on the players and roster construction by general manager Chris Drury than on the coach here.

Sullivan had significant success early on getting the Rangers to play a more structured and committed defensive game, something that was a major issue for his predecessors Peter Laviolette and Gerard Gallant. It doesn’t hurt that Sully has Vladislav Gavrikov back there anchoring his defense, and the other coaches didn’t, of course. But the team buy-in and execution defensively stood out early in the season.

However, that’s crumbled quite a bit, with Sullivan recenlty questioning whether his message is getting through to the players. Missing Adam Fox for the better part of two months certainly didn’t help, nor did losing star goalie Igor Shesterkin for most of January. But the crumbling structure is concerning because it coincides with the season cratering around the Rangers, who lost 12 of 14 before the break.

James Guillory-Imagn Images

Sullivan, a two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is a solid teacher, who exudes confidence, and is poised under pressure. But even he looked weary and without answers when the season slipped away in January. That’s not unlike Laviolette last season nor Gallant in the 2023 playoffs. Maybe it’s something in the water at Madison Square Garden.

Speaking of which, the Rangers lost their first seven home games, were shut out seven times at The Garden so far, and have just six victories at MSG in their centennial celebration season. It’s head scratching stuff. But, yes, Sully must take his share of the blame here.

Another area where he certainly shares in the blame is how often the Rangers don’t seem ready to start a game on time. They’re not equipped mentally or talented enough to play from behind so often. But that’s a common theme in 2025-26. Mika Zibanejad and Braden Schneider called the Rangers ‘fragile.’ Maybe that’s more on the roster construction than the coach, but Sullivan must get these players ready to play a complete 60 minutes every night. It just doesn’t happen often enough.

One area where Sullivan excels is with his communication skills. His traveling to Sweden to meet face to face last summer with Zibanejad paid major dividends — Zibanejad’s been the Rangers best player this season.

His stubbornness to stick with a failed five-forward power-play group when Fox was first injured in December was a bit maddening. And his lack of patience with Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard, and lack of trust with Scott Morrow, raises questions about his ability to bring along prospects.

The flip side to that is the successful rookie season by Noah Laba, a fourth-round draft pick who’s now not only a lineup regular, but an important piece of the core moving forward as a heart-and-soul third-line center. Sullivan’s also been firmly behind top prospect Gabe Perreault during his uneven adjustment to the NHL.

So, yes, there’s a lot to unwrap here in Sullivan’s first season as Rangers coach. Not the least of which is this will be New York’s second straight season out of the playoffs, and the fourth consecutive year that Sully’s on the outside looking in at the postseason.

This mess isn’t all on him. But Sullivan is not blameless, either. Therein lies his C+ grade.

The good news is that it still feels like the Rangers have the right coach in place moving forward.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/mike-sullivan-rangers-midseason-review

 

[New York Rangers]

Why offer sheet is vital Rangers option, who they could target in 2026

For the first time in a long time, the New York Rangers are in position to weaponize an offer sheet to make a splash in NHL free agency this coming offseason.

The unrestricted free agent class is watered down considerably after Connor McDavid (Edmonton Oilers), Kirill Kaprizov (Minnesota Wild), Jack Eichel (Vegas Golden Knights), Martin Necas (Colorado Avalanche), Kyle Connor (Winnipeg Jets), and now Artemi Panarin (Los Angeles Kings) each re-signed with his current team.

With PuckPedia projecting the Rangers to have nearly $30 million in salary cap space entering the offseason, general manager Chris Drury very well could pivot to target a restricted free agent with an attractive offer sheet. Though such a move would cost the Rangers future draft picks as well as money, it fits with their stated plan to retool the roster by acquiring young, talented NHL players — or those on the verge of being NHL-ready — to join the core for years to come.

Of course, we’re still just under five months from July 1, so a lot can change between now and then, especially with the Rangers expected to be active ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline. But, as of right now, New York’s biggest in-house piece of business this offseason is to re-sign Braden Schneider. The 24-year-old defenseman is an RFA with arbitration rights and due a decent raise over his current $2.2 million AAV.

Scott Morrow, Brett Berard, and Brennan are RFAs coming off entry-level contracts and won’t cost that much to retain — assuming each remains after the trade deadline. The Rangers already traded their two biggest UFAs — Panarin to the Kings and defenseman Carson Soucy to the Islanders — so that leaves Jonathan Quick, Jonny Brodzinski, and Conor Sheary as the only vets heading toward the open market July 1.

Rangers must overcome many obstacles to land RFA with offer sheet​

Offer sheets to restricted free agents aren’t often a thing in the NHL for a couple of reasons. First, most GMs are cautious about pissing off their counterparts in the League and fear retaliation down the road by signing young talent away, even though it’s perfectly allowed under the guidelines of the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement. It’s widely reported that the Montreal Canadiens, for example, remain furious with the Carolina Hurricanes for poaching center Jesperi Kotkaniemi in August 2021, even though he hasn’t exactly become the star many predicted he’d be.

The other thing is that quite often, a team puts in a lot of effort to work out a deal that won’t be matched by the player’s current team, only to have it matched. However, the St. Louis Blues delivered a perfectly executed double strike when the Edmonton Oilers chose not to match offer sheets to defenseman Philip Broberg and forward Dylan Holloway two summers ago.

So, there’s recent proof that this could work. And it’s up to Drury and Co. to target the right player(s) and right team(s) to come away with the perfect offer sheet.

Pavel Dorofeyev among RFAs Rangers could target with offer sheet​

Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

The sexiest RFA out there this summer is Jason Robertson. But it’s hard to believe the Dallas Stars won’t find a way to re-sign their high-scoring forward to a long-term contract, since he can become a UFA in 2027. Plus, to even have a chance at luring Robertson away, it’d likely cost the Rangers an AAV of at least $11 million, which would mean they’d be required to send two first-round draft picks to the Stars, along with a 2027 second- and third- rounder, as compensation.

If the Rangers offered more than $11.7 million per season, it’d cost them four first rounders to compensate the Stars. Unlikely. Especially since it’s hard to see the Rangers paying anyone more than star goalie Igor Shesterkin, who makes $11.5 million per season.

So, which RFA is a more likely target, and one that could move the needle in New York’s rebuild? How about Pavel Dorofeyev? The 25-year-old Golden Knights forward scored 35 goals last season, has 26 so far in this one, and combined for 27 power-play goals the past two years.

we told you there was no quit in Pavel Dorofeyev and we meant it ‍ pic.twitter.com/o6qGT4TAAx

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) January 24, 2026

Dorofeyev can’t be a UFA until 2028, but a Rangers deal could be big-time two-year offer, or one that buys out some years of unrestricted free agencv. Right now, Vegas has a League-low $5.14 million in projected cap space ahead of the summer, with defenseman Rasmus Andersson becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Would an offer sheet averaging $6 million or $7 million per season get this done for the Rangers? That would also cost them a first- and third-round draft pick in 2027. Well worth it. Vegas often finds a way to free up the money and stay under the cap, maybe that’s the case here, too. But what if the Rangers went above the $7 million AAV and kept it under $9.36 million? That really puts the squeeze on Vegas, and would ultimately cost the Rangers a first-, second-, and third-round pick in 2027. Note that the Rangers must acquire a 2027 second-round pick first to make such a deal work.

We’re just guessing here, because we don’t know how Drury and the Rangers scouts and coaches view Dorofeyev’s overall game and value. But he sure seems like an attractive fit for what the Rangers are trying to do.

There are other more affordable RFAs who might intrigue the Rangers for one reason or another. If the Stars do re-sign Robertson for big bucks, could the Rangers swoop in and snag forward Mavrik Bourque? He’s an interesting young (24) center with first-round pedigree whose best days are ahead of him.

For Florida Panthers Mackie Samoskevich, his Kindergarten aspiration came true…and then some! (Newtown, CT) #StanleyCup @FlaPanthers @NHL @HockeyHallFame pic.twitter.com/QTZQxZ0Jmi

— Philip Pritchard (@keeperofthecup) August 2, 2025

Like the Blues with Broberg and Holloway, or the Hurricanes with Kotkaniemi, it’s a crapshoot offering sizeable contracts to young players that haven’t popped yet in the NHL. Such would be the case with Bourque, or with any one of, say, Mackie Samoskevich (Florida Panthers, 23, F); Nicholas Robertson (Toronto Maple Leafs, 24, F); Zach Bolduc (Montreal Canadiens; 22; F); and Zach Benson (Buffalo Sabres; 20; F).

It’d be fun — though unlikely — if the Rangers tried to poach one of these defensemen from a Metropolitan Division rival: Alexander Nikishin of the Hurricanes or Simon Nemec of the New Jersey Devils.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/offer-sheet-options-2026-nhl-free-agency

 

[New York Rangers]

USA vs. Sweden: 3 Rangers stars to meet in Olympic quarterfinal clash

The last of the quarterfinal games in the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics will have a definite New York Rangers feeling to it Wednesday. That’s because three Rangers players and two coaches are involved when the United States faces off against Sweden.

The U.S. squad features Rangers captain J.T. Miller and veteran center Vincent Trocheck. It’s coached by Rangers coach Mike Sullivan, with assistant David Quinn serving the same role behind Team USA’s bench.

On the other side of the ice, wearing the yellow and royal blue Tre Kronor sweater, is the longest-tenured current Rangers player, forward Mika Zibanejad.

All that’s missing is Joe Tolleson on the PA mic and maybe a “Potvin S***s” chant or two because this will have a big-game Madison Square Garden vibe to it, albeit roughly 4,000 miles away in Italy.

Sweden’s Mika Zibanejad on facing his #NYR teammates JT Miller and Vincent Trocheck and Team USA tomorrow:

“It’s going to be a tough challenge, but one we’re prepared for. It’s obviously guys that we play every day, in terms of knowing how good they are and what their… pic.twitter.com/qmfQfcaflx

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) February 17, 2026

Zibanejad scored a goal and added an assist Tuesday to help Sweden knock out Latvia 5-1 in the qualifier play-off. That allowed Sweden to move into the quarterfinals against the United States, the No. 2 overall seed after winning Group C with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record in the preliminary round.

Sweden was 2-1-0-0 in the prelims and missed out on a bye into the quarterfinals by one goal, losing the tiebreaker with Slovakia. Canada, the United States, Finland, and Slovakia earned byes into the quarters.

Mike Zibanejad leads Sweden to showdown against Rangers teammates J.T. Miller, Vincent Trocheck & Team USA​

Credit: New York Rangers

Zibanejad has five points (two goals, three assists) in four games, tied for second on Sweden. He finished off a give-and-go with Lucas Raymond at 5:54 of the third period Tuesday to give Sweden a 4-1 lead over Latvia. It was one of three assists for Raymond, who leads Sweden with eight points (one goal, seven assists).

Mika Zibanejad. One-timer. Lights the lamp. pic.twitter.com/XMNy3jcafg

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 17, 2026

The 32-year-old Rangers forward also had the secondary assist on Gabriel Landeskog’s goal 11:36 into the first period which made it 2-0 Sweden. Zibanejad sent a long shot toward the net after a Latvia turnover, and Raymond collected the puck in front, kicked it to Landeskog, and the Colorado Avalanche captain finished off the scoring play.

It was the second multi-point game for Zibanejad, who had a goal and an assist in Sweden’s tournament-opening 5-2 win over Italy last week. It’s been a continuation of his strong plat back in North America this season, where Zibanejad leads the Rangers with 23 goals and is second with 52 points in 56 games.

Where Zibanejad plays a top-nine forward role for Sweden and on their power-play, Miller is on the fourth line for the U.S. and Trocheck is the extra forward — since teams dress 20 skaters in international competition. However, Miller and Trocheck are on Team USA’s top penalty-killing unit and a big reason the United States is a perfect 9-for-9 on the kill so far in the tournament.

Trocheck also has two assists in the Olympics, picking up one in each of the first two games — wins over Latvia and Denmark. Miller is without a point in these Winter Games.

It’s the first time in 12 years the NHL allowed its players to take part in the Olympics. So, Zibanejad, Miller, and Trocheck each represents his country for the first time on the biggest international stage in these Olympics.

Men’s hockey quarterfinals schedule and times for 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics​

Wednesday, February 18​

Slovakia vs. Germany (6:10 a.m.)

Canada vs. Czechia (10:40 a.m.)

Finland vs. Switzerland (12:10 p.m.)

United States vs. Sweden (3:10 p.m.)

*All times ET

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ympic-quarterfinals-zibanejad-miller-trocheck

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: AHL All-Star Brendan Brisson recalled by Rangers

Losers in eight of their past 11 games (3-7-0-1), the Hartford Wolf Pack sunk to a new low this past weekend despite ending a six-game losing streak (0-5-0-1).

The two-game set in Charlotte featured a 3-2 win over the Checkers on Saturday, led by Jaroslav Chmelař’s three-point performance (one goal, two assists). However, Hartford followed up with a gruesome 9-0 loss Monday, setting a franchise record for worst loss by goal differential.

Th at lopsided defeat left the eighth-place Wolf Pack (17-24-4-2, 40 points) six points out of a playoff spot in the Atlantic Division.

Travis Dermott signed a PTO with Hartford on Feb. 7, and the former NHL defenseman could debut with the Wolf Pack this weekend, when they play three games. The Wolf Pack certainly welcome any and all help defensively.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes​

Brendan Brisson – Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Big week for Brendan Brisson includes AHL All-Star Classic & Rangers recall​

Brendan Brisson participated in the 2026 AHL All-Star Classic last week in Rockford, Illinois. The 24-year-old forward replaced Gabe Perreault as Hartford’s representative since Perreault is in the NHL now with the New York Rangers.

Brisson’s first night featured the skills competition, and he took part in rapid fire, pass and score, and breakaway relay events. He scored three goals by the end of the night.

His first event was rapid fire, paired with Jakob Pelletier (Syracuse) in the sixth round, facing goalie Isak Posch (Colorado). Brisson, who is second on Hartford with 13 goals and tied for fourth with 23 points, scored twice to help the Eastern Conference win the event.

Then in pass and score, the 2020 first-round pick by the Vegas Golden Knights teamed up with former Rangers forward Arthur Kaliyev (Belleville), and Konsta Helenius (Rochester) in the third round. The line faced Thomas Milic (Manitoba) in net. Brisson scored the lone goal in that round.

Concluding the night with the breakaway relay, Brisson was stopped by Milic in the third round.

The second night featured games between divisions in the league. Brisson recorded one point, a secondary assist on a goal by Tristan Broz (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton) in the Atlantic Division’s third game.

Briss with the assist on the third goal of the game!

The Atlantic defeats the North by a score of 4-0. pic.twitter.com/B9gaVWinPW

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 12, 2026

Brisson was also struck in the face by a puck in the second game against the Pacific Division. Despite the scare, Brisson was able to return to the game, albeit after he was stitched up.

Brendan Brisson did, in fact, get a couple of zips after taking a puck to the face during the AHL All-Star Challenge.
Don't worry, though! He came back out and finished the event!@HWPHockey #AHL #AHLAllStar pic.twitter.com/50SW9bGEPs

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) February 12, 2026

Returning from the All-Star festivities, Brisson scored his 13th goal of the season in Hartford’s win on Saturday He has 15 points (seven goals, eight assists) in his past 19 games, and was recalled by the Rangers, along with forward Brett Berard, on Tuesday. NHL teams are practicing again with the season restarting next week. The Rangers needed extra forwards because Mika Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and Vincent Trocheck remain in Italy participating in the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics.

Spencer Martin’s woes continue​

Spencer Martin – Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Spencer Martin’s rocky tenure with Hartford continued Monday, when the 30-year-old goalie allowed nine goals on 33 shots in that terrible loss to Charlotte. That extended Martin’s personal losing streak to seven straight games (0-5-2). His only win with Hartford after signing a two-year contract with the Rangers on Nov. 12 was in his Wolf Pack debut on Nov. 29, a 3-2 victory over Cleveland.

Martin is 1-5-2 with a 3.47 goals-against average and .887 save percentage with Hartford. He didn’t fare much better with the Rangers, recording one win in six appearances and four starts (1-3-0, 4.13 GAA, .864 save percentage), helping to fill in after Igor Shesterkin landed on IR with a lower-body injury in January.

Signed to mentor Dylan Garand and provide an experienced option in net, Martin’s struggles mirror those of the entire organization this season.

Defense remains a major concern

Outscored 47-20 in their past 11 games, the Wolf Pack are consistently a mess in their end of the ice. Including Monday, Hartford conceded the first goal in nine consecutive games, and allowed at least three goals in eight of 11.

Hartford’s now surrendered 166 goals through 47 games, fifth most in the AHL. The goaltending hasn’t been great, but the overall play defensively is a bigger issue. Especially since Hartford’s offense dried up, averaging 1.81 goals-for since Jan. 17.

Constant defensive breakdowns, slow-footed defensemen, and spending so much time on the penalty kill are among the reasons why Hartford struggles so much defensively. With so little margin for error, the Wolf Pack must find a way to improve defensively so that they can win low-scoring games.

Upcoming Games​

All games can be viewed on AHLTVand heard on Mixlr.

Friday, February 20 vs Utica Comets (Devils) at 7:00pm, PeoplesBank Arena​

• This is the second and final meeting in the season series. Hartford won 2-1 on Dec. 12.
• Utica is 14-23-5-3 (36 points), seventh in the North Division and 15th in the Eastern Conference.
• Lenni Hämeenaho leads the Comets with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists). Next is Brian Halonen with 21 points (15 goals, six assists).

Saturday, February 21 vs Belleville Senators (Ottawa) at 7:30pm, PeoplesBank Arena​

• This is the second and final meeting in the season series. Hartford lost 2-1 on Nov. 8.
• Belleville is 21-22-8-0 (50 points), sixth in the North Division and 10th in the Eastern Conference.
• Former Rangers forward Arthur Kaliyev leads the Senators, and is third in the AHL, with 49 points (29 goals, 20 assists). Next is Philippe Daous who has 42 points (13 goals, 29 assists), tied for 17th in the league.

Sunday, February 22 vs Providence Bruins (Boston) at 3:05pm, Amica Mutual Pavillion​

• This is the seventh of 10 meetings in the season series. Hartford is 1-3-1-1 against Providence.
• Providence is 37-8-1-0 (75 points), first in the Atlantic Division and Eastern Conference. The Bruins are second overall in the league.
• Patrick Brown leads the Bruins with 43 points (14 goals, 29 assists), and is tied for 16th in the league. Next is Georgii Merkulov with 37 points (16 goals, 21 assists).

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ahl-all-star-brendan-brisson-recalled-rangers

 

[New York Rangers]

Zibanejad’s goal for Sweden not enough to beat fellow Rangers, Team USA

Three New York Rangers were at the center of the quarterfinal matchup between the United States and Sweden at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Wednesday. Mika Zibanejad’s equalizer with 1:31 remaining in regulation got the Swedes to overtime, but Quinn Hughes’ goal 3:27 into OT gave the Americans a 2-1 win and a berth in the semifinals.

With goaltender Jacob Markstrom on the bench in favor of an extra attacker, Lucas Raymond connected with Zibanejad at the left dot. Zibanejad, the Rangers’ leading goal-scorer this season with 23, fired his signature one-timer, which trickled through Team USA goalie Conor Hellebuyck and into the net to tie the game 1-1.

Two of Zibanejad’s Rangers teammates, J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, were on the ice for Team USA when the goal was scored. Trocheck played to protect a shot from Raymond, allowing a passing lane that enabled the Detroit Red Wings forward to set up Zibanejad.

SWEDEN TIES IT! MIKA ZIBANEJAD! pic.twitter.com/XXzJNfWZur

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 18, 2026

Zibanejad’s goal capped a strong showing for No. 93 in his first Olympic tournament. The 32-year-old center led Sweden with three goals and finished second with six points in five games, trailing only Raymond (nine points). He’s tied for fourth in goals among all Olympic skaters; only Macklin Celebrini (Canada), Nick Olesen (Denmark), and Tim Stutzle (Germany) have more.

It’s far from the first time the No. 6 overall pick in 2011 enjoyed success on the international stage. Zibanejad delivered the golden goal in Sweden’s 1-0 win over Russia in the 2012 World Junior Championship. In 2018, he finished with 11 points (six goals, five assists) at the World Championship and scored a goal in Sweden’s 3-2 win over Switzerland in the gold medal game.

Zibanejad struggled with his emotions after the loss.

“Just empty,” he said when asked how he felt. “It’s tough. I thought we pushed the whole third and to get the tying goal and get ourselves to overtime and then to see the puck go in for them and you know it’s over, it’s tough.”

With the World Juniors about to start, here’s Mika Zibanejad scoring one of the greatest goals in tournament history #NYR pic.twitter.com/q24I6LDsUq

— seabass (@seabass91_) December 24, 2022

Miller, Trocheck and linemate Brock Nelson were all on the ice for Zibanejad’s goal and finished minus-1 Trocheck took the Americans’ lone penalty of the game; he was called for tripping Swedish captain Gabriel Landeskog at 2:35 of the third.

Miller helped the United States stay perfect on the penalty kill (10-for-10) in the tournament by dropping down to block a laser from defenseman Rasmus Dahlin.

The two Rangers forwards along with two members of the Blueshirts’ coaching staff — coach Mike Sullivan and assistant David Quinn — will face Slovakia in the second semifinal on Friday after Canada plays Finland. The winners play Sunday for the gold medal; the losers face off Saturday for the bronze.

Team USA tops Sweden 2-1 in OT to win Olympic quarterfinal​

The United States coasted through the preliminary round with a perfect 3-0-0-0 record, outscoring Latvia, Denmark, and Germany by a combined score of 16-5. But the scoreless first period quickly showed that the road to the gold medal would be a lot tougher.

The Americans pushed the tempo in the second period, outshooting the Swedes 20-8, and opened the scoring at 11:03. Dylan Larkin won an offensive zone face-off, then got to the front of the net and deflected a long shot by Jack Hughes past Markstrom, his New Jersey Devils teammate.

But Larkin’s score was all the United States’ managed until overtime. Markström made 33 saves in regulation and finished with 38. Hellebuyck stopped 28 of 29 Swedish shots.

Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Team USA sat back on its heels as the third period wound down, and the Swedes picked up their play before tying the game on Zibanejad’s goal.

But Team USA dominated the 3-on-3 overtime. The Americans outshot the Swedes 6-0 in the extra period, Quinn Hughes’ game-winner at 3:27. The fleet Minnesota Wild defenseman curled down to the slot and took a shot that caught the right corner of the net, prompting an American celebration.

“You have to pick yourself back up. I have been saying all along that we have guys who have won cups and gone deep in the playoffs, and are superstars in the league,” Quinn Hughes said of Team USA’s rebound after allowing the tying goal. “It is a resilient group with a lot of experience, so you just pick yourself back up and get ready to go, and I think we had an attack mindset in overtime.”

QUINN HUGHES! USA WINS! pic.twitter.com/WxbCRKxPiO

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 18, 2026

Two of the other three quarterfinals Wednesday also went to overtime. Canada came from behind to beat Czechia 4-3 on Mitch Marner’s goal 1:22 into OT after Nick Suzuki forced overtime with a clutch deflection at 16:33 of the third. Finland erased a 2-0 first-period deficit to knock out Switzerland 3-2 on Artturi Lehkonen’s goal at 3:23 of overtime.

Slovakia, which won Group B, advanced to its meeting with Team USA by rolling over Germany 6-2.

With a win over Slovakia in the semifinal, the United States can advance to the gold medal game for the first time since the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when Team USA lost to Canada in overtime. Slovakia is 3-0-0-1 in these Games; its lone loss was 5-3 to Sweden on Saturday.

Schedule/times for men’s hockey semifinals (All times Eastern)​

Friday, February 20​

Canada vs. Finland (10:40 a.m.)

United States vs. Slovakia (3:10 p.m.)

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...jad-goal-not-enough-to-beat-rangers-teammates

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers defenseman plans to ‘keep pushing’ despite trade rumors, lost season

Depending on your viewpoint, Braden Schneider is either a core member of the New York Rangers now and into the future, or an important chip to move ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline as part of the stated organizational retool.

Of course, what we don’t know is how general manager Chris Drury views the 24-year-old defenseman nor which option he deems best for the Rangers. But what we do know is that Schneider plans to lower his head and keep grinding, no matter the trade rumors nor terribly disappointing season for the Rangers (22-29-6), who are last in the Eastern Conference and 30th out of 32 teams overall in the NHL standings.

“I think the goal is to keep pushing,” Schneider said this week after the Rangers resumed practicing following a nearly two-week break during the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. “Obviously, the picture probably isn’t looking so great for us. I think at this point we’re just making sure we’re doing everything we can. I think we have a lot of home games, and I think getting wins at home and doing that for the fans is massive. Keep pushing.”

In his fifth NHL season, Schneider’s second on the Rangers, logging just over 981 minutes of ice time. That’s due mainly to stud defenseman Adam Fox missing all but 30 games with, first, an upper-body injury in December, and then a lower-body injury in January. Schneider bumped up from the third defense pair to the top pairing with Vladislav Gavrikov, and his average TOI is a career-high 20:19.

However, it’s been a largely uneven and disappointing season so far for Schneider. His expected goal share 5v5 is an unsightly 43.68 percent, per Natural Stat Trick. He’s been on ice for 48 goals-against 5v5 and just 30 goals-for. And even with more opportunity on the power play earlier this season, Schneider has just two goals and 11 points in 57 games.

Set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights this offseason, Schneider’s future with the Rangers is uncertain. Many see him as a young, right-shot, physical defenseman that should be part of the Rangers for years to come. Others see too many similarities to K’Andre Miller, who was also a first-round pick that ultimately fell short of expectations, deemed expendable, and traded last summer to the Carolina Hurricanes before he was due a significant pay raise.

BRADEN SCHNEIDER SHOWS OFF HIS HANDS TO WIN IT FOR THE RANGERS pic.twitter.com/GMqAeFlxvP

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) March 14, 2025

The break in the schedule this month was welcomed by Schneider.

“Just getting off the ice is nice. And to be able to kind of relax and reflect on the year a little bit, it definitely helps to recharge batteries,” he said.

It’s also a lift to have Fox and another injured star, No. 1 goalie Igor Shesterkin, practicing in full again. Each could be be back in the Rangers lineup when they host the Philadelphia Flyers next Thursday. The Rangers play 25 games in 49 days to close out the 2025-26 season.

“It’s a boost, for sure. They’re obviously two of our best players, and to have them around and playing again is exciting, for sure,” Schneider noted.

The NHL roster freeze lifts at midnight Sunday, providing teams 12 days to make trades ahead of the March 6 deadline. The Rangers already moved two veterans since announcing a retool plan. Artemi Panarin was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings right before the break; and the Rangers traded Carson Soucy to the Islanders before that.

More moves are coming. But will Schneider be part of the exodus, or stay to be part of the solution on Broadway?

“We’re all pros here. We all want to be the best version of ourselves for our teammates, and I think that’s the goal, to make sure everyone’s putting their best foot forward.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...keep-pushing-despite-trade-rumors-lost-season

 

[New York Rangers]

2026 NHL Draft: Best fits for Rangers with their second 1st‑round pick

The New York Rangers are currently positioned to make two first‑round selections in the 2026 NHL Draft. Getting these picks right is a hugely important part of their current retool, since the Rangers prospects pipeline is not exactly overflowing with talent.

The Rangers have their own first-round pick, which likely is a lottery pick considering that they are 30th out of 32 teams in the NHL standings with 25 games remaining this season. They acquired the other selection from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the K’Andre Miller trade last summer.

That pick comes with a condition. It must be the better of either Carolina’s pick or one from the Dallas Stars, since the Hurricanes own each pick in 2026. Carolina and Dallas are two of the top five teams in the NHL at the Olympic break, so either way, this pick will be near the end of the first round when it transfers to the Rangers.

Previously, we analyzed why the Rangers should consider selecting a high-end defensemen, like Chase Reid from the Soo Greyhounds, with their own first-rounder. Now, we’ll take a look at this second first-round selection.

Depending on whom you ask, this draft class ranges from average to very good. We’re leaning toward the latter, which should allow the Rangers to draft for need rather than simply taking the best player available late in the first round.

To that end, one of their biggest needs is a scoring center, and there are several strong options in that range.

Ryan Roobroeck, C/RW, Niagara (OHL) ​

The best option here is Niagara’s Ryan Roobroeck, the younger brother of towering center Dylan Roobroeck, whom the Rangers selected in the sixth round (No. 178 overall) of the 2023 draft. Listed at 6‑foot‑4, Ryan is big, though certainly not as tall as his 6-foot-7 brother, who scored 20 goals as a rookie pro with Hartford of the American Hockey League last season.

Younger brother Ryan is a natural goal scorer, one who’s second on Niagara with 30 goals in 49 games, including 10 on the power play and six game‑winners, though he’s currently sidelined with an undisclosed injury. Last season, Roobroeck led Niagara with 41 goals and 87 points, and he’s one shy of 100 goals over three seasons in the OHL.

ROOBS ON THE REBOUND

Hometown boy, Ryan Roobroeck, opens the scoring in London.

: @FloHockey + @yourtvniagara #DogCountry | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/4PZNMyFbFR

— Niagara IceDogs (@OHLIceDogs) February 7, 2026

His wrist shot is one of the best in the draft class, and he’s made noticeable strides in his foot speed and defensive reads, turning himself into a reliable two‑way forward. With his scoring touch, he may beat his brother to the NHL.

But there are some concerns here. NHL Central Scouting has him ranked No. 27 among North American skaters, a drop from earlier projections which listed him to go in the middel of the first round.

Yegor Shilov, C, Victoriaville (QMJHL) ​

Our second option is Egor Shilov of the Victoriaville Tigres, who’s ranked No. 17 among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting. The 17‑year‑old center (6‑foot‑1, 185 pounds) posted a 23‑39‑62 line so far in 47 games and brings a creative, play‑driving presence down the middle.

Who else than Egor Shilov?

The prospect for the 2026 NHL Draft notches his 24th of the campaign! @TigresVicto #NHLProspectspic.twitter.com/gyb31d4Dlk

— QMJHL (@QMJHL) February 15, 2026

Shilov can run a power play, skates with speed and skill, and shows poise with the puck. His passing touch stands out, though he’s not shy about shooting when the lane is there. He thrives under pressure, but he’ll need to tighten his defensive game and improve on face-offs. Even so, he projects as a future top‑six center.

Ilia Morozov, C, Miami (Ohio) ​

It’s unlikely he falls to the bottom of the first round, but if he does, Ilia Morozov is a home‑run pick for the Rangers. The 17‑year‑old Miami (Ohio) center is already 6‑foot‑3 and 205 pounds and plays with the maturity of a veteran. He’s No. 8 on Central Scouting’s list of top NA skaters.

At just 17 years old, freshman Ilia Morozov is helping build a new chapter at @MiamiOH_Hockey!

We go #InsideTheNCHC to learn about his path from Russia to Oxford, his early jump to college hockey, and his immediate impact with the RedHawks #theNational // #RiseUpRedHawks pic.twitter.com/GKeRg6thcu

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) January 22, 2026

Morozov is a true 200‑foot player who fits seamlessly into a three‑zone system. He may not have Shilov’s pure playmaking ability, but he’s an offensive threat who has steadily improved while facing top competition in the NCHC. He’s strong on the forecheck, uses his size effectively, and looks like a player who will reach the NHL before age 20.

The freshman has 17 points (seven goals, 10 assists) in 30 games, and blocked 21 shots at the other end of the rink.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/2026-nhl-draft-scouting-centers-rangers

 

[New York Rangers]

Why it’s time for Gabe Perreault, Rangers’ kids to prove their worth

Artemi Panarin is no longer a member of the New York Rangers. Carson Soucy is gone as well. Vincent Trocheck could be next — and there could be other veteran players moved before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6.

Such is life on a team whose hopes of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs are all but gone. The Rangers (22-29-6) are last in the Eastern Conference and 30th in the NHL standings as they prepare to return to action after the Olympic break when they host the Philadelphia Flyers on Feb. 26. It’s the first of 25 games in the final 49 days of the season.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

With nothing to play for but pride, it’s time for coach Mike Sullivan and his staff to start looking toward the future – and for the young players on the roster trying to establish themselves to show their worth as NHL players. The departure of regulars such as Panarin and Soucy opens up playing time for the kids; now it’s up to them to do something with it.

Here’s a look at some of the young players who need to seize the opportunity to make an impression in the final weeks of a disappointing season.

Forwards​

Gabe Perreault, RW​

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The 20-year-old son of longtime NHL center Yanic Perreault is the Rangers’ top prospect – and the only one in The Athletic’s ranking of the top under-23 players in the League. He came in at No. 120 and is projected to be a middle-six forward.

The Blueshirts, who took Perreault in the first round (No. 23 overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, are hoping he’s more than that. But his early results are underwhelming.

Perreault has just eight points (three goals, five assists) in 24 games with the Rangers this season after he was scoreless in five games following his signing late in 2024-25. Two of the three goals came in New York’s 8-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators on Jan. 14; he hasn’t scored in nine games since then.

There’s no doubting Perreault’s hockey smarts and skills. But his size (he’s listed at 5-11 and 180 pounds) is much more of an issue at the NHL level than it was when he excelled during two seasons at Boston College and helped Team USA win back-to-back gold medals at the World Junior Championship in 2024 and 2025. His speed, or lack thereof, is also an issue in a league that gets faster every year.

The Rangers must play Perreault in a top-six role on an every-night basis to let him show that he’s ready for the NHL. Perreault must seize the opportunity that exists for an offense-first forward on a team that struggles to score and just traded away its top point-producer in Panarin.

Brennan Othmann, LW​

Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Othmann is close to joining players such as Lias Andersson and Vitali Kravtsov as a first-round bust, something the Rangers couldn’t have dreamed of after they chose him with the 16th overall pick in the 2021 draft and he scored 50 goals the following season in junior hockey. He also scored 21 goals with Hartford of the American Hockey League in 2023-24, his first pro season, and 12 in 27 games for the Wolf Pack last season.

But in 41 NHL games during the past three seasons, Othmann scored just one goal (on Jan. 17 against the Flyers). That’s his only point in 16 games with the Rangers this season; he had two assists in 22 games on Broadway in 2024-25.

Othmann, who didn’t even make it to the final cut at training camp, has just six goals in 23 games with Hartford this season and isn’t showing anything that would lead the Blueshirts to think he’ll be an NHL regular. Sullivan’s only trusted Othmann with fourth-line minutes for the most part and scratched him for the Rangers final game before the break. The coach remains open about the fact that Othmann’s play isn’t up to his standards thus far.

The Rangers figure to give him another chance to build trust with the coaching staff, but it’s not impossible that the 23-year-old will be included in a trade package – his name has popped up in rumors nearly all season.

Brett Berard, LW​

Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Original expectations were much lower for Berard, a fifth-round pick (No, 134 overall) in 2020. But he scored 23 goals for Hartford in 2023-24, his first full pro season, and skated his way into 35 games with the Rangers last season, putting up six goals and 10 points, averaging 10:43 of ice time, and impressing management with his speed and drive.

However, Berard didn’t make the Rangers out of training camp and hasn’t done much during his 13 games with the Rangers during three callups. He plays a bottom-six role, but no points in 13 games while averaging 10:33 of ice time is no way to make an impression on a new coach and his staff.

With three forwards still in Milan for the Winter Olympics, the Rangers recalled Berard from Hartford earlier this week. Whether he sticks around after they get back is in question. But Berard deserves to get another chance to show he can contribute in a limited role. The Rangers don’t have a major investment in the pending restricted free agent, so the pressure is on Berard to make an impression.

Matt Rempe, RW​

Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

There’s no question that Rempe can fight at the NHL level — and 20-30 years ago, that alone might have been enough to earn him a spot on the roster.

But today’s emphasis on speed and skill rather than pugilism means that players like Rempe must show they can do more than fight. Rempe has shown spurts of being a useful fourth-line forward – and learning that his size (6-foot-9, 261 pounds) means he has to be more careful in how he plays in order to avoid penalties and suspensions.

The 23-year-old was off to an OK start this season as right wing on a fourth line with Sam Carrick and Adam Edström. The trio led opponents 75-59 in shot attempts and had 55.37 percent of the expected goal share at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick, before he broke his left thumb in a fight with Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 23. The injury required surgery, and when Rempe returned after six weeks he still wasn’t healthy. It wasn’t until his last couple of outings before the break that he finally looked like a player with two healthy thumbs.

Sullivan likes Rempe’s ability to disrupt opponents and “create momentum for our team.” Before the injury, Rempe played a simple, responsible game and was an effective bottom-six player. He’ll have to do more of that now that he’s healthy if he’s going to convince Sullivan he’s going to be more than just a big guy who gets into occasional fights.

It should be noted that Edstrom needs to show more, too, when he returns to the lineup sometime after the break. The 25-year-old hasn’t played since Nov. 29 due to a lower-body injury; but he’s another towering forward (6-foot-7, 232 pounds) who’s got good speed and shown over 86 NHL games to be an intriguing fourth-line option. But he’s been injured the past two seasons, so he must show he can stay healthy and more productive.

Defensemen​

Scott Morrow​

Credit: Hartford Wolf Pack

The trade that sent K’Andre Miller to the Carolina Hurricanes last July 1 brought back first- and second-round draft picks plus Morrow, their second-round pick in 2021. Morrow was coming off an excellent first pro season that included an AHL All-Star berth, 14 regular-season games with the Hurricanes and five in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Morrow, now 23, looked overmatched in those postseason games, and he hasn’t done much to impress Sullivan and his staff this season after a solid training camp. He wasn’t impressive early in the season at AHL Hartford, and showed little when given the opportunity to play on Broadway, after a pair of longer-term injuries sustained by Adam Fox. Sullivan initially opted to use a five-forward alignment on the power play rather than have Morrow as quarterback, and he didn’t do much when given a shot at that role.

In all, Morrow has six points, all assists, in 28 games while averaging 15:40 TOI. The offensive skills he showed in college and Carolina’s AHL team in Chicago haven’t been much in evidence. Though most of his ice time has come in a fairly sheltered role on the third pairing, Morrow’s been on for 15 goals against at 5-on-5 and 12 goals for.

Fox is likely to return when play resumes next week, so the Rangers have a decision to make with Morrow. There could be a return trip to Hartford in his future to give him more playing time and responsibility.

Matthew Robertson​

Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Few things have gone right for the Rangers this season, but Robertson’s development into a viable NHL defenseman is one of them.

The 24-year-old, New York’s second-round pick (No. 49 overall) in 2019, looked like he was on track to become a career minor-leaguer after spending four full seasons with Hartford, not getting an NHL opportunity until dressing for two games last season. But he made the Blueshirts out of camp and moved up from an extra to a regular role on one of the bottom two pairs.

Robertson has four goals and 11 points in 47 games, averages 17:15 TOI, and is capable of playing in the NHL. His highlight was a brilliant overtime goal that gave the Rangers a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Jan. 26.

With another season remaining on a contract that pays him $775,000 annually, Robertson must continue to build on his impressive showing to keep his job.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rangers-young-players-seize-opportunity

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers forward Rempe back on IR, will need thumb surgery: report

Rangers forward Matt Rempe is set to undergo a second procedure on his left thumb and reportedly is heading back to injured reserve.

The report from Mollie Walker of the New York Post says there’s no date set for a possible return.

The 23-year-old was injured on Oct. 23 during a fight with ex-Rangers forward Ryan Reaves during a 6-5 overtime loss to the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden. He missed all of November and finally made it back in mid-December – when he revealed that he’d had surgery after breaking the thumb in “many places.”

But Rempe was a shell of the player who Rangers fans had come to love because of his go-for-it attitude and fistic skills. With the thumb not properly healed, Rempe couldn’t control his stick and was being outbattled for pucks by smaller players. Fighting was out of the question – doctors told him to refrain from fisticuffs.

Rempe had no points in 12 games before sitting down with coach Mike Sullivan after the Rangers’ 10-2 loss at Boston on Jan. 10 and working out a plan that kept him on the ice at practice but out of games for two-plus weeks. He returned to the lineup on Jan. 26 and played in the Rangers’ final five games before the Olympic break.

But he still has metal in his thumb from the surgery and lacks full mobility.

Rangers’ Matt Rempe reportedly headed to IR, needs surgery​

Rempe began the season as right wing on the fourth line with Sam Carrick and Adam Edström. They were effective in eight games together, leading opponents 75-59 in shot attempts and collecting 55.37 percent of the expected goal share at 5-on-5, per Natural Stat Trick. That included Rempe’s only point of the season, a goal against the Pittsburgh Penguins, on Oct. 11.

The Rangers selected the 6-foot-9 forward in the sixth round (No. 165 overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. The Calgary native turned pro with AHL Hartford in 2022-23 and scrapped his way to the Rangers in February 2024, quickly becoming a fan favorite because of his physical play and willingness to fight.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

He wasted no time showing NHL rivals that he was willing to drop the gloves. Rempe battled with Matt Martin of the New York Islanders during his NHL debut in front of 79,600 fans at Met Life Stadium during the Rangers’ 6-5 overtime win in their Stadium Series matchup on Feb. 18.

Rempe had one goal, one assist and 71 penalty minutes in 17 games after his recall. He might have had more but had to sit out a four-game suspension for elbowing New Jersey Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler. Rempe also got into 11 Stanley Cup Playoff games, scoring in his postseason debut against the Washington Capitals at Madison Square Garden on April 21, 2024.

He worked to earn a regular role in 2024-25, but he was suspended for eight games for boarding and elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen on Dec. 20, 2024. Rempe said after his return that he was taking better control of his actions in order to avoid undisciplined, reckless plays.

The improved self-discipline showed: Rempe was pointless before the suspension but had three goals and eight points in 37 games after his return while proving that he could be a physical player and not just a big guy who can fight.

Rempe scored in his third game of the season but hasn’t had a point since then. In 85 games during parts of three NHL seasons, he has 11 points (five goals, six assists) and 149 penalty minutes while averaging 7:58 TOI.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/rempe-on-ir-will-need-thumb-surgery-report

 

[New York Rangers]

Why Rangers could be in ‘dark place’ with former top pick ahead of trade deadline

In the midst of a roster retool, the New York Rangers must make an important decision about the future of Alexis Lafreniere. Is the 2020 No. 1 overall pick in the NHL Draft a long-term keeper and part of the core moving forward? Or do the Rangers cut their losses after six largely unfulfilling seasons — perhaps before the NHL Trade Deadline on March 6?

That the Rangers are in this position is brutal, of course. At age 24, Lafreniere should be right there with Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox as the center of the Rangers universe, with the organization building around those three. But that’s not the reality, since Lafreniere’s failed to hold up his end of the bargain, especially after backsliding with his offensive production the past two seasons.

The Rangers don’t have to trade Lafreniere before this year’s deadline, but must decide sooner rather than later if they’re better off with, or without, him as a top-six fixture in their forward group.

“When it comes to Lafreniere, the question they have to ask themselves is, one, we know his value is probably as low as it’s ever been, but they have to ask themselves if his value is as high as it’ll ever be, which is a bit of a dark place to be if you are the Rangers,” The Athletic’s Peter Baugh told Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast. “Is this guy going to raise his value any more in the next year, next two years. And I don’t think you can say that he definitively will — he might, and those are the kind of conclusions they’re going to have to reach and really think about. Because he hasn’t helped his value each of the past two seasons after a really, really encouraging 2023-24 season.”

There are teams out there willing to get their hands on Lafreniere and give him an opportunity change of scenery elsewhere. After all, he is, you know, a former first-overall pick, and did score 28 goals in 2023-24.

But, as Baugh alluded to, if the Rangers trade him now, it’d be for pennies on the dollar. And the other part is that the Rangers don’t want to deal him if they truly believe he can still become a star on Broadway.

“So, I think it comes down to that question: Do they think his value is going to go up, stay the same or go down? If it’s stay the same or go down, then you have to seriously consider trading him now.”

It feels like a potential Lafreniere trade best takes place in the offseason, rather than before this year’s trade deadline. However, if the Rangers hierarchy has significant doubts about Lafreniere, they must act accordingly and move him during this retool phase.

His contract is not an impediment to either keeping or trading him. Lafreniere is in the first season of a seven-year, $52.15 million contract, signed early last season after his impressive 2024 postseason run, when he tied for the Rangers lead with eight goals in 16 games. That $7.45 million annual salary is certainly digestible, and it comes without trade protection until July 1, 2027. At that point — and through the rest of his contract — Lafreniere has an eight-team no-trade clause.

“So … you’re under no pressure, you don’t have to trade him now. He’s under contract,” Baugh explained. “People refer to that contract as an albatross or whatever. That’s a fine contract. With the [salary] cap going up, that’s what the going rate for a second-line winger’s going to be.”

Alexis Lafreniere, Rangers share blame for where former top pick is at: ‘failure in multiple parts’​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Lafreniere is as polarizing a player as there is in the NHL. Supporters point to his consistently strong underlying metrics – his 53.95 percent expected goal share this season leads all Rangers forwards, per Natural Stat Trick — high-end skill, and that breakout 2023-24 season (28 goals, 57 points). Detractors focus on his lack of results and drop-off in production the past two seasons, plus often disinterest in playing a 200-foot game.

Last season, Lafreniere backslid to 17 goals and 45 points. This season, he has 12 goals and 32 points in 57 games, though he’s tied for third on the Rangers with 26 even-strength points. Yet, it all feels so underwhelming, especially with the Rangers in last place and set to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season.

And those moments like the three-assist performance outdoors against the Florida Panthers at the Winter Classic in Miami on Jan. 2, or the two-goal, three-point outing against the Pittsburgh Penguins shortly before the Olympic break? They feel like a tease, more of an anomaly than a harbinger of things to come.

“I think some of it the player needs to look inward, and the team has to look inward. It’s probably a failure on multiple parts,” Baugh shared. “I don’t think he went into the past two seasons thinking he wasn’t going to perform the way he wanted. I think there’s probably accountability to go around, of how a player can take steps back like that.”

Bu this is the Rangers’ reality as it pertains to Lafreniere. Whether before March 6 or during the offseason, the Rangers must decide which fork in the road to take. Trade him. Or keep him as part of your core.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...lafreniere-decision-dark-place-trade-deadline

 

[New York Rangers]

Jonathan Quick exits Rangers practice early in latest injury concern

Apparently the Olympic break in the NHL schedule isn’t the perfect tonic the New York Rangers hoped it’d be, when it comes to curing their injury woes this season.

Jonathan Quick departed practice early with a lower-body issue on Saturday. Reportedly it’s for precautionary reasons; but keep in mind that the 40-year-old goalie missed time earlier this season after sustaining a lower-body injury Nov. 22.

Quick sat out two weeks after that goal-mouth collision with Utah Mammoth forward Michael Carcone in a 3-2 Rangers’ loss.

This latest injury news comes one day after reports indicated Matt Rempe is headed to IR and will undergo a second surgery this season for his badly broken thumb. The towering forward missed nearly two months of action after mangling his thumb in a fight against Ryan Reaves of the San Jose Sharks on Oct. 23. He hasn’t been an effective player since; and coach Mike Sullivan indicated that Rempe continued to be hampered by the thumb injury, despite the initial surgery.

It originally appeared the two weeks off helped the Rangers get healthier during this Olympic break. When practice resumed Wednesday, both Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox were full participants. That’s significant because neither of these two stars, arguably New York’s two most indispensable players, played since sustaining dual lower-body injuries in the same game, Jan. 5 against, ironically, the Mammoth at Madison Square Garden.

The Rangers lost 12 of 14 games without Shesterkin and Fox, including the one each was injured in, and stumbled to the break losers in four straight and seven of eight.

Of course, Fox also missed 13 games in December with an upper-body injury, and played just 30 games so far this season. It’s all part of a brutal season for the Rangers, who are last in the Eastern Conference, and snakebit when it comes to significant injuries.

United States Olympians Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller each battled injuries this season; Trocheck missed a month with an upper-body injury, and Miller’s largely played through unspecified issues, though did sit out nine games due to injury, as well.

Defenseman Will Borgen also missed some time earlier this season, and forward Adam Edstrom hasn’t played since Nov. 29, though reportedly could return from a lower-body injury at some point following this break.

The Rangers resume play next Thursday, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at The Garden. They play 25 games in 49 days to close out this dismal season.

Quick, who earlier this week stated his desire to remain with the Rangers during their current retool phase, struggled mightily filling in for the injured Shesterkin in January. Overall, the winningest U.S.-born goalie in NHL history is 4-14-2 in 20 games this season, with a 3.10 goals-against average and .890 save percentage.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/jonathan-quick-exits-practice-injury-concern

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers’ Trocheck, Miller help U.S. top Slovakia 6-2, reach gold medal game

New York Rangers forwards J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck will have a chance for Olympic gold after their penalty-killing efforts helped Team USA defeat Slovakia 6-2 on Friday in the second semifinal game at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics.

Trocheck had his third assist of the tournament on Brady Tkachuk’s third-period goal and teamed with Miller as the lead penalty-killing unit as the Americans limited Slovakia to one shot and no goals on five power-play chances.

They, their teammates, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan and assistant David Quinn, will have the chance to go home with a gold medal when they face Canada in the championship game on Sunday. Canada rallied from a two-goal deficit to defeat Finland 3-2 in the first semifinal on Nathan MacKinnon’s power-play goal with 36 seconds remaining in the third period. Each team has won all five of its games.

Double or nothin' for Jack Hughes #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/f5Lo8AvS2n

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 20, 2026

There wasn’t nearly as much drama in this one. Two of the Rangers’ Metropolitan Division nemeses, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (two goals) and Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Zach Werenski (three assists) led Team USA’s offense. The Americans led 5-0 after 40 minutes and coasted the rest of the way.

Trocheck and Miller saw much of their ice time in the first two periods on the penalty kill. Team USA is 15-for-15, the only team that hasn’t allowed a power-play goal in these Olympics. Trocheck ended up with the one assist and was plus-1 in 15:19 TOI; Miller had one shot on goal and was even in 14:41.

The Slovaks won Group B and whipped Germany 6-2 in the quarterfinals, but were outgunned from the start of this semifinal. The Americans’ mix of physicality and skill enabled them to dominate play practically from the opening face-off, giving Slovakia little time or space to set up an attack.

Mike Segar/Reuters via Imagn Images

Team USA capitalized on a bad line change by Slovakia to grab the lead at 4:19 of the opening period. Dylan Larkin found open ice down the left side in the neutral zone, took a long feed from Werenski, raced in and beat goaltender Samuel Hlavaj with a snap shot from the left circle. The Detroit Red Wings’ captain opened the scoring for the second straight game; he also had the first goal in Team USA’s 2-1 overtime win against Sweden in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

Trocheck, Miller help Team USA advance to gold medal game​

Miller and Trocheck then helped the U.S. kill off two penalties to preserve the lead before the Americans got their first chance with the extra man when Milos Keleman was called for tripping at 19:02. They needed just 17 seconds to double their lead when Jack Eichel found Tage Thompson in the lower left circle. Thompson’s shot to the short side hit Hlavaj’s shoulder and went into the net.

Team USA took over the game with two goals in 19 seconds midway through the second period after Trocheck and Miller helped the Americans kill off two more penalties without allowing a shot on goal.

Hughes made it 3-0 at 12:14 when he evaded two defenders before beating Hlavaj from the slot. Eichel’s quick backhander at 12:33 gave Team USA a 4-0 lead and ended Hlavaj’s evening.

Jack Hughes swervin' and scorin' #WinterOlympicspic.twitter.com/WEsp2gVG3C

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) February 20, 2026

But his replacement, Stanislav Skorvanek, didn’t fare any better. Hughes scored his second of the game at 18:24, taking Werenski’s right-point miss off the end boards and one-timing it into the net from the lower left circle for a 5-0 lead. It capped a second period that saw the U.S. outshoot Slovakia 15-5.

The Slovaks got on the board 4:55 into the third period on a goal by Juraj Slafkovsky, who was taken by the Montreal Canadiens with the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft. But after Skorvanek stopped Tkachuk on one breakaway, the Ottawa Senators’ captain took a feed from Trocheck, went in alone and scored on a backhander at 10:52.

2ND TIME’S THE CHARM FOR BRADY TKACHUK ON THE BREAKAWAY pic.twitter.com/ypD7h1CDqm

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) February 20, 2026

Pavol Regenda beat Connor Hellebuyck at 13:17, but the Slovaks got no closer.

Thompson left the game after the second period with a lower-body injury in what Sullivan said was for precautionary reasons. He’s a big part of the first power-play unit; Larkin took over that spot in the third period.

“We’ll see how he recovers,” Sullivan said, “but we anticipate him being ready (for Sunday).”

James Lang-Imagn Images

The U.S.-Canada showdown will be a rematch of the gold medal game at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, when Canada won 3-2 in overtime on the “Golden Goal” by Sidney Crosby. Canada has won 15 of 19 meetings all time at the Olympics and is 4-1 with NHL participation.

“We know how good of a team they are, and it’s going to be a challenge for us,” Werenski said. “But I like our team right now. I like our game. I feel like we’ve gotten better as the tournament’s went on, and I’m expecting a pretty tight game on Sunday.”

Crosby, Team Canada’s captain and a longtime Rangers nemesis during his 21 NHL seasons with the Pittsburgh Penguins, sat out the win against the Finns with a lower-body injury, and it’s unknown whether he’ll be able to play Sunday.

Sid or no Sid, Team USA knows that beating Canada will take maximum effort.

“[Canada] is battle-tested and ready to go,” defenseman Quinn Hughes said. “If you are going to win, you want to go through the best and we have that opportunity right now. For us it is a great opportunity to beat them.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...rocheck-miller-help-team-usa-reach-gold-medal

 

[New York Rangers]

How Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck increased his trade value at Olympics

There were cynics that saw J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck‘s names on the United States Olympic roster and thought neither belonged, and that the U.S. could never beat Canada nor win a gold medal with them in the lineup ahead of other star players left off the team.

Yet, Trocheck especially continued to do what he has throughout his NHL career, including the past four seasons with the New York Rangers: defy expectations by perfectly playing his role. And as a result, Trocheck and Miller helped the United States capture that elusive Olympic gold medal.

Trocheck came to the Milan-Cortina Games as the United States’ 13th dressed forward. Yet the 32-year-old center was so trusted as both a penalty killer and face-off specialist that he found himself on the ice in overtime of the gold-medal game Sunday — taking a key defensive-zone face-off not long before Jack Hughes scored the Golden Goal in a 2-1 victory over Canada.

So it’s safe to say Trocheck earned a postgame beverage Sunday, after the Rangers center went viral for telling his family in the crowd that he planned to party hard in his last night in Northern Italy.

Vincent Trocheck about to have a night pic.twitter.com/Ew7pU3AUog

— Luka Donthičć (@landahoy14) February 22, 2026

The case can be made that Trocheck isn’t the top-tier star that, say, Cole Caufield or Jason Robertson is. But those highly-skilled players remained at home because Team USA coach Mike Sullivan and general manager Bill Guerin valued the intangibles and attention to detail Trocheck brought to the table. The star-laden U.S. roster had enough stars. It needed others to fill key roles.

Enter Trocheck, who stepped up his game from last year’s 4 Nations Faceoff and undoubtedly had an impact on the U.S. winning Olympic gold for the first time since the Miracle on Ice 46 years ago.

However, his selfless-yet-effective performance against Canada, and throughout the tournament, may just hasten his departure from the retooling Rangers when he returns to North America.

Vincent Trocheck raises trade value for Rangers after helping United States win gold medal at Olympics​

James Lang-Imagn Images

Trocheck is a seven-time 20-goal scorer in the NHL, and two years removed from an NHL career-high 77-point season. He’s also year-in and year-out one of the best face-off men in the League, and a true 200-foot player.

He’s not a superstar, but he’s been an All-Star. And if the Rangers weren’t in a retool and about to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the second straight season, there’s no way they’d consider moving Trocheck ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline.

But the Rangers are last in the Eastern Conference, and Trocheck is their most intriguing trade chip. Even more so after he burnished his big-game resume by checking his ego, accepting a fourth-line role, and excelling as key penalty killer to help Team USA win gold in Milan.

He has 17 goals and 37 points in 56 NHL postseason games, including a memorable game-winning goal in double overtime in Game 2 of the second round series against his former team, the Carolina Hurricanes, in 2024. Now he has an Olympic gold medal on top of that.

Vincent Trocheck.
Double overtime.
End game. pic.twitter.com/2mfPy3vaFq

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 8, 2024

Teams that want to win championships, want winners on their roster. That spikes a players value, especially ahead of the trade deadline leading into the playoffs.

Trocheck’s production and leadership would be valuable for the Rangers to retain amid their youth movement. But it’s also appealing to a young team looking for a second- or third-line center — like the Anaheim Ducks, Buffalo Sabres, Columbus Blues Jackets or Utah Mammoth — that needs equal parts grit, professionalism, and veteran leadership to fortify a young, skilled roster.

And teams that are even closer to winning the Stanley Cup and need a 2C or 3C with Trocheck’s vast skillset? Yeah, there are plenty of those, too, including the Colorado Avalanche, Los Angeles Kings, and Carolina Hurricanes (ironically, Trocheck’s previous team before joining the Rangers).

The more teams interested in a player of Trocheck’s caliber, the higher the price Rangers GM Chris Drury can ask for in return, especially since Trocheck has three more years on his contract at a reasonable $5.625 million per season.

So, there were already many teams lining up to bid for Trocheck ahead of the trade deadline. Now the Rangers asking price should be even higher, which is vital for the retool considering how many holes within the organizational depth chart need to be filled.

Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck excelled at Olympics winning face-offs, killing penalties​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The analytics crowd will tell you face-offs don’t matter. Yet, face-offs don’t matter until they do — namely in overtime when possession means everything.

Do you know whom Sullivan trusted to take the opening draw in overtime against Sweden in the quarterfinals? Trocheck. And he took another face-off in that game, too, before Quinn Hughes scored the overtime winner for the U.S.

And Trocheck was back out there again vs. Canada in OT in the gold medal game. Trocheck is a player a coach can trust, especially in the face-off circle.

Trocheck rewarded Sullivan’s trust in Milan, winning 66.7 percent of his face-offs, tied for second-best in the tournament with Gabriel Landeskog of Sweden.

Landeskog, a left wing by trade, took just 21 draws. Trocheck won 38, which was second-most on the United States behind only Auston Matthews, and his plus-19 face-offs won differential was second best in the Olympic tournament behind only Leon Draisaitl of Germany.

“The team was built with personality in mind,” Sullivan told reporters after the gold-medal game. “There are whiskey drinkers and milk drinkers, and we got a lot of whiskey drinkers.”

In other words, players willing to do the little things that win big games. Like Trocheck.

His Olympic face-off win rate was a vast improvement from Trocheck’s 46.7 percent face-off mark at 4 Nations and more like the 56.5 percent mark he’s posted while winning the most draws (405) of any player on the Rangers this season.

In the gold-medal game, Trocheck held his own by winning six of 11 face-offs. He also helped the United States kill a 93-second 5-on-3 Canada power play in the second period. That was one of the most important moments in the U.S. victory.

It also speaks to another area where Trocheck excelled in Italy — as he also does with the Rangers. Trocheck paired with Miller as the top penalty-killing forwards for theses Olympic Games. The U.S. was a perfect 18-for-18 on the PK in this tournament.

There’s another tournament that begins in mid April where Stanley Cup contenders also value having special teams stalwarts like Trocheck.

“We heard all the talk, that we shouldn’t be here,” Trocheck said Sunday. “We were able to come here and we had a job to do, and it was to be good penalty kill guys, face-off guys, character guys. We took that role and we ran with it.”

Drury should be selling that quote to all the Trocheck suitors out there. Trocheck’s value may never be higher than right now. It feels like it’s time to cash in for the Rangers.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...heck-increased-trade-value-olympic-gold-medal

 

[New York Rangers]

New York Rangers report cards: Grading 3 stars at 2026 Winter Olympics

There hasn’t been a lot to be proud of this season for the New York Rangers. But the performances of three of their biggest stars at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics certainly is a highlight in otherwise dismal season.

J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck helped the United States capture the gold medal; and Mika Zibanejad distinguished himself on the biggest international stage with his play for Sweden, despite a quarterfinals elimination.

There was further Olympics luster for the Rangers, since their coach Mike Sullivan coached the U.S. squad to gold, and general manager Chris Drury was part of the United States management team.

Let’s review how the three Rangers players performed at the Winter Games, and hand each a grade for his overall performance.

We’ll share each players’ report card in alphabetical order.

J.T. Miller: B​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Rangers captain put on his hard hat, checked his ego, and played a committed, gritty fourth-line role to help the United States capture the gold medal. Miller was physical, diligent defensively, and stood out alongside Trocheck as an elite penalty killer throughout the tournament. Sullivan and Team USA general manager Bill Guerin sought to build a team, not just a collection of superstars, and Miller’s willingness to accept and thrive in this secondary role was vital to their gold medal success. The 32-year-old did not record a point over six games, and largely played on the wing with Trocheck or Brock Nelson handling face-offs on the fourth line, but his fingerprints are there to see in this championship. Though he looked a bit slow at times amid the fast-paced action, Miller’s will was never in question.

Vincent Trocheck: B+​

Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Trocheck seemed to delight in proving doubters wrong, showing that he did deserve to be on the stacked United States roster. “I’m pretty f*****g proud, I’ll be honest,” Trocheck told reporters after the gold medal victory Sunday against Canada. Like Miller, Trocheck did all the little things to help the United States achieve its big achievement. The 32-year-old center started the tournament as the 13th dressed forward, and ended it as a staple on the fourth line with Miller and Nelson. Trocheck was a demon in the face-off circle, finishing second in the Olympics with a face-off winning percentage of 66.67 percent. Sullivan trusted him to take take several draws in overtime against Sweden in the quarterfinals, including the initial puck drop. Like Miller, he was tenacious defensively, displayed grit and physicality, and was outstanding on the PK, helping the United States finish a perfect 18-for-18 on the penalty kill in the tournament. Trocheck also chipped in with three assists, and became cult hero with a viral video showing him telling his family postgame that he planned to, ahem, enjoy a few adult beverages to celebrate the gold medal win.

Mika Zibanejad: A-​

Marton Monus/Reuters via Imagn Images

Zibanejad led Sweden with three goals and was second with six points in five games. Only four players in the tournament who played as few as five games recorded more points than Zibanejad, including teammate Lucas Raymond (eight points; one goal, seven assists). When Sweden desperately needed a goal to tie the United States late in the quarterfinals, they looked to Zibanejad in his favorite spot, set up in the left circle. And the 32-year-old forward delivered, scoring the 6-on-5 goal that forced overtime, though the United States escaped with the victory and kayoed Sweden just the same. Zibanejad had at least one point in four of five games, and recorded a pair of multi-point efforts, including a goal and an assist in the qualification play-off against Latvia. He also played a diligent 200-foot game, standing out as one of Sweden’s better two-way players in the tournament.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...iller-trocheck-zibanejad-2026-winter-olympics

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers Week Ahead: Back to work after Olympic gold for Trocheck, Miller

The New York Rangers’ three-week Winter Olympics break officially ends on Thursday night, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers in the first of 25 games in a seven-week span to conclude the wrong kind of a season for the ages.

Before the game, you can bet that the Rangers will honor forwards Vincent Trocheck and J.T. Miller, coach Mike Sullivan and assistant David Quinn after they helped the United States win gold on Sunday by defeating Canada 2-1 in the championship game of the Milan-Cortina Olympics.

The Rangers hope they’re coming out of the break for home games against the Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins healthier than when they finished the pre-Olympic portion of their schedule on Feb. 5 by losing 3-0 to the Carolina Hurricanes – their ninth shutout loss of the season and seventh at Madison Square Garden.

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

No. 1 goaltender Igor Shesterkin and top-pair defenseman Adam Fox missed the past 13 games with lower-body injuries each sustained in a 3-2 overtime loss to the Utah Mammoth on Jan. 5. But Shesterkin and Fox began practicing without restrictions last week, and the Rangers would like nothing more than to see them back in the lineup when play resumes.

The Rangers plummeted to the bottom of the Eastern Conference without Shesterkin and Fox, and return to action 30th out of 32 teams in the NHL standings. Shortly after the injuries, general manager Chris Drury waved the white flag and told fans that a retool — not a complete rebuild — is underway.

But having Shesterkin and Fox back in the lineup does give the Rangers a fighting chance to stack a few wins. It also gives management and the coaching staff a better chance to evaluate the Rangers’ young talent in a more stable atmosphere.

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

However, they’ll be missing fourth-line forward Matt Rempe when play resumes. Rempe is back on injured reserve and looking at a lost season stemming from the broken left thumb he sustained in a fight against San Jose’s Ryan Reaves on Oct. 23; he’s had one operation and reportedly is headed for another.

Who’s Hot​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Mika Zibanejad, the Rangers leading scorer (23 goals, 52 points) now that Artemi Panarin is a member of the Los Angeles Kings, returns to the NHL after putting up six points (three goals, three assists) in five games for Sweden. That includes a late goal in the Swedes’ quarterfinal game against Team USA. It forced overtime, though the U.S. won 2-1.

Who’s Not​

Defenseman Braden Schneider isn’t expected to put up a ton of points. But no goals, three assists and a minus-10 rating in 15 games since the start of the new year isn’t going to cut it. For the season, he has two goals, 11 points and is minus-15 in 57 games.

Rangers lookahead this week includes …​

Back-to-back nationally televised games against their Pennsylvania-based Metropolitan Division rivals.

Philadelphia Flyers at Rangers (Feb. 26, 8 p.m.; ESPN)​

One of the few highlights for the Rangers this season is that they won both meetings against the Flyers, including a 6-3 road win on Jan. 17 that represents their most recent regulation victory.

The Flyers were probably very happy to have a break in the schedule after winning just three of their final 10 games before the Winter Olympics. That slump dropped them eight points behind the New York Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division and eight in back of the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. But they’re still 11 points ahead of the Rangers.

The Rangers are 10-3-0 in their past 13 games against the Flyers, including 4-0-0 in games decided after regulation.

Shesterkin’s availability is good news in any case, but even more so against the Flyers; he’s 10-4-1 against them. Zibanejad had a hat trick in the win at Philadelphia, giving him 23 goals and 47 points in 50 career games against Philly.

Pittsburgh Penguins at Rangers (Feb. 28, 12:30 p.m., ABC)​

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

The Penguins are one of the League’s biggest surprises this season as they return to the Garden for the first time since a 3-0 win on opening night. Not much was expected from a team that missed the playoffs in each of the past three seasons, but they reached the break second in the Metro despite losing 12 games after regulation – including seven of eight shootouts.

Pittsburgh has been getting plenty of production from the forward duo that keyed its Stanley Cup championships in 2009, 2016 and 2017. At 38, Sidney Crosby (27 goals, 59 points in 56 games) is on pace for his NHL-record 21st consecutive point-a-game season, and Evgeni Malkin, who’s 39, has 13 goals and 44 points in 41 games. But the Penguins are getting scoring from a lot of other sources; in all, nine players hit the break with double figures in goals.

The division rivals are 4-4-0 in their past eight games, with Pittsburgh winning two of three this season – including a 6-5 victory on Jan. 31 at PPG Paints Arena. Crosby feats on the Rangers, with 41 goals and 110 points in 90 regular-season games. But Crosby missed Canada’s final two games of the Olympics, including the gold medal game, with a lower-body injury and may not play against the Rangers this weekend.

Pittsburgh native Trocheck had a goal and two assists in the loss at Pittsburgh, giving him 28 points (seven goals, 21 assists) in 33 games against the team he grew up watching.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...head-return-olympic-break-two-division-rivals

 

[New York Rangers]

Hartford Wolf Pack Weekly: Travis Dermott steady after signing PTO

The Hartford Wolf Pack are down but not out, their playoff hopes remain alive after a pair of wins this past weekend.. Initially eight points out of a playoff spot on Friday, following a 2-1 loss to Utica, Hartford rallied with back-to-back wins on Saturday and Sunday, closing the gap to five points.

Veteran goalie Spencer Martin’s struggled this season, but he snapped his personal seven game losing streak (0-5-2) by shutting out Belleville on Saturday, stopping 20 shots in a 4-0 Hartford win.

The New York Rangers AHL affiliate carried that positive momentum into Sunday, when they defeated Providence 5-2, led by three-point performances from Dylan Roobroeck (one goal, two assists) and Trey Fix-Wolansky (two goals, one assist).

The eighth-place Wolf Pack (19-25-4-2, 44 points) play a two-game series in Allentown against Lehigh Valley this weekend, with six points separating them in the AHL standings.

Hartford Wolf Pack News-n-Notes​

Dylan Garand and Travis Dermott — photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Travis Dermott steady in two-game sample​

Travis Dermott signed a Professional Tryout (PTO) with Hartford on Feb. 7, and played his first two games with the Wolf Pack last weekend. The 29-year-old skated on Hartford’s second defense pair with Derrick Pouliot, and recorded a primary assist on Juuso Pärssinen’s goal, in his debut Friday. He played another effective game in the shutout victory Saturday.

These were his first games since he had shoulder surgery last offseason. Despite not playing since April 19, 2025, with AHL Bakersfield, Dermott provided a calm presence on the blue line. That’s not a surprise considering Dermott has 348 games of NHL experience, mainly with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and most recently with the Minnesota Wild and Edmonton Oilers last season.

Juuso with the juice tonight pic.twitter.com/p7nO83buho

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 21, 2026

Hartford coach Grant Potulny elected to sit Dermott on Sunday so that he didn’t return to play three games in three days.

Dermott’s audition to earn a contract comes at a time when the Rangers seek better organizational depth. Given the defensive struggles throughout the organization, Dermott has an opportunity to showcase his skills in Hartford, and possibly compete for a spot in New York next season.

Brandon Scanlin has eventful weekend​

Brandon Scanlin — Photo courtesy Hartford Wolf Pack

Fourth-year pro Brandon Scanlin was impactful in Hartford’s rally. A healthy scratch Friday, Scanlin returned to the lineup with a vengeance, scoring the game-winning goal in consecutive games Saturday and Sunday, and snapped a 13-game scoring drought. Scanlin also stepped up physically, dropping the gloves against Dennis Gilbert from Belleville after a questionable hit against teammate Zakary Karpa.

Dennis Gilbert vs Brandon Scanlin from the Belleville Senators at Hartford Wolf Pack game on Feb 21, 2026 https://t.co/RFeCzgPLXp

— HockeyFights.com (@hockeyfights) February 22, 2026

Scanlin recorded four shots on goal, and was plus-three in the two games. Despite returning from injury in December, Scanlin is having a quietly effective season with the Wolf Pack. He’s up to seven points (three goals, four assists) in 27 games, half the amount of points already compared to last season (14 points), when he played 66 games.

2 goals in as many nights for Scans pic.twitter.com/XM1ZM55fJn

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 22, 2026

The Rangers have a decision to make on the 26-year-old this offseason since Scanlin can become an unrestricted free agent. He’s played one NHL game and isn’t much of a prospect. But Scanlin is a solid AHL defenseman.

Dylan Roobroeck takes advantage of opportunity​

Second-year pro Dylan Roobroeck was elevated to the Wolf Pack’s second line after the loss Friday. Roobroeck, a sixth round pick (No. 178) by the Rangers in the 2023 NHL Draft, exploded with four points (one goal, three assists) in two games playing in Hartford’s top six. On a line with Adam Sýkora and Fix-Wolansky, Roobroeck played his best game of the season against Providence. He recorded his fifth multi-point game, and snapped a 14-game goal drought. In addition, he was a plus-four which was his highest rating for a game in the pros.

Roobs tips this one in for his 9th of the season pic.twitter.com/TjLBD9oiBK

— Hartford Wolf Pack (@HWPHockey) February 22, 2026

Prior to the promotion, Roobroeck was stapled to the Wolf Pack’s third line. This resulted in less playing time, and as a result, he struggled to produce consistently (he recorded a point in 14 of 50 games). The 21-year old led the Wolf Pack with 20 goals last season, but has just nine this season. Perhaps the recent promotion spurs a strong finish here in 2025-26.

But his 20 points to date this season certainly are a disappointment.

Upcoming Games​

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

Saturday, February 28 vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) at 7:05pm, PPL Center​

• This is the fifth of six meetings in the season series. Hartford is 0-1-2-1 against Lehigh Valley.
• Lehigh Valley is 23-22-2-2 (50 points), fifth in the Atlantic Division and tied for 10th in the Eastern Conference (with Belleville).
• Lane Pederson leads the Phantoms with 33 points (16 goals, 17 assists). Anthony Richard (13 goals, 15 assists) and Christian Kyrou (eight goals, 20 assists) are tied for second in scoring with 28 points apiece.

Sunday, March 1 vs Lehigh Valley Phantoms (Flyers) at 3:05pm, PPL Center​

• This is the sixth and final meeting in the season series.
• Hartford is 11-12-1-1 on the road.

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...ord-wolf-pack-travis-dermott-steady-debut-pto

 

[New York Rangers]

‘Deeply grateful ‘ Artemi Panarin pens heartfelt goodbye to Rangers, fans

Stating he is “deeply grateful to have had the opportunity” to play for the New York Rangers, Artemi Panarin shared a warm message via social media to the organization and its fans Tuesday.

“I wanted to express my genuine gratitude for the 7 years I’ve been playing as a New York Ranger!” Panarin wrote in a message shared on X by NHL Network analyst Kevin Weekes, who himself is a former Rangers goaltender.

** Heartfelt thank you full of gratitude
and appreciation for the @NYRangers
and their great fans from Panarin ** pic.twitter.com/T3ofLPgAHB

— Kevin Weekes (@KevinWeekes) February 24, 2026

The Rangers traded Panarin to the Los Angeles Kings on Feb. 4. The 34-year-old forward was in the final season of a seven-year, $81.5 million contract he signed with the Rangers on July 1, 2019, and the Blueshirts decided to cut ties with the pending unrestricted free agent instead of re-sign him as part of their stated “retool.”

Since Panarin had a no-movement clause in his contract, he controlled where the Rangers could trade him. And in the end, Panarin said he’d only accept a trade to the Kings. He then agreed to a two-year, $22 million contract with the Kings after they sent forward prospect Liam Greentree and up to two conditional draft picks to the Rangers.

“7 years ago I chose New York with my heart and I didn’t chose (sic) wrong! New York will always be in my heart!” he shared in the post.

Panarin returns to Madison Square Garden with the Kings to play the Rangers on March 16. He referenced that in his message, as well.

“I’m a little nervous to think about coming back in March, but I’m looking forward and can’t wait to see you all!”

Artemi Panarin. Los Angeles King. pic.twitter.com/e3B82EWuJi

— LA Kings (@LAKings) February 24, 2026

Artemi Panarin thanks Rangers ‘for letting me play for this legendary team at MSG’​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

You can bet that Panarin will be well received by the Garden Faithful. A fan favorite for his high-flying skill, consistent point production, and Rockettes-like celebratory leg kicks, Panarin is one of the most prolific scorers in Rangers history.

In fact, his 1.26 points-per-game average is best in franchise history. Panarin had 607 points (205 goals, 402 assists) in 482 regular-season games with the Rangers, including a career-best 49 goals and 120 points in 2023-24. Those 120 points were second most in a single season for the Blueshirts, behind only Jaromir Jagr, who had 123 points in 2005-06.

Panarin ranks eighth all-time for the Rangers in assists, ninth in points, and 14th in goals. He led the Rangers in scoring each of his six full seasons on Broadway, and topped them with 57 points at the time of his trade to the Kings.

Simply, Panarin is the best free-agent signing all-time for the Rangers.

“Thank you for letting me play for this legendary team at MSG, live in this amazing city,” Panarin wrote.

Along with the heartfelt tone, Panarin displayed his playful side by teasingly touching on the defensive side of his game, which wasn’t his strongest suit.

“I hope you will forever remember my blocked shots.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...i-panarin-pens-heartfelt-goodbye-rangers-fans

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad opens up about Olympics, why loss to USA ‘stings’

The Milan-Cortina Olympics were both memorable and a bit painful for New York Rangers star Mika Zibanejad. And now back in New York, the veteran forward is clearly still processing all the emotions from his first Olympic experience representing Sweden.

Zibanejad excelled on the biggest international stage. He led Sweden with three goals in five games and was second with six points (6), behind Lucas Raymond of the Detroit Red Wings (eight points; one goal, seven assists).

3 goals and 3 assists in 5 games for @trekronorse

Congrats to @MikaZibanejad on an outstanding tournament at the #MilanoCortina2026 #WinterOlympics! pic.twitter.com/V6JWez35iJ

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) February 18, 2026

However, Zibanejad remains shaken by Sweden’s dramatic 2-1 overtime loss to the United States in the quarterfinals.

He, of course, scored Sweden’s final goal of the tournament, a vintage Zibanejad-style one-time blast from the left circle that tied the game against Team USA at 1 with 1:31 left in the third period. But Quinn Hughes scored the game-winning goal in overtime, helping the United States advance and ultimately win the gold medal.

“Tough ending, obviously,” Zibanejad told reporters after taking part in Rangers practice Tuesday. “{I’m] still not really over it. It was really exciting for the people watching, but it still stings.

“Tying it up late and having the chance to win it in overtime, and then going through that, it’s a tough one to swallow.”

Rangers’ Mika Zibanejad ‘proud’ to have represented Sweden at Olympics​

Marton Monus/Reuters via Imagn Images

Zibanejad returned to New York shortly after Sweden was eliminated from medal contention in Milan. Tuesday was his first day back on the ice with the Rangers, though he missed practice Wednesday due to an illness. The Rangers schedule picks up again Thursday, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden.

Yet, the Olympics remain fresh in Zibanejad’s mind. The 32-year-old previously represented Sweden at the 4 Nations Face-off, the IIHF World Championship and the World Junior Championship, where he scored the Golden Goal 14 years ago.

But it was different wearing the Tre Kronor sweater in the Olympics.

“I think you can tell the games mean more,” he explained. “You really notice how important every game is.”

Sweden lost a key prelim game against archrival Finland, and that hurt their standing heading into the knockout stage. Zibanejad starred in their qualifier play-off against Latvia, scoring a goal and adding an assist in the 5-1 victory, which set up their quarterfinal match-up against the United States.

“I’m still proud to have the opportunity to play in the Olympics and be an Olympian and represent your country,” Zibanejad said. “It’s been 12 years since NHL players got a chance to do so, so [I’m] definitely not taking anything for granted and [you] never know if it’s the last chance or not.

“The more time that will pass by, I think it’ll be easier to look back at it in a different way.”

Mika Zibanejad ‘happy’ Rangers teammates won gold medal at Olympics​

Marton Monus/Reuters via Imagn Images

Zibanejad said he ‘s excited for his Rangers teammates J.T. Miller and Vincent Trocheck, and coach Mike Sullivan, who helped the United States win its first Olympic gold medal since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

“I’m happy for them. I’m happy they got to experience that joy and how happy they were,” Zibanejad said. “I’m a little jealous not to be there for that, but it makes it easier to lose to them in the quarters and then they go through to the finals and win the whole thing.

“At the same time, you feel like if you win that game [against the USA], you’ve got a shot.”

Zibanejad said he watched the gold-medal game between the United States and Canada on television — along with a reported 20-plus-million people in the U.S.

“It was an unbelievable game and a fun one to watch,” Zibanejad said. “A lot of excitement. A lot of chances and a good advertisement for hockey.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...mika-zibanejad-mixed-emotions-olympics-sweden

 

[New York Rangers]

Ex-Rangers star Ron Duguay battling cancer: ‘sucks the life out of you’

Popular former New York Rangers star Ron Duguay is battling Stage 4 cancer, and his daughters created a GoFundMe page to help cover expenses for his “medical, holistic, and travel costs required for his cancer care.”

Duguay told the New York Post, after contacted by Page Six, that “I find it extremely hard asking for funds for all these costs I’m going through. Normally I’m helping others.”

The 68-year-old battled cancer for years, though he continued to maintain an active public life and kept his illness out of the headlines. In April of 2025, Duguay’s girlfriend Sarah Palin, the former Governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican Vice-Presidential nominee, told reporters that he was “dealing with some health issues,” but didn’t elaborate further.

But “recently, his cancer numbers have started to rise again,” per the GoFundMe page, so his family stepped in to publicly seek financial support for his continuing treatment.

“[Cancer] sucks the life out of you,” Duguay told the New York Post. He added that it’s “so freaking costly.”

Earlier this month, Duguay made an appearance for a meet-and-greet with fans in New Jersey. And back on Dec. 13, he took part in a Centennial Night celebration at Madison Square Garden, part of the Rangers’ 100th anniversary season.

Wonderful evening last night being will fellow being honored @NYRangers @NYR_PR pic.twitter.com/FT5hh68bu2

— Ron Duguay (@RonDuguay10) December 14, 2025

Duguay also remains very active on social media, commenting often on the Rangers, and, most recently, about the United States men winning the Olympic hockey gold medal.

Family of Rangers legend Ron Duguay seeks financial help for cancer treatment costs​

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

The Rangers selected the Sudbury, Ontario, native in the first round (No. 13 overall) of the 1977 NHL Draft, and Duguay recorded 340 points in 499 games with them from 1977-83, and 1987-88. His 164 goals are 25th most in Rangers history.

Duguay scored 20 goals as a 20-year-old rookie in 1977-78 and an NHL career-high 40 with the Rangers in 1981-82. He helped the Rangers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 1979, where they lost in five games to the Montreal Canadiens, by scoring 27 goals in the regular season and five more in the playoffs.

There was no bigger heartthrob on the Rangers roster in the late ’70’s and early ’80’s than Duguay, whose good looks, long curly hair, and Studio 54 visits caught as much attention as his high-flying hockey skills. After his playing days, Duguay was a studio analyst for Rangers games on MSG Network, until his contract wasn’t renewed ahead of the 2018-19 season.

It left him sad, confused, and upset.

“They made it appear like it was a mutual agreement and that I wanted to do other things. That was not the case at all,” Duguay said at the time.

Credit: Ron Duguay X account

But Duguay’s remained loyal to the organization, an unabashed Rangers supporter, just like those who used to sit up in the old blue seats at MSG back in the day. And those his family hope can help him afford to keep up his cancer treatments now.

“Our dad has never been someone who asks for help…especially when it comes to money,” his daughter Shay wrote on the GoFundMe page. “He has always tried to handle everything on his own and didn’t want to burden anyone else with what he’s going through. But after many conversations as a family, we decided to create this fundraiser for him because we’ve seen firsthand the weight this battle has placed on him, both physically and financially.”

Duguay has bigger goal in mind.

“I need to get better so I can help others.”

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/new-york-rangers-news/ron-duguay-gofundme-cancer-care

 

[New York Rangers]

Rangers vs. Flyers: Lineups, storylines for 1st game after Olympic break

For the first time in three weeks, the New York Rangers play a hockey game Thursday night, when they host the Philadelphia Flyers at Madison Square Garden.

It’s the first game since the Olympic break, and begins a stretch of four straight at home, where the Rangers won just six times in 25 games (6-15-4) this season. This is also the start of a sprint to the finish line, since the Rangers play 25 games in the final 49 days of the 2025-26 season.

It’s basically a lost season for the Rangers (22-29-6), who are last in the Eastern Conference and 30th overall in the NHL standings. It certainly felt that point was reinforced Wednesday, when Artemi Panarin made his debut with the Los Angeles Kings, after the Rangers traded their most productive player to Hollywood. And more moves are expected ahead of the March 6 NHL Trade Deadline.

“Yeah, so we’re going to get right back into it. I think our team is at a particular point in time. What we’re going to do is control what we can. That was one of the discussions I had with the group [Wednesday],” coach Mike Sullivan told reporters. “My hope is that we a) build an environment here that’s competitive, and we want to hold ourselves accountable to a certain standard. And I think if we do that, I think we’ll get some results and we’ll also get a better feeling of what’s going on around here.”

Sullivan is fresh off coaching the United States to a gold medal in men’s hockey at the Milan-Cortina Olympics. Rangers captain J.T. Miller and veteran center Vincent Trocheck played key bottom-six roles for Team USA, and each is in the lineup Thursday. Expect a pregame ceremony saluting the gold medalists at MSG.

Also, expect to see some familiar faces returning to the Rangers lineup. And some less familiar ones, as well.

Igor Shesterkin is back between the pipes, set to play his first game since he sustained a lower-body injury Jan. 5 against the Utah Mammoth. Top-pair defenseman Adam Fox is also good to go after he, too, sustained a lower-body injury in that same game. Including the Jan. 5 loss, the Rangers lost 12 of 14 without Shesterkin and Fox in the lineup.

Veteran forward Conor Sheary also appears set to return. He’s been out since a Dec. 31 lower-body injury. Brendan Brisson was called up from Hartford of the American Hockey League and looks to be in the lineup Thursday. Defenseman Vincent Iorio will play his second game since the Rangers claimed him off waivers shortly before the break.

3 storylines when Rangers host Flyers​

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

1. Turn the golden page​

It won’t be easy for Miller and Trocheck to not feel a letdown Thursday. Four days prior, they played the biggest game of their respective careers, the 2-1 overtime victory by the United States over archrival Canada in the Olympic gold medal game. Now they’re back to take part in a game between a pair of bottom-feeders in the League.

But they are team leaders for a reason. So, expect Miller and Trocheck to give it their best against the Flyers, and, perhaps, receive an adrenaline bump from the pregame ceremonies with The Garden expected to be rocking with “U-S-A!” chants.

“This the part where we are professionals and we have a job to do,” Miller said Wednesday after practice.” We kinda want to obviously change the narrative the final six weeks of this season. I think we get a lot of bodies back, get more of our team team looking more like it was the start of the season. It’s imperative that we come in and are ready to play.”

2. Welcome back!​

Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Images

Talk about sights for sore eyes. The Rangers were a mess without Shesterkin and Fox in the lineup most of January. So, yeah, it’s a big deal that they’re back to stabilize things for the Rangers on Thursday — and, knock on wood, for the rest of this season.

It’s a bit curious that Sullivan’s opting to get Sheary back in the lineup instead of, say, Brett Berard. Or that Sheary’s on the third line with Brisson and Noah Laba, ahead of Brennan Othmann, who’s on the fourth line. That is unless the Rangers are trying to showcase the two-time Stanley Cup winner ahead of the trade deadline.

Brisson, an AHL All-Star who’s second on Hartford with 13 goals, is expected to make his Rangers debut. It’ll be his first NHL game since Jan. 24, 2025, when he skated for the Vegas Golden Knights against the Dallas Stars. the forward has eight points (two goals, six assists) in 24 NHL games.

3. Not flying so high​

The Flyers (25-21-11) came out of the break and lost 3-1 to the Washington Capitals on Wednesday. Since Jan. 8, the Flyers are 3-9-4 and sunk to 14th place in the Eastern Conference. They are eight points out of the second wild card and also eight behind the Islanders for third place in the Metropolitan Division.

Their offense dried up, and the overall goal differential of minus-15 is fourth worst in the conference. Philly scored two goals or fewer in nine of their past 16 games.

The Flyers did score seven goals, but lost both games against the Rangers so far this season, 5-4 in a shootout at MSG on Dec. 20 and 6-3 in Philly on Jan. 17, the first game after The Letter 2.0. The Rangers are 12-3-1 against the Flyers in their past 16 meetings.

New York Rangers projected lineup​

J.T. Miller — Mika Zibanejad — Gabe Perreault

Will Cuylle — Vincent Trocheck — Alexis Lafreniere

Conor Sheary — Noah Laba — Brendan Brisson

Brennan Othmann — Sam Carrick — Taylor Raddysh

Vladislav Gavrikov — Adam Fox

Braden Schneider — Will Borgen

Matthew Robertson — Vincent Iorio

Igor Shesterkin

Jonathan Quick

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

Who: New York Rangers vs. Philadelphia Flyers

When: Thursday, Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to watch: ESPN

Source: https://www.foreverblueshirts.com/n...yers-lineups-storylines-fox-shesterkin-return