Rangers Preview: Dorofeyev and Revamped Defense Keys to Season

Posted on September 29, 2026 by Derek

Green Day’s “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” used to be the annual song for the start of hockey. While it’ll still hold true for some NHL teams who must wait for October to kick off the longer and more condensed 84-game schedule, the Rangers get going tonight when they visit the Bruins for the second part of an ESPN tripleheader.

Unlike last year, expectations are higher this time around. Thanks in large part to team president and general manager Chris Drury overhauling a roster that struggled offensively and defensively this past offseason, there’s more excitement surrounding the Rangers. Call it guarded optimism that Drury’s biggest moves can pay off in hopes of seeing them returning to the playoffs.

Is there a chance? Sure. But everything must go right for the Blueshirts to avoid missing the postseason for a third straight year. It’s a much different roster than the one they entered 2025-26 with. As the last hints of a hot summer drop this week, we’ll soon find out if it’ll be a more hopeful forecast for autumn and the long winter that awaits.

FORWARDS

The biggest change is the arrival of Pavel Dorofeyev from Vegas. Knowing he needed to bring in a goalscorer to aid an offense that’ll enter its first full season without Artemi Panarin since 2018-19, Drury rolled the dice by acquiring Dorofeyev for a pair of first round picks. He then signed the 25-year-old forward to a seven-year, $77 million contract. His $11 million cap hit ranks right behind Igor Shesterkin ($11.567 million AAV) on the team.

Dorofeyev has totaled 72 goals over the last two seasons. He’ll no longer have Jack Eichel to set him up. While much has been made of that, he should have no problem connecting on the power play receiving feeds from Adam Fox and Mika Zibanejad. A strong shooter with a lethal one-timer, Dorofeyev led the Golden Knights with 20 power-play goals last season. Of the 72 he’s scored the past two years, 33 have come on the man advantage.

If there’s an area he’ll need to produce, it’s at even strength. Still a relatively young player entering his fourth season, he’s getting better. In 2025-26, Dorofeyev set personal bests in goals (37), assists (27), and points (64). That included 34 even-strength points (17-17-34) and 30 power-play points.

Despite being the Rangers’ best finisher, he’ll start with J.T. Miller and Oliver Bjorkstrand on the second line. Miller is looking to bounce back from an injury riddled season that limited his effectiveness. If he can return to form, the Rangers captain should be able to put up 70 points. Bjorkstrand signed for one year at $4.5 million. A proven scorer who usually can get 20 goals, he’s being counted on to solidify the top six. Bjorkstrand is a streaky player who will be used on the second power play unit. If he’s up to the challenge, 40 to 50 points is possible.

Although he scored an identical 20 goals for the second straight season, the gritty Will Cuylle is better suited for the third line. His skating and physicality make him the Rangers’ toughest forward. A no-nonsense player who isn’t shy about finishing checks, Cuylle went over 300 hits for the second consecutive year. Due to his instincts, he’s also featured on the penalty kill. If Bjorkstrand struggles, Cuylle could find his way up into the top six. Second-year head coach Mike Sullivan will over see that.

Due to how well they finished together, Zibanejad remains between Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault. The question is whether or not both Lafreniere and Perreault can duplicate the chemistry they had with Zibanejad, who paced the Blueshirts in several categories, including goals (34), assists (44), points (78), and power-play goals (16). The Rangers’ franchise all-time leader in PPG’s (124) is the unquestioned leader of the offense. He was asked to do too much last year.

It falls on Lafreniere to finally put together a true breakout season. Matching his previous career best in points (57) was nice. It hardly qualifies for the money they’re paying him. At times, the former 2020 top pick has had issues finishing. There have been moments where he wasn’t noticeable. He made strides improving defensively thanks to Sullivan calling him out. Now in his seventh year, Lafreniere needs to become a more consistent performer in order for the Rangers to have success. That means getting 30 goals and 70 points.

The 21-year-old Perreault has some superb vision and offensive instincts that should make him a dangerous player. Coming off a solid rookie year that saw him finish strong with 27 points in 54 games, the 2023 first round pick could be in line for an early breakout. The organization decided to wait before signing him to an extension. They want to see it first before committing lots of years and dollars. Perhaps they decided to proceed with caution after rewarding Lafreniere so early in 2024-25.

It’s my belief that Perreault will produce at least 30 assists. Despite starting on the second power play unit, he should be able to crack 50 points. We’ll see if he forces Sullivan’s hand. For now, the top unit will feature Zibanejad, Dorofeyev, Miller, Lafreniere, and Fox.

If there’s an area that looks improved, it’s the bottom six. In particular, the third line which features Cuylle alongside second-year center Noah Laba and key addition Eeli Tolvanen. For a first-year player who made the roster out of training camp, Laba proved that he belonged. An effective two-way forward who excels at winning battles, the 23-year-old from Northville, Michigan earned Sullivan’s trust through hard work. Using his six-foot three, 218-pound frame well, he plays with a tenacity that rubs off on teammates.

Bringing in former Kraken forward Tolvanen for $1.5 million over one year made sense. He plays a similar style that should fit what Sullivan wants from his energy line. All three forwards should be able to hit double digits in goals. Tolvanen has reached double figures seven times in his career, including a career-best 23 in 2024-25. Laba put up nine in his first season while also winning over 50 percent of faceoffs. He’ll once again be featured on the penalty kill with Cuylle, who has good hands in front.

The fourth line has a new center. Replacing Sam Carrick is Joe Veleno. He won’t do much offensively. However, he’s a solid checking type who likes to get the jersey dirty. He’ll start with Tye Kartye and Matt Rempe. Kartye is by far the most skilled of the trio. He brings a lot of energy, speed, and physicality. Primarily, that line’s job isn’t to provide offense. However, it would be nice if at some point, Kartye has someone who can bring more than grit to the table. We’ll see how long Rempe lasts before Jaroslav Chmelar comes in.

In regards to the team’s improved depth, the proven Taylor Raddysh will start in Hartford. Dylan Roobroeck remains the favorite if Sullivan feels he needs an injection of younger legs. The Rangers will be monitoring the progress of Adam Sykora (out until February) following the lower-body injury he sustained versus the Devils last week. He definitely would’ve pushed for a spot. Hopefully, he can return healthy and resemble the player the organization saw last spring.

DEFENSEMEN

Even after bringing in Vladislav Gavrikov to pair up with Fox last season, it wasn’t enough to overcome the Rangers’ defensive deficiencies. Nobody was fooled except for Drury about the reality of handing Will Borgen a big contract that guaranteed him top four minutes. As it turned out, subtracting the reliable K’Andre Miller and having no replacement was an unmitigated disaster.

At one point, Sullivan was employing the slow and slower tandem of Borgen and Carson Soucy as his second pair last year. There was also Fox’s injury that led to him trying Gavrikov and Braden Schneider together on the number one pair. They were unwatchable. Unfortunately, Schneider has never become the top four defenseman the organization envisioned. In fact, Drury and Schneider settled on one year for $5.5 million. It’s a good bet that if the team isn’t in contention, Schneider will be the first to go.

At least Drury realized he miscalculated. By unloading the remainder of Borgen’s contract to Boston, he was able to pivot by acquiring Marcus Pettersson from Vancouver. It cost a 2030 first round pick to bring in an experienced defensive defenseman that Sullivan is familiar with dating back to their days spent in Pittsburgh. By also adding reliable skating right defenseman Sean Durzi from the Mammoth in the Vincent Trocheck deal, which also netted promising prospect Cole Beaudoin, Drury remade the second pair.

The best part about Durzi is that he’s a mobile, puck moving defenseman capable of contributing offensively. Unlike the past few seasons when Fox was asked to carry the offense from the blue line, he’ll finally have some help. Durzi has gone over 30 points twice in his career. In 60 games last season for Utah, he had 27 points. Fox will no longer be asked to run the full power play. Durzi will run the point on a second unit that looks more promising.

As for Fox, he was still excellent putting up 53 points in 55 games despite missing significant time. He remains one of the league’s best defensemen. At this point, he’s underrated due to where NHL Network ranked him. There’s no way Fox shouldn’t be in the top 10. None of that matters. He’s one of the best at making perfect outlets to start plays out of his zone that lead to transition. Fox is a genius at keeping pucks in and remains one of the best at running the power play due to his passing and hockey IQ. While not the fastest, he makes up for it in smarts. The Rangers need a healthy Fox to again remind people what makes him special.

When they selected Alberts Smits with the number five pick in the 2026 NHL Draft, it was with an eye towards the season. Listed at six-foot-three, 208 pounds, the 18-year-old Latvian combines skating with defensive awareness. In two preseason games, Smits didn’t look out of place. As is the case for most young players, he’ll make some mistakes. Sullivan must be patient with the rookie defenseman.

Smits will start the season on the third pair with Schneider. Hopefully, his skating and ability to transition from defense to offense can aid Schneider, who sometimes can have issues getting out of his end.

Unlike last year, the Rangers have stronger depth on the back end. They decided to go with eight defensemen by keeping both Matthew Robertson and Scott Morrow. Robertson was a pleasant surprise last season, earning praise from Sullivan. A smart and steady left-handed defenseman, he is solid in his end and capable of contributing. In a way, it’s unlucky that he’s become the seventh defenseman because he didn’t do much wrong. It speaks to how highly thought of Smits is. If he struggles with the speed of the game, he can go down to Hartford.

Morrow came over from the Hurricanes as part of the return for Miller, who helped them win a Stanley Cup. An offensive defenseman who plays the right side, he had his issues last season. Some inconsistency defensively led to him spending the majority of 2025-26 with the Wolf Pack. Now 23, the Darien, Connecticut native showed improvement in the preseason scoring against the Islanders. He’s number four on the depth chart behind Schneider. It remains to be seen if Morrow will get a chance. That might depend on how the season goes.

GOALTENDING

For the sixth straight year, Shesterkin will be largely counted on in net for the Blueshirts. Now a 30-year-old veteran in the second year of a huge contract, Shesterkin looks to lead the Rangers back to the playoffs.

Considered by many to be the game’s best goalie among a list that includes Andrei Vasilevskiy, Connor Hellebuyck, and Ilya Sorokin, he hasn’t won 30 games since 2023-24 due to the team in front of him. Defense was indeed optional the past two seasons. With Drury making improvements to the blue line and up front by adding both scoring and checking, Shesterkin could be in line to challenge for his second Vezina.

Nobody is expecting him to ever duplicate the 2.07 goals-against-average and .935 save percentage he had when he was voted the league’s best goalie by general managers in 2021-22. However, Shesterkin should win more games and have better numbers across the board. Hopefully, that also means more shutouts. After recording six in 2024-25, he only posted one last season. He has 22 for his career. He’s 13 shy of 200 victories. That’s a milestone he should reach.

The importance of Shesterkin is similar to Fox on the blue line. If both can stay healthy unlike last season, the Rangers should be much better. Considering that Sullivan will likely give him close to 60 starts due to the schedule, they need Shesterkin to be at his best.

In camp, Joonas Korpisalo beat out Dylan Garand for backup duty. He’s been around long enough to know how to prepare for starts. When the Rangers play four games over six days early on, they’re going to be counting on the 32-year-old Korpisalo to provide steady goaltending. He can’t let in soft goals that have defined his career. They need him to be similar to former backup Jonathan Quick. Maybe not the 2025-26 version. But more often than not, Quick could go in and not miss a beat.

Hopefully, Korpisalo can be trusted enough to spell Shesterkin. If he struggles, it shouldn’t be long before we see Garand.

COACHING

Hired last year by Drury to replace Peter Laviolette, Sullivan enters his second season behind the Rangers bench. Obviously, the first year didn’t go as planned. Even with the injuries to key stars, the team continued to play for him.

When Drury made the difficult decision to move on from Panarin, Sullivan adjusted by putting Zibanejad with Lafreniere and Perreault. A line that he’ll lean on early to set the tone. If they get out slowly, how long before he bumps up Dorofeyev? Ideally, he should play with the best playmakers, which are Zibanejad and Perreault.

It’ll be interesting to see how Sullivan handles the losses of Panarin and Trocheck. While so much of the focus is on what Panarin brought, the value of Trocheck wasn’t only the offense he provided. It was also his leadership and intangibles that convinced a young team like the Mammoth to part with Durzi and a good prospect to bring him in.

Sullivan has more of a roster that he prefers. There shouldn’t be any catering to one star.

ANALYSIS

There’s no doubt that the Metropolitan Division remains very weak. Even with the Capitals and Devils upgrading their rosters, there isn’t any reason that the Rangers can’t compete for a top three spot. The Hurricanes are the hunted now that they’re the champs. After the Devils, who look to have more scoring depth despite questions in net, there’s a big drop-off. If everything works out, the Rangers should challenge for the playoffs.

PREDICTION: 4th in Division

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Rangers had deal with Hurricanes for Alexander Nikishin, Unable to agree on contract

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Derek

While the Maple Leafs were making headlines by acquiring disgruntled forward Kirill Marchenko from the Blue Jackets, hockey insider Elliotte Friedman reported on his 32 Thoughts podcast that the Rangers and Hurricanes had a deal in place for Alexander Nikishin earlier this offseason. However, the Rangers were unable to agree on a contract with the unsigned restricted free agent.

It wasn’t exactly a revelation. During the summer, the Rangers were heavily attached to rumors for Nikishin. A talented left-handed puck moving defenseman who had 11 goals and 22 assists for 33 points with a plus-18 rating in his first season with the Hurricanes, the 24-year-old Russian reportedly asked for too much money. Based off one year, neither the Hurricanes nor the Rangers were willing to give into his contract demands that were said to be as high as $9 million per year.

A former Hurricanes 2020 third round pick, Nikishin came over from the Kontinental Hockey League where he starred for St. Petersburg SKA and had success with Carolina. However, his ask was absurd despite helping the Canes win the Stanley Cup. Instead of being signed for a fair deal, he remains unsigned entering the 2026-27 season.

The Hurricanes are set to kick off the 84-game schedule by raising their championship banner against the Panthers at 5 PM tomorrow. They’ll do so without Nikishin, who doesn’t look like he’ll be joining them anytime soon. The defending champs will begin the season with Jaccob Slavin and K’Andre Miller leading the way on the blue line, followed by Sean Walker, Shayne Gostisbehere, Jalen Chatfield, and rookie Charles-Alexis Legault.

With Seth Jarvis ($7.42 million AAV) starting the year on injured reserve, the Hurricanes have $8.42 6 million in cap space. Once he returns, it’ll be considerably lower. There isn’t any room to overpay Nikishin. Expect something it to get resolved sometime before the Dec. 1 deadline.

Regarding the Rangers, they made the right decision to walk away from Nikishin. We don’t even know what Chris Drury was planning to give up. The cost was too rich for them and would’ve come at the expense of 2026 first round pick Alberts Smits, who’ll make his NHL debut on Tuesday night against the Bruins at 8 PM on ESPN.

Drury was able to revamp the blue line by adding Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi via trades that only subtracted Vincent Trocheck from last year’s roster. We’ll see how the new look defense fares starting tomorrow on the same night the Yankees and Red Sox get together for Game 1 of the American League Wild Card.

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Rangers Luck Out With Garand Clearing Waivers

Posted on September 28, 2026 by Derek

On Monday at 2 PM, both Dylan Garand and Taylor Raddysh cleared waivers. The Rangers assigned each to the Hartford Wolf Pack for the start of the American Hockey League later this week. The Wolf Pack open up at the Lehigh Valley Phantoms this Saturday on Oct. 3.

By leaving Garand exposed on Sunday, Chris Drury gambled that the 2020 fourth round pick wouldn’t be claimed. With the Jets deciding to claim former Capitals goalie Clay Stevenson, the risk paid off. Now, Garand can begin his fourth pro season as the Wolf Pack starting goalie. The 24-year-old former 2025 AHL All-Star will look to prove that he deserves to be an NHL backup. A ‘battle‘ he lost to veteran Joonas Korpisalo, who Drury prefers.

To be perfectly blunt, it’s rather absurd how the organization views Garand. At what point will their philosophy shift of choosing experienced backups over an NHL ready goalie prospect who’s paid his dues? Perhaps when or if the mediocre Korpisalo struggles, they’ll rethink the decision to give up a fourth round pick for a 32-year-old career backup. Korpisalo is coming off a bad year with the Bruins in which he posted a 3.15 goals-against-average and .894 save percentage.

In fact, he’s posted a sub-.900 save percentage the past three seasons. His career best in save percentage came in 2022-23 when he had a .914 with both the Blue Jackets and Kings. Then, the Senators made the mistake of signing him to a five-year, $20 million contract on July 1, 2023. After he flopped badly as a starter, they traded him with Mark Kastelic and a 2024 first round pick to the Bruins for Linus Ullmark.

Following two years as the backup behind Jeremy Swayman, Korpisalo was dumped to the Rangers, who absorbed $6 million of the remainder of his contract that expires in 2028. If it doesn’t work out, Drury will wind up eating more salary in dead cap space. Something that’s become a frequent occurrence. While the Rangers will go with Korpisalo to back up Igor Shesterkin, the Bruins are banking on former Canucks prospect Michael Dipietro to back up Swayman. Once a Vancouver 2017 third round pick, he’s appeared in four NHL games.

To be fair, most teams have the same philosophy when it comes to the backup position. However, not every general manager is cut out of the same mold. Over the weekend, the Devils put journeyman David Rittich on waivers and claimed Remi Poirier from the Stars. A year older than Garand, he’s never played in the NHL. However, he performed well for the Texas Stars in the AHL in 2025-26. Poirier will turn 25 on Oct. 6.

New GM Sunny Mehta isn’t afraid to roll the dice. He also stole Amadeus Lombardi from the Red Wings. Lombardi made the team and will start on the fourth line over vets Jesper Boqvist and Stefan Noesen. He’ll make his NHL debut later this week.

From a Rangers viewpoint, it would be nice if Drury got with the times. Matt Rempe would be a solid fourth line player if we were in the 1990s or 2000s. He really doesn’t have a place on a roster. It isn’t like he can contribute anything of value aside from the occasional big hit or scrap, which he isn’t good at. His size can be utilized to screen goalies on the forecheck. There isn’t much else he can bring.

Similar high character players can provide more. The best examples of fourth liners that can contribute are Marcus Foligno, Adam Klapka, Kastelic, and A.J. Greer. There are more skilled types such as Mathieu Olivier and Kiefer Sherwood, with both becoming top nine players due to their ability to score goals and play shorthanded. Lawson Crouse and Jamie McBain play on the same line due to what they add for the Mammoth.

Let’s put it this way. Rempe was developed by the Rangers. His popularity grew in stature due to his introduction to the NHL. Taking on tough customers like Matt Martin and Olivier earned respect from his peers. However, he also got suspended twice for illegal checks that injured players. Jonas Siegenthaler was concussed on one of them. He toned it down the last two years. With Sullivan wanting to see him pick his spots, Rempe made the mistake of taking on Ryan Reaves last season. The end result led to two thumb surgeries due to connecting with Reaves’ helmet. It cost him most of the year. He was ineffective when the Rangers rushed him back for no reason.

In 85 career games, Rempe has totaled five goals and six assists for 11 points with 149 penalty minutes. Now 24, the 2020 sixth round pick is likely in his last NHL season. If he struggles to establish himself, the more skilled Jaroslav Chmelar will play instead.

The thing is that the Rangers have options in Hartford. Dylan Roobroeck had a good showing in training camp. He is close to graduating. Three years younger and selected in the same round in 2023, the 22-year-old center should be knocking on the door. Adam Sykora proved that he could contribute when he was brought up last season by having three goals and an assist in 11 contests. Unfortunately, it’ll be a long road back from the serious lower-body injury he sustained in preseason against the Devils.

Even Raddysh has proven he’s capable of contributing. Once Drury signed Eeli Tolvanen, that made Raddysh expendable. Only a year ago, he started the season in the top nine and even found his way up when called upon. However, Sullivan also played favorites like nephew in law Conor Sheary. With key additions Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstand solidifying the top nine, there won’t be any of that.

Who’s to say Raddysh can’t come back up and play a fourth line role? He’s way more skilled than Rempe. It’s just that the Rangers prefer to have a grinding line with more size. That’s why Chmelar made the team. He’s on a two-way deal, which means they can send him down.

For now anyway, Rempe is expected to start the season on the new fourth line with Joe Veleno and Tye Kartye when the Rangers visit the Bruins tomorrow night. We’ll see where things go.

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Rangers Put Dylan Garand and Taylor Raddysh on Waivers

Posted on September 27, 2026 by Derek

Earlier today, the Rangers put Dylan Garand and Taylor Raddysh on waivers. There had been much speculation on Garand, who appeared in his first three NHL games late last season. He went 2-0-1 with a 1.62 goals-against-average and .948 save percentage.

Despite playing well, it wasn’t enough to convince team president and general manager Chris Drury not to go out and get a more experienced veteran to back up Igor Shesterkin. In perhaps a return favor to the Bruins for taking the contract of Will Borgen, he acquired former starter Joonas Korpisalo for a 2028 fourth round pick and Kalle Vaisanen on July 1. Able to get the 32-year-old netminder for a reduced cap hit of $3 million, that was enough to put Garand in limbo.

Even with the 24-year-old former 2020 fourth round pick doing nothing wrong in the preseason, the Rangers decided they wouldn’t carry three goalies to start the season. Unfortunately, it’s another case of a prospect blocked by a veteran. If Garand clears waivers, he can be assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack. That’s assuming another goalie starved team doesn’t put in a claim for him, and take a chance. Teams have until Monday to submit their official rosters.

As for Raddysh, he became the odd man out due to the addition of Eeli Tolvanen. A more hard-nosed forward despite being the same age as Raddysh with the exact same $1.5 million salary, Tolvanen has looked good with Noah Laba and Will Cuylle on the third line. An effective player on the forecheck, Tolvanen is capable of producing more than Raddysh did. In 68 games last season, Raddysh had nine goals and 19 points, which was highlighted by a hat trick versus the Sharks on Oct. 23, 2025. By comparison, Tolvanen had 12 goals and 36 points with the Kraken in 2025-26.

The Rangers are looking for similar production on the new third line. If he can provide it, it’ll improve their secondary scoring, which was an issue last season. The addition of Tolvanen allows Sullivan to use Tye Kartye on the checking line. Following Drury claiming him on waivers, Kartye brought a lot of energy to the Blueshirts. When he wasn’t contributing offensively, he got his nose dirty physically, and became a fixture on the penalty kill. Kartye’s combination of speed and tenacity should make him the perfect fit on the fourth line.

By putting the experienced Raddysh on waivers, the Rangers are giving him an opportunity to move elsewhere. For only a year, he could be claimed by a team desperate for a solid depth player capable of contributing.

If neither Garand nor Raddysh get claimed, both will be assigned to Hartford. By subtracting both, the Rangers have signaled that they prefer to keep eight defensemen.

A strong showing from Scott Morrow in a recent win over the Islanders could’ve swayed them. With Matthew Robertson the clear seventh defenseman who’ll start behind promising 2026 first round selection Alberts Smits, Morrow is the fourth right-handed defenseman behind Braden Schneider. Considering that K’Andre Miller helped the Hurricanes win a Stanley Cup, the organization is hoping Morrow can turn it around after a disappointing season last year.

By waiving Raddysh, the Rangers are eating more dead money in cap space. They also have done it with Urho Vaakanainen and Jusso Parssinen. Unlike Raddysh, who Drury signed last year, he was quick to extend Vaakanainen and re-sign Parssinen despite bringing in Sullivan, who never took to either. Those kind of moves leave Drury open to criticism. He poorly evaluated each by jumping the gun, wasting money. Fortunately, the salary cap is expected to dramatically increase next year.

Currently, the Rangers have $625,000 in dead cap space. By making the decision to keep Smits, who’s looked very mature for his age in camp, it looks like they’ll have a 23-man roster to begin the season in Boston on Tuesday.

Jaroslav Chmelar is expected to stick with the team. He’ll rotate with team favorite Matt Rempe on the fourth line. Despite coming back from two reconstructive thumb surgeries, Rempe did enough in preseason to make the team. Signed for $975,000 through next year, the 24-year-old has retained a spot due to how much the organization views him. Despite not being the best skater or capable of contributing much offensively, Rempe will get another chance from Sullivan, who’s spoken highly of him.

While there’s nothing wrong with keeping a high character team guy around to provide grit and toughness, there’s no question that Rempe isn’t a full-time NHL player. He should be used sparingly. A defensive eyesore who struggles often to clear pucks out, he can’t be trusted in his end.

The Rangers’ unquestioned loyalty to Rempe is nice. But they have to evaluate what he brings compared to other players that are better skaters. Had Adam Sykora not gone down in a preseason loss to the Devils, he would’ve made a strong case for staying over Rempe, who isn’t waivers exempt. We’ll see if things change during the season.

The most exciting news to come out of camp is that Smits has made the team. It’ll be official tomorrow. The 18-year-old Latvian will make his NHL debut against the Bruins on Sept. 29. If he can play with the same poise that he’s shown so far, it could provide a boost to the third pair. We’ll see if he’s ready for prime time.

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Rangers Lose Adam Sykora for Four to Five Months

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Derek

The Rangers got disappointing news on forward Adam Sykora today. They learned that Sykora will be out four to five months due to the lower-body injury he sustained in a preseason game versus the Devils on Monday.

“It’s real disappointing. I feel for him. He’s such a great kid. He brings so much energy and enthusiasm to the rink. I thought he was having a real strong camp to this point. It’s disappointing, but he’ll get better, and we’ll do everything we can to help him get back in the most timely fashion. He’ll be back in the mix,” Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters.

Taken with the 63rd pick in the second round in 2022, Sykora showed some promise after coming up from Hartford last season. He fit in well on both the third and fourth line with Noah Laba as his center. In 11 games, he had three goals and an assist for four points. Aside from showing that he was capable of contributing, Sykora brought a lot of energy due to his skating and willingness to win puck battles in the corners. He didn’t shy away from finishing checks, recording 20 hits on a grind line with Laba and Jaroslav Chmelar.

Unfortunately, he has a long rehab ahead of him. Instead of possibly being one of the final roster cuts, the 22-year-old Sykora will hopefully be able to recover in time for a return at some point next year. If he progresses well, perhaps he can return by February. It’s too bad he’ll miss plenty of action due to the injury. He’ll have to work extra hard to get back. Hopefully, the organization makes sure he’s fully ready before having him play games.

Opportunity Knocks for Another Promising Player

With Sykora out for quite some time, that could open the door for another promising player to knock on the door in Hartford. Considering how Dylan Roobroeck, Liam Greentree, and Cole Beaudoin have looked so far in training camp,the Rangers have to like what they’ve seen from all three forwards.

Roobroeck projects as a fourth line pivot while Greentree has the highest upside. Beaudoin could one day become a gritty two-way center. We’ll learn a lot more about both Greentree and Beaudoin when they’re sent down to the Wolf Pack for their first pro season.

What to Expect Ahead

With only a few days left before camp concludes, here’s what to expect ahead. The early indication is that Alberts Smits will start the season with the Rangers. Assuming he does, that likely means Matthew Robertson is the only extra defenseman they carry.

The fourth line looks like it’ll consist of Joe Veleno, Tye Kartye and a rotation of Chmelar and Matt Rempe. If that’s what Sullivan decides, they’re very likely to keep three goalies for the beginning of the season. With Dylan Garand no longer waivers exempt, he’ll probably be kept along with veteran backup Joonas Korpisalo. Unless Korpisalo struggles when he appears either tomorrow or Friday, it’s going to be two goalies battling for playing time behind Igor Shesterkin.

Considering that the Sabres had some success doing it, at least there’s a precedent. The Devils seem to be taking the same approach with their three goalies on the opposite side of the Hudson. However, the biggest difference is that the Rangers boast one of the game’s best starters in Shesterkin. He’ll get most of the starts when there aren’t back-to-backs.

Having insurance in net isn’t the worst thing. By trading for Korpisalo, it allowed the Rangers to put Spencer Martin on waivers earlier today.

Sullivan Works With Penalty Killers

Unsurprisingly, a big focus at Wednesday’s practice was Sullivan working with the penalty killers. After giving up three power-play goals in a 4-3 loss to the Islanders, the Rangers could use some extra reps in that department. They gave the Islanders too much time and space to operate. Matthew Schaefer killed them with a power-play goal and two assists. His top heavy shot opened it up for Matias Maccelli to score twice, including a way too easy game-winner on a rebound with nobody even close.

With Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller taking power play reps, Sullivan went with a trio of penalty killing tandems. That included Laba and Will Cuylle working with Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi. Laba and Cuylle were fixtures last season while shorthanded. Tye Kartye teamed with Veleno and the defense pair was Vladislav Gavrikov and Braden Schneider. Taylor Raddysh and Eeli Tolvanen worked with Smits and Robertson.


Sullivan indicated that he wants to lessen the load on both Zibanejad and Miller. Considering all the other responsibilities they have, it makes sense. Both are in their thirties. With a longer 84-game schedule, it’s important for Sullivan to manage their minutes. It’s no secret that the Rangers need both centers to stay healthy and productive. We saw what happened to Miller last year when he played through a pair of injuries. It took him until March to resemble the player he was the previous season with both the Canucks and Rangers.

Much of what happens this season also depends on Gabe Perreault and Alexis Lafreniere. They’re being counted on for consistent production. Perhaps that explains why the organization decided to wait before giving Perreault a contract extension. They want him to earn it. If he performs up to expectations, it’ll get done soon.

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Alberts Smits Impresses In Rangers’ Preseason Loss to Islanders

Posted on September 23, 2026 by Derek

If you want to be negative following the Rangers blowing a three-goal lead in a 4-3 preseason loss to the Islanders at Madison Square Garden, you sure could be.

After building a 3-0 lead thanks to goals from Cole Beaudoin, Pavel Dorofeyev, and Taylor Raddysh, the Rangers shot themselves in the foot by taking five straight penalties. The Islanders took full advantage by capitalizing with three power-play goals to come from behind and earn the victory.

Instead of going overboard on the Rangers’ loss of discipline in a meaningless exhibition match, the biggest takeaway was how poised 2026 first round pick Alberts Smits looked in his MSG debut. Sporting number 63 in the home Blueshirts, he was impressive for a teenager while handling third pair duties with Braden Schneider.

The 18-year-old looked the part by making smart reads in the defensive zone without any glaring mistakes in 15:29 of ice time. As expected, his skating was smooth and so were his instincts. Following Oliver Bjorkstrand setting up a Dorofeyev rip from the slot for a power-play goal, Smits took a Schneider feed and made a perfect shot pass for a Raddysh tip-in past Ilya Sorokin to make it 3-0. It was a terrific read, which led to the goal.

In a game that mirrored the rivalry due to some edgy play causing some scrums, Smits handled himself well. There was a lot to like about his game. Something head coach Mike Sullivan alluded to afterward.

“I thought he played well. One of the biggest challenges for young players is just the physical size and strength of the guys in this league, and I mean you guys can see it, he’s a man as an 18-year-old. His physical stature. He’s big and strong. He has the ability to battle on pucks. He’s big enough and strong enough to compete in this league, that’s one challenge I think he’s already met…I thought his gaps were really good.”

If Smits has one more strong game, there’s little doubt that he’ll make the roster in his first training camp. With Matthew Robertson the likely seventh defenseman, it looks like Smits could make his NHL debut in six days when the Rangers visit Boston on Sept. 29. We’ll see if he’s back in the lineup on Thursday for the Devils.

Another bright spot was Beaudoin. Acquired with Sean Durzi from the Mammoth for Vincent Trocheck in the off-season, the 20-year-old center was noticeable during most of his shifts while playing with Liam Greentree and Eeli Tolvanen. Beaudoin scored the first goal by going to the net and digging out a Tolvanen rebound on a delayed penalty. It was the kind of effort that he’s known for. Later in the game, he also got involved during a scrum. In 14:02, Beaudoin had a goal and went 5-for-12 on faceoffs. He should be fun to keep track of in Hartford.

Speaking of the third line, Tolvanen’s hard work drew the penalty that led directly to Beaudoin’s tally. Signed late in the summer, it looks like Tolvanen should be a key contributor.

A night after he picked up a primary assist on a goal, Greentree didn’t back down from Scott Mayfield when he challenged him with less than six minutes left in the second period. Mayfield didn’t like a hard check Greentree delivered and gave him a shove. Greentree responded with a crosscheck, which resulted in the two squaring off. Even though he gave up size and 13 years of experience against the Islanders veteran, the younger Greentree held his own in the scrap. A skilled player with high character that the Rangers acquired from the Kings for Artemi Panarin, it won’t be the last time we hear from him.

The Islanders used a late power-play goal from Matthew Schaefer in the second period to finish off the comeback in the third period. Mattias Maccelli scored a pair on the man-advantage. That included a fortunate bounce when his centering pass banked in off the skate of Durzi to tie the score. He later benefited from a Schaefer shot that journeyman Spencer Martin mishandled, allowing Maccelli to steer home the rebound.

Needless to say, the Rangers didn’t get the job done on the penalty kill. That’s an area they’ll want to clean up before the start of the season. Neither Noah Laba nor Tye Kartye played. Both are key players on the penalty kill.

Before Maccelli put the Isles ahead, Gabe Perreault hit Alexis Lafreniere with a stretch pass to send him in on a breakaway. However, Semyon Varlamov stayed right with Lafreniere on his forehand deke to deny the bid. It was Varlamov’s first appearance since having two knee replacement surgeries. He made 10 saves in relief of Sorokin.

If there was a turning point, it happened in the second due to the barrage of penalties. The Rangers lost the momentum by having to continue to play shorthanded. When they returned to even strength, they didn’t establish anything.

The Islanders were more aggressive, turning it into their grinding style. They took liberties with players. On one instance, they outnumbered the Rangers while Schneider stood back and watched with Smits. Schneider is supposed to jump in to even it up. He was called out by Dave Maloney on MSG Network. That can’t happen during the season.

With camp wrapping up soon, the Rangers have two preseason games remaining. They’ll host the Devils tomorrow night and visit the Islanders on Friday.

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Rangers Place Vaakanainen on Waivers

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Derek

On Tuesday, the Rangers placed four players on waivers. As expected, Urho Vaakanainen was among the roster cuts. With 2026 first round pick Alberts Smits in direct competition with Matthew Robertson for a starting spot on the third pair, there was simply no room for Vaakanainen on the roster.

A former Bruins 2017 first round pick, the 27-year-old defenseman was acquired from the Ducks for Jacob Trouba on Dec. 6, 2024. After appearing in 46 games while tallying two goals and 13 assists for 15 points with the Rangers in 2024-25, Vaakanainen fell out of favor under head coach Mike Sullivan last season. In 34 games, he had six assists while averaging 13:51 of ice time.

Since the start of training camp, he was practicing with the AHL group. Considering that he has a year remaining with a $1.55 million cap hit, it’s a no brainer for the Rangers. With $325,000 buried, that equals $1.3 million in cap savings. In the unlikely event that another team claims him, Vaakanainen should clear waivers and be assigned to Hartford.

Juuso Parssinen should be joining him. He was also on waivers, along with Justin Dowling and Dennis Cholowski. All four played in yesterday’s game against the Devils. Assuming he clears, Parssinen will play for Hartford.

Smits Makes MSG Debut

When the Rangers host the Islanders later tonight, Smits will make his MSG debut. The Latvian teenager will be teamed up with Braden Schneider on the third pair. This will be his first introduction to the NHL. There’ll be a lot of attention on him. We’ll see how he handles it.

The lineup includes the revamped top six on the blue line, with Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi on the second pair. Adam Fox remains with Vladislav Gavrikov on the number one pair.

The Rangers will get a closer look at their expected top two lines. At least for now, Sullivan wants to start out with Gabe Perreault and Alexis Lafreniere staying together with Mika Zibanejad.

It’ll be interesting to see what develops with newcomer Pavel Dorofeyev, who’s playing his off side on a line with J.T. Miller and Oliver Bjorkstrand. How long will that last? Dorofeyev would be better off on his natural side for one-timers.

It’s wise for the coaching staff to take a glimpse at first-year pros Cole Beaudoin and Liam Greentree. They’ll be playing together on the third line with Eeli Tolvanen.

Dylan Roobroeck gets a second straight game between Jaroslav Chmelar and Taylor Raddysh. Roobroeck could one day become the Rangers’ fourth line center. Let’s see if he can make a good impression.

Sykora Still Being Evaluated

There was nothing new to report on Adam Sykora. He exited last night’s game after suffering a lower-body injury. He’s still being evaluated.

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Sykora Suffers Lower-Body Injury in Rangers’ loss to Devils

Posted on September 22, 2026 by Derek

On Monday night, the Rangers dropped a 3-2 decision to the Devils in preseason action. It was the first of four tuneups over a five day period.

Anton Blidh and Drew Fortescue each had a goal. Liam Greentree and Brody Lamb picked up assists in a game that was mostly players who’ll start with the Wolf Pack this season. Despite the Devils dressing most of their regulars, including Jack Hughes, who scored on another breakaway for the game-winner (big shocker),it was a mix of youngsters and vets kept it close.

“I thought we competed hard. I loved our competitive spirit. I think that was the biggest takeaway for me, and that was what we asked of them before the game: ‘don’t overthink it out there, and believe in yourself, trust your instincts, and compete.’

And I thought we competed hard. If we were going to make mistakes, let’s make them mistakes of enthusiasm. And I thought that was the case. There are certainly some areas where we need to get better, but I loved our competitive spirit,” Mike Sullivan said.

Dylan Garand was busy finishing with 28 saves on 31 shots. He went the whole way in his first appearance. Two of the goals weren’t his fault.

Vincent Iorio handed Timo Meier an easy goal on a brutal giveaway. It was a gift that probably will get Iorio put on waivers in a week. Hughes’ winner was another typical walk-in that came with 2:12 left. That can’t happen anymore when these teams play during the regular season. Hughes needs to be checked or knocked on his ass completely. The new defense better send him a message.

Rangers Lose Sykora to Injury

The big concern that came out of the game was Adam Sykora leaving due to absorbing a big hit from Mikael Diotte that sent him down awkwardly. He left with a lower-body injury.

https://x.com/JLazzy23/status/2102177881233207608

It didn’t look good. Sykora was caught a tad late by the much bigger Diotte. He’ll be re-evaluated tomorrow by the Rangers medical staff.

Iorio also sustained a lower-body injury. He’ll also be re-evaluated.

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Rangers Preseason Starts Tonight at Devils

Posted on September 21, 2026 by Derek

On Yom Kippur, the Rangers begin their preseason schedule tonight when they visit the Devils in Newark. It’s the first of four games over the next five days. That includes hosting the Islanders on Tuesday followed by the Devils visiting Madison Square Garden this Thursday. The final game is on Friday at the Islanders.

A week from now, the Rangers must submit their official roster. With a shortened training camp due to the NHL starting up on Sept. 29, that means the organization will have to make quick decisions on younger players competing for spots. Realistically speaking, it’s highly unlikely that promising prospects will make the roster. Especially up front due to the team’s improved depth, thanks in large part to Chris Drury signing Eeli Tolvanen in addition to Pavel Dorofeyev and Oliver Bjorkstrand.

So far, Tolvanen has fit in well on a projected third line while playing with Noah Laba and Will Cuylle. During a few scrimmages, they were effective on the forecheck and noticeable. Given that all three forwards have a strong work ethic, it isn’t surprising that they stood out. If Mike Sullivan decides to use them together to begin the season, they could become a solid checking unit capable of contributing. At least, that’s the hope coming in. We’ll see how they progress.

The fourth line has included a battle between Matt Rempe, Jaroslav Chmelar, and Adam Sykora for a spot. If it’s any indication on how they’ve lined up in camp, Sullivan has been rotating Chmelar and Rempe on the right side. Joe Veleno and Tye Kartye are locks. There’s also Dylan Roobroeck, who’s looking to make a case to stay. Considering the amount of depth at Sullivan’s disposal, he’ll likely choose between Chmelar and Sykora. Both had success after coming up from Hartford late last season. Each can be assigned to Hartford and are waiver exempt.

On the blue line, Sullivan is giving 2026 first round pick Alberts Smits every chance to make the team. Smits has played alongside Braden Schneider on the third pair. The 18-year-old impressed during the scrimmages by showing poise defensively while scoring a goal on a backhand. He isn’t part of the group who’ll play against the Devils A squad later tonight. Smits will likely make his MSG debut tomorrow night.

Matthew Robertson will pair up with Scott Morrow on a B squad made up of mostly players who could be ticketed for Hartford. If Smits does enough to debut on Opening Night next week against the Bruins, Robertson would be the seventh defenseman. A solid defensive player who opened some eyes in his rookie year, he should still get wind up in the lineup. Especially with Smits being new. The organization will do what’s best for his development.

Drew Fortescue and Vincent Iorio will comprise the second pair in Newark. Each appeared in action last season. Iorio is hoping to do enough to avoid being placed on waivers once camp concludes. He would have to pass through waivers to be reassigned. Fortescue is in the second year of an entry level contract he signed. A 2023 third round pick, the former Boston College standout didn’t look out of place. However, he’ll likely spend his first full pro year with the Wolf Pack.

Urho Vaakanainen appears destined to be put on waivers. Once acquired for Jacob Trouba from Anaheim, he has been skating with the AHL squad in camp. Assuming he clears, Vaakanainen will be reassigned to Hartford. If a team claims him, getting the $1.55 million off the cap will help create some room on the roster.

As for the forwards lining up tonight, Roobroeck is centering the third line, which includes first-year pros Nathan Aspinall and Brody Lamb. They could wind up playing together when the Wolf Pack start up in October. Sykora will also make his season debut on a second line with Justin Dowling and Juuso Parssinen. Top prospect Liam Greentree will be featured on the top line.

Dylan Garand will split duties with Callum Tung in net.

As for the Devils, they decided to load up their lineup after going with mostly an AHL group in a 2-1 win over the Islanders on Sunday. Newcomer Amadeus Lombardi had a strong showing. He’s looking to crack a roster that has plenty of competition coming from established veterans. He could overtake Jesper Boqvist if they decide to keep him.

With the Devils basically playing their top two lines, including Anthony Mantha with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, it could be a tough night for the Wolf Pack. We’ll see how they do against the Devils A squad.

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Rangers’ First Day of Practice Highlighted by New Faces

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Derek

Yesterday, NHL training camps finally opened up. That included the Rangers, who returned to their practice facility in Greenburgh. With the beginning of the regular season two weeks away, the camp roster includes 48 players. But it won’t be long before the coaching staff starts making cuts.

Outside of the players who are expected to be part of the Opening Night roster when the Rangers visit the Boston Bruins on Sept. 29 as part of an ESPN tripleheader, head coach Mike Sullivan will get a closer look at 2026 first round pick Alberts Smits, along with Liam Greentree, Brody Lamb, Nathan Aspinall, Cole Beaudoin, and Jacob Battaglia. Almost all of the first-year pros figure to be assigned to Hartford. Perhaps Smits can make a strong enough case to stay.

During the first practice, Smits was penciled in next to Braden Schneider on the third defensive pair. If the 18-year-old teenager can take advantage of the opportunity he’s been given, that could impact Sullivan’s decision.

As expected, Sullivan opted to keep the top pair of Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov together. They had enough success last season to run it back. According to Natural Stat Trick, Fox and Gavrikov had a 55.18 CF while going plus-seven in goal differential (32-25) at five-on-five.

New additions Marcus Pettersson and Sean Durzi were together on the second pair. Each are viewed as upgrades that Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury made to overhaul a blue line that struggled. By getting rid of Will Borgen and unloading Vincent Trocheck, that allowed Drury to bring in both Pettersson and Durzi. On paper, the top four looks to be much improved.

That leaves four players competing for two spots on the back end. For at least now, the Rangers want to see what Smits can do while working with mainstay Braden Schneider. If they can form early chemistry in preseason, then it’s possible that Smits could start the season with the Rangers. If he struggles with the speed and intensity, then they should send him down to play with the Wolf Pack in the American Hockey League.

Matthew Robertson worked with Scott Morrow as the fourth pair. Robertson showed enough positives to impress Sullivan in his rookie year. If they think Smits isn’t ready, then Robertson would be penciled in with Schneider to begin the season. Robertson is a solid defensive defenseman who knows how to play in his end. He was surprisingly good at jumping in on offense where he contributed six goals and 12 assists for 18 points over 72 games.

Due to an uneven 2025-26, it’s anyone’s guess what will happen with Morrow. A smooth skating offensive defenseman that came over from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the ill fated K’Andre Miller deal, Morrow has a lot to prove this camp. Can he play adequate enough in his end for the coaching staff to trust him? Morrow was a big disappointment finishing with six assists in 29 contests. If Smits doesn’t make the roster, Morrow will try to beat out Vincent Iorio, who re-signed for a year, $850,000 on Aug. 21. It’s likely that either Morrow or Iorio could be placed on waivers.

Urho Vaakanainen is an afterthought. With a $1.55 million cap hit, the 27-year-old appears to be destined for either a trade or waivers. Since he’s a left-handed defenseman, Vaakanainen can be viewed as insurance in case Smits needs to spend time adjusting in the AHL. The best guess is that they’ll keep one extra defenseman, leaving Vaakanainen unprotected.

Sullivan Sticks with Top Line

Despite Drury taking a big swing by sending two first round picks over to the Vegas Golden Knights for Pavel Dorofeyev, Sullivan has decided to stick with the same top line for now. Considering the chemistry Mika Zibanejad had with Gabe Perreault and Alexis Lafreniere to conclude 2025-26, it’s understandable why Sullivan wants to give the trio another look. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

However, the idea of sticking Dorofeyev on the second line with J.T. Miller and Oliver Bjorkstrand isn’t why they signed him for an 11 million AAV over seven years. Dorofeyev is a finisher that they need to produce. If he starts slowly with Miller and Bjorkstrand, Sullivan better not hesitate to move Dorofeyev up with Zibanejad and Perreault, who’s the best passing forward they have. Even if that means moving Lafreniere down to the second line.

In order for the roster to be successful, they’ll need Dorofeyev to score 35 goals or better, with both Lafreniere and Perreault providing strong support. Bjorkstrand is a streaky scorer who’s capable of getting 20. If he hits a slump, look for Will Cuylle to find his way into the top six. Cuylle’s scored 20 in each of his last two seasons.

With Eeli Tolvanen penciled in on the third line alongside Noah Laba and Cuylle, it’s scoring by committee for the Rangers. They can’t replace all of the production Artemi Panarin brought. However, it could become a more balanced attack. At least, that’s what the hope is entering the season. Neither can Laba replace Trocheck, who was good for 16 goals and 37 assists for 53 points. Laba had 24 points in his first season. Anywhere between 30 to 40 should be within reach.

In practice prior to today’s scrimmage, Tolvanen was rotated on the third line with Taylor Raddysh. Both are capable of filling that role. Both Tolvanen and Raddysh are on one-year deals with identical $1.5 million cap hits. It’ll be interesting to see what develops during camp.

The fourth line features former Canadien Joe Veleno between Tye Kartye and either Jaroslav Chmelar or Matt Rempe. However, Adam Sykora is a player to watch. The 2022 second round pick is a better skater with more offensive potential than Chmelar, who brings a meat and potatoes game. Each are on two-way contracts. Rempe showed no ill effects from having two thumb procedures done.

For now, Rempe is likely viewed by the organization to make the roster. However, things can change rather quickly. In the first scrimmage, Blue won 4-1 over White. Players he’s competing with scored, including Sykora, Raddysh, Lamb, and Dylan Roobroeck. The latter two are looking to turn some heads.

As far as having three goalies, Sullivan isn’t opposed to it at the start.

Dylan Garand is no longer waiver eligible. That means if he doesn’t make the roster, he must clear to be reassigned. The competition for backup between Garand and veteran Joonas Korpisalo will be interesting. I’m of the belief that if neither struggle, both will start the season on the roster.

The Rangers’ first preseason game is in four days against the New Jersey Devils on Sept. 21.

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