Battle Of Hudson covers the Rangers and Devils, who's intense rivalry heated up in the 90's. With fresh faces added, they battle for supremacy in NYC and NJ..
On Saturday, the 2026 NHL Draft concluded with Rounds two through seven. For the Rangers, that meant making eight more selections. After taking highly rated defenseman Albert Smits fifth overall on Friday night, they went heavy on defense yesterday to wrap things up in Buffalo.
Aside from focusing on adding to their prospect pool, the Rangers dealt forward Adam Edstrom to the Predators for Massimo Rizzo and a fifth round pick (148). Following the trade, the Rangers flipped pick 148 to the Kraken to move up to 102 in Round 4 to grab left wing Spencer Bowes.
We have acquired forward Massimo Rizzo and the 148th pick in the 2026 Draft from Nashville in exchange for forward Adam Edstrom.
For Edstrom, it isn’t surprising that he got moved. Despite showing some promise in parts of three seasons as a fourth liner, the 25-year-old Swede battled injuries the past two years. Unfortunately, a second straight injury riddled season cost Edstrom a spot under head coach Mike Sullivan.
Even when he returned, Sullivan played him out of position at center before healthy scratching him down the stretch. Most disappointing was that Edstrom continued to sit out while Sullivan favorite Conor Sheary played in meaningless games. He favored a veteran over a younger player with nothing to play for.
Instead, Jaroslav Chmelar and Adam Sykora became fixtures in the Rangers lineup. They found chemistry with Noah Laba, who had a solid rookie season after making the roster out of training camp.
If there’s one thing he showed in his time as a Blueshirt, it was the speed Edstrom possessed for a big player his size. Despite being listed at six-foot-seven, 232 pounds, the 2019 sixth round pick is a fast skater who can get in and create offense. If he can stay healthy with Nashville, he should be a nice addition to the Predators. Signed through 2026-27 for $975,000, Edstrom will try to reestablish himself with his new team this fall.
In 97 career games as a Ranger, he finished with 10 goals and six assists for 16 points and 31 penalty minutes. His best season came in 2024-25 when he posted a career-high five goals with four assists for nine points and 27 penalty minutes in 51 games.
Edstrom became the second player to change rosters this weekend. On Friday, Brett Berard was sent packing to Montreal in exchange for William Trudeau. Under former head coach Peter Laviolette, both fared better. That’s part of the process in the NHL, where one coach prefers certain players while the other doesn’t. In the case of Sullivan, neither Edstrom or Berard fit what he wanted.
Is Matt Rempe next? The 23-year-old got into 26 games scoring once with 11 penalty minutes in 2025-26. A fight with Ryan Reaves last season resulted in Rempe breaking his left thumb. He underwent two different surgical procedures for it. If he returns, it would be a surprise. He’s under contract for one more year making $975,000.
#NYR have a logjam of bottom-six wing options, but they've subtracted two this weekend by trading Edström and Brett Berard.
We'll see what July 1 brings, but there should be NHL opportunities for at least a few among the group including Tye Kartye, Jaroslav Chmelař, Adam Sýkora… https://t.co/HuicWBiEgR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) June 27, 2026
Even after acquiring finisher Pavel Dorofeyev from the Golden Knights, the Rangers still have too many bottom six forwards. There’s still not enough offense in the top six. They could use another young player capable of putting the puck in the net with some consistency.
Buffalo has Jack Quinn available. Signed for 2026-27 at a $3.375 million cap hit, the 24-year-old has a good right shot that can provide scoring help. He just completed his best season by establishing career highs in goals (20), assists (31), and points (51) in 82 games for the Sabres. Forty of the 51 points came at even strength while the other 11 were on the power play. It might be worth exploring to see what it would cost.
The Rangers have $15.675 million in salary cap space according to Puck Pedia. Over the next few days, we’ll have a better idea what the plans are for Vincent Trocheck and Braden Schneider. Trocheck was mentioned plenty over the past couple of days. Things have been relatively quiet regarding Schneider. The defenseman is the only key free agent that the organization must make an important decision on. Do they pay up or trade him?
Overall, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury had a rare good weekend. He was able to fill two needs by adding Dorofeyev and taking Smits, who will be a big part of the future on the blue line. He also made a couple of more good picks on Saturday. Something I’ll get to in the next post.
For at least one day, there’s some cause for optimism. We’ll see how things shake out the rest of the summer.
On a night filled with anticipation, the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft certainly delivered. Highlighted by Leafs’ celebrity fan Justin Bieber making the first overall selection of Gavin McKenna to chuckles in Buffalo, it didn’t disappoint.
In fact, it was a roller-coaster for both ESPN and the fans. After the Sharks followed suit by taking Ivar Stenberg, it was a proud father-son moment for the Canucks with new head coach Manny Malhotra congratulating son Caleb Malhotra on being taken third by Vancouver. Nearly three decades earlier, it was the elder Malhotra who had his name called by the Rangers with the seventh pick in 1998.
Following the first three going in expected order, some dominoes began to fall. In a surprise, the hometown Sabres passed on Chase Reid to select Daxon Rudolph. They still went for a good defenseman who will be part of their blue line for years to come. With Buffalo deciding to go for Rudolph, the Rangers had the chance to scoop up the highly rated Reid. However, they had other ideas instead.
ESPN’s Meghan Chayka noted how much the organization loved Alberts Smits. When NHL commissioner Gary Bettman stepped up to the microphone, he made it official by announcing the Rangers’ fifth overall pick of Smits.
They went for possibly the most NHL-ready player. Listed at six-foot-three, 209 pounds, Smits combines a strong physical two-way game with superb skating. A big player who is a left-handed defenseman with a good shot, it’s possible that the 18-year-old from Latvia could make the roster out of training camp.
Smits was the youngest player that competed in the Milan Olympics. He was impressive by picking up two assists in four games while averaging 18:44 of ice time for Latvia. That followed up a good showing at the World Junior Championships. He posted a goal and four assists while leading all Latvian skaters in ice time with 23:40. He also had four assists representing his country at the World Championships while averaging 21:47 of ice time.
Smits has played for Jukurit in Finland. He was loaned to Munchen in Germany. A mature player who’s lived on his own since 13, he doesn’t sound like most prospects his age.
It’s obvious that the Rangers feel that Smits can fill a void. There’s no question that the left side of the back end is lacking after Vladislav Gavrikov. If he proves that he’s ready, then they should find out about him sooner than later. Some players can make the quick transition to the NHL. The only concern would be if he struggles. The organization must learn from its past mistakes when it comes to development. They must do what’s best for Smits.
Director of player personnel/amateur scouting John Lilley on why #NYR went with Alberts Šmits at No. 5 over Chase Reid:
"We have a process that we go through and build a list throughout the course of the year, and there were a lot of great options, obviously, picking at five.…
Smits has been favorably compared to Moritz Seider. If that actually happens, then this pick is a home run. Others view him similarly to former Ranger K’Andre Miller. The only thing I’ll say regarding that is let’s hope Smits becomes the player he’s supposed to be in the Big Apple.
I watched every game that 2026 draft-eligible defenseman Alberts Smits played at the World Championships for Latvia and liked a lot of what I saw
Here's a highlight package of his best moments. The size + skating combo really pops, and he's quite creative and crafty at times too pic.twitter.com/ZxqDpvM5GJ
Of course, some of the reaction from was negative due to taking Smits over Reid. However, I’ve seen tape of both. While it’s true that I believe that Reid has the highest ceiling in this draft, Smits should become a good player. He is good at finding gaps and plays with an edge.
Reid actually fell to the Kraken who grabbed him at number seven. Carson Carels was taken by the Flames at the sixth spot. In assessing the defensemen in this class, they’re all going to be good players. Keaton Verhoeff was taken ninth by the Sharks. Malte Gustafsson went number 13 to the Islanders.
Of the 32 players selected in the first round, 10 were defensemen. Half went in the top 10. That speaks to how deep the position is. A player who’s still available when the draft resumes on Saturday at 11 AM is Xavier Villeneuve. A left-handed offensive defenseman with a lot of skill, he’s only listed at five-foot-eleven, 164 pounds.
Having watched some video on Villeneuve, he has a lot of similarities to Lane Hutson. He’s an extremely fast skater who can beat guys one-on-one and create offense. Villeneuve must improve defensively and get stronger. He could be the steal of the draft.
The Devils have two early picks in the second round. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them scoop Villeneuve up. That could depend on what the Canucks and Blackhawks do to start the day.
The Rangers don’t pick until the final spot of Round 2 at number 64. That’s the other pick they got last year from Carolina for Miller. They wound up using the first round pick (26) from Dallas to acquire Pavel Dorofeyev. That now makes that trade much better than it was. Especially with Miller helping the Hurricanes win the Stanley Cup.
The third round promises to be fun. The Rangers own picks 67, 77, and 81.
On the same night they selected defenseman Alberts Smits with the number five overall pick, the Rangers made a blockbuster trade with the Golden Knights by acquiring scoring forward Pavel Dorofeyev.
To NYR: Dorofeyev
To LV: 2026 1st (Originally Dallas) 2026 3rd (92) 2028 Top-10 protected first
Before they even selected Smits, ESPN hockey insider Emily Kaplan broke the story. In order to get a proven goalscorer like the 25-year-old Dorofeyev, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury gave up the Rangers 26th pick and 92nd (third round), along with a conditional 2028 first round pick (top 10 protected).
After scoring a career-high 37 goals along with achieving new personal bests in assists (27) and points (64), Dorofeyev ranked second in goals on Vegas this postseason with 12. Seven came at even-strength with the other five coming on the power play. During the Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup Finals, he finished with 16 points to rank fifth in team scoring.
A player with a shoot first mentality, the former Vegas 2019 third round pick paced the Knights in goals (37), power-play goals (20), and power-play points (30) this past season. The 37 goals and 20 power-play goals would’ve ranked ahead of Rangers’ team leader Mika Zibanejad, who paced them in goals (34) and power-play goals (16).
The Rangers desperately needed a finisher in the top six. It was an area that I mentioned in a previous post. Now, there won’t be as much pressure on Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault next season. The same goes for Will Cuylle, who enters the final year of his deal with a $3.9 million cap hit. However, all three must produce enough to provide support for Zibanejad, J.T. Miller, and the newest Ranger Dorofeyev.
Confirming Dorofeyev extension with Rangers is 7 years x $11M AAV
In addition to dealing for him, the Rangers immediately signed Dorofeyev to a whopping $11 million AAV over seven years. That makes him the second highest paid Ranger on the roster, trailing only Igor Shesterkin ($11.56 million AAV). Similar to former Blueshirt Artemi Panarin, Dorofeyev’s Russian. Unlike Panarin, he isn’t going to draw as much attention. He’s a finisher who must deliver 35 to 40 goals a year to earn his money.
Unlike the situation he had in Vegas, he won’t have Jack Eichel or Mitch Marner setting him up. That responsibility will likely fall on Zibanejad and Adam Fox. Interestingly, Miller had 36 assists in a down year. Lafreniere set a new career-high with 33 apples. Perreault is a good distributor due to his vision. Perhaps he could complement Dorofeyev on a scoring line.
Regardless, it’s nice to see Drury address a team need by adding a younger player that’s in their prime. There’s still some business to take care of. Neither Vincent Trocheck nor Braden Schneider got moved on Friday night.
The Rangers were in discussions with the Ducks for center Mason McTavish. They offered a roster player and a pick for the 23-year-old. However, the Blues were willing to pay more of a premium by parting with two first round picks (15 and 29) to acquire McTavish. He fell out of favor in Anaheim under head coach Joel Quenneville, who even sat him out in two games during the postseason.
Considering that McTavish struggled with consistency after signing a long-term deal last summer worth a $7 million AAV, it was wiser for Drury to lose the sweepstakes for a player who isn’t the best skater. Maybe he’s better off in St. Louis. They’ve already shaken things up by trading Jordan Kyrou to the Capitals for Connor McMichael, Milton Gastrin, and a 2026 number 16 pick. The Blues went off the board to take Maddox Dagenais.
For the Rangers, there’s a lot more ahead. If it’s really a retool, there should be another big move coming. Considering how much his name continues to get mentioned, you have to think Trocheck will be moving pretty soon. The question is whether Drury can get a good return. He failed to acquire a 2026 first round pick along with a good prospect. It feels like he already made a mess out of asset management for Trocheck. There’s still time to correct it.
Currently, the Rangers still have over $14 million in cap space. Having recently re-signed Dylan Garand to a two-year contract worth $875,000 AAV, they have two restricted free agents left. Schneider is the big one. Are they going to keep him or move on? Will they qualify and re-sign Vincent Iorio?
Whatever they decide to do, there still should be room on the cap.
On the first day of NHL Draft weekend, the Rangers moved on from Brett Berard by trading him to the Canadiens for William Trudeau.
Following a rookie season that saw him tally six goals and four assists for 10 points in 35 games under former head coach Peter Laviolette, the 23-year-old Berard never got much of an opportunity under Mike Sullivan. In 13 games, he didn’t register a single point in two different stints.
We have acquired defenseman William Trudeau from Montreal in exchange for forward Brett Berard.
Most mystifying was Sullivan’s insistence on continuing to play veteran Conor Sheary at the conclusion of another disappointing season that saw the Rangers finish last in the Eastern Conference. It didn’t make sense for Berard not to play. Call it another organizational failure when it came to a prospect.
Even though the small in stature Berard has a limited ceiling due to defensive deficiencies, he’ll likely get a better chance with the Canadiens. It was under former Rangers general manager Jeff Gorton that he was selected in the fifth round of the 2020 Draft. Following the season, Berard asked for a trade. The Rangers granted that wish by sending him to a better team that lost to the eventual champion Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals.
With Berard gone, current team president and GM Chris Drury recovered defenseman Trudeau. A left shooting defenseman who plays with some edge, the 2021 fourth round pick has never played in the NHL.
In fact, the 23-year-old Trudeau has spent four years in the American Hockey League playing for the Laval Rocket. His best season came in 2022-23 when he put up seven goals with 20 assists for 27 points and 59 penalty minutes in 60 contests. In 2025-26, he had eight goals and 12 helpers for 20 points with 54 penalty minutes in 62 games. Trudeau didn’t put up a point in five games during the postseason.
Similar to Berard, Trudeau is a restricted free agent. He’ll most likely sign a two-way deal. Whether or not he can play in the NHL remains to be seen. From my vantage point, it looks like a nice addition to the Hartford Wolf Pack. My guess is he’ll be an emergency recall during next season.
With the first round of the NHL Draft starting up soon in Buffalo, the Rangers remain selecting at number five and number 26. Despite some reports that Vincent Trocheck could be moved to the Sabres, nothing has transpired due to the uncanny stubbornness of Drury. He still wants a good prospect and a first round pick. It’s yet another example of how bad dough boy is. He could’ve gotten that at the trade deadline. But he overvalued Trocheck.
With nothing really happening with the Sabres’ fourth pick, it looks like they’ll hang onto it. The Rangers should be able to draft one of the top defenseman prospects at number five. Hopefully, Chase Reid will fall into their lap. If not, then they’ll have a choice between Carson Carels, Alberts Smits, and Keaton Verhoeff. Personally, I like Verhoeff better than Smits. Carels looks to be the most well-rounded of the three.
Here’s just some guesswork:
Leafs LW Gavin McKenna
Sharks LW Ivar Stenberg
Canucks C Caleb Malhotra
Sabres C Viggo Bjorck
Rangers D Chase Reid
Flames C Tynan Lawrence
Kraken D Carson Carels
Jets D Alberts Smits
Sharks D Keaton Verhoeff
Predators D Daxon Rudolph
This is a top heavy draft full of promising blue liners. Happy Draft Day!
Two days from now, the 2026 NHL Draft will take place in Buffalo. On Friday night, what promises to be a memorable first round takes place at First Niagara Center.
While most of the hoopla surrounding Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg, with both expected to go first and second, what happens afterward could create a domino effect. Assuming Toronto takes the highly touted McKenna to pair up with Auston Matthews, that would leave the Sharks with an interesting decision.
Grier just said that he's received a "real interesting" offer for the No. 2 pick.
After dealing William Eklund to the Senators in exchange for the ninth pick, it would appear that the Sharks will keep the number two pick and select Stenberg. The dynamic scorer could team up with Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith to form a potent top line that would consist of players 21 and younger.
🔁🔁
We’ve acquired the 9th overall selection from the Senators in exchange for forwards William Eklund, Kasper Halttunen, and Brandon Svoboda.
By moving Eklund to Ottawa, who used one of the first round picks they received from Florida for Brady Tkachuk, San Jose set themselves up to target a defenseman with the ninth overall pick. With the Sharks recently acquiring Michael Kesselring from the Sabres, they added an experienced player to a blue line that is in the process of being revamped. In a draft that boasts a surplus of defense prospects, the Sharks will be able to select one. The highest rated defensemen include Chase Reid, Carson Carels, Alberts Smits, and Keaton Verhoeff.
With the Canucks recently hiring Manny Malhotra as their new head coach, they’re likely to pick his son Caleb Malhotra at number three. With captain Elias Pettersson possibly available following a dismal 2025-26 season, Vancouver could look to rebuild around the younger Malhotra.
Sabres Move Up to Four in Byram Trade with Blackhawks
Entering this week, nobody knew what the Blackhawks’ plans were. Heavily rumored to be open to moving the fourth pick for an NHL player to speed up their rebuild around Connor Bedard, that finally came to fruition last night in a deal that shocked the hockey world. Instead of acquiring a top six forward like Matthew Knies, the Blackhawks sent the number four pick along with defenseman Louis Crevier and the 45th pick going to Buffalo for Bowen Byram and Jordan Greenway.
Most insiders couldn’t believe Chicago did that. While Byram is a good player capable of putting up double digits in goals and 50 points, the 25-year-old has never proven that he’s a number one defenseman. Signed at $6.25 million for one more year, the potential 2027 unrestricted free agent wants to be paid nearly double the salary. It’s a big gamble by Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson, who also helped Buffalo unload the $4 million salary of Greenway. A solid fourth liner who kills penalties, he’ll enter the final year of his deal.
With the Sabres suddenly moving up to fourth overall, they can either use the pick to set up another trade or keep it. Buffalo is still in the market for a number one goalie. Would they try to find out if Connor Hellebuyck would wave his no-movement clause to come to Western New York. It’s still uncertain whether he wants out of Winnipeg.
If they hang onto the pick, the Sabres are rumored to like Swedish center Viggo Bjorck. Despite his smallish five-foot-nine, 180-pound frame, the very skilled Bjorck performed well at both the World Juniors and World Championships. A crafty playmaker with a right shot, he could be the best center in the draft. To be perfectly honest, I’d love to see him available when the Rangers pick at number five. Despite having veteran centers Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller, they’re expected to move on from Vincent Trocheck, whose 12-team no-trade list narrows down to 10 on July 1.
If there’s an area that they lack in the system, it’s a young center with potential. It’s an area that team president and general manager Chris Drury must address. He already faces a challenging off-season due to holes on the blue line and up front.
Drury Must Get Pick Right
Coming off a second consecutive playoff miss, the Rangers are in desperate need of younger talent to rebuild for the future. Despite Drury hinting at a retool in his letter last January, the current roster isn’t close to contending.
With Trocheck switching agents, it sounds like he’s more open to accepting a trade to out West. Considering how much his name was mentioned during last season, he probably wants to move on. The last thing Drury wants to do is create another unnecessary distraction, like what happened with Jacob Trouba. It’s best for Trocheck to go play for a team that can compete.
Perhaps a potential landing spot could be in Los Angeles where former linemate Artemi Panarin plays. The Kings recently hired Peter Laviolette as their new head coach. He’s certainly familiar with what Trocheck brings. It doesn’t make sense to enter training camp with three veteran centers all over 30. Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller are probably safe. Both have full no-movement clauses.
With so much discussion centering around the fifth pick, it’s imperative for Drury to get it right. The direction of the franchise hinges on this decision. When assessing the roster, they need help everywhere. That should include center and on the blue line. Aside from being locked into Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov, there isn’t much behind them. Will Borgen is miscast as a second pair defenseman. On a contender, he’s a five or six.
Important decisions include whether or not to re-sign Braden Schneider. A frustrating player who doesn’t have the best metrics, the 24-year-old hasn’t evolved into a shutdown defenseman. He took a step back last year. Despite having good character, it’s awfully hard to justify giving him a long-term contract that’ll likely come in the neighborhood of $6.5 to $7 million AAV.
A year ago, they were unwilling to do it with K’Andre Miller, who instead was traded to the Hurricanes in exchange for Scott Morrow, along with first and second round picks. As a result, the Rangers hold the Stars’ 26th pick in the first round.
Meanwhile in Carolina, Miller helped lead the Hurricanes to the Stanley Cup. Under winning coach Rod Brind’Amour, he was more successful in a defensive oriented system that swarmed opponents. In fact, Miller finished the postseason with nine assists and a plus-12 rating while leading all Hurricanes in ice time (24:03). Playing for Brind’Amour brought out Miller’s mean side. He played with more of an edge frustrating opponents during the franchise’s run to their second championship in 20 years.
For the Rangers, they can only hope that they’re able to use the first and second round picks on good players for the future. Currently, they have pick 64 at the conclusion of Round 2. For good measure, they also own picks 67, 77, 81, and 92 in the third round. With a surplus of later picks, it’s an opportunity for Drury to move up or down.
Center or Defenseman: Viggo Bjorck or Chase Reid
If they remain locked into the fifth spot, it becomes a question of what the organization covets more. As was noted above, the back end gets kind of thin after Fox and Gavrikov. There’s a need for another mobile defenseman that can be a difference maker. They rely too heavily on Fox to carry the offense while playing responsibly in his end. That needs to change.
If they decide to trade Schneider, they have to get a good return for him. Subtracting a player who averaged the third most minutes (20:09) on the blue line while leading the team with 141 blocked shots and ranking third with 163 hits would leave another hole to fill. At last check, they’re looking for a similar player back. Considering what the Sharks paid for Kesselring, which allowed the Sabres to move up seven spots in the first round, Schneider should be able to get a significant return. He’s younger and more proven than Kesselring, who’ll join his third team in over a year.
Regardless of what happens with Schneider, the Rangers must address both the center and defense positions. They lack a young pivot in the system. If the Sabres are indeed shopping the fourth pick they just acquired, then Bjorck could still be available when the Rangers select.
Of all the highly rated centers, he has the most potential. Currently ranked behind Malhotra, who’s expected to go off the board in the top four, Bjorck should receive strong consideration. The speed with which he plays is something the team lacks. Imagine Bjorck learning from countryman Zibanejad.
Usually, the Rangers don’t like to take smaller players early. However, the supremely skilled Bjorck could be the exception. We’ve seen other teams have success by going smaller. The Hurricanes did with Jackson Blake, who led them in the postseason with 20 points. They also had pint-sized Logan Stankoven with Blake on their best scoring line with Taylor Hall. He was acquired from the Stars for Mikko Rantanen.
If they decide to go with a defenseman, there are several good candidates. Reid is ranked the highest entering Friday. A slick moving skater who makes excellent reads in his zone, he’s good at jumping in gaps to keep offensive plays alive. Boasting a strong shot, Reid has all the tools to become an elite player. Listed at six-foot-two, 190 pounds, the right shooting defenseman has a good first pass that can help a team transition quickly. He could go anywhere from second to fifth in the draft. If he’s available when the Rangers pick, that should be the selection.
Addressing Key Areas a Must
Whatever they decide to do with the fifth overall pick, the Rangers must realize the importance of addressing key areas to improve overall talent and depth.
Not only do they lack a promising center and defenseman but they also are still without a top finisher. As well as the newly formed top line played down the stretch, neither Alexis Lafreniere nor Gabe Perreault resemble leading goalscorers. Lafreniere scored 24 for his second season of 20 goals or more. Perreault had a dozen as a rookie. Both will need to become more consistent while playing with Zibanejad, who paced the team with 34 goals.Will Cuylle ranked third with 20.
In other words, if the Sharks’ second pick is still in play, the Rangers should definitely go for it. In any draft, going for the best available player makes sense. It probably would cost a lot. However, they have both a number 5 and 26 to offer. If they can move up and get Stenberg, you do it. He’s going to be the best finisher in this draft. An elite talent with a deadly shot to go along with game-breaking speed, Stenberg would change how the Rangers play.
Sharks GM Mike Grier told reporters that he received one interesting offer. Considering that he was able to get the ninth pick for Eklund, it makes more sense for him to stay put. Stenberg would be a great fit in teal.
Grier just said that he's received a "real interesting" offer for the No. 2 pick.
If they select Stenberg, then Reid could still be around when the Rangers draft. There’s no guarantee that the Sabres will keep the fourth pick. With them signing and trading Alex Tuch to the Capitals for a third round pick earlier today, GM Jarmo Kekalainen could be looking to make another splash. He told reporters that Byram wasn’t willing to negotiate a new contract to stay in Buffalo.
“That’s something that we’re working on. That’s definitely a focus right now. We have the fourth pick. We have the 20th pick. We have a lot of ammunition to explore if there’s another trade that we can make. Defensemen are not easy to find but we’ve had some productive talks and we’ll see where that goes,” Kekalainen said at an afternoon press conference.
They’re going to listen to offers. Considering the big step the Sabres took, nearly reaching the Eastern Conference Finals in their first postseason since 2011, they could be looking for immediate help. Following a strong showing in two rounds, Zach Benson is expected to sign long-term for a cap hit over $7 million.
Whatever happens with the Sabres could impact the Rangers. Unless they decide to move up a slot to guarantee the player they want. It’ll be interesting to see what happens over the next 48 hours.
In the end, the Sabres came up a goal short of reaching the Eastern Conference Finals. The Canadiens ended the Sabres’ special season by defeating them 3-2 on Alex Newhook’s overtime winner in Game 7 at KeyBank Center.
It was a bitter pill to swallow for the Sabres, who lost for the third time in four home games in a superb series between old rivals. When it came down to it, logic didn’t apply to the exciting second round matchup. There was no such thing as momentum. Had that been true, the Canadiens finish off the Sabres in Game 6 at Bell Centre. Instead, Buffalo rallied from a 3-1 deficit to stun Montreal by scoring seven unanswered goals in an 8-3 victory to stave off elimination.
Back on home ice for the deciding game last night, they fell behind 2-0 in the first period. The Canadiens got goals from Phillip Danault and Zach Bolduc to take a two-goal lead to the locker room. However, much like most of the games in the series, it was far from over.
With the Habs sitting back, the Sabres took over with a dominant second period. They controlled large portions due to their relentless forecheck. As shots piled up, they stormed Jakub Dobes’ net in search of a goal. Eventually, the formula paid dividends thanks to Beck Malenstyn having his pass take a favorable bounce right to Mattias Samuelsson for a shot that deflected off Jordan Greenway that cut the deficit to 2-1.
The fourth line delivered a crucial offensive shift that got them back in it. In fact, the consistent work they put in made them very effective throughout Game 7. More often than not, Greenway, Malenstyn, and Peyton Krebs spent time in the Montreal zone. In fact, Greenway came very close to being the hero in overtime. Unfortunately, ref Wes McCauley blew the whistle as Greenway jammed in a loose puck underneath Dobes. Had he not thought the Habs goalie had it covered, it’s a different story for the Sabres.
Following Greenway’s tally that pulled them within one, the Sabres continued to apply heavy pressure on the Canadiens. But Dobes was able to prevent them from tying it before the second period concluded. Buffalo outshot Montreal 14-7 and more than doubled them up in attempts. The fans let them know about it with plenty of cheers for their effort as they went to the locker room.
In the third period, it was a scrappy bunch of Sabres who continued to carry the play. Even with the Canadiens doing a solid job defending in front of Dobes, they were unable to prevent the home team from tying it.
Fittingly, the game-tying goal from captain Rasmus Dahlin. The Sabres’ best player, Dahlin pinched in and had his one-timer beat Dobes top shelf to send the crowd into a frenzy. On a well designed faceoff play that Ryan McLeod won back to Owen Power, the 2021 first overall pick connected with the 2018 first overall pick on a pretty goal.
Coming off a monumental five-point performance in Game 6, Dahlin delivered the biggest goal of the season. It was his 10th point of the series. Playing in his first postseason, the 26-year-old defenseman was sensational. In 13 games, he finished with four goals and 10 assists for 14 points while averaging a team-high 23:58. His brilliant play is why he’s one of three players up for the Norris, which is awarded to the NHL’s best defenseman.
After they drew even, the Sabres continued to dictate the terms. They outshot the Canadiens 10-4. Outside of a couple of dangerous chances in transition, which included Mike Matheson hitting the crossbar prior to Dahlin’s equalizer, the Habs could hardly establish any kind of attack in the Buffalo zone. They relied mostly on Dobes, who continued to make big saves like he had in an even more lopsided deciding game against the Lightning in the first round. In that 2-1 win on May 1, they only mustered nine shots, setting an NHL record for the fewest in Game 7 and still advancing.
Despite some close calls late in regulation from both sides, the game went to sudden death. Unlike the second and third periods, the Canadiens were looser. They spent more time in the Buffalo end. Juraj Slafkovsky had his shot hit the crossbar. It was the third goalpost of the game for the Habs.
Dobes got across to deny Zach Benson. The 2023 first round pick was a pest in the series. Benson was all over the ice during the series for the Sabres. He was moved onto a line with Tage Thompson and Josh Norris. Benson had six points in the second round with 36 penalty minutes. The 21-year-old forward just wrapped up his third season. He probably reminded winning Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis of himself. Benson has a bright future in Western New York.
With the shots favoring the Sabres 6-2 in the first overtime, the Canadiens iced the puck. They got a big break due to the mandatory ice cleaning at the halfway point. Having also gotten lucky due to McCauley’s intent to blow the whistle which negated Greenway’s potential series winner, the stoppage allowed the five Habs to rest before the key defensive draw. Following a critical Dobes save on Thompson, he froze the puck to allow all five to change.
After Norris won the faceoff back to Dahlin, he miscalculated by making a key mistake inside the blue line. He forced a pass across for a covered Thompson. Put in a tough spot, Thompson was forced into a turnover by Alex Carrier. That allowed Carrier to outlet for an attacking Newhook. With Dahlin unable to stop Newhook from gaining entry, that allowed Newhook enough time to beat Ukko-Pekka Luuukonen at 11:22. The replay showed that Dahlin was used as a flash screen by Newhook on the goal that sent the Canadiens off the bench to celebrate.
Hear 6 different calls for Alex Newhook's game 7 overtime goal vs the Buffalo Sabres! Canadiens to the Eastern Conference Final!
It was a gut-wrenching scene. A dejected Luukonen threw his helmet before returning to the ice for the traditional handshake between both sides. It was a hard fought series between two of the league’s emerging teams. In fact, they were the two youngest rosters remaining.
Unfortunately, it’ll be the Canadiens moving on to play the heavily favored Hurricanes. Carolina swept through the first two rounds without breaking a sweat. They’re expected to finally reach the Stanley Cup Finals. We’ll see if the upstart Habs have other ideas.
Despite the heartbreaking defeat, the Sabres heard familiar, “Let’s Go Buffalo!” chants from appreciative fans who won’t soon forget what this season meant.
They’d gone 14 years without the playoffs. The way this team turned around a bad start under head coach Lindy Ruff was special. They went from looking like an NHL doormat to winning the Atlantic Division with 109 points. Only three teams had better records.
“I told the team it hurts. But I won’t let this one game define the season we had,” Ruff said.
“I told the players how proud I was of them. The battle we took into game six in Montreal, and then came back here and gave ourselves every chance to win, so. This one game doesn’t define our season for us.”
It’s a team Buffalo fans can be proud of. Pride was restored.
It isn’t easy to break a long streak and have success in the playoffs. Despite the obvious flaws in net and defensively, these Sabres played with so much heart and resiliency. They showed a lot of character. Sabrehood will be back.
The Stanley Cup Playoffs are only a few days in. However, we’ve already seen what happens when the more desperate team needs to respond to adversity.
It was on full display during a Lightning 3-2 win in overtime against the Canadiens to take Game 2 of the Atlantic Division Semi-Final. Staring at an 0-2 series deficit, the experienced former Stanley Cup champs picked up their intensity to level the first round matchup headed back to Montreal for the next two games.
After Brandon Hagel gave the Lightning an early lead, things heated up between the new rivals. A skirmish involving several players almost resulted in Hagel and Josh Anderson squaring off. As usual, Corey Perry was right in the middle of the chaos, exchanging pleasantries with Alexandre Carrier. Jake Guentzel got in a couple of shots on Jake Evans during the scrum. Nikita Kucherov got the original minor for interference on Kirby Dach.
When the dust settled, the Canadiens wound up with a power play. They took full advantage thanks to Lane Hutson blasting a Nick Suzuki feed past Andrei Vasilevskiy to even the score.
Eventually, in the second period, Hagel got the better of Juraj Slafkovsky in a scrap when he landed an overhand right to that delighted the mostly pro Lightning crowd. Despite that, it was the Canadiens who grabbed a 2-1 lead when Anderson scored in front on a setup from Phillip Danault for his second of the series. The gritty Anderson has been the most effective player for the Habs thus far due to his physicality and willingness to battle in front. He’s become public enemy number one for the Bolts.
After Ryan McDonagh took a bad penalty late in the second, the Lightning were able to kill off the remainder at the start of the third period. When they failed to convert on an Ivan Demidov tripping minor, it looked like they were in big trouble. The faster Habs had done a masterful job of limiting Tampa’s biggest stars by keeping them on the perimeter.
With Jakub Dobes making the crucial stops in front of a stingy defense led by Mike Matheson, it looked like the Habs would leave South Florida with two wins headed back north. However, Kucherov and the Lightning had other plans.
Still needing a goal to at least force overtime, the Bolts’ biggest star finally stepped up when it mattered most. On a good rush from Hagel, his shot deflected off teammate Anthony Cirelli behind the Montreal net. With Dobes expecting to make a save, he was still scrambling when Kucherov quickly picked up the loose puck and tied it on a wrap-around with 7:27 remaining.
The clutch goal ended a 16-game playoff drought for Kucherov. Even the game’s best players can struggle in the postseason. A former Hart winner who’s won three Art Ross Trophies and finished second in scoring with 130 points this season, which trailed only Connor McDavid, Kucherov needed to come through in that spot. He seemed to be pressing prior to tying the game.
Before the end of regulation, Scott Sabourin took an ill-advised interference minor when he leveled Anderson from behind to put the Canadiens on the power play. After it was called a five-minute interference major, it was reviewed by the refs and reduced to a two-minute penalty with 2:10 left.
Facing a dangerous five-man top unit that prominently features Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Demidov, Hutson, and Slafkovsky, the Lightning penalty kill got the job done. Some stellar work allowed the fans to breathe easier as the buzzer sounded to send the game to sudden death.
In Game 1, the Canadiens won it thanks to Slafkovsky completing a hat trick with a power-play goal in overtime. Once again, OT was required to decide a winner in what’s been an exciting series full of emotion.
Unlike the first game, the Lightning dominated the action in overtime by holding the Canadiens without a shot. Showing more urgency, it was the more desperate team that went for it. Despite holding a significant territorial edge, they couldn’t beat Dobes, who made a couple of great saves to give his team a chance at stealing the game. However, it wasn’t meant to be.
On an offensive draw won by Cirelli, J.J. Moser made a great play to keep the puck in before skating into the right circle and beating Dobes glove side to win it at 12:48 of overtime. It was Moser’s first career postseason goal. The defensive defenseman who finished the season with 29 points and a plus-41 rating was able to score in the clutch to tie the series.
On Sunday, the Buffalo Sabres finally returned to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in 15 years. It was well worth the wait.
After falling behind the Boston Bruins 2-0, it looked like the Sabres would get shut out in front of a packed crowd at KeyBank Center. They even heard some boos from frustrated fans over a power play that couldn’t muster anything in four chances.
With less than eight minutes left in the third period, Tage Thompson stuffed in a wraparound past Jeremy Swayman to get the crowd back into it. Like a powerful storm, the Sabres kept coming in waves until Thompson once again scored the clutch goal that tied the score with 4:16 remaining. Following some superb work from Alex Tuch behind the net, he got the puck to Thompson, who finished his second over a 3:42 span.
At that exact moment, the question was whether there would be overtime on the 33rd anniversary of May Day. A legendary call from Rick Jeanneret when Brad May scored the overtime winner to beat the Bruins in 1993.
Instead, it was the Sabres riding the momentum to get it done in regulation. On another play that involved the forecheck, Jack Quinn came out with the puck and fed a wide open Mattias Samuelsson in the slot for the emotional game-winner with 3:24 to go. Here’s how it looked and sounded.
Tuch added an empty netter that gave the Sabres enough cushion for the dramatic come from behind 4-3 win to take Game 1 over the Bruins in the best-of-seven Atlantic Division Semifinal.
David Pastrnak’s power-play goal came with less than eight seconds left in regulation for the final margin. It was a night of celebration for rabid Buffalo fans.
Clean crowd noise of the Buffalo go-ahead goal is pretty ridiculous. Kudos to Sabres fans, they are back pic.twitter.com/TMlnI4hAmA
On the final game of a disappointing centennial season, the Rangers went out on the right note thanks to Tye Kartye’s big night in a 4-2 win over the Lightning.
Kartye had a pair of goals and set up another for a three-point game. Since he was claimed on waivers from Seattle, the 24-year-old Kartye has fit in seamlessly with the Blueshirts. A good defensive player who combines skill with grit, Kartye looks like he’s found a new home in the Big Apple.
All Smiles: Tye Kartye wears the Broadway Hat surrounded by teammates.
He continued to have success while playing with J.T. Miller and Conor Sheary on the second line. After being a part-timer with the Kraken, Kartye looks like he’ll enter training camp with a full-time role in the top nine. In 24 games with the Rangers, he finished the season with five goals and nine assists for 14 points.
Combined with the eight points he had in Seattle, Kartye set a new personal best with 22 points, surpassing his previous high of 20 in 2023-24.
It was also a good finish for Dylan Garand. The rookie made his third career start and first in three weeks. Facing a roster that still featured Nikita Kucherov, Brandon Hagel, and Darren Raddysh, Garand played well to win for the second time. He was quite busy in the third period, stopping 13 of 14 shots en route to a 29-save effort.
After letting in a bad goal to Corey Perry in the first minute of the third, Garand responded by making several key stops to prevent a Lightning comeback. That included a good save on a Kucherov misdirection feed that Perry deflected. Garand followed that up with a big glove stop on Raddysh.
The 23-year-old made it clear that he wants to stay with the Blueshirts in the NHL.
“A lot. I never want to go back to the American League, honestly. I’m so hungry to be here. I want to be in this league and a part of this organization,” he told reporters.
"I never want to go back to the American League, honestly. I'm so hungry to be here. I want to be in this league and a part of this organization."
Dylan Garand talks about how much his taste of the NHL is fueling him going into the summer: pic.twitter.com/7ChgYAuuHx
Make no mistake. Garand looks like he belongs. He should graduate to become the backup behind Igor Shesterkin in 2026-27. If they want to sign a veteran for camp, fine. But the pickings are slim. I’d prefer to see Garand get into 20 to 25 games.
Ironically, Brandon Halverson got his first career start for Tampa Bay. A former Rangers second round pick who was selected two rounds before Shesterkin in 2014, he finished with 17 saves on 21 shots.
Just over four minutes into the first period, Kartye took a Mika Zibanejad feed and beat Halverson to the short side for a 1-0 lead. It was the only tally in a low event period.
The second period was more interesting. On a play started by Conor Sheary, J.T. Miller set up Kartye for his second of the game less than 90 seconds in. Kartye came close a couple of times to getting the hat trick, but he wasn’t done being involved.
On a sustained forecheck, he helped set up Gabe Perreault for his 12th. Some strong work from Kartye allowed Will Cuylle to find Perreault up top. He patiently skated to a spot and let go of a shot that beat Halverson for a 3-0 lead. With a secondary helper, that gave Kartye his third point.
After the Lightning got on the board thanks to Oliver Bjorkstrand getting his 12th from Scott Sabourin and Mitchell Chaffee, the Rangers replied back in short order.
On the power play, Alexis Lafreniere took a Miller feed and found Zibanejad for his team-leading 34th to make it 4-1. With a primary assist on Zibanejad’s Rangers’ high 16th power-play goal, Lafreniere tied his career-high in points (57) set in 2023-24. Twenty-four of those points came after Artemi Panarin sat out of the lineup before being dealt to the Kings.
In the third, with the Rangers holding onto a two-goal lead, the Bolts pulled Halverson for a 6-on-4. Following a faceoff win, Kartye had a long turnaround shot from inside the zone just miss hitting the empty net. He was that close to his first hat trick.
Credit head coach Mike Sullivan for having Kartye out at the end to try to get it. He also showed some hustle with time winding down but was unable to get one more chance.
Although they finished in last place for the first time in 60 years, the Rangers played better over the final six weeks. They became a harder working team that had four lines. Something that was lacking most of the season. While other teams they were out of it mailed in their final game, the Rangers didn’t.
Whether or not winning the final game could hurt their lottery chances, which will depend on if the Flames win over the Kings. A Calgary win would give the Rangers the third worst record, increasing their lottery odds in May.
Down the stretch, the Devils played much better hockey to come frustratingly close to the postseason. However, they couldn’t overcome a lousy winter that turned a promising start into fool’s gold.
After going out on home ice with a very satisfying overtime win over the Senators on a Nico Hischier winner, the Devils ended a disappointing season on a bitter note in a 4-0 loss to the playoff bound Bruins in Boston.
This one was over fast. With the Bruins opting to ice most of their starting lineup so they could avoid facing the Hurricanes in the first round, they made quick work of the Devils. A four-goal first period barrage helped them finish fourth in the Atlantic Division. They’ll draw the division champion Sabres later this week when the playoffs begin.
Before a minute elapsed, Morgan Geekie took a David Pastrnak feed and buried a one-timer past Nico Daws for a 1-0 Boston lead. Geekie was left uncontested by Dougie Hamilton for his 39th. The primary assist gave Pastrnak 100 points for the fourth consecutive season. He became the first Bruins player to do it since Bruins legends Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito (1970-71 thru 1974-75).
Mark Kastelic scored the first of two when he was left open to receive a Tanner Jeannot pass and beat Daws to make it 2-0. It didn’t get any better for the Devils.
Trailing by two late in the period, they fell apart. A coverage breakdown allowed Kastelic to get his second from Sean Kuraly and Mason Lohrei at 17:42. A Jack Hughes turnover led to Lohrei and Kuraly combining to set up Kastelic, who had too much room in the slot.
Both Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler were victimized on the goal. They each ended the season poorly by finishing minus-3 in the final game.
The Bruins’ fourth and final goal came with less than eight seconds left in the period. On a faceoff win, former Devil Pavel Zacha found Viktor Arvidsson wide open for a tap in to put the Devils down by four.
Zacha concluded his best season with a career best 30 goals and 35 assists for 65 points to lead all Bruins centers in scoring. He exited the game early due to a family matter.
By then, the game was decided. The Devils mustered only 11 combined shots over the final two periods after getting 10 on Jeremy Swayman in the first.
It was an uninspired effort. They were guilty of 25 giveaways. Fourteen different skaters turned the puck over. Daws also had a giveaway to make it 15 of 19 players.
Hughes and Jesper Bratt didn’t have a good night. Both were credited with four giveaways and finished a combined minus-3 with only two shots, which both came from Hughes.
The Devils’ best player, Hughes led them in scoring with 77 points in 61 games. His strong finish helped turn things around after the Olympics. Hughes finished the last 25 games with 15 goals and 26 assists for 41 points. His dominance sparked Bratt, who rallied for 30 points over the same span to finish second behind Hughes with 71 points.
Hischier was third with 66 points. In the last game of the season, he became the only player to take over to win over 1,000 faceoffs in 2025-26. One of the best centers when it comes to winning draws, he went 10-and-12 to conclude with a 55.7 success rate.
The Devils captain is eligible for an extension this July. It’ll be a crucial decision for the organization moving forward. Even in a down year, the 27-year-old Hischier remains a good two-way forward who is counted on by head coach Sheldon Keefe to draw most of the toughest assignments.
When asked afterward what his goal is, he made it perfectly clear.
“We are not getting younger. It sucks, it sucks to be out of the playoffs. Obviously, the ultimate goal is, for me, winning a Cup in New Jersey, and we are not giving ourselves a chance this year,” he told Amanda Stein.
In the Devils postgame on MSG, Hughes was very honest in his assessment when speaking with Rachel Herzog and Bryce Salvador.
"New Jersey is a great place to play, and we have to do better for them (the fans). Hopefully next year we come in hungry, ready to rock and win a lot of games for them.”
Hughes mentioned how every team has injuries. On some nights, you have to find different ways to win games. He sounded very hungry and motivated for the off-season.
For the Devils, it comes down to improving the scoring depth. Outside of Cody Glass and Connor Brown, most of the supporting cast underperformed. That includes the very streaky Timo Meier, who finished with 24 goals and 44 points. Hardly the kind of production needed from their highest paid forward.
Dawson Mercer started off strong and finished well to reach 20 goals for the third time in his career. Since posting a career-high 56 points in 2022-23, Mercer hasn’t found that level. A solid two-way player, it’ll be interesting to see what happens with him this summer. Does the new boss hang onto him or try to dangle him in a trade?
Arseny Gritsyuk showed some promise in his first season after coming over from the KHL. He had 13 goals and 18 assists for 31 points in 66 games. He’ll have surgery due to an upper-body injury. The 24-year-old is the one younger forward capable of playing in the top six.
Defensively, the Devils weren’t good enough this season. Hamilton sulked in the first half due to having his name mentioned in a trade rumor. After Keefe sat him out in late December, Hamilton decided to play. His 12 goals and 38 points paced all Devils defensemen.
Following a dismal start after getting a big contract, Luke Hughes turned his year around to finish with 35 points. He’ll undergo a surgical procedure to repair a lingering shoulder injury.
Simon Nemec posted a career best 11 goals with 15 assists for 26 points. However, he finished his third season ice cold. An upcoming restricted free agent, how much will he want? The looming decision the organization has to make on Nemec will be crucial.
Whoever takes over in the front office should make changes to a blue line that wasn’t mobile enough. Veteran Brenden Dillon struggled mightily. Despite supplying a physical presence, he was beaten often by quicker opponents. He’ll enter the final year of his contract with a 10-team no-trade list.
Siegenthaler has two years remaining on a team friendly deal worth an AAV of $3.4 million. Similar to Dillon, he has a modified 10-team no-trade list. He turns 29 next month.
If they are to return to the postseason next year, Brett Pesce needs to stay healthy. He missed 45 games due to injuries. He’s signed through 2030.
The biggest issue was Jacob Markstrom. Extended two more years by former team president and general manager Tom Fitzgerald last Oct. 31, he posted a 3.07 goals-against-average and .883 save percentage in 44 games (43 starts).
Making matters worse, the 36-year-old battled injuries while continuing to be trusted by Keefe as the starter over the more consistent Jake Allen. Markstrom was finally shut down last Friday. If he was that hurt, why did they continue to play him?
Allen performed better finishing with a 2.74 GAA and .903 save percentage in 37 appearances.
Unless there’s a surprise coming, the Devils will depend on both Markstrom and Allen again. Both will be 36 entering next season.
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