Drury’s Overhaul Bolsters Rangers

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Derek

When the clock struck high noon, it didn’t look like the Rangers would do anything significant on July 1. By the conclusion of Canada Day, team president and general manager Chris Drury had dramatically changed the roster.

The first move was met with criticism. The Rangers traded Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 fourth round pick to the Bruins for goalie Joonas Korpisalo. The 32-year-old Korpisalo won 14 games in Boston where he served as the backup to Jeremy Swayman. Signed through 2027-28 with a $4 million cap hit, the Bruins picked up $1 million in salary to complete the deal. That saved the Rangers some money.

The reason it’s a questionable trade is due to the status of Dylan Garand. He was signed for two years at $875,000 per season. The first year is a two-way deal. However, if he can’t beat out Korpisalo for the backup job, Garand is no longer waiver exempt. If he does win the job, then Korpisalo could be placed on waivers. The Rangers would be on the hook for $1.77 million if he clears.

Following that perplexing move from Drury, he made a dull signing by giving center Joe Veleno a one-year deal worth $1.2 million. A former Red Wings first round pick in 2018, the 26-year-old Veleno moves to his third team in less than two years.

After putting up a career-best 12 goals and 16 assists for 28 points in 2023-24 for the Red Wings, he dropped to five goals and five helpers in 56 contests before he was dealt to the Canadiens for the remainder of 2024-25. Following a disappointing 2025-26, Veleno wasn’t qualified by Montreal making him a free agent.

A defensive-minded checking pivot who improved in the faceoff dot by winning 51.6 percent last season, Veleno is a six-foot-one, 201-pound center who finishes checks. For a player who had over 55 percent of starts in the defensive zone, his 47.6 CF at five-on-five wasn’t bad. If the plan is to have him center the checking line, then it looks like the Rangers are comfortable starting 2026-27 with Noah Laba as their third line center.

When they signed him for only a year, it left open the possibility for something much bigger to happen. At the time they inked Veleno, the mood on Rangers Twitter/X was very somber. Especially when the Islanders signed Matias Maccelli for $2.2 million over one year. Like most people, I was hoping the Rangers would get Maccelli. But he chose the Islanders.

For a while, it didn’t feel like anything else would happen to change the mood. Things sure changed in a hurry by late afternoon.

Drury Overhauls the Blue Line

The first hint that something was happening came when there were reports that the Rangers and Canucks discussed a deal involving defenseman Marcus Pettersson. While that was happening, a stunning turn of events led to Vincent Trocheck getting moved to the Mammoth. When the news hit, nobody could believe it. What would the return be for a valuable veteran center who Drury kept holding out on? My guess of either Barrett Hayton or Jack McBain and a first round pick was way off.

Instead, the Rangers sent Trocheck to Utah in exchange for defenseman Sean Durzi ($6 million AAV thru 2027-28), 2o-year old center prospect Cole Beaudoin, and a 2027 conditional third round pick.

The trade largely hinges on Beaudoin, who starred for Canada at the World Junior Championships. In seven games, he had three goals and four assists. A Mammoth 2024 first round pick (24th overall), Beaudoin is a left-handed center who can play responsibly. Listed at six-foot-two, 211 pounds, he has good size and defensive instincts. In 2025-26, he paced the Barrie Colts (Ontario Hockey League) in scoring with 33 goals and 55 assists for 88 points. Beaudoin followed that up with 10 goals and 19 assists for 29 points in the OHL Playoffs.

By filling an organizational need in getting the Mammoth to part with Beaudoin, Drury did well.

Durzi is a second pair right-handed defenseman who automatically should upgrade the Rangers’ blue line. A strong skater who can contribute offensively, the 27-year-old Durzi is the kind of player who can help support Adam Fox. For so long, Fox has had to shoulder the offensive load. He’s a player I liked on the Kings before they foolishly gave him away to the Mammoth [Arizona Coyotes] three years ago.

Following the Trocheck blockbuster with Utah, Drury wasn’t done. After Pettersson agreed to waive his no-movement clause to come to New York, the Rangers sent the Canucks a 2030 top-10 lottery protected first round pick.

Any time you swing a deal for a 30-year-old veteran who has five years of term left on their contract, there’s always a risk factor. By all accounts, Pettersson is a good skating left-handed defensive defenseman who can play in a shutdown role. He’s mostly used in the defensive zone, as evidenced by his starts for the Canucks topping over 60 percent the past two years.

Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan had him in Pittsburgh for seven seasons. He knows Pettersson quite well. That probably was a big factor in Pettersson deciding to accept a trade to the Rangers. He has a $5.5 million AAV with trade protection that doesn’t expire until the conclusion of 2030-31. His full NMC becomes a 15-team no trade list by 2029.

Once Drury added Pettersson in addition to Durzi, someone had to go. It was either going to be Braden Schneider or Will Borgen. Drury decided quickly by swinging another deal with the Bruins by sending Borgen to Boston in exchange for a 2027 second round pick and a 2028 conditional third round pick.

It all came together very fast. As soon as Pettersson was acquired, Borgen was sent packing. Drury had to cut some salary. He was able to offload Borgen’s $4.1 million AAV and recover two draft picks.

Not long ago, Borgen came back from Seattle for Kaapo Kakko. A solid defensive defenseman who played physically, it was obvious that he became the odd man out once Durzi was brought in.

By changing the look of the back end, Drury has improved a key area that was a disaster the past two seasons. Along with the selection of Alberts Smits at fifth overall last Friday, the Rangers look set up better on the blue line.

If we were projecting the lineup, it would look like this:

Gavrikov-Fox

Pettersson-Durzi

Smits-Schneider

Robertson

With Drew Fortescue signed to a two-way deal, they don’t have to rush him. They can properly develop the 21-year-old 2023 third round pick at Hartford in the American Hockey League.

If Smits doesn’t make the roster out of training camp, he can be reassigned. The Rangers still have Urho Vaakanainen under contract for $1.55 million through next year. He’ll likely be placed on waivers.

The Rangers qualified Vincent Iorio. Along with Schneider, he remains unsigned. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Schneider. A 24-year-old right defenseman who made $2.2 million, Schneider is due for a significant raise. If they’re committed to him, the question becomes how much for. Given the way the market is due to the rising cap, he could wind up with similar money to former teammate K’Andre Miller (7.5 million AAV). His game isn’t comparable to Miller, who’s a better skater and stronger defensively.

Time will tell what happens with Schneider, who’s arbitration eligible.

Rangers Add Bjorkstrand

Needing to fill another hole on the roster, the Rangers took a flyer on forward Oliver Bjorkstrand by signing him for a year at $4.5 million AAV. His contract includes a 15-team no trade list.

The 31-year-old Bjorkstrand can drive play due to his fast skating which can create offense in transition. Once a consistent 20-goal scorer for both the Blue Jackets and Kraken, he fell off with the Lightning last season. He had a dozen goals with 20 assists for 32 points. Nine of his 12 goals came on the power play due to his lethal shot. He’ll definitely get time on the second unit.

A one year gamble on a streaky player isn’t much of a risk. They could always flip him at next year’s trade deadline. Hopefully, they’ll get a motivated Bjorkstrand, who’s playing for a contract. He needs to get back to 20 goals and at least 40 points.

Given who’s currently on the roster, it looks like he’ll start in the top six. That means probably with J.T. Miller. Most of the forwards shoot lefty. Bjorkstrand is a rare right shot. Hopefully, they get the good version.

Grading Drury

All in all, the much maligned Drury had a good day. Here was my summary.

If you consider that the Wolf Pack will be much improved thanks to the additions of prospects Liam Greentree and Nathan Aspinall, there’s a lot to like about what Drury’s done over the past few days. Tomas Chrenko was my favorite draft pick. Taken late in the third round, he’s a skilled offensive center who impressed for Slovakia at the WJC. Hockey insiders were happy with Ben Macbeath in the second round. Another left defenseman who’s worth keeping track of.

Considering all the questions I had entering the draft up to where they are now, I am going to give Drury a B+ for the off-season thus far. I didn’t want to give him an A. Remember, he took Smits over Chase Reid. We’ll see how Smits pans out.

It’s nice to actually be pleasantly surprised for a change. We’ll see what else happens this summer.

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July 1 Free Agency Preview

Posted on July 1, 2026 by Derek

It’s officially July 1. Happy Canada Day!

Always one of the most anticipated days of the year for puckers, NHL free agency gets rolling this afternoon. Already, we’ve seen some reported signings.

  1. Blackhawks sign Bowen Byram for $12.5 million AAV over six years.
  2. Devils sign Arseny Gritsyuk for $3.25 million AAV over three years.
  3. Ducks sign A.J. Greer for $4.25 million AAV over four years.
  4. Golden Knights sign Jeremy Lauzon for $6 million AAV over six years.
  5. Wild sign Bobby Brink for $2.75 million AAV over one year.
  6. Sabres sign Beck Malenstyn for $2.916 million AAV over six years.
  7. Senators sign Nick Cousins for $1.587 million AAV over two years.
  8. Mammoth sign Sebastian Cossa for $2 million AAV over two years.
  9. Flyers sign Carl Grundstrom for $1 million AAV over one year.
  10. Blues sign Jonatan Berggren for $2 million AAV over one year.

According to Kevin Weekes, the Devils are expected to sign captain Nico Hischier to a contract extension worth just under $12 million AAV over five years. The Fourth Period reported the contract length. Hischier has a $7.25 million cap hit for 2026-27. If he signs for around $60 million over five years, it’s fair value based on a chaotic market that’s seen teams overpay for players.

CONFIRMED: Devils sign Hischier for $11.7 million AAV over five years.

Not only did the Blackhawks give up a lot to get Byram, but they severely overpaid him. The contract Lauzon got from Vegas is absurd. It’s three years too many for the physical defenseman.The best deals are Brink coming back to Minnesota for one year and Greer cashing in with his new team in Anaheim for four after he was acquired for Radko Gudas. Florida is hoping to get Gudas signed.

The Rangers made it official by signing Pavel Dorofeyev for $11 million AAV over seven years. Acquired from the Knights last Friday during the first round of the NHL Draft, he got a huge $13 million signing bonus for Year 1. Here’s the full breakdown on Dorofeyev’s contract.

For the Rangers’ sake, he better be worth it. They believe the skilled Russian is the goalscorer they’ve lacked. It’s not up to Dorofeyev to replace Artemi Panarin’s production. What he must do is fill the net. Whether it’s with Mika Zibanejad or J.T. Miller remains to be seen. One thing that’ll help Dorofeyev is playing with Adam Fox. Fox is a premier setup man and elite on the power play.

Werenski Rejects Dallas

With the news coming out that Zach Werenski is unlikely to re-up in Columbus, the Blue Jackets have been shopping him. The 2025-26 Norris winner still has two years left on his current deal that pays him $9.583 million AAV through 2027-28. They don’t have to trade him.

The 28-year-old Werenski is an elite player who can dominate from the back end. The Stars were very interested in acquiring him. However, he turned them down. The reported offer included Thomas Harley.

Werenski hasn’t formally asked for a trade. However, it sounds like he’d prefer to go to either Tampa Bay or Toronto ‘if’ it happens.

The Blue Jackets also are a year away from Kirill Marchenko becoming a restricted free agent. Their best forward is a bargain at $3.85 million AAV for next season. He doesn’t intend to stay in Columbus. Keep an eye on Marchenko, who could help several teams, including the Devils.

Robertson and Dallas

Jason Robertson has been in the headlines. The Stars’ best player is a restricted free agent. He’s already turned down deals to Ottawa, Seattle, and St. Louis. It seems that nobody wants the Kraken. Panarin rejected them before accepting a deal to the Kings.

ESPN insider Emily Kaplan believes Robertson will stay in Dallas.

Considering how much Robertson wants ($14 million and up), it’s anyone’s guess where he’ll wind up. Dallas qualified Mavrik Bourque along with Robertson. However, Bourque is available. Contrary to popular belief, Vince Mercogliano reported that the Rangers aren’t in on him. It looks like he was right. The latest from Pierre LeBrun has the Predators on the verge of acquiring Bourque for draft picks.

See Ya, Marky

Yesterday, new Devils general manager Sunny Mehta was able to successfully find a taker for Jacob Markstrom. A disaster in New Jersey since coming over from Calgary, Markstrom was sent to the Panthers with Angus Crookshank in exchange for forwards Evan Rodriguez, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves.

What a great deal by Mehta to get rid of a goalie who looked done. The Devils had to unload Markstrom, who received a two-year contract extension worth $6 million AAV from former GM Tom Fitzgerald last October. The 36-year-old returns to Florida, who are suddenly banking on a pair of Devils rejects in net. They also acquired Akira Schmid from Vegas for a 2028 third round pick.

Not only was Sunny able to get rid of Markstrom, but he also got solid depth players in return. Rodriguez is a good top nine player who doubles on the power play and penalty kill. Boqvist returns to the Devils and will play a fourth line role. New Jersey didn’t qualify Paul Cotter after a bad season. Boqvist and Rodriguez are upgrades that’ll improve the roster.

After re-signing Gritsyuk, the Devils still have $9.7 million in cap space. Is the plan to get another goalie or bring in a top six scorer? Right now, the goalies are Jake Allen and Nico Daws. They’re not expected to be in on Connor Hellebuyck, who would accept a trade to Buffalo.

Who Lands Larkin?

The Red Wings are still looking to trade Dylan Larkin following his request. The question is whether or not they can get enough back to justify moving him. If not, GM Steve Yzerman could keep him.

With Larkin at an affordable cap hit ($8.7 million AAV) through 2030-31, he has one of the best contracts. With the escalating costs in salaries, Larkin is a bargain. The likely candidates are the Knights, Wild, Hurricanes, and possibly the Stars depending on what happens with Robertson.

If Larkin is moved, some other dominoes could fall, including Vincent Trocheck and Tomas Hertl.

The Trocheck Issue

Since March, GM Chris Drury has made it no secret that he’d like to move Trocheck to a contender. However, he continues not to budge from what he’s asking for. No team is going to pay three key pieces for a 33-year-old checking center. Trocheck celebrates his 33rd birthday in 10 days.

Signed for another three years with a $5.625 million cap hit, nobody would dispute that he is a valuable player who can help a team. A gritty pivot who’s money on draws while being able to provide offense at both even strength and on the power play, Trocheck can certainly improve a team’s chances.

The Wild remain the likeliest candidate with young center Danilla Yurov a perfect target. With them expected to re-sign Nick Foligno and Zach Bogosian, they don’t have enough room for Trocheck unless another move is coming.

Perhaps it’ll be a different team that goes after Trocheck. The Sabres were very interested during the draft. Nothing ever happened.

If they wanted to, the Rangers could decide to hang onto him for now. He’s under contract and is a professional. Entering the season with Zibanejad, Miller, and Trocheck isn’t the worst thing. Noah Laba is expected to anchor the fourth line. If they can’t work out a deal this summer, it could always be revisited during the season.

Big Deals Expected for Makar and Hughes

Two of the game’s best players are a year away from unrestricted free agency. Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are the game’s best two defensemen. They can impact the game like nobody else can from the blue line. The tremendous combination of skating and offensive skill makes them elite. We’ve seen Makar do it. During the postseason, Hughes was at his absolute best for Minnesota.

They’re 1A and 1B. The Avalanche are expected to sign Makar long-term. He currently makes $9 million AAV through 2026-27. It could wind up in the neighborhood of $18 to 19 million.

The Wild have indicated that they plan to sign Hughes to a contract extension. It’ll likely be either for three or five years. If he really has his heart set on joining brothers Jack and Luke in Newark, three makes more sense. Both he and Jack would both be up in 2030.

If Quinn gets a shorter term, it’ll probably be around $15 million.

Who the Rangers Should Chase

The Rangers can still use another top six scoring forward. This year’s free agent class isn’t great. But there’s still some good candidates they should explore.

  1. Mattias Maccelli: Still a younger player who can create offense for teammates, he wasn’t qualified by Toronto. Maccelli once put up 57 points, including 40 assists for Arizona in 2023-24. He shouldn’t cost more than $4 million due to his last two seasons. He could complement Dorofeyev.
  2. Eeli Tolvanen: A 27-year-old physical wing, Tolvanen can provide secondary help. He’s capable of putting up 15 to 20 goals and 20 to 25 assists. A player who loves to finish checks, the former Predators 2017 first round pick should check in at around $5 million. His CF was down due to how Seattle used him.
  3. Mats Zuccarello: Many fans would love to see a Broadway reunion with Zuccarello. To this day, Zucc remains a fan favorite. Despite being 38, he’s still producing at a high level. Consecutive 54-point seasons with the Wild is proof. It helped that he sometimes played with elite talent. How would an older player fit in with the Rangers? He’ll cost at least $7 million. I doubt he accepts one year.
  4. Anthony Mantha: Coming off surgery that limited him to only 13 games in Calgary, the 31-year-old Mantha landed on his feet in Pittsburgh, where he set career bests in goals (33), assists (31), and points (64) while playing with Evgeni Malkin. One has to think the Pens will keep him. However, he’s going to want a big payday. In a normal year, Mantha is still good for 20-plus goals and 20 assists. There are cheaper options.
  5. Kasperi Kapanen: A secondary player who hasn’t had much success lately, the 29-year-old Kapanen is a good skating forward who brings energy. While not as popular as some of the other free agents, he wouldn’t be a bad addition to the third line. He won’t cost as much.

If you buy into the talk from the Rangers beat reporters that they’re in the market to add a left defenseman, it better not be to sign Mario Ferraro. A physical defensive defenseman who will age poorly due to how he plays, it would be a colossal mistake to sign him. Already not the best skater, can anyone imagine Ferraro in his thirties? Considering what Vegas gave Lauzon, he won’t be cheap.

I’d much rather the Rangers take another crack at trying to acquire Alexander Nikishin. A restricted free agent, the 24-year-old defenseman produced 11 goals and 22 helpers in his rookie season for the Hurricanes. A superb skater who’s a strong possession player, Nikishin is the kind of player the Rangers can use. They reportedly offered a first round pick to try to get him during the draft. Carolina turned down the offer that included multiple picks.

Are the Rangers planning to sign another goalie? Dylan Garand re-signed on a two-way, two-year deal. Perhaps they’re going to add another veteran to compete for the backup position. Maybe that’s Daniil Tarasov. He won 13 games with the Panthers. Like Igor Shesterkin, Tarasov is Russian. It could be a good partnership. Compared to some other goalies, he shoudn’t cost too much.

We’ll see what kind of day it is. The fun just started.

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Rangers Deal Edstrom to Predators on Day Two of the NHL Draft

Posted on June 28, 2026 by Derek

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.

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.

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.

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Rangers Select Defenseman Alberts Smits

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Derek

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.

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.

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.

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Rangers Acquire Dorofeyev in Blockbuster with Vegas

Posted on June 27, 2026 by Derek

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.

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.

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.

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Rangers trade Berard to Canadiens

Posted on June 26, 2026 by Derek

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.

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:

  1. Leafs LW Gavin McKenna
  2. Sharks LW Ivar Stenberg
  3. Canucks C Caleb Malhotra
  4. Sabres C Viggo Bjorck
  5. Rangers D Chase Reid
  6. Flames C Tynan Lawrence
  7. Kraken D Carson Carels
  8. Jets D Alberts Smits
  9. Sharks D Keaton Verhoeff
  10. Predators D Daxon Rudolph

This is a top heavy draft full of promising blue liners. Happy Draft Day!

Bonus prediction: 12. Devils LW Wyatt Cullen

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Rangers Face Important Decisions with 2026 NHL Draft

Posted on June 24, 2026 by Derek

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.

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.

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.

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.

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Canadiens end Sabres’ special season

Posted on May 19, 2026 by Derek

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.

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.

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Desperation Mode Leads to Lightning win in Overtime

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Derek

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.

Now, they’ll have two days off before Game 3 at the Bell Centre on Friday.

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Epic Scenes From Sabres Return to Playoffs

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Derek

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.

Game 2 starts now. What will they do for an encore? If it’s up to the fans, pandemonium in Western New York.

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