Rangers First Round Draft  History: The 1990s

Posted on July 27, 2025 by Derek

When it comes to the NHL Draft, the Rangers haven’t been that successful. Most of their success has come in the later rounds. The best examples are selecting Henrik Lundqvist in the seventh round of 2000 and grabbing Igor Shesterkin in the fourth round of 2014.

Taken with the number 205 pick, Lundqvist went onto a Hall of Fame career. His 459 wins and 64 shutouts are a Rangers franchise record. No Rangers goalie played in more games (887) than King Henrik. In fact, he ranks seventh on the all-time franchise list. Lundqvist also ranks first in saves (23,509), save percentage (.918), and shots against (25,610). His 2.43 goals-against-average places him fifth best in team history.

Coming in right behind him is Shesterkin. In 2014, he was taken with the 118th pick. Since entering the NHL, Shesterkin has been one of the league’s best goalies. Similar to Lundqvist, who won a Vezina in 2011-12, Shesterkin won a Vezina in 2021-22. Fittingly, Lundqvist’s replacement took home the award exactly a decade later. In another irony, he helped backstop the Rangers to the Conference Finals. Unfortunately, like his predecessor, he and the team came up just shy of reaching the Stanley Cup Finals. Both defeats came in six games.

In five years as the starting netminder, Shesterkin has won 162 games with a 2.52 GAA, .917 save percentage, and 21 shutouts. The 29-year-old already ranks fifth on the Rangers franchise list in wins, sixth in GAA, second in save percentage, and tied for eighth in shutouts with Lorne Chabot. Signed for eight more years on a record contract for a goalie ($11.5 million AAV), he’ll continue to climb the ranks for the Blueshirts.

If both Lundqvist and Shesterkin are the franchise’s best picks in recent memory, there have been a lot of swings and misses in the first round over the years.

First Round History: The 1990s

Over their history, the Rangers haven’t always hit it out of the park in the first round. In fact, there have been more disappointments than successes.

Dating back to 1991 when they selected Alexei Kovalev with the number 15 pick, it’s been hit or miss for the Blueshirts. Kovalev remains one of the best first round picks they’ve had over the last four decades. He was instrumental in helping the Rangers win a Stanley Cup in 1994. As a second-year player, he followed up a 23-goal, 56-point season with nine goals and 12 assists for 21 points in the postseason.

Although he never fulfilled his potential in the Big Apple, with Kovalev eventually traded to the Penguins for Petr Nedved, his 430 goals and 599 assists for 1,029 points remains the best by a Rangers first round pick since Hall of Famer Brian Leetch (1,028 points). His best season came with the Pens when he put up 44 goals, 51 assists, and 96 points in 2000-01.

Following the Rangers’ first Cup in 54 years, they swung and missed on many players in the first round. There was Peter Ferraro in 1992. A hyped prospect who had success both for Team USA at the World Junior Championships and at the University of Maine, he lasted eight games in parts of three seasons on Broadway. After only registering an assist as a Ranger, Ferraro finished his brief NHL career with nine goals and 24 points in 92 games.

In 1993, Niklas Sundstrom was selected with the eighth pick by the Blueshirts. He was a responsible two-way forward who had a good career that lasted a decade. Ironically, Sundstrom’s best season came when he posted career highs in goals (24), assists (28), points (52), and plus-minus (23) in 1996-97. He benefited from playing with Wayne Gretzky. During the Rangers’ run to the Conference Finals, he had five assists in nine games.

Sundstrom spent three more seasons in New York City before getting packaged with 1994 first round pick Dan Cloutier along with first and third round picks to move up in the 1999 NHL Draft and select Pavel Brendl at number four. A gamble made by former general manager Neil Smith that didn’t work out. Brendl was a bust who never played a single game for the Rangers. He was eventually sent with Jan Hlavac and Kim Johnsson to the Flyers for Eric Lindros on Aug. 20, 2001. Brendl wasn’t the only mistake Smith made in 1999.

The Lightning traded Sundstrom to the Sharks before he played a game. He spent nearly four years in San Jose continuing to be a dependable secondary scorer. By 2002-03, a declining Sundstrom was dealt to the Canadiens. He spent his final three seasons in Montreal before returning home to Sweden to conclude his career with MODO in the Swedish Elite League. In 750 NHL games, Sundstrom totaled 117 goals with 232 assists for 349 points.

After winning the Cup in 1994, the Rangers took Cloutier with the final pick of Round One. Despite having Mike Richter fresh off a great season, Smith decided to plan for the future in net. Highly regarded, Cloutier debuted in 1997-98 appearing in 12 games. He went 4-5-1 with a 2.50 goals-against-average and .907 save percentage as a rookie. Best remembered for challenging the Islanders bench during a brawl at Nassau Coliseum, he had a good second year for the Rangers. In 22 games, he went 6-8-3 with a 2.68 GAA and .914 save percentage as the backup goalie.

Some even wondered if Cloutier would replace Richter as the team’s starter. Instead, he was traded to the Lightning as part of a failed package for Brendl. Cloutier only lasted two years with Tampa Bay, who dealt him to the Canucks in February 2001. His best success came in Vancouver where he won 30 or more games in three consecutive seasons. Unfortunately, he allowed a bad goal to Nick Lidstrom with the Canucks leading the Red Wings two games to none in the first round of 2002. The Red Wings came back to take the series in six, going on to win the Stanley Cup.

A year later, the Canucks came within a win of reaching the Conference Finals. They blew a 3-1 series lead to the Wild in the second round. Cloutier didn’t perform well over the last three games, allowing 15 goals. Despite rebounding in 2003-04, he was gone two years later when he was traded to the Kings. After struggling in parts of two seasons in LA due to injuries, he retired at 31 in 2010. He finished his career with 139 wins, 15 shutouts, and a 2.77 GAA in 351 games.

After not having a first round pick in 1995 due to acquiring Pat Verbeek from the Whalers, the Rangers completely missed on Jeff Brown in 1996. He never even played an NHL game. He was taken with 22nd pick. The Coyotes grabbed Daniel Briere two picks later.

The following year, Smith had what looked like a good pick by selecting Stefan Cherneski. A promising scorer for the Brandon Wheat Kings in the Western Hockey League, he suffered a fractured right patella in a game for the Hartford Wolf Pack on Nov. 13, 1998. Somehow, Cherneski returned to play for the Wolf Pack after missing nearly two years. Unfortunately, he was never the same. In 28 games, he had one goal and seven assists in 2000-01.

The knee injury forced him to retire. He was only 22. It was a big blow to the Rangers, who were in desperate need of a young player who could finish. Cherneski remains one of the big what ifs. We’ll never know what he might’ve been. That was a brutal era of Rangers hockey. Anything that could go wrong did.

In 1998, the Rangers took Manny Malhotra with the seventh overall pick. Despite not being a big scorer in juniors, Smith liked his checking capability and character. Malhotra went higher than notable first round picks Alex Tanguay, Simon Gagne, and Scott Gomez. If there was a miscalculation by the organization, it was in how they handled Malhotra. At 18, he made the club out of training camp. Malhotra played on the fourth line scoring eight goals and adding eight assists for 16 points in 1998-99. His rookie season created excitement for a team that otherwise was irrelevant under coach John Muckler.

The bright spots were the kids. That same year, Marc Savard had a good year producing nine goals and 36 assists for 45 points. Savard looked to have a lot of potential. If only the organization knew what they were doing.

Not surprisingly, Malhotra struggled in his second year. In fact, he didn’t register a point in 27 games. Eventually, he was sent back to the Guelph Storm in the Ontario Hockey League. After they were eliminated in the first round, Malhotra joined the Wolf Pack for the playoffs in 1999-00. The 19-year-old center was part of a Calder Cup winning team. In 23 games, he scored a goal and added two assists.

Malhotra never established himself as a scorer on Broadway. He was a checking forward who killed penalties. On Mar. 12, 2002, Malhotra was traded to the Stars with Barret Heisten for Martin Rucinsky and Roman Lyashenko. Although he never really established himself in Dallas, Malhotra eventually became a reliable checking pivot for the Blue Jackets. He put up over 30 points twice in Columbus. He continued to be a solid faceoff guy who contributed for the Sharks and Canucks.

Even a serious eye injury didn’t prevent Malhotra from coming back with Vancouver during the Stanley Cup Finals in 2011. He went onto a successful career by playing in 991 games for seven different teams. That included the Hurricanes and Canadiens over his final two seasons. He finished with 116 goals and 179 assists for 295 points.

Since retirement, Malhotra has served as an assistant coach for both the Canucks and Maple Leafs. In 2024-25, he returned to coach the Abbotsford Canucks in the American Hockey League guiding them to a Calder Cup. Who knows. Maybe one day, he’ll become an NHL head coach.

The 1999 Draft Debacle

As I’ve already mentioned, the 1999 Draft was a debacle. Following a disappointing season that concluded with Gretzky playing his final game against the Penguins on Apr. 18, 1999, it was all about the draft for the Blueshirts. What would Smith do?

On June 26, there was a lot of movement in the first round. The biggest moves came from the Canucks who swung separate deals with the Blackhawks and Thrashers to select both the Sedin Twins with the second and third picks. Atlanta wound up selecting Patrik Stefan with the first overall pick. After the Canucks paired up Daniel and Henrik Sedin thanks to some magic from GM Brian Burke, the Rangers moved up to select Brendl at number four.

A big scorer for the Calgary Hitmen in the WHL, the Rangers believed Brendl could become that playing in Manhattan. However, they didn’t do their homework. Despite having a lethal shot that beat WHL goalies for a combined 172 goals in three seasons, Brendl had lazy work habits. Even with a strong showing at the 2001 WJC where he scored four times with six helpers for 10 points for the Czech Republic, the Rangers weren’t prepared for Brendl’s issues. Had they done better research, maybe they would have avoided making such a big move to draft him.

Brendl only appeared in two games for the Wolf Pack during their run to a championship. He never played for the Rangers. When new GM Glen Sather had the chance to make a blockbuster deal for Lindros, he included Brendl in the trade with the Flyers. After scoring his first career goal in eight games during 2001-02, he struggled to establish himself the following season. In 42 games with the Flyers, he had five goals and seven assists for 12 points. Brendl was traded to the Hurricanes for Sami Kapanen.

A year later, he went 5-3-8 in 18 contests with the Canes after putting up 33 points in 33 games for the Lowell Lock Monsters in the AHL. On Dec. 28, 2005, Brendl was traded again. This time, it was to the Coyotes for Krys Kolanos. He only appeared in two games for the Coyotes in 2005-06, failing to put up a point. Sadly, Brendl finished with only 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points in 78 games for his NHL career.

Brendl had more success scoring while playing overseas in both the Swedish Elite League and the Kontinental Hockey League. He spent a decade playing in Europe before retiring following 2015-16. As first round picks go, he remains one of the biggest busts in NHL Draft history.

In that same 1999 Draft, Trader Neil decided to move up by swapping picks with the Flames to acquire number 9. In order to do so, he parted with the promising Savard and number 11 for Hlavac and a third round pick. He moved up two spots to select Jamie Lundmark.

A good player for the Moose Jaw Warriors in the WHL, Lundmark put up 40 goals and 91 points as a 17-year-old. Astonishingly, he once was compared to Steve Yzerman. The Rangers bought into the hype. To be honest, Lundmark played well for the Wolf Pack. In his first pro year, he had 27 goals and 32 assists for 59 points at Hartford. When I was living in Bristol, Connecticut, I even saw him score in overtime to win a game on a breakaway. He had talent. It just didn’t translate.

Unlike Brendl, Lundmark made the Rangers as a 21-year-old. The center appeared in 55 games finishing with eight goals and 11 helpers for 19 points in 2002-03. If there was a mistake, it came the following year. After having a good preseason while shifting the right side to play with former Devil Bobby Holik, Lundmark was buried on the depth chart due to Messier. He never got a fair shake. His mishandling led to a disappointing second season that saw him total just two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 56 games. Making matters worse, they never sent him down. Maybe a stint in Hartford could’ve helped.

In 2004-05, with the NHL season canceled, Lundmark returned to the AHL. In 64 games, he had 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points. He also took a lot of penalties, finishing with 146 penalty minutes. It wasn’t a good season for him. Even though he put up six points in the first round, his days were numbered.

Three games into 2005-06, Lundmark played his last game for the Rangers. After scoring in their first game on a turnaround shot, he played two more games without a point and took three minor penalties. That was it for his Rangers career. In 114 games, he had 11 goals with 19 assists for 30 points with 55 PIM.

On Oct. 18, 2005, Lundmark was traded to the Coyotes for Jeff Taffe. Taffe only appeared in two games without a point for the Rangers. Even if Lundmark was a bust, they got nothing back. Lundmark did alright in his first year with Phoenix. In 38 games, he put up five goals and 13 assists for 18 points. However, the Coyotes dealt him to the Flames for a fourth round pick on Mar. 9, 2006.

An Alberta kid, he went 4-6-10 in 12 games for Calgary. Despite that early success, he couldn’t duplicate it the following season. In 39 games, he only had four assists before the Flames dealt him to the Kings for former number one center Craig Conroy. Lundmark continue to struggle with consistency, only putting up nine points in 29 games in LA. He spent most of the next two years in the AHL.

In 2008-09, the Flames gave him another chance. After putting up close to a point-per-game for Quad City in the American League, Lundmark registered eight goals and eight assists for 16 points in 27 games for the Flames. He also appeared in 2 postseason games. His final stint with Calgary came in 2009-10 when he totaled nine points in 21 games before the Maple Leafs claimed him on waivers. He lasted 15 games in Toronto scoring one final goal with two helpers.

For his career, Lundmark totaled 40 goals and 59 assists for 99 points in 295 games. He also had 204 PIM. The lack of discipline didn’t help him establish himself. Along with the fact that he wasn’t the strongest player, those are the biggest reasons he never became a regular. He didn’t score enough to stick.

Eventually, Lundmark went on to have some success in Austria.

Savard Has Distinguished Career

While Lundmark moved around, Savard went on to have a distinguished career. A good skater with superb vision, he immediately had success with the Flames.

At 22, he scored 22 goals and added 31 assists for 53 points in his first season for Calgary. The 53 points ranked fourth in team scoring, trailing only Valeri Bure, Jarome Iginla, and Phil Housley. The following season, Savard continued to improve by posting 23 goals with 42 assists for 65 points in 2000-01. He ranked second in scoring behind team-leader Iginla.

Following some struggles, Savard was traded to the Thrashers on Nov. 15, 2002. While there in Atlanta, he established himself as one of the best playmaking centers in the league. After putting up close to a point-per-game over his first two years, he exploded in 2005-06. At 28, he scored a career-high 28 goals with 69 assists to establish a new career best in points with 97.

The Bruins signed Savard in the off-season. He continued to produce at an elite level. In 2006-07, Savard had 22 goals and a career-high 74 assists for 96 points to pace the team in scoring. He put up over a point-per-game over the next two seasons. With the Bruins on the rise thanks to signing Zdeno Chara and boasting future stars Patrice Bergeron, Phil Kessel, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, and Brad Marchand, they became one of the league’s best teams.

Unfortunately, injuries limited Savard to 66 combined games over his final two seasons. He had just signed a big seven-year contract extension for $28.15 million to stay in Boston. He suffered a concussion on a dirty hit from former Penguins forward Matt Cooke in a game on Mar. 7, 2010. Astonishingly, he returned for the second round of the postseason even getting an overtime goal against the Flyers. Eventually, the Bruins blew a 3-0 lead to lose the series in seven games.

Following the season, Savard was diagnosed with Post-Concussion Syndrome following the season. When he returned for 2010-11, he wasn’t the same player. A second concussion during the season led to the Bruins shutting him down. At 33, his career was over due to recurring symptoms of PCS. Despite the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup by going into Vancouver and defeating the Canucks 4-0 in Game 7, Savard was unable to travel to celebrate the victory. He took part in the Stanley Cup parade and had his day with the Cup.

Although he didn’t officially retire until 2018, Savard finished a successful career by winning a Cup. The Bruins petitioned the NHL to have his name included on the Cup. In 807 games, Savard had 207 goals with 499 assists for a total of 706 points. In 25 postseason games, he finished with eight goals and 14 assists for 22 points.

There’s no telling how many more goals and assists he could’ve wound up with. One thing is for sure. That trade Smith made will go down as one of the worst in Rangers’ franchise history. Combined with the failed gamble of Brendl, it sealed his fate. Sather would replace Smith in the summer of 2000.

Up Next: The 2000s

When we continue to look at the Rangers’ recent draft history, next up is the 2000s. At the very least, it won’t be as bad. There will be another what if in the next post along with some big misses.

Fasten your seatbelts.

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Rangers Should Wait Before Deciding on Panarin

Posted on July 18, 2025 by Derek

Since he joined the New York Rangers five years ago, when former general manager Jeff Gorton signed Artemi Panarin to the richest contract in franchise history, he’s been well worth the money they paid him.

A dynamic player who combines speed, skill and some finesse, the 33-year-old Panarin has averaged well over a point-per-game as a Ranger. In fact, his 364 assists and 550 points are far and away the most over that span (2019-20 thru 2024-25) by a Blueshirt. Panarin’s 186 goals trail only Chris Kreider (193), who signed off on a trade to the Ducks on Jun. 12. The Bread Man leads Mika Zibanejad by seven goals entering next season. His 364 assists are 58 more than Adam Fox. He has Zibanejad beat by over 100 points in team scoring over the last six seasons.

The Rangers’ highest paid player will enter the final year of his contract this fall. His $11.64 million cap hit remains higher than fellow Russian teammate Igor Shesterkin, who’ll enter the first season of an eight-year contract extension with an AAV of $11.5 million that he signed on Dec. 6 to become the highest paid goalie in NHL history.

Coming off a dismal season that saw them go from winning the Presidents’ Trophy with a franchise record 114 points to failing to qualify for the postseason with 85 points, it would be wise for the Rangers to wait before making a decision on Panarin.

With Mike Sullivan taking over behind the bench, it’s anybody’s guess what the Rangers will look like for the upcoming season.

Despite Gavrikov Addition, Lingering Questions Remain on Blue Line

While team president and general manager Chris Drury had a good day in free agency by signing Vladislav Gavrikov and re-signing Will Cuylle, he subtracted K’Andre Miller from the blue line. Gavrikov should be an upgrade defensively over Miller, but it won’t be easy to replace the minutes the former 2018 first round pick played. Miller was used primarily as a matchup defenseman at five-on-five while also providing strong penalty killing.

For all of Miller’s inconsistencies, he still provided good value as a reliable top four defenseman. By not getting a proven roster player back for Miller, who wasted no time signing an eight-year contract worth $60 million ($7.5 million cap hit) with the Hurricanes, Drury didn’t replace him. With Gavrikov penciled in with Adam Fox on the first pair, lingering questions remain about the blue line.

When he went out and acquired Carson Soucy from the Canucks last March, Drury was banking on Soucy to help stabilize a shaky unit. Instead, the 30-year-old veteran struggled with former coach Peter Laviolette’s man-to-man defensive system. He was a step behind and frequently caught out of position. It was a hard adjustment for a player who’s made a living as a defensive defenseman. Hopefully, Soucy can rebound playing under Sullivan. The question is, is a projected second pair of Soucy and Will Borgen suitable enough to draw the toughest assignments. That remains to be seen.

Assuming Urho Vaakanainen and Braden Schneider remain teamed up on the third pair, both will need to improve their defensive play. Too often, they were pinned in by opponents who exploited the matchup. Despite struggling to get out of the zone consistently, they were on for three more goals (22-19) for than against. If the coaching staff chooses to keep them together, they should have chemistry due to knowing each other’s tendencies.

The wild card is Scott Morrow. Acquired from Carolina as part of the Miller transaction, the 22-year-old prospect is viewed as an offensive defenseman. A former 2021 second round pick, he scored his first career goal while adding five helpers in 14 games for the Hurricanes last season. If the 21 giveaways are any indication, Morrow still needs work defensively.

After playing collegiately at UMass-Amherst, he debuted for the Hurricanes by appearing in two games in 2023-24. He spent most of his first pro season starring for the Chicago Wolves in the American Hockey League (AHL). In 52 games, his 13 goals, 26 assists, and 39 points paced all Wolves’ defensemen in scoring.

At the moment, Morrow and Matthew Robertson should be battling for a roster spot in training camp. Unlike Robertson, who re-signed for two years, Morrow is still on his entry-level contract. A lot could hinge on 2025-26 with him set to become a restricted free agent the following summer.

Given the number of questions surrounding the back end, it’s easy to wonder if Drury did enough to improve the weakest area on the roster. Subtracting Miller without knowing whether or not Morrow can become part of the solution is a big gamble. Essentially, Morrow replaced Zac Jones, who signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Sabres. Based on his offensive production, he looks like an upgrade. However, nobody really knows if he’ll take the next step forward.

Thin Up Front

In assessing forwards, the Rangers are banking on Zibanejad to have a bounce back season. When he shifted over to play the right side on a line with J.T. Miller and Cuylle, Zibanejad was more productive due to less responsibility. If he remains on that line, Zibanejad must get back to producing more consistently. Both Miller and Cuylle can provide more time and space.

Speaking of Miller, he was over a point-per-game after coming over from the Canucks in a trade that sent Filip Chytil and Victor Mancini to Vancouver. To complete the transaction, the Rangers sent a conditional first round pick to the Penguins, who acquired the draft pick in a separate trade with the Canucks for Marcus Pettersson. In doing so, that means Drury held onto his 2026 first round pick. If the Rangers miss the postseason, that could come in handy, with Gavin McKenna available.

In order for the Rangers to be successful, they’ll need Miller to drive the offense. He was brought in to be a difference maker at the center position. A productive player who plays with a lot of edge, the 31-year-old is in his second tour of duty as a Blueshirt. It’ll be interesting to see what he can do over a full season on Broadway.

Cuylle is coming off a strong sophomore year that saw him achieve personal bests with 20 goals, 25 assists, and 45 points. He also scored two shorthanded goals and tied for third in the league with 301 hits. An emerging power forward, the 22-year-old left wing will be looked upon to help offset the loss of Kreider. Even in a down year that saw him riddled with injuries, he still scored 22 goals with four coming shorthanded. That isn’t easily replaced.

After a great 2023-2024 season, the trio of Panarin, Vincent Trocheck, and Alexis Lafreniere were unable to duplicate their success in 2024-25. They still finished with a plus-8 differential, outscoring opponents 36-28 at five-on-five per Natural Stat Trick. Panarin paced the Blueshirts in scoring with 37 goals and 89 points. Trocheck finished with 26 goals and 59 points.

Lafreniere was the biggest disappointment, dropping from 28-29-57 to 17-28-45. He wasn’t the same player following signing a seven-year contract extension worth $52.15 million ($7.45 million AAV) on Oct. 25. The former 2020 top pick is at a crossroads in his career. A couple of days into the new season, he’ll turn 24. The pressure is on Lafreniere to perform up to his new contract. There are no more excuses. He must take his game up a notch. It’s do or die for Lafreniere.

If the top six can provide more consistent scoring at even strength, then the issue becomes about their depth. If Zibanejad is really moving permanently off center, then Juuso Parssinen is the projected third line center. A young player who both the Predators and Avalanche gave up on, Parssinen has 20 goals and 33 assists for 53 points in 133 career games. His best output came in 2022-23 when he tallied six goals and 19 assists for 25 points as a 21-year-old rookie for Nashville. Now 24, he’s being asked to play a bigger role on Broadway. In 11 games following the trade that sent Ryan Lindgren to Colorado, he had two goals and three assists.

With Drury signing Taylor Raddysh, the veteran could find himself on the third line with Parssinen and former 2021 first round pick Brennan Othmann. Othmann still is without a goal in 25 career games. He put up two assists in 22 games last season. At this critical juncture, nobody knows what he is. He’s a good skater who likes to finish checks and attack the net. He’s capable of finding open teammates on the forecheck. Obviously, the Rangers need him to stick. He’s going to have a role in the top nine to start the season. Hopefully, Sullivan can find out what he’s got.

Then, there’s the fourth line. Both Sam Carrick and Jonny Brodzinski are capable of centering it. Each play the game hard, with Carrick a bit grittier while Brodzinski is more skilled. If Parssinen doesn’t work out on the third line, Brodzinski can move up to center it due to his versatility.

Adam Edstrom is coming back off surgery. He might not be ready at the start of the season. Matt Rempe looks like a lock on the fourth line. He made some strides following the eight-game suspension for the illegal hit on Miro Heiskanen. Brett Berard looks likely to play on the checking line with either Carrick or Brodzinski, and Rempe. The fourth line shouldn’t be a problem. These guys have played together and understand their roles.

If there is a big question, it’s who’s going to chip in offensively on the third line. Raddysh is the only established player. He had one good season when he scored 20 goals while playing for the Blackhawks. He did alright in a supporting role for the Capitals last season, going 7-20-77. In seven games in the postseason, he had one assist. He’ll give an honest effort. Just don’t expect too much offense.

At the moment, the Rangers look very thin up front. Unless Zibanejad shifts back to center, and top prospect Gabriel Perreault cracks the roster in the top nine, the offense is going to struggle to score consistently. The same problem they had last season.

Why They Should Wait on Panarin

Even if Shesterkin provides the big saves, the Rangers might be forced to win a lot of low scoring games. The defense looks like a work in progress, which doesn’t exactly inspire too much confidence.

When Panarin celebrates his 34th birthday on Oct. 30, they should have a better idea in what kind of roster they have. If they wait on Panarin, they can then determine if he’s going to be worth keeping. Much depends on whether they are a playoff caliber team. Would you be comfortable committing at least four more years and between $40 to 50 million dollars on a 35-year-old forward if they aren’t a playoff contender? That money can be better used on someone younger who’s in their prime.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that any stars of the potential 2026 free agent class will become available. Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel can sign contract extensions. So can Kirill Kaprizov and Kyle Connor.

Of all the players listed, Kaprizov is the one who could leave. The Wild haven’t proven that they’re capable of surrounding him with enough talent to compete for a Stanley Cup. Kaprizov is a younger and stronger version of Panarin. Arguably a top five offensive player, he has all the tools for a team to build around. He also plays the left side like Panarin. In other words, if he were available, Kaprizov would be the player for the Rangers to target.

Does Bread Man Want to Stay?

Undoubtedly, Panarin’s been very successful as a New York Ranger. He’s been their top offensive player who drives play at both five-on-five and on the power play.

The Rangers have made two Conference Finals appearances since he joined them. His most memorable goal came in sudden death when he scored the power play series clincher that eliminated the Pens in the first round in 2022. He finished with 16 points during that run.

In 2024, Panarin notched four game-winners after putting up a career-high 49 goals. He had five goals with 10 assists for 15 points. However, his offense dried up against the stingy Panthers in the third round. His only goal came with Shesterkin on the bench in Game 6. The Cats blanketed Panarin, Zibanejad, and Kreider, limiting them to two goals in the series.

If he wants to stay put in the Big Apple, would the Bread Man be open to taking a home discount so they can have more money available to improve the roster next year? By that, I mean taking one less year and between 9 to 10 million. If that interests him, then by all means they should try to get it done.

However, if they are able to keep Panarin, the organization must have a plan to construct the roster around someone else. It’s hard to envision Panarin ever hitting 49 goals and 120 points again. But can he get back to 100 points? That largely depends on how his linemates perform along with the power play. The latter went in the tank last year, plummeting near the bottom of the league. Perhaps Sullivan and his coaching staff which includes former Rangers bench boss David Quinn, can make some improvements to the man-advantage.

With not much happening during the summer heatwave, the organization has plenty of time to decide on Panarin. It shouldn’t be about the present anymore. They must think outside the box. The team’s future depends on it.

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Rangers Open Centennial Season Against Pens, NHL Misses Mark on Schedule

Posted on July 17, 2025 by Derek

On Wednesday, the NHL released the official schedule for the upcoming 2025-26 season. All 32 teams were included with each highlighting their home opener.

As expected, the Maple Leafs will host the Canadiens to begin the season. It’s been a league tradition to have the best hockey rivalry kick things off. In another heated rivalry, the Battle of Alberta will commence when the Oilers host the Flames on Wednesday, Oct. 8.

The first day of the upcoming season will be on Tuesday, Oct. 7. A tripleheader on ESPN will feature the two-time defending champion Panthers taking on the Blackhawks. That’ll be followed by the Rangers hosting the Penguins. The final game has the Kings playing host to the Avalanche.

Rangers to Play 12 Back-To-Backs

After taking on the Sidney Crosby Pens in a battle that features new head coach Mike Sullivan facing his former team who he guided to two Stanley Cups, the Rangers will visit the Sabres on Oct. 9 before visiting the Pens on Oct. 11.

The first month of the season heats up with key matchups against the Capitals, Maple Leafs and Canadiens. The Blueshirts will also see the Oilers twice over a 16-day span, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl paying a visit to Madison Square Garden on Oct. 14. The Rangers will conclude October at Edmonton on Oct. 30, as part of a four-game Western swing. The road trip concludes at Seattle on Nov. 1 where they’ll see familiar faces, Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren.

While some teams got nailed with tougher schedules in what’s an Olympic season, the Rangers have a manageable 12 back-to-backs. They are as follow:

  1. Nov. 7-8 at Red Wings and vs. Islanders
  2. Nov. 15-16 at Blue Jackets and vs. Red Wings
  3. Nov. 28-29 at Bruins and vs. Lightning
  4. Dec. 6-7 vs. Avalanche and Golden Knights
  5. Dec. 15-16 vs. Ducks and Canucks
  6. Dec. 20-21 vs. Flyers and at Predators
  7. Jan. 19-20 at Ducks and at Kings
  8. Jan. 28-29 at Islanders and vs. Islanders
  9. Mar. 9-10 at Flyers and vs. Flames
  10. Mar. 18-19 vs. Devils and at Blue Jackets
  11. Mar. 22-23 vs. Jets and Senators
  12. Apr. 4-5 vs. Red Wings and Capitals

The Disappointing Part of Schedule

If there’s one area that the NHL is missing the mark on, it’s the lack of emphasis on rivalries.

Our blog is titled the Battle of Hudson due to the intense disdain between the Rangers and Devils. That’s especially true for the fans of the Hudson rivalry, which has been around since the 1990s. It was around that time when it peaked. Both teams won Cups and battled during both the regular season and postseason.

While each side’s past stars who built the rivalry into one of the best are long retired, with some even working upstairs, there’s new faces that have made the games interesting to watch. Even if it’s no longer Brodeur, Richter, Stevens, Leetch, Niedermayer, Messier, you have fresh faces in Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt and Nico Hischier leading the way for New Jersey against established stars, Artemi Panarin, Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin.

Somehow, the Rangers and Devils won’t see each other until March. Following the Olympic break, they’ll meet three times over a four-week span. The Devils have the first game at The Prudential Center on Mar. 7. The Rangers will then host the Devils on Mar. 18. The final matchup takes place on Mar. 31 at The Garden. Astonishingly, those are the only three times they’ll face off during the regular season.

It’s disappointing that there aren’t more rivalry games guaranteed over the 82-game schedule. It seems like the league would rather have more meaningless games when teams see the other conference twice a year. In what world should the Rangers and Devils battle the Oilers one fewer time than facing each other?

There’s no logic to it. It makes about as much sense as the proposed increase to an 84-game schedule, which will further lengthen the season beginning in 2026-27.

What would you expect from a league that wants to expand to 34 teams, with failed markets Atlanta and Phoenix likely destinations? All they see is the revenue. Not that it’ll further dilute the talent pool.

A Possible Solution

I’ve been a big proponent of changing the schedule to highlight more rivalry games inside the division. In an 82-game season, shouldn’t division rivals play each other more than 3-4 times? It’s absurd.

Even if the Rangers battle the other seven teams inside the Metropolitan Division four times, that only totals 28 games out of 82. That isn’t enough during the season. That Apr. 11 game against the Stars really carries a lot of significance. Imagine if they actually cared about having meaningful hockey at the end of the season. That would be like promoting the game’s best players. Who’s running things? The Rangers PR staff.

If the league wants to get it right, then they should correct a wrong. It’s simple. Divisional rivals should meet six times a year. There are eight teams in each division. That would put more emphasis on division races. Where those valuable extra points matter most. If they played each other half a dozen times, that would total 42 games.

In the same conference, you should still play each team in the other division three times. That would total 24 games – leaving 16 for the other conference. Instead of facing teams outside your conference twice, it should only be once a season, with teams alternating home games.

Most notably, if they went to that schedule, it would total exactly 82 games while emphasizing more familiar opponents inside each division and conference. That would make the playoff race better for both the players and the fans.

Centennial Season Should Recognize Rangers’ Past

For the Rangers, it marks their centennial season. A century ago, they entered the league in 1926-27. Under Lester Patrick, they won the franchise’s first Cup in 1927-28 by defeating the Montreal Maroons in five games. Frank Boucher led all scorers with four goals. Bill Cook had a goal and assist. Brother Bun Cook helped form the famed Bread Line.

Ironically, the current Rangers’ best scorer is nicknamed the Bread Man. Panarin gets a lot more press than two of the franchise’s all-time greats ever have. Both Boucher and Bill Cook deserve to be recognized. Instead, they have been all but forgotten by the Rangers, who too often act like their franchise history originated in 1994.

Look how long it took them to honor Andy Bathgate, Harry Howell, Jean Ratelle, and Vic Hadfield. They never even honored former legendary coach and general manager Emile “Cat” Francis. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1982 as a builder. Sadly, Francis passed away on Feb. 19, 2022. He was 95.

If they were more keyed in on the actual history, the Rangers should recognize their past during the centennial season. If only they really cared.

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Devils make incremental progress in FA week, still work to be done

Posted on July 4, 2025 by hasan4978

As far as expected outcomes, I suppose this free agency weekend was the best-case scenario for the Devils, all things considered. I wasn’t expecting any big moves given the Devils don’t seem to be in any hurry to clear up cap space, albeit a lot of that is out of their control due to the fact that the team had to wait until July 1 for Dougie Hamilton’s bonus to be paid and for his NMC to turn into a 10-team trade list before even realistically fielding offers for him, if they even are given the injury to Jonathan Kovacevic will have him out through the start of the season as least. They don’t seem to be in any hurry to offload Ondrej Palat – or teams aren’t in any hurry to acquire him – so the fact the Devils even did as much as they did on Tuesday is kind of surprising to be honest.

Let’s start with the biggest addition in terms of cap hit – right winger Connor Brown, who signed a four year, $12 million deal and should slot in somewhere in the middle six though it’ll be interesting to see how coach Sheldon Keefe works his lines, given that they already have middle six RW’s in Stefan Noesen and Dawson Mercer – assuming the latter isn’t traded at some point this offseason anyway. Keefe did have Brown when he was in Toronto for the first part of his career so presumably this is a coach-endorsed move and he’ll know what he wants out of him (and the rest of the roster). In the early part of his career, Brown was a top six player but after a major injury in 2022 and struggling mightily in his first season back in 2023-24, Brown improved and had a 13-goal, 30-point season in Edmonton with five goals and nine points in the Oilers’ playoff run this year.

Perhaps the most surprising signing – at least to me – was picking up Evgenii Dadonov from the Stars, not really in terms of the signing itself but more the terms of the deal itself – an incentive-laden one year, $1 million contract. To me it’s kind of stunning a guy who had twenty goals and forty points in the regular season signed for that low on the first day of FA, even if he is 36 years old and had a dreadful playoffs (one goal and four points in sixteen games). Clearly the latter factors kept his price tag down, and if we paid big money for this guy I’d be doing a lot more hand-wringing over the deal. Maybe not having as much cap space as in prior years did make Fitz a smarter GM, heh. Presumably Dadonov will also serve as a bit of a mentor to young Russian Arseny Gritsyuk, who’s expected to finally be in the NHL this year after years in the KHL. He’s listed as a RW on Hockey Reference but shoots lefty so perhaps that’s where he’ll slot in, to an area where we need a bit more depth.

In a way, the Devils’ other big move was a surprise and yet it wasn’t, retaining Jake Allen with a…interesting contract structure, signing the 35-year old to a 5 year, $9 million deal. I was barely listening to the NHLN/Sportsnet show on deadline day (again not expecting much in terms of movement for the Devils, or even league-wide with the depressed FA pool) and I did a double-take when I heard Allen’s contract get described as a five-year deal, unsure if I heard that right.

To be clear, Allen did leave money on the table with this team-friendly deal, or to be more precise he traded up front money for stability and security, which not everyone does in FA. As the top goaltending option with contenders that need upgrades in net – cough Edmonton – I figured he’d get silly money on a short-term deal and given the fact we’ve been selecting goalie after goalie in the draft for years, it was about time to go to one as our backup to Jacob Markstrom. Clearly Fitz and Allen had other plans though, working out this deal even before FA’s official start at noon on Tuesday.

While I do wonder what we start doing with all these goalies we’ve been drafting the last few years presumably to take a 1B role before being entrusted with a 1A role, and have my questions about Allen going forward – his play (like most of the team) did dip late in the season, plus he’s had a bit of a streaky career though he’s been mostly good as a Devil – you can’t help but root for the guy now when you see how much he wanted to stay. You also do think there’s something to the culture aspect Fitz talks about when you see player after player taking less to stay here. Even Allen’s admission after the signing that he’d never been through FA before was stunning, and he’s been in the league a lot of years for three different teams. How many guys go through a career as long as he’s had and never elect to go to FA?

Oh and I almost forgot the Devils’ other move of note, first qualifying then signing deadline acquisition Cody Glass to a two year, $5 million ($2.5 million per) deal. You could even argue Glass left money on the table not going to arbitration since he re-signed for his arb number and could well have gotten awarded higher on a one-year deal. He is what he is, a bottom six center who gets injured but can provide points when he is in the lineup.

At this point while Fitz hasn’t altered the roster quite as much as any of us – or maybe even he – wanted just yet, these are at least good moves on paper, a decent start to the offseason. As of now our only losses from last year’s team (if you want to call them that) are Erik Haula, who was dumped to the old folks’ home in Nashville before the draft and Curtis Lazar, whose personality will be missed but his game clearly suffered after trying to play through his own lower-body issue last year. Perhaps what’s more encouraging than the moves themselves is the tacit admission both with some of these signings and their draft picks that Fitz is correcting course a little bit and prioritizing skill after going overboard adding size and grit last offseason and draft. It was nice not to care about the draft this year with our first pick being in the latter part of the second round as opposed to in the lottery, but it did seem from all accounts Fitz took more upside plays than he did last year. Guess only time will tell which approach of his – if either – works better.

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Rangers Land Gavrikov, Sign Cuylle, and trade K’Andre Miller to Hurricanes

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Derek

It was an eventful Canada Day in the hockey world. While the Golden Knights made the biggest splash by trading and signing former Maple Leaf Mitch Marner, the area locals were quieter by comparison.

Even as the Rangers landed their number one target in former LA King Vladislav Gavrikov to shore up the blue line, where he’ll pair up with Adam Fox, they made bigger headlines later that day.

It had long been speculated that they weren’t bringing back restricted free agent K’Andre Miller. Unwilling to commit long-term on a polarizing player who showed flashes during his first five years in the Big Apple, they took a risk by agreeing to trade Miller to the division rival Hurricanes in exchange for a package that included a conditional first round pick, plus a second round pick in 2026, along with Scott Morrow.

The deal was contingent on Miller signing an extension with the Hurricanes. They hammered out an eight-year contract with a $7.5 million cap hit. They’re banking on the 25-year-old defenseman to make the necessary adjustments to become the player most scouts believe has a higher ceiling.

Unfortunately, he was inconsistent over the past two seasons after achieving personal bests in goals (9), assists (34), and points (43) under former Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant in 2022-23. For whatever reason, he never improved under Peter Laviolette the last two years.

Miller was even very critical of his  performance. He admitted at one point during 2024-25 that he let the noise get to him. There certainly were a lot of distractions that derailed last season. It doesn’t matter anymore.

Miller will now move to the next chapter of his career with Carolina. If any coach can fix him, it’s the detail oriented Rod Brind’Amour whose structured system has turned around other players, including Brady Skjei. He left Raleigh for Nashville last year and struggled mightily on the dysfunctional Predators.

The Hurricanes seem to be able to plug players into their system without any problem. With Miller, it’s more between the ears. You know the talent is there. But he doesn’t always make the best decisions. It’ll be interesting to follow him in Carolina. Maybe he’ll finally figure it out. For the Rangers’ sake, let’s hope not.

As far as the return goes, it’s similar to draft pick compensation when a team signs a player to an offer sheet. The Hurricanes didn’t have a third round pick. So, they had to get creative by sending Morrow over to the Rangers to complete the deal.

Morrow is a 22-year-old offensive defenseman who the Hurricanes selected in the second round in 2021. In parts of two seasons, he has a goal and five assists for six points in 16 career games. Currently, he projects as the seventh defenseman behind Urho Vaakanainen and Carson Soucy. He put up 13 goals and 26 assists for 39 points over 52 games for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL (American Hockey League).

In what was the most important news of the day, the Rangers signed key restricted free agent forward Will Cuylle to a two-year deal with a $3.9 million cap hit. They avoided any complications by getting it done before a team could sign him to an offer sheet. Something that loomed as a strong possibility if you believe Larry Brooks.

In his second year, Cuylle posted career highs in goals (20), assists (25), points (45), and plus/minus (15) while playing in all 82 games. He scored twice on the power play and posted his first two shorthanded goals. Thirty-nine of the 45 points he put up came at even strength. Cuylle led the Blueshirts with 301 hits, which tied him for third in the league.

With the organization moving on from Chris Kreider, who was dealt to the Ducks on Jun. 12, Cuylle becomes Kreider’s replacement. A gritty player with a nose for the net, he should start on a line with J.T. Miller and Mika Zibanejad. They found some chemistry while playing together towards the conclusion of the season.

Cuylle could also slot in on the top power play unit, depending upon what new bench boss Mike Sullivan wants to see. He wasn’t a big fan of Miller, which led to him being traded yesterday.

One thing to like about the 23-year-old Cuylle is the strong work ethic he possesses. He’s a tenacious player who brings a lot to each shift, including his strong combination of skating and physicality.

Cuylle could supplant Kreider on the top penalty killing unit alongside Zibanejad. That would be a good fit. He played mostly with Vincent Trocheck last season. Trocheck paced the club with six shorthanded goals.

All in all, Chris Drury did okay on Tuesday. He filled a need by signing Gavrikov for seven years with an AAV of $7 million.

The 29-year-old left defenseman played extremely well for the Kings. After coming over from the Blue Jackets on Mar. 1, 2023, he became a shutdown player for LA.

After posting six goals, 17 assists, and 23 points in 2023-24, Gavrikov put together his best season by registering five goals with 25 assists for 30 points and a career-high plus-26 rating in 2024-25. He averaged over 23 minutes per game while blocking 140 shots.

He’s a good skating defenseman who should be an upgrade for Fox over former defense partner Ryan Lindgren. Lindgren wound up signing with the Kraken for four years with an $4.5 million AAV yesterday. Gavrikov was considered the top free agent defenseman on the market. Once Ivan Provorov re-signed with the Blue Jackets for more money (7×$8.5 million), it was obvious that Gavrikov would land in NYC. Emily Kaplan had reported it first.

Drury then got Cuylle done for a reasonable bridge deal. The Rangers couldn’t afford to wait. If a team had offered him over $5 million, they might’ve been forced to take the compensation due to their cap situation.

After finally executing the sign and trade that sent Miller to Carolina for a good return, Drury added veteran forward depth by inking Taylor Raddysh to a two-year deal for a $1.5 million AAV.

Raddysh isn’t exactly someone to get excited about. He was okay for the Capitals, putting up seven goals and 20 assists for 27 points. He’s a bottom six forward, whose best season came with the Blackhawks when he had 20 goals and 37 points in 2022-23.

If you’re asking me point blank, I’d rather see Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard play over him on a projected third line with Juuso Parssinen.

They also signed former Devil Justin Dowling. He’s probably ticketed for Hartford.

In related news, Zac Jones signed with the Sabres for a one-year, two-way deal. He wasn’t qualified by the Rangers. I hope it works out for him in Buffalo.

Arthur Kaliyev wasn’t qualified either. He remains unsigned.

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Rangers Re-Sign Rempe and Robertson

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Derek

On the summer solstice, the Rangers were in the news for the second time in three days. They agreed to terms on a two-year contract with restricted free agent Matthew Robertson earlier today.

The first year of the deal is two-way, with Robertson able to still play for the Hartford Wolf Pack. The second year of the deal is one-way. That means if he’s still around the following season, Robertson won’t be eligible to be sent down.

Originally selected with the number 49 pick in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft, the 24-year-old defenseman finally made his Broadway debut this past season. In two games, he finished with a plus-3 rating. It remains to be seen if Robertson is in the Rangers’ plans. However, he will remain with the organization making the league minimum ($775,000).

Rempe Re-Ups for Two Years

In related news, the Rangers re-signed restricted free agent Matt Rempe. His new contract is for two years with a $975,000 cap hit.

A former sixth round pick selected 165th overall in 2020, the 22-year-old Rempe established himself as a hard-working player on the fourth line. Known for his physicality due to big hits and fisticuffs, Rempe showed improvement in the second half of the season by setting career highs in goals (3), assists (5), and points (8). He also finished a plus-7 in 42 games.

After serving an eight-game suspension for an illegal hit from behind on Stars defenseman Miro Heiskanen, Rempe made an adjustment to his aggressive game. For the most part, he played within the boundaries to become a more trusted player under former Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette. He cut down on going out of his way to hit defenseless players who were in a vulnerable position.

Aside from showing the ability to learn on the fly, he also demonstrated that he could become a factor on the forecheck. His skating improved enough for that to happen. It even led to Rempe scoring on a breakaway in a 5-1 win over the Islanders on Feb. 25. A game in which he finished a plus-3.

Unlike the beginning of his career, Rempe didn’t fight as much in 2024-25. In fact, he only had two majors over the final three months. Unlike 2023-24 when he had five fighting majors in 17 games, Rempe finished with just four fights in 42 games. Instead, he stuck to playing hockey by picking his spots when he went to finish a check.

In order for him to stick, he’ll have to continue to do that. It’ll be interesting to see how he fits in new Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan’s plans.

Changes Are Coming

As a busy off-season continues to approach, with some teams already making some noise via trades and early signings, which won’t become official until July 1, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury continues to work the phones.

It’s no secret that Drury wants to keep making changes to a roster that got stale. It was eight days ago that Chris Kreider signed off on a trade to the Ducks. He joined former teammates Barclay Goodrow, Jacob Trouba, Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Ryan Lindgren, and Jimmy Vesey as key players that relocated over the last year. All seven appeared in the Eastern Conference Final in 2023-24.

K’Andre Miller could become the next domino to fall. A key restricted free agent, the 25-year-old defenseman is expected to price himself out of the Big Apple. Following an inconsistent season that saw him make $4.65 million with a $3.87 million cap hit, Miller reportedly wants to sign a long-term deal that could pay him more than the organization thinks he’s worth.

Despite Miller being the only candidate to join Adam Fox on the top pair, the Rangers have been holding trade discussions. If you believe Frank Seravalli, as many as a dozen teams believed to be interested in acquiring Miller. On Seravalli’s updated top 35 players list of trade targets, Miller’s ranked number 4.

If Miller had shown improvement in his fifth season, he wouldn’t be available. The primary concern of the organization is defending better in front of Igor Shesterkin. There were too many instances when opponents were allowed to roam free, leading to Shesterkin’s numbers ballooning to a career worst 2.86 goals-against-average and a career low .905 save percentage in 61 starts. No goalie faced more shots (1751) or made more saves (1584) than Shesterkin in 2024-25.

The Blueshirts are expected to be in on free agent defensemen Vladislav Gavrikov and Ivan Provorov. Gavrikov is a lot better than Provorov, who’s a year and a half younger. Gavrikov will turn 30 in late November. If they sign him, there’s always the risk of committing too many years and dollars to a player who’ll be entering their 30s. Gavrikov had a $5.875 million cap hit with the Kings. He’s going to be seeking a long-term deal in the neighborhood of $8 to 9 million per season. Isn’t that exactly what the Rangers did with Trouba under former GM Jeff Gorton? At least they got two playoff runs out of the former captain.

Between now and the first day of free agency, there are going to be a lot of rumors. Make sure they’re from reputable sources.

Devils Unload Haula to Predators

In an easy move from their vantage point, the Devils were able to trade Erik Haula to the Predators in exchange for a 2025 fourth round pick and minor league defenseman Jeremy Hanzel on Wednesday.

In three seasons with the Devils, Haula was a solid contributor. His first two years were similar, with Haula recording 14 goals and 27 assists for 41 points in 2022-23, and 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points in 2023-24. He was excellent on faceoffs, winning over 52 percent in all three years. He also was a good penalty killer, scoring three shorthanded goals as a Devil.

His best moment came during the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Haula tallied four goals and two assists for six points in the Devils’ seven-game series win over the Rangers. That included a big goal in Game 7 that put the series away on May 1, 2023.

In 2024-25, Haula saw his numbers decline. He had 11 goals and 10 assists for 21 points in 69 games. In the Devils’ first round series loss to the Hurricanes, Haula had one assist.

With a year remaining on his contract, he was a primary candidate for team president and general manager Tom Fitzgerald to offload. That’s exactly what he did, dumping the $3.15 million salary on the Predators. It’ll be the second time in Haula’s career that he’ll join the Predators. He also spent a year in Nashville in 2020-21.

The Devils are expected to try to dump the contract of Dougie Hamilton. He has three years remaining with an expensive $9 million AAV that doesn’t expire until 2028. They’ll probably have to pick up a portion to find a taker.

Luke Hughes is a big restricted free agent. He’s expected to get a significant contract this summer.

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Rangers Trade Kreider to Ducks

Posted on June 12, 2025 by Derek

In what amounted to a salary dump, the Rangers officially moved on from Chris Kreider. As was reported on Tuesday, Kreider was traded to the Ducks in exchange for prospect Carey Terrance. The teams also agreed to a mid-round pick swap in the upcoming 2025 NHL Draft. The Ducks sent a third round pick to the Rangers in exchange for a fourth round pick.

After taking a day to think about it, Kreider decided to waive his modified no-trade clause. The Ducks had been on his 15-team no-trade list. My guess is that he realized that moving on was the best outcome for him and the Rangers. Especially after how he was treated by Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury. Once Drury leaked the memo to the rest of the league that made Kreider available last November, his days were numbered. It was like walking on eggshells. He didn’t speak to the media after games the rest of the season.

Kreider decided to follow Jacob Trouba to Anaheim. It was last Dec. 6 that Drury forced Trouba to accept a deal to the Ducks for Urho Vaakanainen and conditional 2025 fourth round pick. He was threatened with being placed on waivers by the narcissistic Drury. Had that happened, Trouba would’ve been designated for assignment to the Hartford Wolf Pack.

That’s how Drury operates. He doesn’t care how bad it looks. After screwing up last summer with both Trouba and Barclay Goodrow, Drury was desperate to get out of those contracts. It’s his way or the highway. It didn’t matter that the 2023-24 New York Rangers had plenty of success by winning a Presidents’ Trophy before losing to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Panthers in the Eastern Conference Final. Drury completely sabotaged the 2024-25 season due to his inflated ego. It created unnecessary distractions off the ice which affected the team’s performance.

In dealing away Kreider, Drury was able to get the Ducks to absorb the entire $6.5 million cap hit that has two years remaining. He cared more about freeing up necessary cap space than getting a better return. Had the Rangers retained 20 percent of Kreider’s remaining salary, they actually could’ve gotten better value back. Not in Drury’s world. It’s all about July 1. I don’t know what they have planned. But it better not involve using the money on a veteran who’ll enter their 30s over the long-term. That’s exactly what they’ve been trying to escape. See Zibanejad, Mika. Kreider’s close personal friend has a full no-movement clause on a contract that doesn’t expire until 2030. Good luck convincing him to waive it.

If they’re going to improve, it’ll involve drafting and developing better players. They still don’t know what Brennan Othmann is. He remains without a goal in 25 career games. The 2021 first round pick is essential to the team’s future. Unless they’re going to package him for a restricted free agent (J.J. Peterka, Marco Rossi, Gabe Vilardi, Morgan Geekie), which would mean further weakening a weak farm system, it’s hard to envision the Blueshirts without both Othmann and Gabriel Perreault as part of the new core moving forward.

In adding the 20-year-old Terrance, the Rangers are hoping that he can become part of the team’s future. Terrance is viewed as a two-way center who projects as a third line player that can kill penalties. His offense stagnated for the Eerie Otters in 2024-25. He went from scoring 29 goals and adding 23 assists in 2023-24 to putting up 20 goals and 19 assists in 2024-25. Terrance didn’t play as many games. He scored twice for Team USA in their run to the gold medal at the 2025 World Junior Championships.

Considering that they lack centers in the system, let’s hope that Terrance pans out. He signed his entry-level contract with the Ducks in April. He’s ready for the next chapter in his career. Selected by Anaheim with the 59th pick in 2023, Terrance is listed at six-foot-one, 186 pounds. He’s most effective in a North/South style. That sounds like most USA Hockey players. They emphasize getting pucks deep and generating scoring chances off the forecheck. That’s the direction the Rangers should go. They must become harder to play against. There was too many one and done last season.

Emotional Kreider Says Goodbye

On a conference call with reporters, an emotional Kreider said goodbye to the only organization he’s known.

“I think I’ve kind of gone through the spectrum of emotions: anger, sadness, grief. Whatever you want to call it. But I keep on arriving at gratitude for how I was treated, the opportunities I was given, for the connections I was able to make, the relationships, the friendships, the experiences I was able to have: playing in front of that fanbase, at that arena, playing in some of the games I was able to play in. Stuff that is so memorable and means so much and stuff that I’ll take with me for the rest of my life.”

Kreider also appreciated how it was handled. “There was a lot of communication from Rangers’ management, Chris Drury in particular, about where they stood.”

“It was done in a really respectful fashion by the New York Rangers.”

End Of An Era

When he scored his 326th goal and picked up his 256th assist against the Lightning on Apr. 17, Kreider likely knew that was it as a Blueshirt. It was a fitting conclusion to his final game as a New York Ranger.

He finished his Rangers career with the third most goals (326) in franchise history. He’s tied with Camille Henry for the most power-play goals (116). His 50 game-winning goals place second behind Rod Gilbert. He finished with 13 shorthanded goals to rank fourth on the franchise list. Zibanejad to Kreider became a theme on the penalty kill. Even in a down year in which he only had 22 goals and eight assists, Kreider finished with four shorthanded goals, trailing team leader Vincent Trocheck (6).

It truly is the end of an era. When he joined the team straight out of college after winning a national championship for Boston College, Kreider scored five goals during the Rangers’ run to their first Eastern Conference Final since 1997. He showed a lot of poise and maturity during that run in 2012.

Two years later, Kreider was front and center in a six-game triumph over the Canadiens in the Conference Finals. He led all Rangers forwards with three goals and five assists for eight points in helping them reach the Stanley Cup Finals.

A year later, with things looking bleak against the Capitals, Kreider delivered one of his biggest goals. With the Caps protecting a 1-0 lead, Kreider buried a Derek Stepan feed to tie the score in Game 5 of the second round. At the time, the Rangers were staring elimination in the face with less than two minutes left in their season. That all changed when Kreider scored with 1:46 remaining. A Stepan drop pass led to Ryan McDonagh scoring in overtime to save the Rangers season. They rallied from a 3-1 deficit to come back and take the series in seven games. Stepan notched the winner in overtime of Game 7.

When I think of Chris Kreider, I’m reminded of that night. There were a lot of emotions in the building on May 8, 2015. It felt like they needed a miracle. Stepan to Kreider provided it. It’s still fondly remembered by many diehard fans.

Kreider provided us with his memorable natural hat trick against the Hurricanes on May 16, 2024. It looked like the Rangers were in trouble. After grabbing the first three games of the second round series, they couldn’t put the pesky Hurricanes away. Carolina was a period away from forcing a deciding seventh game. But Kreider had other ideas. With the Rangers trailing the Hurricanes 3-1, he sparked a four-goal third period.

The turnaround started innocently enough when Kreider was able to stuff in a rebound past Frederik Andersen that cut it to 3-2. On the power play, he was parked in front when he tipped in an Artemi Panarin shot to tie the score with 8:06 left. A few minutes later, with the game on the line, Kreider put away a rebound of a Ryan Lindgren wrap-around to get the series clincher with 4:19 remaining. A Goodrow empty netter sealed the stunning victory with less than a minute left.

Ironically, none of these players are left. Goodrow was unceremoniously dumped by Drury in an underhanded waiver deal to the Sharks, who were on Goodrow’s no-trade list last year. Lindgren was traded to the Avalanche in a five-player deal on Mar. 1.

Now, Kreider is off to the Ducks to try to help them return to the playoffs, alongside former teammates Trouba, Ryan Strome, and Frank Vatrano. All of which were members of the 2021-22 roster that also went to the Conference Finals. In that one, the Rangers blew a 2-0 series lead to the two-time defending champion Lightning in an excruciating six-game defeat. There’ll be a reunion in Southern California this fall.

Kreider A Duck

The next time Kreider plays, it’ll be as a Duck. He’ll wear the familiar No. 20 in those cool bright orange jerseys with the original Ducks logo. It’ll definitely be strange.

In an interview with Ducks host Alexis Downie, he said he was excited about the direction of the team. That will include playing for new Ducks coach Joel Quenneville. The less said about that, the better. I am not exactly thrilled that Quenneville is back behind the bench. But he was reinstated by the NHL.

I’m curious to see who Kreider will play with. The Ducks boast some really good centers. That includes Leo Carlsson, Strome, and Trevor Zegras. Kreider and Strome didn’t play together on Broadway. I’m not sure they will in Anaheim. I kind of like the idea of Kreider with Zegras on a second line. We’ll see what Queeneville decides.

Good Luck, Kreids

It goes without saying that Kreider was my favorite player on the recent Rangers teams. I followed him since he teamed up with Stepan to win a gold medal for USA at the World Juniors in 2010. During that run, he scored six goals. USA defeated Canada 6-5 in overtime on John Carlson’s winner.

Kreider has been part of all five Rangers’ Conference Final appearances. He’s the only player who can say that. That included three with Rangers legend Henrik Lundqvist and two with Igor Shesterkin. He’ll bring that big game experience with him to the Ducks.

Anaheim finished with five less points (80) than the Rangers (85) last season. They’re an up-and-coming team headed in the right direction. Unlike the Rangers, who need to get younger and faster, the Ducks boast a lot of promising talent. It wouldn’t be surprising to see them make the playoffs next season.

A lot has been made of Kreider’s dramatic drop-off. He went from scoring 39 goals and 75 points to 22 goals and eight assists. He didn’t forget how to play. Injuries limited his effectiveness in the 68 games he played. If he returns healthy, there’s no reason why he can’t return to scoring 30. He won’t have the luxury of having Panarin or Adam Fox set him up on the power play. But the Ducks should be a good fit due to the speed and skill they possess.

Best of luck, Kreids. You handled yourself with class. See you soon.

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Kreider heavily rumored to Ducks

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Derek

It’s the second week of June. With the Stanley Cup Finals going on, other stuff is happening. While the Oilers and Panthers battle it out for Lord Stanley, there are plenty of trade rumors being reported from insiders.

The Rangers have been mentioned a lot this off-season. A few days ago, K’Andre Miller was a name that’s been discussed. The 25-year-old defenseman is a restricted free agent who is arbitration eligible this summer.

According to NY Post columnist Larry Brooks, Miller’s name popped up at last week’s NHL Combine. Considering that he might not be agreeable to a short-term deal with a lower cap hit, it makes plenty of sense. Miller could price himself out of New York City. He’s also a candidate for an offer sheet. It looks like he could be headed elsewhere.

Alexis Lafreniere is also available. Just last year, Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury signed Lafreniere to a seven-year contract extension with a $7.45 million AAV. The 23-year-old former 2020 number one overall selection struggled mightily after signing the contract. Unless they can put Lafreniere in a package to acquire the very available Jason Robertson (RFA), it doesn’t make much sense to move him. I’d wait it out and see what he does in Year 1 of his new deal. Especially with new coach Mike Sullivan arriving.

Kreider Headed to Anaheim?

Last night, Frank Seravalli reported that the Rangers and Ducks were in advanced discussions on a trade that would send Chris Kreider to Anaheim. This is from Seravalli’s story on the possible deal.

The most recent discussions centered on Ducks prospect Carey Terrance, an upstate New York native and 2023 second-round pick, heading to the Rangers in a swap that would see the Ducks take on Kreider’s contract in-full. Kreider, 34, has two years remaining on his contract at $6.5 million per year. He was ranked No. 2 on Daily Faceoff’s most recent Trade Targets board.

If it comes to fruition, the Rangers are expected to acquire Carey Terrance. A 2023 second round pick, he followed up a 29-goal, 52-point 2023-24 season with 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points in 2024-25 for the Eerie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League. The 20-year-old Terrance scored two goals as part of USA repeating as champions at the 2025 World Junior Championships.

The Ducks would assume the remainder of Kreider’s contract. He has two years remaining with a $6.5 million cap hit. Kreider would have to agree to waive his no-trade clause to go to Anaheim. They were on his 15 team no-trade list. If he does, Kreider would be reunited with former teammates Ryan Strome, Jacob Trouba, and Frank Vatrano.

Anaheim is an up-and-coming team that features a young core that includes Leo Carlsson, Lukas Dostal, Mason McTavish, Jackson LaCombe, Cutter Gauthier, Pavel Mintyukov, Trevor Zegras, and Olen Zellweger. Adding a proven player like Kreider would solidify their playoff chances.

How Kreider Should Be Remembered

If it does happen, Kreider will have a new home in 2025-26. Since being selected with the 19th pick in the 2009 NHL Draft, he’s been one of the best players on the Blueshirts.

A power forward who’s still a good skater, Kreider has scored at least 20 goals or more in 10 seasons. His best year came in 2021-22 when he scored a career high 52 goals to tie Adam Graves for the second most by a Ranger in a single season. He also added 25 assists to set a career best with 77 points. That season, Kreider broke Jaromir Jagr’s franchise mark with 26 power-play goals. The most by a Ranger in a single season. His 26 PPG’s and 11 game-winners led the league.

Kreider helped lead the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final. He scored 10 goals during that run. He and Mika Zibanejad tied for the team lead in goals. Zibanejad paced the team in scoring with 24 points. Kreider tied with Artemi Panarin for third with 16 points. Ultimately, the Rangers were eliminated in six games by the two-time defending champion Lightning.

Kreider continued to produce at a high level over the following two seasons. That included 36 goals and 19 assists in 2022-23 and 39 goals and a career high 36 assists in 2023-24.

After the Rangers won the Presidents’ Trophy, they made another deep run by reaching the Conference Finals last year. It was in the third period of Game 6 against the Hurricanes that Kreider delivered a signature performance. With the team trailing the Hurricanes 3-1, Kreider scored a natural hat trick on the road to lead the Rangers to a thrilling come from behind win that helped them advance to the Eastern Conference Final. It was a memorable game for the longest tenured Ranger. When the Hurricanes looked like they were on the verge of coming back from an 0-3 series deficit to force a deciding Game 7, Kreider stepped up in the clutch.

When they needed him most, Kreider came through. Great at tipping shots in due to his hand-eye coordination, he’s been one of the league’s best net front players. Even in a down season that was marred by injuries, he still had 22 goals with six coming on the power play. The sixth power-play goal came on Feb. 22 against Buffalo. It probably turned out to be final one of his Rangers career. Kreider tied Camille Henry for the most power-play goals (116) in franchise history.

Where Kreider Ranks

Aside from sharing the top spot with Henry in power-play goals, Kreider ranks third in Rangers franchise history in goals with 326. In fact, he went out in style by scoring in what was likely his final game as a Blueshirt in a 4-0 win versus the Lightning on Apr. 17. He scored and set up a Zibanejad goal in the victory.

Kreider ranks eighth in games played with 883. He’s 10th on the franchise scoring list with 582 points. His 197 even strength goals rank fourth behind Hall of Famers, Rod Gilbert, Jean Ratelle, and Andy Bathgate. Kreider’s plus-121 rating is sixth best. His 13 shorthanded goals place him third behind Mark Messier and Graves. Kreider also ranks second in game-winning goals (50), trailing only Gilbert. His 2160 shots rank fifth on the franchise list.

Kreider also recorded six hat tricks. Only Bill Cook, Gilbert, and Zibanejad had more as a Ranger. If it’s indeed over, No. 20 will be fondly remembered by the fans. He was part of five teams that reached the Conference Finals. They don’t make the Stanley Cup Final in 2014 without him. Thank you, Kreids.

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Rangers Announce New Assistants on Sullivan’s Staff

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Derek

A month after making it official by hiring Mike Sullivan as their new head coach, the Rangers announced the new assistants on his staff on Thursday, Jun. 5.

Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury made the announcement by revealing that David Quinn, Joe Sacco, and Ty Hennes were hired assistant coaches.

Quinn rejoins the organization after coaching the Rangers from 2018-19 through 2020-21. During his three-year tenure, he went 96-87-25. The Rangers failed to qualify for the postseason in all three seasons, including the Covid interrupted 2019-20 when they lost in the Stanley Cup qualifying round to the Hurricanes. Since then, Quinn coached the Sharks for two seasons and then served as an assistant coach under Sullivan with the Penguins.

Hennes also served as an assistant for the Penguins the last two years after serving in a different capacity in the organization. Previously, he played his collegiate career for Boston College. That included winning a national championship in 2001.

Sacco has coached in the past. A decade after being the bench boss of the Avalanche for three years, he replaced Jim Montgomery in 2024-25. Sacco had served as an assistant coach for the Bruins since 2014-15. After he took over, the Bruins went 25-30-7 to finish last in the Eastern Conference. A former player who has a lot of experience behind the bench, he’ll join the Rangers under Sullivan in the Big Apple.

Overall, it looks like a good coaching staff. While neither Sacco nor Quinn had much success as head coaches, they are better suited as assistants. When he returns, Quinn will see some familiar faces. That includes Adam Fox, who won a Norris Trophy when Quinn was the bench boss.

Pens Hire Dan Muse as Coach

Meanwhile, Dan Muse landed on his feet in Pittsburgh. The former Rangers assistant was hired by the Pens as their new head coach. He’ll take over for Sullivan, who now coaches the Rangers.

It’s funny the way things work out. Muse served as an assistant under Peter Laviolette the past two years. Now, he gets the opportunity to run things in Pittsburgh. Considering all of the success Kris Knoblauch has had with the Oilers, who are battling the Panthers in a Stanley Cup Finals rematch, it’ll be interesting to see how Muse does. He’ll get to coach Sidney Crosby.

As for Knoblauch, he and the Oilers are deadlocked with the defending champion Panthers 1-1. Both games went to overtime. Leon Draisaitl won Game 1 on the power play. Brad Marchand won Game 2 on a breakaway in double overtime. It’s been a great series so far. We’ll see what happens when it shifts to Florida on Monday.

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Relentless Panthers Break Leafs’ Hearts Again in Dominant Game 7

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Derek

For the second time in three years, the Panthers advanced to the Conference Finals by eliminating the Maple Leafs in the second round. Unlike the five-game triumph two years ago, they did it in seven games to break Leafs’ hearts again.

Following a 6-1 win in Game 5, the Panthers were shut out 2-0 at home by a more determined Leafs last Friday night. In an elimination game, Auston Matthews scored the winner with 13:40 remaining in the third period. Max Pacioretty added some insurance with a nice redirection for his sixth point of the series. Joseph Woll stopped all 22 shots for his first career postseason shutout. That set the stage for a do-or-die Game 7 back in Toronto on Monday night.

Playing their biggest game in 23 years since they came back to defeat the Senators to advance past the second round, the Leafs were dominated by the battle tested defending champion Panthers, losing Game 7 by an identical 6-1 score at Scotiabank Arena. Frustration boiled over for over 19,000 fans who hoped to witness a much different result that would send their team to the Eastern Conference Finals. Instead, furious spectators booed the Leafs off the ice, with several misguided fans throwing jerseys and beer. It was an embarrassing way for the season to end.

Cats Came Out Ready

Whether it was pregame jitters or just some apprehension due to the enormous pressure of the moment, the Leafs didn’t start the game off right. Instead, it was the more aggressive Cats who came out ready to do battle.

Skating with more purpose and showing urgency, the defending champs dominated the first half of the opening period. Continuing to get pucks in and aggressively forecheck, they put the Leafs on their heels. In fact, the Panthers not only registered the game’s first seven shots. But they out-attempted the Leafs by a wide 25-1 margin.

The Leafs held on due to their willingness to block shots and rely on Woll for big saves to keep the game scoreless. Eventually, they settled down and started to turn the tide.

Bobrovsky Denies Leafs’ Bids

Towards the halfway mark of the first period, the Leafs began to create more offense that led to some dangerous scoring chances. That included Matthew Knies and William Nylander each missing wide along with Simon Benoit. All three were excellent opportunities to give the Leafs the lead.

Having not been tested for over the first 11 minutes, Sergei Bobrovsky delivered when the Panthers needed it most. He denied some strong Leafs’ bids. That included a Nylander point blank chance, with the Florida netminder able to squeeze his pads together on the Leafs’ first shot. He was just getting warmed up.

Scott Laughton was unable to beat him on a mini break, flubbing a backhand with the Panthers caught up ice. After making a pair of stops on Bobby McMann, Bobrovsky’s biggest save of the game came when he thwarted Steven Lorentz on a breakaway.

After being outshot 7-0, the Leafs had the next seven shots. But they couldn’t beat a sharp Bobrovsky, who finished the game with 19 saves to send the Panthers to a third straight Eastern Conference Finals where they’ll meet the Hurricanes for the second time in three years.

Ref Chris Rooney Leaves Game with Injury

After the Leafs killed off a bench minor to conclude the first period, the second started in startling fashion. On an accidental play behind the net, Niko Mikkola had his stick make contact with ref Chris Rooney, injuring him just 13 seconds into the period. Rooney suffered a cut near the eye on the play and had to be helped off the ice. He received stitches for the cut. Emergency ref Garrett Rank replaced him for the remainder of the game.

Fortunately, the news was encouraging on Rooney. He didn’t suffer any eye damage. He had a black eye and hopes to return to work the next round.

It was a scary moment during the game. Even officials are at risk when they’re on the ice. Thankfully, Rooney will be okay.

Jones Breaks the Ice

Only a few minutes into the second period, Seth Jones broke the ice by scoring the first goal of the game. On a good defensive play started by captain Aleksander Barkov, he moved the puck out of his zone for Evan Rodrigues who made a nice backhand pass to lead Jones in on an odd man rush. Jones made a good wrist shot from the right circle high past Woll to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.

On the play, two Leafs forwards were beaten up the ice. That included Matthews and Matthew Knies, who got caught deep. A trailing Mitch Marner was back to help pick up Sam Reinhart, giving Jones the shot. Arguably the Panthers’ best player in the series, Jones scored his second on a perfect laser past Woll. The 30-year-old veteran defenseman made it difficult on the Matthews line during the big matchup. Jones had two goals and two assists while pacing the Panthers in ice time (25:48).

He wasn’t done getting involved offensively. Jones later picked up a key secondary assist on the Panthers’ third goal of the second period. It was his on-ice awareness that allowed Jonah Gadjovich’s goal to hold up. On a play in the neutral zone with Florida ahead 2-0, Jones patiently waited for Gadjovich to tag up to get back onside before touching the puck that led to the Panthers increasing their lead to three. The Leafs wisely didn’t challenge for offsides.

The Rat Haunts Toronto Again

When they acquired Brad Marchand from the Bruins for a 2027 conditional second round pick, it was for big moments like last night. Throughout his career, the scrappy 37-year-old veteran has been a thorn in the side of the Leafs. He previously had defeated them four times with the Bruins, including last year in the first round. All four of those series went to Game 7.

Once again, Marchand was front and center in an elimination game against his hometown team. Like a broken record, the Rat haunted Toronto again. Over four minutes following Jones’ goal that opened the scoring, Marchand outskated the Leafs during a dominant shift that led directly to Anton Lundell making it 2-0.

Marchand skated into open ice and fired a wrist shot that Eetu Luostarinen got a piece of to make it a difficult save for Woll. He gave up a rebound which Lundell buried to give the Panthers a two-goal lead. It was Marchand who created the goal out of sheer hustle and smarts.

In the third period, with Max Domi temporarily giving Leafs fans hope by beating Bobrovsky on a breakaway to cut the deficit to 3-1, Marchand quickly silenced the crowd by having his shot tipped in by Luostarinen to restore a three-goal lead. The Leafs killer would later put the exclamation point on the victory with an empty netter – giving him 37 points versus the Leafs in the playoffs. That ranks second all-time versus the Leafs, trailing only hockey legend Gordie Howe (53).

Marchand led all skaters in scoring with eight points, including a goal and two assists in Game 7. He became the first player in NHL history to win five Game 7’s against the same franchise.

After the game, he spoke about if he enjoys beating the Leafs more than any other team due to an interaction that he had with a frustrated Toronto fan as he left the ice.

“I think the thing about Toronto is the fans are very … They’re in your face. So, they’re aggressive. They let you hear it all the time. It’s just fun to interact. Everybody that I think knows me is that I interact with a lot of fans and I enjoy that part of it. … There’s moments that you need to enjoy. Years fly by. I’ve been in it a long time and I’ve been very fortunate. It’s almost over and I can’t believe how fast it’s gone by.

“I wish I was able to enjoy more and more moments. And actually, look back and take moments that I took for granted, I wish I could have over. But you don’t get that opportunity and that’s one of them. I grew up a Leafs fan. I enjoy playing against the Leafs and I enjoy interacting with fans. It’s fun. It’s not something I’ll forever get to do. And I don’t take myself too seriously. I love getting made fun of. I love making fun of people. And if you can’t take it, then so be it. But I can’t. So, I’m going to enjoy the moments that I have and that’s one of them.

“When I come in here and I get booed and I get that award in the game, I’m going to show it and I’m going to enjoy that. Yeah. It’s just about not taking yourself too seriously in the game. Like yes. We all want to win and chase the Cup. But you don’t always get to do that. So, you got to enjoy the process and the steps and the days that you have throughout that journey.”

Reinhart Erases Any Doubt

With the Panthers leading 4-1 in the third period, Sam Reinhart erased any doubt by tacking on by beating Woll off a Barkov faceoff win. It happened so fast that the NHL On TNT missed the goal that made it 5-1 with 10:36 remaining.

They were preoccupied showing a replay when Reinhart took the Barkov pass off the offensive draw and fired a wrist shot past Woll to put it out of reach. The audio was scratchy, making lead analyst Ed Olczyk sound like he was under water. It was a rare miss for the normally reliable network. Good thing it wasn’t a close game.

Marner’s Final Game as a Leaf?

As time wound down, there was some discussion about whether it was Marner’s final game as a Leaf. If it was, he went out very quietly by finishing without a point, two shots, and a minus-2 rating in 18:43.

A star right wing who set personal highs in assists (75) and points (102) in the regular season, the 28-year-old Marner finished with a goal and four assists for five points versus the Panthers in the second round. However, he only had one point over the last four games. It was a primary assist on Matthews’ winner in Game 6.

An unrestricted free agent this summer, Marner is set to make a lot of money. Considering how much he’ll command along with a disappointing conclusion to another postseason as part of the Leafs core, it probably was his final game as a Leaf.

Following another postseason disappointment in which they failed to advance past the second round, there will be changes coming in the off-season. John Tavares is also an unrestricted free agent. He is a better bet to return for less money if he decides to stay home. Knies is a key restricted free agent who is due a significant raise. By letting Marner walk, they’ll have enough room to give Knies the contract he deserves.

Panthers Face Hurricanes in Conference Finals

For the second time in three years, the Panthers will face the Hurricanes in the Conference Finals. When they met two years ago in the same round, the Panthers swept the Hurricanes to advance to the Stanley Cup Finals before losing to the Golden Knights.

Similar to that series, the Canes will have home ice. Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals begins tomorrow night at 8 PM in Raleigh. After defeating the Devils in five games, the Canes eliminated the Capitals in five to set up a rematch of two years ago. They’ll look for a better result against the defending champs.

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