Kreider Scores In Return for Hot Ducks

Posted on November 1, 2025 by Derek

As it turns out, there is life after the Rangers for Chris Kreider. The Rangers’ third all-time franchise-leading goal scorer (326) has done well so far with his new team in Anaheim. Even after missing four games due head, foot, and mouth disease, Kreider didn’t miss a beat by scoring in his return last night. The Ducks prevailed over the Red Wings 5-2 in John Gibson’s return. The former Ducks goalie received a video tribute.

With the Ducks leading 3-2 at the start of the third period, Kreider converted on the power play to double up their lead. It was his fourth power-play goal of the season and fifth overall in only his sixth game played.

The goal was a strange one. After making a save on Cutter Gauthier, Gibson knocked the net off its moorings as Kreider sent a rebound in. Because he did, a video review confirmed that Kreider’s goal counted. He’s now up to 331 career goals, with 120 of them coming on the power play.

With the 34-year-old finally healthy after an injury riddled 2024-25, he’s looking more like the player who scored 30 or more goals in three straight seasons (2021-22 thru 2023-24) with the Rangers. During that span, no Blueshirt had more goals than Kreider, who totaled 127, including 52 power-play goals, nine shorthanded goals, and 21 game-winners.

In an irony of sorts, Kreider’s four power-play goals are as many as his former team has scored so far in a dozen games. By going 0-for-2 on the man-advantage in their 4-3 overtime win over the Oilers, the Rangers sunk to 30th (4-for-30) in the league. That’s just 13.3 percent. Mika Zibanejad leads them with two power-play goals.

More to the point, Kreider is responsible for half the Ducks’ power play production. They’re 8-for-40 (20.0) and are tied for 17th in the league. It’s safe to say that he’s having an impact.

Trouba’s Revival in Anaheim

Kreider isn’t the only former Ranger faring well in Anaheim. Jacob Trouba has been a different player with the Ducks. His revival in Anaheim has been noteworthy. Unfairly blamed for everything that went wrong in Manhattan last year, the Rangers’ former captain was traded to the Ducks on Dec. 6, 2024. In return, the Rangers received Urho Vaakanainen and a conditional 2025 fourth round pick (Elijah Neuenschwander).

Following his most challenging season due to all the unnecessary distractions that were created by Rangers team president and general manager Chris Drury, who successfully dumped the remainder of Trouba’s entire contract on the Ducks, the 31-year-old veteran defenseman has responded well.

Since Ducks captain Radko Gudas went down with a lower-body injury, Trouba has picked it up. Back to logging additional ice time, he’s been superb under coach Joel Quenneville. With an assist and a plus-1 rating in 26:25 last night, Trouba continued his strong play for Anaheim. Over a stretch that’s seen them win four of their last five games, he has recorded all six of his points while going plus-9.

Not surprisingly, his six points are tied with teammate Drew Helleson for tops among Ducks defensemen. The plus-9 rating leads the team. Trouba also paces the Ducks in hits with 32 and is tied with Jackson LaCombe for first in blocks (22). More remarkable is that he has yet to take a penalty in 10 games. Something that was an issue the past couple of years with the Rangers.

If there’s a notable difference, Trouba has much better metrics with the Ducks. He brings a 52.0 CF into the weekend. In fact, he and defensive partner Olen Zellweger are among the best defensive pairs according to Natural Stat Trick. They have a 53.55 CF while paired together at five-on-five, and have been on for eight goals for and four goals against. Trouba also had some success with LaCombe, with the Ducks outscoring opponents 3-0 in the 28:45 that they were together. That means that Trouba’s been on for 11 goals for to four goals against. He’s tied with Gauthier for the best five-on-five goal differential on the Ducks.

Is it possible that he’s playing with better talent? The Ducks are a younger roster that features emerging star Leo Carlsson (4 points last night), Gauthier, Mason McTavish, Beckett Sennecke, LaCombe, Helleson, Pavel Mintyukov and Zellweger. All are 25 or younger. Lukas Dostal is also 25.

The other main point of emphasis is that it’s about the hockey in Southern California. There aren’t any distractions for Trouba, who can just focus on playing his game. He’s probably healthier and in a better frame of mind. It’s the final year of his contract. He will earn $8 million. So, there’s a lot to play for. Trouba’s future is uncertain. However, if he continues to play well, there could be some interested teams next year.

Maybe all he needed was to get out of New York City. It must feel like a homecoming of sorts with Kreider there. Both Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano are also in the room. Having that familiarity with former teammates has to make him more comfortable. I’m sure he’s not complaining about the weather.

While the Rangers struggle to score goals and win consistently, it looks like both Kreider and Trouba came out on top. It’s funny the way things turn out.

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Devils Sign Markstrom to Two-Year Extension

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Derek

In a surprising move that came three days after he gave up eight goals in his return from injury to the Colorado Avalanche in an 8-4 loss on Oct. 28, the New Jersey Devils have signed Jacob Markstrom to a two-year contract extension worth $12 million.

He entered his second season in New Jersey in the final year of a contract that pays him $6 million. By extending the 35-year-old netminder through 2027-28, the Devils committed to Markstrom as their starter into his late 30s. Whether or not that’s a smart move remains to be seen.

Originally acquired by Devils team president and general manager Tom Fitzgerald from the Calgary Flames on June 19, 2024, in exchange for Kevin Bahl and a 2025 conditional first round pick (Cole Reschny), Markstrom went 26-16-6 with a 2.50 goals-against-average, .900 save percentage, and four shutouts in 49 games in 2024-25.

Along with veteran backup Jake Allen, Markstrom helped lead the Devils back to the postseason. They were eliminated in the first round by the Carolina Hurricanes in five games. Markstrom finished the series with a 2.78 GAA and .911 save percentage.

A former 2008 second round pick of the Florida Panthers, Markstrom has won 243 games with a 2.72 GAA, .908 save percentage, and 24 shutouts over his career. After getting traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Roberto Luongo in a four-player deal on Mar. 14, 2014, Markstrom established himself as a starter at 28 in 2017-18.

Following a nice run to the second round in the Covid lengthened 2019-20 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he signed with the Flames as a free agent. His best season came during 2021-22 when he established career bests in wins (37), GAA (2.22), save percentage (.922), and shutouts (9). He finished runner-up for the Vezina behind Igor Shesterkin.

Now a seasoned veteran in his second year with the Devils, a lot more is expected. He hasn’t had the best start. After losing to the rival Carolina Hurricanes in a season opening 6-3 loss on Oct. 9, he won his second start by making 14 saves in a 5-3 win over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

On Oct. 13 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets, he left the game after one period due to suffering a lower-body injury that kept him out two weeks.

Despite having a perfect home stand with Jake Allen winning both starts, the Devils made the curios decision to bring Markstrom back for the return match at the Avalanche on Tuesday. A move that made no sense due to Colorado’s firepower. Somewhat predictably, a rusty Markstrom struggled in the blowout loss that snapped an eight-game winning streak.

Two days later, on All Hallows Eve, Devils coach Sheldon Keefe went back to Allen for the San Jose Sharks. However, he gave up five goals on 28 shots in a 5-2 defeat. Allen is signed through 2029-30 on a much cheaper contract with an $1.8 million AAV. Like Markstrom, he’s also 35.

The question for Fitzgerald is obvious. Is it really the way to go for both the present and future? Markstrom will turn 36 in January. He’ll be 38 when his new deal expires. If there’s a caveat, he doesn’t have a no-movement clause.

If either Nico Daws or top prospect Mikhail Yegorov prove worthy of taking over in some capacity, Fitzgerald can always try to move Markstrom. Yegorov remains the favorite to eventually become the next Devils starter in the future. He was selected 49th in the second round of the 2024 NHL Draft. He’s in his second year at Boston University with a 3-3-1 record and a 3.09 GAA and .902 save percentage.

The Devils return to action tomorrow when they visit Hollywood to face the Los Angeles Kings. They’re 8-3-0 with 16 points to rank second in the Metropolitan Division. Only the surprising Pittsburgh Penguins have a better record (8-2-2) in the division.

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Sullivan’s Changes Instrumental In Rangers’ Comeback Win Over Oilers

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Derek

For two periods, it looked like more of the same from the New York Rangers. A bad second period put them behind the Edmonton Oilers 3-1.

Following an early breakaway goal scored by Jonny Brodzinski, the Rangers had allowed three straight goals to the Oilers. That included a pair of goals from Darnell Nurse. Both of which Igor Shesterkin should’ve had, with the latter needing a video review during a stoppage to prove that the puck crossed the goal line to make it 3-1 in the second period.

At that point, it felt like another loss was inevitable. Even on a night that Connor McDavid was held in check by Mika Zibanejad and the strong work of Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox.

More agonizing g was that coach Mike Sullivan didn’t deviate from the lines that hadn’t accomplished anything. Conor Sheary looked like he’d remain with J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere, who was more involved offensively. Miller couldn’t steer in a perfect Lafreniere feed on a power play. The kind Chris Kreider used to bury in his sleep.

There wasn’t much going on. Nothing to indicate a big third period was on the way that changed the outcome. Instead of continuing to roll the same lines that weren’t getting it done, Sullivan finally made the changes necessary that were instrumental in a 4-3 comeback win over the Oilers in overtime.

Miller completed the turnaround when he walked in and beat Stuart Skinner at 2:49 in extras. It was his first goal in five games. He desperately needed it.

“The third period was great,” Miller said after the Rangers responded with goals from Braden Schneider and Taylor Raddysh to tie the game. “I didn’t have my best today. Obviously, changed the lines up a little bit, trying to spark something. We just had so many guys contribute. [Noah Laba] was unbelievable today. You see Rads chip in again, Schneids. We need that throughout the course of the season, you know what I mean? You have that depth scoring, and they played a heck of a game and drove play for us today and made it easy for the next line going out there.”

At the start of the third period with the Rangers trailing the Oilers by two goals, Sullivan decided to make necessary adjustments to his top two lines. With Miller continuing to struggle, he was moved onto a line with Mika Zibanejad and Artemi Panarin. By loading up the top line, that allowed Sullivan to form a new second line – featuring Noah Laba, Will Cuylle, and Lafreniere.

It was the Laba line that injected much needed life into the team. Their first shift was spent cycling the puck for extended time in the Edmonton zone. Although there weren’t any shots on Skinner, it was the kind of diligent work that the Rangers had lacked. The momentum swung afterward.

On a good play in the neutral zone from Urho Vaakanainen, Cuylle picked up a loose puck and drove to the net, forcing Skinner into a difficult save that led to Schneider putting in the rebound that cut the deficit to 3-2 at 8:18.

The strong play from Cuylle created the goal. He did the dirty work that resulted in Schneider getting his first of the season. That made it three games in a row with an assist for Cuylle. He set up Zibanejad’s game-winner at Vancouver on Tuesday night.

Before they tied the game, Shesterkin made his biggest save by making a strong denial on a Leon Draisaitl bid in close. That clutch stop was the one the Rangers needed. It came at a crucial time. There were less than 10 minutes left in regulation. Had Draisaitl scored, it would’ve been very tough for an offensively challenged team like the Rangers to come back.

Just over a minute and a half later, Sheary made a good play at the Edmonton blue line to lead Raddysh for the game-tying goal with 7:56 remaining. On what was a bit of a broken play, Sheary took away a loose puck and made a subtle pass for Raddysh, who entered untouched before beating Skinner from the slot with a wrist shot that tied the score.

Due to the Sullivan’s shuffled lines, Juuso Parssinen shifted to center Sheary and Raddysh. It worked out well, with Raddysh getting his team-leading fifth. A surprising number for a player who’s only reached 20 once in his career. That came with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2022-23. So far, Raddysh has proven to be a good addition. He’s provided secondary scoring and strong penalty killing.

The only line that remained the same was the checking unit, with Brodzinski playing with Sam Carrick and Adam Edstrom. Carrick played a key role late in regulation with Zibanejad off for high-sticking Jack Roslovic to put the dangerous Oilers on the power play with 41 seconds left.

Following a Shesterkin save on Draisaitl, Carrick sold out to guarantee the Rangers a point. He made a great defensive play by breaking up a pass and clearing the zone. That sent it to overtime.

Despite the Oilers’ foursome of McDavid, Draisaitl, Evan Bouchard, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins still having 1:19 to work with on a four-on-three, they only managed to get one shot through.

A great effort from the Rangers’ penalty killing trio of Miller, Gavrikov, and Will Borgen prevented Edmonton from winning it. Shesterkin made one stop on McDavid, who had another attempt blocked by a diving Borgen.

After another save from Shesterkin on McDavid to get a faceoff, it was back to three-on-three. Following a stop on Vasily Podkolzin, Lafreniere decided to reset in his own zone. After Lafreniere handed off for Schneider, he made a simple pass for Miller, who did the rest.

With Edmonton sitting back, Miller took advantage of a passive Draisaitl and Bouchard to win the game. Neither Oilers skater even defended him. It became essentially a one on one with Skinner, allowing Miller to come in and beat the Edmonton goalie to complete the 4-3 come from behind overtime win.

“When you have guys like Brodzinski stepping up today and scoring the first goal, you just need guys like that. It was a true team effort today, those guys really helped drag us into the fight,” Miller added.

That was a true team effort. When they had their looks, [Igor Shesterkin] played awesome today. That’s just a big team win, something that we can really build on going forward.”

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Rangers’ Anemic Offense Hard To Watch

Posted on October 30, 2025 by Derek

When they continue a four-game road trip by visiting the Edmonton Oilers later tonight, the New York Rangers will face two of the game’s best players.

Even if he’s out of the gate slowly, Connor McDavid (3-11-14) can erupt at any moment. The Oilers superstar is coming off his first two-goal game of the season in a 6-3 win over the Utah Mammoth. Leon Draisaitl enters tonight on a six-game point streak (4-5-9) that includes half a dozen points in the last three games.  Both would easily lead the Rangers in scoring.

The Rangers have an anemic offense that ranks near the bottom of the league. They’ve only scored 24 goals in their first 11 games for a paltry 2.18 average, with only the Calgary Flames worse. A team that had no trouble putting up five goals in a 5-1 blowout win over the Rangers to start the Western swing on Oct. 26. It was the only Calgary victory in regulation this season.

When it comes to this year’s roster, who remains without key center Vincent Trocheck (LTIR) for the time being, the Rangers are a very difficult team to watch. While they’ve certainly improved defensively under coach Mike Sullivan, with their 2.36 goals allowed per game ranking second, they’re severely lacking finishers.

Not even Artemi Panarin has gotten going yet. He remains stuck on two goals and five assists. Without a two-goal, four-point effort in a win versus the Montreal Canadiens on Oct. 18, he only has three helpers in the other 10 games. The lack of production from the normally reliable Panarin is troublesome. Without Trocheck, he hasn’t found a way to make a difference while playing mostly with Mika Zibanejad, whose breakaway goal was enough to earn the Rangers a 2-0 shutout over the shorthanded Vancouver Canucks on Tuesday in J.T. Miller’s return. Jonathan Quick stopped all 23 shots for the 64th shutout of his career.

The point totals for the leading Rangers’ forwards are pitiful. A quick glance at it shows how lackluster they’ve been.

1. Panarin 2 goals, 5 assists, 7 points.

2. Zibanejad 4 goals, 2 assists, 6 points.

3. Miller 2 goals, 4 assists, 6 points.

4. Alexis Lafreniere 1 goal, 3 assists, 4 points.

5. Will Cuylle 1 goal, 2 assists, 3 points.

Sullivan has tried different combinations. With Cuylle struggling, he had him with rookie Noah Laba and Brennan Othmann on the third line versus Calgary. Cuylle was able to send in Laba for his first career goal. Laba was the one constant in an otherwise dreadful loss. He’s continued to impress since making the team. A young player with size and speed, Laba has three points and a plus-2 rating in all 11 games.

Without any consistency from the Rangers’ best players, they have had to rely heavily on their goalies. Until he allowed a combined 11 goals in the previous two starts in back-to-back defeats to the San Jose Sharks and Flames, Igor Shesterkin had only given up seven goals in his first six appearances. Similar to last season, there were some defensive breakdowns against the Sharks and Flames. Despite that, Shesterkin still brings a 2.25 goals-against-average and .916 save percentage into Edmonton on Thursday night. Astonishingly, he’s only won two games so far.

Perhaps Sullivan sensed that his meal ticket could use a breather. He went with Quick against a Canucks team that was missing several regulars, including injury plagued captain Quinn Hughes. It turned out to be a wise decision. The Canucks didn’t muster enough to beat Quick, who’s won two of three starts, giving up four goals on 68 shots.

If there’s an area that needs to improve, it’s the power play. Similar to last year, they’re not helping. Having gone just 4-for-28, they’re tied for 28th in the NHL with a 14.3 conversion rate. Without Trocheck, Lafreniere has continued to play on the number one unit that features leading scorer Adam Fox (3-6-9), Panarin, Zibanejad, and Miller. There’s no real net front presence anymore. Gone are the days when old reliable Chris Kreider could tip in a point shot for a power-play goal. Zibanejad’s scored twice from the left circle. Fox has the other tally. Cuylle converted one on the second unit.

Even though they have performed better at five-on-five, the lack of offense is an eyesore. The failure of Lafreniere to make a difference in his sixth year is mind-numbing. He hasn’t scored since the second game on Oct. 9. His minus-9 rating is the worst on the team. Lafreniere still struggles on defensive assignments. Even when he’s been giving an honest effort, he’s had shots deflect off him for goals much to the chagrin of Shesterkin. For a former consensus top pick who scouts loved, it’s remarkable how inept he is defensively. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of determination, either. Something we didn’t see in his 2023-24 breakout season.

Role players such as Sam Carrick and Taylor Raddysh have outperformed him. Even Sullivan favorite Conor Sheary is more consistent shift to shift. He isn’t going to help much offensively, yet continues to play in the top six. Sullivan is hoping that Cuylle can unlock Panarin and Zibanejad. Lafreniere remains with Miller and Sheary. Basically, he needs to start burying chances for that line to be successful.

In a mystifying development that’s typical of the organization’s impatience, Othmann got one game. Called up due to the upper-body injury Matt Rempe suffered in his foolish fight with Ryan Reaves that Sullivan indicated to reporters was more long-term, Othmann was a minus-1 with a shot and two hits in 12:31 of ice time in Calgary last Sunday.

The former 2021 first round pick played with Laba and Cuylle. Despite that line generating some looks, Othmann was responsible for two goals against. One came following a great scoring chance. On an odd man rush, Othmann opted to pass for an open Laba, who was at the side of the net. While it was a good idea, the pass handcuffed Laba, who was unable to handle it to score. It led directly to a Yegor Sharangovich goal in transition, with Othmann late arriving.

When he was a healthy scratch for Vancouver, with Sullivan inserting veteran Jonny Brodzinski into the lineup, the coach indicated the obvious reason why.

Why not get Othmann back in for tonight? Granted, it’s the Oilers. But how’s he ever going to learn anything if one mistake means he’s automatically in the press box? It’s ridiculous how they treat younger players. There’s a double standard. When a veteran makes a mistake, they rarely get punished.

All it does is further diminish Othmann’s value. He’s still only 22. Given how slow and boring the roster is, they can use some energy.

It’s bad enough that Fox has to carry the whole blue line due to general manager Chris Drury failing to improve the defense. Vladislav Gavrikov has been good, but he doesn’t provide offense. They’re still using Braden Schneider on the second power play. He’s a failure at this point. A third pair defenseman who gets pinned in his end due to poor decision-making. It doesn’t matter who he plays with.

Urho Vaakanainen is back in the lineup over Matthew Robertson for a second consecutive game. Even though Robertson had better defensive metrics, he came out due to a poor performance against Calgary. Was anyone good in that game? Vaakanainen adds very little. It’s almost like they’re trying to justify the predictable bad return for Jacob Trouba, who’s rediscovered himself with the Anaheim Ducks. Big shocker.

There’s nothing exciting about Rangers hockey. They have to play low event hockey to win games. That’s how bad their offense is. It falls on Drury, whose poorly constructed roster will continue to struggle to score until Trocheck returns. He’s skating. So, he’s getting closer.

Most of the excitement is playing for the Hartford Wolf Pack. That would be 20-year-old top prospect Gabe Perreault, whose goal and two assists highlighted a 4-1 win over the Charlotte Checkers on Wednesday night.

So far, so good. In seven games, Perreault has seven points (3-4-7) to lead the Wolf Pack in scoring. Brett Berard has three assists. Scott Morrow picked up his first point of the season. Jackson Dorrington has three helpers, and Carey Terrance has two goals. Dylan Roobroeck is 1-2-3.

Considering how unwatchable the Rangers are, MSG should consider airing a Wolf Pack game. That’s if they have nothing else on. Most fans want to see how the prospects are doing. They know the current roster isn’t playoff caliber.

With Panarin turning 34 today and with one foot out the door, it’s very likely that he’ll be moved before next year’s trade deadline.

As more potential 2026 free agents continue to sign extensions, with Martin Necas becoming the latest player to go off the market, you can’t build a team through free agency anymore. If that was what Drury was banking on, it’s over. He is already locked in on 30-year-olds, with Miller, Trocheck, and Zibanejad not going anywhere.

The Rangers must get younger and faster. Panarin has had a great run in Manhattan. But even at his best, he was never good enough to carry the franchise to a Stanley Cup. They can get a good return for him next March.

With reports surfacing that teams have interest, Panarin will be the number one rental target. His value should be high. Drury can’t mess it up. The future of the team depends on it.

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With Rempe Injured, Rangers recall Othmann

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Derek

In the first period of last night’s game between the Rangers and Sharks, Matt Rempe took on Ryan Reaves in a hockey fight. Following Reaves taking a run at Juuso Parssinen, Rempe challenged the former Rangers enforcer at center ice.

During the tilt, Rempe absorbed some good rights that caused him to lose his balance. Unfazed, he got up and landed a few shots to Reaves. Near the conclusion, Rempe threw some rabbit punches to Reaves’ head. When the fight was broken up, he was seen shaking his right wrist.

Following the scrap, Rempe didn’t return. Afterward, Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan indicated that Rempe was being evaluated for an upper-body injury.

As it turns out, even with him showing improvement in the first nine games, the 23-year-old forward still needs to learn what he’s most effective at. Hint: It isn’t fighting. Not with Rempe having a glass jaw. He gets caught with clean shots too often. It’s advisable for him to stick to playing hockey.

With him likely to be sidelined when the Rangers begin a four-game road trip at the Calgary Flames on Sunday night, they recalled Brennan Othmann from the Hartford Wolf Pack earlier today.

For Othmann, it’s another opportunity to prove himself. After a disappointing preseason, he was sent down to Hartford earlier than expected. The emergence of Noah Laba during training camp earned the center a roster spot. Sullivan also waited longer before assigning Gabe Perreault and Brett Berard, who both had better showings than Othmann.

For the 2021 Rangers’ first round pick, this could be his final chance to show that he belongs in the NHL. In 25 career games, Othmann has yet to score a goal. He recorded two assists in 22 games last season in a smaller role under former coach Peter Laviolette.

If there’s one thing that stood out, it’s Othmann’s willingness to get the jersey dirty. He registered 43 hits with the Rangers last season. Aside from the energy he can provide, Othmann has a good attitude. Hopefully, he can continue to bring those qualities while making the case to stay with the big club.

We’ll see how Sullivan uses him. If I were to guess, he’ll start Othmann in the bottom six. The question is what the lines will look like. Considering how well Taylor Raddysh finished Thursday night’s game with J.T. Miller and Conor Sheary, there’s a good chance they’ll stay together this weekend.

By shifting Alexis Lafreniere back with Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad, Sullivan slid down Will Cuylle to the third line. Cuylle has had his struggles thus far in his third year, with only one goal. If he stayed on the third line, will it be with Laba or Sam Carrick? The development of Parssinen showing that he can contribute should keep him in the top nine.

That could leave Othmann on the fourth line with Adam Edstrom and either Laba or Carrick. If that’s the case, Othmann will have to make the most of his shifts.

The Western Canadian swing that includes visits to Vancouver and Edmonton before concluding at Seattle is always challenging. Considering that they’ve had much more success on the road, we’ll see if the Rangers can continue an early trend that’s seen them go 3-0-1 away from Madison Square Garden.

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Raddysh Hat Trick The Only Bright Spot for Puzzling Blueshirts

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Derek

On what continues to be a puzzling theme early in the season, the New York Rangers still are winless on home ice. Even after rallying back from 3-1 and 5-4 deficits, they found a way to lose to the previously winless San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden.

I pretty much predicted it. The Sharks had to win sometime. They did it under David Quinn a couple of years ago at MSG. Quinn is now back as an assistant coach of Mike Sullivan’s staff. Nothing changed. The Sharks picked up their first win by defeating the Rangers 6-5 in overtime on a goal from Will Smith.

In what can best be described as an ugly game full of lackadaisical play, the Rangers lost despite Taylor Raddysh recording a hat trick. His second career three-goal game was the only highlight in a frustrating loss that had Sullivan boiling afterward.

In what was an otherwise dreadful first period that saw Macklin Celebrini lead the Sharks to three goals, including one in the final 10 seconds, Raddysh got the Blueshirts on the scoreboard by converting his second from Sam Carrick and Carson Soucy.

But in a period where they quickly fell behind 2-0, Celebrini got his second of the game when he was left in the slot to fire home a wrist shot past Igor Shesterkin.

Predictably, the Rangers got back in it and even took the lead thanks to scoring three straight times in the second period.

After J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafreniere combined to set up Mika Zibanejad on the power play, Conor Sheary was able to find a cutting Juuso Parssinen in front to tie the score. Parssinen showed good patience by faking out Alex Nedeljkovic and beating him with a forehand deke.

With the Rangers on the penalty kill, Raddysh forced a turnover at the blue line and came in on a two-on-one with Zibanejad. Using Zibanejad as a decoy, he roofed a shot past Nedeljkovic for a shorthanded goal that made it 4-3 Rangers.

But with time winding down in the period, Celebrini released a bomb off a Smith feed by Shesterkin to tie the score. A Lafreniere turnover earlier in the shift allowed San Jose to come in transition and send the teams to the locker room all even at four apiece.

The goal gave Celebrini his second career hat trick. He’s still only 19. The Sharks 2024 number one overall pick has all the tools to be a superstar. After a slow start, he’s heating up. On Thursday night, he burned the Rangers for five points.

After Smith put the Sharks back ahead in the third period, it was once again Raddysh who came to the rescue. Coming off the bench on a line change, he took a Miller pass and took a slap shot from the right circle that went top shelf for the hat trick.

It was a beauty of a shot from Raddysh. Brought in as a secondary player, he played well enough to earn a promotion. Will Cuylle continued to struggle, taking an offensive zone penalty. Sullivan bumped Raddysh up with Miller and Sheary. He deserved the reward. We’ll see if that continues on the Rangers’ four-game road trip that begins this weekend.

As for Cuylle, he remains stuck on one goal in nine games. He’s having a hard time replacing Chris Kreider. The disappointing aspect is the inconsistency from shift to shift. Normally, that isn’t a characteristic for Cuylle, who usually brings it. Maybe he’s feeling more pressure in a contract year. Whatever the reason, they desperately need Cuylle to wake up soon.

In overtime, it was a total mismatch. Shesterkin tried a long stretch pass that was intercepted by the Sharks. In a twist of irony, Nedeljkovic started the winning goal by moving the puck up for Celebrini.

He escaped a Miller check along the boards and centered across for a Smith one-timer that was in and out of the net quickly for the overtime winner. Miller was too soft on Celebrini, and Braden Schneider wasn’t even close to Smith.

In falling to a remarkable 0-4-1 at home, the Rangers are a miserable team right now to watch at The Garden. At least they got the Knicks and St. John’s. It looks like the hockey tenant could be in the lottery. Considering who’s available in 2026, that might be for the best.

Kudos to Raddysh on having a great game.

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Rangers Sign 2024 Fifth Round Pick Nathan Aspinall

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Derek

The New York Rangers have signed 2024 fifth round pick Nathan Aspinall to an entry level contract. Selected 159th overall in last year’s NHL Draft, the 19-year-old Aspinall has gotten off to a good start with the Flint Firebirds in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). So far, he has six goals and four assists for 10 points in 10 games this season to pace the Firebirds in scoring.

Listed at six-foot-seven, 195 pounds, the Markham, Ontario native registered 17 goals with 30 assists for a total of 47 points in 62 games for the Firebirds last season. The 30 assists were a career-high and the 47 points ranked third in team scoring.

Following the Firebirds losing in the first round of the OHL Playoffs, which saw Aspinall tie for the team lead in goals (2) and points (3), he appeared in five games for the Hartford Wolf Pack on an Amateur Tryout (ATO) in the American Hockey League (AHL).

Aspinall appeared in the preseason for the Rangers against the New Jersey Devils on Sept. 21. He had a brief scrap with Nathan Legare during the second period. It was basically a wrestling match that Legare won.

Aspinall has good speed and skill for his size. Similar to Rangers 2023 sixth round pick Dylan Roobroeck, he’s an interesting prospect for that very reason. The Firebirds captain is the latest big forward the Rangers have selected. Ironically enough, they grabbed Roobroeck late the previous year. So far, he’s been a a pleasant surprise for the Wolf Pack. In his first pro season, he had 20 goals and 14 assists for 34 points with 44 penalty minutes in 72 games last season. So far, he has one helper in 4 games this season.

Aspinall was named captain of the Firebirds on Oct. 8. In nine games, the Firebirds are 5-3-1 with nine points to place sixth in the Western Conference. Their next game is tomorrow night when they visit the Kitchener Rangers at 7 PM.

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Is It Time to Give Up On Lafreniere

Posted on October 23, 2025 by Derek

During training camp, Alexis Lafreniere said he wanted to have a big season. Coming off last year’s disappointment that paled in comparison to his 2023-24 breakout when he set career bests in goals (28), assists (29), and points (57), the 24-year-old left wing needs a better 2025-26.

After signing a contract extension, Lafreniere fell apart last season. His game fell off so badly that he looked completely checked out. There were stretches where he did nothing, struggling to produce while playing on the same scoring line with Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck that dominated opponents the previous season.

Even though he finished better last spring, he wound up with an underwhelming 17 goals with 28 assists for 45 points. Even worse was his dreadful defensive play, which led to a minus-13 rating. There were too many instances when he failed to hustle back and pick up a man on the backcheck. Never the best defensive forward, his effort wasn’t good enough.

Lafreniere wasn’t alone. Even Panarin had his issues while pacing the Rangers in scoring with 89 points. The Bread Man finished a minus-9. Trocheck was the most defensively responsible, but his play dipped for much of the season. A stronger finish helped him wind up with 26 goals and 33 assists for 59 points with an even rating.

Much went wrong for last year’s Rangers to fail to qualify for the postseason. The defensive structure fell apart under former coach Peter Laviolette, who at times during press conferences seemed resigned. It was painfully obvious that he would lose his job a year removed from guiding the Rangers to the Presidents’ Trophy and a trip to the Conference Finals.

Enter Mike Sullivan. A former assistant coach under John Tortorella, Sullivan spent a decade in Pittsburgh guiding the Penguins to consecutive Stanley Cups. It didn’t end well with the Pens declining despite Sidney Crosby continuing to defy logic.

Sullivan has emphasized a better defensive structure on Broadway. It’s resulted in a much improved overall play from the Blueshirts. However, they’re having issues scoring. They’ll bring a mediocre 3-4-1 record into Thursday night’s matchup against the Sharks. The big question is, can they get enough goals to win at Madison Square Garden. Panarin has the only goal in 12 periods, ending a 180:57 goalless drought at home.

While Panarin has finally snapped out of it, and Mika Zibanejad has played much better since having to move back to center with an upper-body injury, keeping Trocheck out, Lafreniere’s game has disappeared. After scoring and setting up a goal in a 4-0 win over the Sabres on Oct. 9, he’s gone six straight games without a point. After being more aggressive with his shot early on, the former 2020 number one overall pick has reverted to being a non-factor. In the last three games, he’s totaled three shots while hardly being noticeable during most shifts.

The only time Lafreniere was visible came when he got caught in between against the Wild on a defensive draw. He had a Jonas Brodin shot deflect off him past Igor Shesterkin. Afterward, Sullivan got in his ear about being more aggressive if he decided to go for the shot block.

For the season, Lafreniere has just one goal and one helper in eight games. That means he’s been scoreless in the other seven games. Without Trocheck, he can’t be a passenger. It wasn’t working out with Panarin and Zibanejad. So, Sullivan switched Lafreniere and Will Cuylle, who also is off to a bad start with only one goal so far. Unless both start producing, the Rangers will continue to be punch less offensively.

The frustrating part about Lafreniere is that when he’s not creating offense, he doesn’t do much else. For a former consensus top pick scouts raved about, there’s little intensity shown from him. He doesn’t hit with regularity or do much else.

Lafreniere isn’t getting his nose dirty in front or making himself a pest during scrums. He did more of that a couple of years ago. His confidence was high, with a more active Lafreniere in on the forecheck during the Rangers’ playoff run in 2024. He had eight goals and six assists for 14 points. Most impressive is that he was one of the best forwards against the Panthers.

What happened? That’s hard to explain. In almost a year since he got his big contract that pays him an AAV of $7.45 million, it’s almost like he stopped working consistently. When will that change?

Lafreniere is approaching two milestones. He’s 12 games away from 400. He is five points shy of 200. He needs seven goals for 100. But when you consider all the hype surrounding his draft year, none of it is impressive. He was expected to build upon the 28-goal, 57-point season that included a strong playoff showing. Instead, it’s been all downhill since.

Is it time to give up completely on Lafreniere? He’s signed through 2032. His no-movement clause doesn’t kick in until 2027-28. Unless things drastically change, it looks like the Rangers are stuck with a player who looks like a bust.

There’s no consistency to Lafreniere’s game. He’s shown flashes of brilliance to score some highlight reel goals over his career. But he lacks the game-breaking speed that other young stars possess. Tim Stutzle was selected third by the Senators in the same draft. Lucas Raymond was taken fourth by the Red Wings. Seth Jarvis went number 13 to the Hurricanes. They are more explosive players.

One wonders why Lafreniere hasn’t improved. He’s played the most games. If one can point out that Covid didn’t help him in his rookie year, he eventually improved. It took him four years to finally have a major role. Even now that he’s getting first power play time with Trocheck out, he isn’t doing enough with the chance. The Rangers power play remains a source of frustration. Much like their Jekyll & Hyde act at home compared to the road.

Is there anybody who doesn’t think the woeful Sharks can’t come out of MSG tonight with their first win? They boast more talent. They lost a close game to the Islanders, who, of course, boast a future star in 2025 top pick Matthew Schaefer. Why is it so easy for the Islanders and Devils to hit it out of the park with their number one picks?

When it comes to the Rangers, they are either the most unlucky team or have no idea how to get the most out of their lottery picks. I still don’t know how Kaapo Kakko was compared to Jack Hughes. But Kakko was the consensus number two pick behind Hughes in 2019. All the Rangers have to show for it is veteran defenseman Will Borgen.

Lafreniere isn’t done yet. He can still change the script. If he has the desire to, he must make it work with J.T. Miller. It’s not like Conor Sheary is going to light the lamp consistently. But he’ll give an honest effort.

Lafreniere needs to start. If he can’t turn it around this season, the Rangers will look to get rid of him. There’s still a lot of time left. 74 games, to be exact.

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Hughes’ Third Career Hat Trick Leads Devils Over Maple Leafs

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Derek

It was showtime up north for Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils. Coming off a great home stand that saw him get his first three goals of the season, Hughes continued his tear by recording his third career hat trick in a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena.

After scoring twice in a dominant second period that saw the Devils erupt for four goals, Hughes put the exclamation mark on the Devils’ fifth straight win by scoring his third into an open net. In less than a week, Hughes went from a goose egg in the Devils’ first three games to six goals in victories over the Panthers, Oilers, and Maple Leafs.

After winning their first two home games, the Devils made the trip to Toronto to face a Leafs team that still hasn’t hit its stride. They’ve found life more difficult without Mitch Marner, who now stars on the Vegas strip with Jack Eichel. In particular, Leafs captain Auston Matthews has yet to get going. He entered the game with four goals, but half have come via empty netters. Matthews and Matthew Knies still haven’t found a regular line mate.

Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe doesn’t have that problem. The former Leafs coach can put out his scoring lines without any concern. Even if that means continuing to go back to Ondrej Palat with Hughes and Jesper Bratt on one line. Nico Hischier continues to play with Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer on the other big line. That allows Keefe to have promising rookie Arseny Gritsyuk on the third line with Cody Glass and Connor Brown. All three lines gave the Leafs fits. In particular, the Hughes unit, which turned the game around.

In the first period, it was the Leafs who drew first blood. On a strong cycle, Nylander set up Oliver Ekman-Larsson for a shot that ricocheted off Jake Allen. John Tavares was able to bat the rebound out of mid-air past Allen for his fourth at 6:36. It was a skilled play from the former Leafs captain who continues to produce. The former New York Islanders 2009 number one overall pick is two goals shy of 500 for his career.

Trailing by one, the Devils generated some quality chances. But Anthony Stolarz made the big stops to keep them off the scoreboard. That included making a key save on Hughes and then denying a Hischier shorthanded bid. He skated in two-on-one with Bratt and got a good shot right on Stolarz. The Devils remain one of the league’s most potent shorthanded teams. With their top stars all able to kill penalties, including Hughes, they can go from defense to offense very quickly. They killed off two Toronto power plays to continue a strong stretch without giving anything up down a man.

The game remained 1-0 entering the second period. It didn’t remain that way for long. On some good sustained pressure, a diving Palat freed up a loose puck for Hughes, who got it over to Brett Pesce. He then moved it down for Bratt, who patiently waited to make a pass for Hughes in the slot where he fired through a Palat screen and scored to tie the game.

For some reason, the Leafs video coach told Keefe to challenge the goal for goaltender interference. However, even watching it live, it was obvious that Palat didn’t make any contact. The replays confirmed it. The review was as quick as possible, with the refs confirming it as a good goal. That meant a minor penalty on the Leafs for delay of game. A no-no against a good Devils power play that doesn’t rely on only one unit.

As dangerous as the top unit was, with Mercer getting stopped twice in succession by Stolarz, Keefe put out the second unit for the second half of the man-advantage. On a good retrieval from Gritsyuk, he moved the puck back up for Luke Hughes, who dished across for a Meier one-timer that rebounded out to Glass for a power-play goal that made it 2-1. Just like that, the Devils had the lead with two straight goals in over a 1:53 span.

The entire complexion of the game swung. The Leafs decided to get lulled into a run and gun style that favored the Devils. They took full advantage of some Leafs miscues to again burn their slower foe in transition. Some excellent passing started by Gritsyuk led directly to Luke Glendening finding a wide open Brenden Dillon for a wrist shot that made it 3-1 at 4:54.

That forced Leafs coach Craig Berube to call a timeout to try to regroup his team. At first, the Leafs didn’t respond well. In fact, Mercer just missed making it 4-1. Instead, the Devils got caught in a bad line change, which led to Nylander walking in on a two-on-one before easily feeding Matias Maccelli for a tap in that cut it to 3-2.

The track meet continued. Both teams used their speed and skating to create opportunies at each end. Luke Hughes was shut down by Stolarz, who prevented the Devils from retaking a two-goal lead.

But in a period full of turnovers, with the Devils forcing more, they eventually were able to get the big insurance goal late. On a Leafs giveaway inside the Devils blue line, Simon Nemec moved the puck to Bratt, who had Jack Hughes hanging at the Toronto blue line for a breakaway. He made the most of it by winding up with a full slap shot that beat Stolarz short side for his second of the game.

Matthews tried to come back with over a minute left. Following a faceoff win, he had a good look at a backhand, but pushed it off the side of the net. He later was stopped by Allen, who also made a save on Knies. That was as close as the Leafs came to getting back in it.

In the third, the Devils never could quite get the fifth goal, failing to convert on a power play. With Jonas Siegenthaler off for interference on Dakota Joshua, they had to kill a late penalty. The Leafs were limited to just one Tavares deflection that Allen handled.

With 30 seconds remaining, Hughes completed the hat trick when his shot went in to finish it off. However, the game wasn’t over yet. Instead of skating it out, Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit and Devils forward Brian Halonen had a scrap. Halonen got the knockdown for the decision.

The Devils go for six in a row later tonight when they return home to host the Minnesota Wild.

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Frustration Boils Over for Zibanejad and Rangers in Latest Home Loss

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Derek

On a night they honored the history of the franchise, it was the same old story for the New York Rangers on home ice. For the fourth time this season, the offense was punchless. Even with Mika Zibanejad setting up Artemi Panarin for his third goal in two games just 57 seconds in to finally end the home scoreless streak at 180:57, the Rangers never scored another goal in a frustrating 3-1 loss to the Minnesota Wild.

Entering the contest, the Rangers had already become the first NHL team to fail to score a single goal in the first three home games to start a season. Had they gone another 7:20 without a goal, it would’ve broken the Pittsburgh Pirates’ record for offensive futility set in 1928-29. At least they never reached that NHL record of 187:19.

On a great transition play in which all six Rangers touched the puck, with Igor Shesterkin handing off for Matthew Robertson, who then got it over to Will Borgen who gained the zone. Borgen then had a pass down low for Will Cuylle retrieved by Zibanejad, who made a beautiful feed in front for Panarin to bury for a 1-0 lead. It was Panarin’s fifth point over the last two games. At the very least, the soon to be 34-year-old Ranger has finally got going. So has Zibanejad, who had another strong game despite lamenting failing to bury a chance in a pointed remark during the postgame.

“We just have to keep going. I don’t know. Do you have a better idea than what we’re doing right now? Honestly. It’s frustrating. I know you guys have to ask the questions. We have to bear down. I have to score on that one,” a visibly frustrated Zibanejad said in regards to creating puck luck.

It was the most upset he’s ever sounded following a loss. He’s come in with a much different approach and very serious attitude. Zibanejad is playing with a lot more purpose in every facet. He knows how important his role is without Vincent Trocheck. He’s started to find chemistry with Panarin for the first time. It only took six years. Hopefully, they can continue to build on things on Thursday when the San Jose Sharks come to town.

If there was a disappointing aspect from Monday night’s loss, it was the Rangers’ inability to prevent a determined Wild from attacking at will in a lopsided first period. Their physicality proved to be too much. In particular, the scoring line featuring Kirill Kaprizov, Joel Eriksson Ek, and Matt Boldy. Even without number one center Marco Rossi, the Wild’s number one unit imposed their will at five-on-five by spending long stretches in the Rangers zone. As dynamic as they were, the tying goal came off a faceoff win from Eriksson Ek.

He got the puck over to Boldy, who fed the point for a Jonas Brodin shot that Alexis Lafreniere deflected, fooling Igor Shesterkin to even the game at 5:10. Lafreniere didn’t go far enough out to block the shot. That caused some confusion for Shesterkin, who had the shot bounce off his stick and in. During a stoppage, Rangers coach Mike Sullivan went over to Lafreniere on the bench and explained to him what he did wrong. It was a good teaching moment.

There are more pressing issues right now. Lafreniere was largely ineffective for most of the game. Eight games into his sixth season, he looks more and more like a bust who’ll never become a consistent player. Since scoring and setting up a goal against the Buffalo Sabres, he’s gone six straight games without a point. He’s already been moved off the Panarin line to play with J.T. Miller and Conor Sheary. In another bad sign, he’s been outplayed by Sheary, whose hustle is always noticeable during shifts. The trouble is the veteran can’t score.

Right now, Miller’s stuck with two forwards who can’t finish. On a night he paced the team with six shots, he had nothing to show for it. Eight games into his first year as Rangers captain, he has four points. That’s clearly not enough production for a player who must make a difference. One area where he continues to get the job done is on faceoffs. Miller went 15-for-25 on draws while logging 23:41 of ice time to lead all forwards.

With the defense struggling early, Robertson and Borgen had more ice time than Braden Schneider and Carson Soucy, who looked rusty in his return to the lineup. He only received 10:20 while Schneider got 15:54. Due in large part to getting pinned in their end by the Wild top line for an extended shift during a first period that saw them out-shoot and out-chance the Rangers by a wide margin, Robertson finished with 20:19, including 2:49 while shorthanded. Borgen received a little less (18:37 TOI) due to a delay of game penalty he took while facing the Wild pressure.

Despite the Wild’s dominance, they weren’t able to take the lead. After getting the weekend off, Shesterkin was sharp. He made several big saves on point blank shots from Minnesota. That included keeping Kaprizov off the scoresheet. The Wild superstar didn’t factor in until the latter stages. However, his fingerprints were all over the game.

With seemingly nothing going on in a rather quiet building, Schneider woke the fans up by catching Marcus Foligno with a big hit that sent him flying. The Rangers probably could’ve used it sooner.

The second period was played on even terms, with each side getting 11 shots. Most of it was played at even strength. The Blueshirts had to kill off a pair of Wild power plays. The first came with Lafreniere off for hooking. Despite some good puck possession, the Wild were unable to score. While they were up a man, Noah Laba was caught by a Vinnie Hinostroza shot in the face, sending him down full of blood. They blew the play down. Laba went off for repairs, but he would return later wearing a protected helmet for the third period.

When play resumed, the Rangers killed off the penalty. Back at full strength, Miller missed on a couple of scoring chances. After getting stopped by Filip Gustavsson, he went wide on a follow-up. Although he wasn’t busy, Gustavsson turned aside 23 of 24 shots to earn the game’s second star. He later stopped Zibanejad and Panarin.

After preventing the Wild from converting on their third power play, the Rangers went to the locker room still tied at one.

Early in the third, a strong shift from the Sam Carrick line resulted in a pair of opportunities. First, Matt Rempe was denied on a break-in by Gustavsson. He then stopped Adam Edstrom.

A good shift from Sheary drew a hooking minor on Jake Middleton. On the power play, Zibanejad had the best chance to put the Rangers ahead. After being denied once by Gustavsson, he missed on a tip-in. Had he scored, maybe it’s a different story. Instead, the game remained tied.

Some unfortunate luck led directly to the Wild grabbing the lead. Borgen had a clearing attempt accidentally hit the linesman who was seated on the Rangers bench. Despite some confusion from Sullivan, they made the right call by putting the faceoff back in the Rangers zone due to the linesman being out of play. That faceoff would prove costly.

On it, Marcus Johansson carried the puck around the net and had his wrap-around stopped by a sprawling Shesterkin. With him laying flat on his back without knowing where the puck was, Wild rookie Danila Yurov was able to beat Soucy to the loose puck and stuff it in for his first career NHL goal with 11:44 remaining. If there’s one Rangers tradition that’s probably stood the test of time, even with the Boucher family, Cooks, and Hextalls in the building, it’s the team allowing the first goal to someone. Whether it be a rookie or a journeyman, that’s part of rooting for this team. Centennial anniversary or not.

Of course, that Yurov tally held up as the game-winner. With the Wild protecting the lead, Zibanejad nearly had one. On the doorstep, he had his one-timer robbed by the glove of Gustavsson. It was the closest the Rangers came to tying the game.

With Shesterkin off for an extra attacker, Kaprizov sealed it with an empty netter at 18:24. For the fourth time this season, the Rangers lost on home ice. Somehow, they’ve managed to score only once in 12 periods at Madison Square Garden. On the road, they’ve had much more success by scoring 15 of their 16 goals to go 3-0-1.

Something has to give. If they can’t figure it out against the Sharks, it might take until Election Day for them to win at home. In fact, the game against San Jose on my brother’s birthday is the final one of October. The Rangers will then embark on a four-game Western swing with stops in Calgary, Vancouver, Edmonton, and Seattle between Oct. 26 thru Nov. 1. They won’t return to The Garden until Nov. 4 against Carolina.


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