The start of year 100 felt eerily similar to many dispiriting nights in year 99. The New York Rangers' lethargic effort in a 3-0 season-opening loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday could be chalked up to a number of factors: adjustments to a new coach and new systems, the return of Artemi Panarin and J.T. Miller after lengthy preseason absences, and a general lack of execution.
GREENBURGH - With lower-body injuries keeping both J.T. Miller and Sam Carrick from practicing Tuesday, the Rangers found themselves short a couple of centers at practice. So Mika Zibanejad stepped in for Miller as the first-line center, working with three wingers - Alexis Lafreniere, Gabe Perreault and Jonny Brodzinski - rotating around him. It was a chance, for a day, for Zibanejad to play the position he has owned for the Rangers for the past seven years.
Even in today's practice, the Rangers have 5 forward lines that could feasibly be NHL lines to start the season. The answers on defense are pretty much set, and as long as the Rangers remain injury free, they have an opportunity to make October an extended look for the forwards. This means the Rangers could break camp with 15 forwards.
Live From the Blue Seats is back as Dave is joined by a returning Rob to discuss which Rangers prospects make the team. From Brennan Othmann to Scott Morrow, there are a number of prospects vying for spots, and not all of them have necessarily played their way into a role. There's also a good chance the Rangers send more kids back to Hartford to start the season as some of the other players (Juuso Parssinen) get extended looks.
Wrapping up our 2024-2025 report cards is Chris Drury and the Rangers front office. To put it mildly, many of the Rangers issues last year started with Drury's summer roster management, which he tried to rectify with a flurry of midseason trades. As such, his report card grade is a tale of two Drury's.
The Rangers looked good, and though it's only one preseason game, there is some legitimate hype around some of the kids. But with the hype comes worries with the Rangers rushing prospects to the NHL, something that has plagued them the last few years. Though numerous kids have started camp with a bang, it's easy to forget that the Rangers rushing prospects isn't a good idea if they want to have more success in their next window.
The New York Rangers kick off their preseason today in Newark, taking on the New Jersey Devils. The Rangers are dressing a handful of NHLers, mostly bottom six players, and giving some kids and potential depth players a look in a game setting. It will be interesting to see how some of the kids who are not expected to make the team out of camp look, especially as guys like Noah Laba and Gabe Perreault are expected to be midseason call ups.
Per Vince Mercogliano, the Rangers lines today will consist mostly of kids and AHL guys today against the New Jersey Devils. Notable NHLers in the lineup today are Jonathan Quick, Juuso Parssinen, Taylor Raddysh, Jonny Brodzinski, Will Borgen, and Urho Vaakanainen. Everyone else is either AHL bound or in a deep competition for a roster spot. Gabe Perreault, Noah Laba, and Brennan Othmann will play today and will probably be the Rangers top scoring line for the game.
Making the playoffs is as common as putting the puck into the net. However, one year after winning the President's Trophy as the team with the most points at the end of the regular season, they would miss the playoffs. Everything went wrong and they could not find their game quickly enough to turn it around. Star players did not produce and teams above them did not hit any skids.
Wearing the Rangers uniform is an honor and privilege unlike any other in the National Hockey League, team president and general manager Chris Drury said. And that is because of the legacy that has been created here over 100 years. Sam Rosen, the Rangers' recently retired Hall of Fame broadcaster, will serve as master of ceremonies for select theme nights. The club will also open a new exhibit on the main concourse at Madison Square Garden featuring memorabilia from its history.
The Rangers have added defenseman Andrej Sustr to their training camp roster on a professional tryout. For those who remember, Sustr was a highly sought after undrafted free agent in 2013 after the 6'7, 216 lb defenseman finished his junior year at Nebraska-Omaha. Tampa eventually signed him, though the Rangers were interested at the time after he attended development camp in 2011. Though big, Sustr had a relatively muted NHL career.
Adam Fox, for some reason, became the topic of many discussions with disgruntled fans. There was good reason to be disgruntled, as the Rangers were trash and more was expected of the leadership group, including Fox. But that displeasure led to odd arguments that Fox wasn't good and was overpaid. Yet in a down year with likely only 1.5 fully functional knees, Fox still put up 10 goals and 61 points in 74 games
Brodzinski made a name for himself in 2023-2024, turning a call up into an extended look and a well earned two year contract extension. Brodzinski was again overall fine for the Rangers, playing in 51 games and scoring a solid 12 goals and 19 points. Brodzinski was actually 8th on the Rangers in goals last season. In a predominately fourth line role.
