Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. There is not one redeemable quality about these 2025-26 New York Rangers.
Not with Sam Carrick gone anyway.
While the Blueshirts remain as the worst ran franchise in the NHL today; then at least I can still take solace in the fact that Team USA took home the gold medal this year in Italy.
Off puck drop tonight – then this particular manifesto that you’re reading right now will be a doozy.
Due to my own real-life j-o-b, where I had to a work a ton of overtime on Thursday night, then I didn’t get home until 2:30AM Friday morning – and in turn – I was too exhausted to write about another aggravating Blueshirts’ match at M$G – and ironically – a rare win to boot – a 6-2 final over the Maple Leafs.
Furthermore, with Friday’s 3:00PM trade deadline looming at the time – and I figured it was better off to wait until Dumbass Drury was done wrecking the franchise – then combine all of the trade deadline coverage with a GAME REVIEW of Thursday night’s 6-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
(After all, I only have time to block out one writing session, not 678698679869698 of them for artificial site traffic, hence why these daily tomes are so damn long!)
In addition, then I was also expecting the anointed jackass of the Big Apple hockey club, ZOOM ZOOM Drury, to address the media following his deadline, which is also why I didn’t want the NYR/TOR GAME REVIEW to come off as belated/dated/old news by the time that I published it.
(And then there was the Carrick trade that took place several hours after the match too!)
In turn, I’m now going to present everything to you – the off-day news following Monday night’s loss to Columbus, the J.T. Miller injury, the Vincent Trocheck will they or won’t they saga, the NYR/TOR 3/5 GAME REVIEW and everything else from Friday’s off-day, the trade deadline, etc – and in a chronological fashion.
What an Olympian effort if I do say so myself!
There’s a lot to get into, so let’s jump right into it.
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off, the “thrilling” overtime loss to Columbus:
NYR/CBJ 3/2 Review: CZAR “Screw Your Tank – And Gavin McKenna Too” IGOR & Rangers Mount Four-Goal Comeback; Take Loser’s Point in Overtime Loss, Candid Trocheck Openly Talks About Being Traded; Fox Doesn’t Squash Any Rumors About His Future Either, Captain Culture J.T. Miller Partially Blames Fans For a 4-0 Deficit; Gabe Perreault Goes Off Against Werenski-Less Columbus, Discounted Tickets Galore (Season Tix Holders LOVE That), NDA Panarin = Coach Killer, Say No To The Sirens; M$GN & More
The Rangers, following their 5-4 overtime loss on Monday night to the Blue Jackets, took Tuesday off.
But of course, these are the 2025-26 Blueshirts – so off-day news had to be made.
In the first half of two-prong news, then the team announced the following:
UPDATE: Jaroslav Chmelar and Juuso Parssinen have been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack. Brendan Brisson and Scott Morrow have been assigned to the Hartford Wolf Pack.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) March 3, 2026
This news then coincided with the information that “Captain Culture,” the man who blames fans after losses, J.T. Miller, had been returned to the IR.
According to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, and later confirmed by Mike Sullivan on Wednesday, and Miller has a new “upper-body injury” (I was thinking may it be his fat mouth following his comments from Monday night?) – and that this latest affliction has nothing to do with his previous injuries/ailments from earlier this season.
If you recall, then during the third period against Columbus and Miller drew a penalty after being hit from behind by a Blue Jacket, then took a puck to the head/neck area (a Big Billy Borgen blast) while down on the ice.
And at this point?
Yep – and to quote Jon Taffer – “SHUT HIM DOWN!”
For whatever reason, and the legend known as Chris Drury decided to recall two forwards from Hartford, while sending down a defenseman.
While I’m having my fun here, then the reason for two forwards was not only to replace Miller, but to have an extra forward around ahead of the trade deadline, where the belief was that both Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick, a pair of centers to boot, were most likely to be dealt.
And by now, you already knew about all of the rumors in Rangerstown, USA – and what eventually happened too – but we’ll get there once we get there.
A day later, Wednesday, and now down to only three alternate captains from the team’s “leadership group” (Zibanejad, Fox and Trocheck), and the team reconvened in Tarrytown, N.Y.
Of these three, then I wonder who will still be here next season.
Not much of interest took place during this “play-out-the-stretch” practice, outside of the fact that it looked like Adam Edstrom was finally going to return to action.
Following the skate, Sullivan didn’t say how long Miller would be out for, but he did confirm that it would be at least a week, as per NHL IR rules.
As far as the Trocheck rumors went, then both the head coach and player alike said that #16 was going to be in Thursday’s line-up against Toronto, while also implying unless being told differently by Drury. (And again, then you know that eventually became the case.)
A day later, GAME DAY, and Sullivan confirmed that he wasn’t interested in tanking, as once again, he announced CZAR IGOR as the starter against a tear-it-down Toronto team – and a Leaf organization that not only dealt a few players, but also withheld others for precautionary purposes.
Here was Silly Sully’s line-up for the sixty-first game of this wretched-and-rotten 2025-26 season:
FIRST LINE: Perreault/Mika/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Cuylle/Brodzinski/Raddysh
THIRD LINE: Kartye/Laba/Sheary
FOURTH LINE: Edstrom/Parssinen/Chmelar
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Schneider/Borgen
THIRD PAIR: Robertson/Iorio
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACKUP GOALIE: Quick
SCRATCHED FOR ROSTER MANAGEMENT PURPOSES: Vincent Trocheck and Sam Carrick
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Urho Vaakanainen
IR: J.T. Miller
BOX SCORE time.
The following graphics and information come from ESPN.com:
SCORING:
PENALTIES:
TEAM STATS:
GOALIES:
|
NYR
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 32 | 2 | 30 | .938 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59:56 | 0 |
|
TOR
|
|
Joseph Woll#60
|
|
SA
|
GA
|
SV
|
SV%
|
ESSV
|
PPSV
|
SHSV
|
SOSA
|
SOS
|
TOI
|
PIM
|
| 23 | 5 | 18 | .783 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 57:00 | 0 |
Just as 6:30PM Thursday night hit – then it was reported that both Sam Carrick and Vincent Trocheck were being withheld from the line-up due to “roster management purposes.”
By now, you already know what happened (and we’ll cover all of it below too); but at the time, then this told us that Carrick and Trocheck had most likely played their last game as Rangers.
Come Friday, 3/6, at 3:00PM?
Well that theory became half-true.
As the M$GN pregame show was set to take the air, then while we all knew that Trocheck and Carrick were the players that Drury were most likely to deal (while other names, players such as Brennan Othmann, Braden Schneider and Taylor Raddysh, were also bantered about), then my mind focused on Carrick.
Brought in originally as a “poor man’s Barclay Goodrow,” due to his annual salary of $1M – and Carrick far exceeded such a label.
As I have repeatedly said, and as former captain/current M$GN analyst Dave Maloney has gone on to say – and Carrick was really the lone consistent bright spot during two bad years of Rangers’ hockey.
He easily possessed the most team-friendly contract on the roster – and he was the only one with a pair of balls too.
Similar to the man he was formerly brought in to replace, Goodrow, who if you recall, fought in his first game while as a Ranger (against Ross Johnston in a preseason game against the Islanders) – and Carrick had no problems with dropping the gloves either.
Say what you want about Matt Rempe, and what I’m about to say next isn’t meant to disparage the big man either – but it was Carrick – and not Rempe – that was the real enforcer for the team – and arguably – a team that didn’t deserve Carrick’s sacrifices either.
I mean, just take one look at Carrick’s fight history – and where you can find it courtesy of HockeyFights.com (https://www.hockeyfights.com/players/9075 ).
During his short tenure in the Big Apple – and Carrick fought nearly every heavyweight in the league.
And when you see that he fought the likes of Arber Xhekaj, Brenden Dillon, Garnet Hathaway, Keegan Kolesar, Marcus Pettersson, Mark Kastelic, Matthieu Olivier and Tom Wilson – then who didn’t he fight?
Ryan Reaves?
Matt Rempe?!?!?!
And Carrick’s contributions weren’t solely about the rough stuff either.
After all, then how many different flank pairings, often young players, has he carried in just this season alone?
Ten? Twenty? Thirty?
Carrick was such a great Ranger that I believe that the organization should make an exception to this year’s Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award – a prestigious badge of honor exclusive only to a Ranger who spent an entire season with the club.
That’s why I’m championing for the McDonald family to waive previous traditions, and in turn, come April 8th, when the Rangers host the Sabres at M$G – present Carrick with this year’s award.
I mean, who else are you going to give it to?
Mika Zibanejad for just being here and for having a bounce-back season on a bad team when failing when the team needed him the most – and several times over at that?
CZAR IGOR for blowing the tank?
Captain Culture?
Give me a break!
Either give the award to Carrick on 4/8 or just don’t present it.
As M$GN came on air, then it was revealed that the smug Sieve Vagistat was back.
I was hoping that he was done for the season, or at the very least, brought back only for Pride Night, which this season, is scheduled for March 16th – and better than that – against NDA Panarin’s L.A. Kings.
As Vagistat was rambling on about his crappy analytical company that no other team in the league today, nor broadcast either for that matter, employs; then it struck me how lazy M$GN has really become – and especially when they were airing that old commercial from 2019 – the one where a Rangers’ fan married a Devils’ fan – and how the Blueshirts’ backer was wearing a Brady Skjei #76 jersey at the time.
Billion dollar organization, a junior high A/V club production.
I know that I’ve said this before, but it’s worth repeating again, especially so with all of the centennial celebrations now concluded – but how many times are the Rangers going to honor Henrik Lundqvist?
Among all of the celebrations this season, eight in all, and Lundqvist was only excluded from two of them – the ones featuring the families of the original Rangers and the gala dedicated to the Original Six era of Blueshirt hockey.
This is not yours truly from ages ago, the biggest critic of “THE KING’s” contract – but c’mon – he needs to be honored six times this season?
Crazy enough – and the Rangers kind of shortened his jersey retirement ceremony from years back – a quick fifteen minute thing – and something that could’ve – and should’ve – lasted an hour or two if done right.
As far as these celebrations this season went, then while they were nice and it was great seeing some names that we haven’t seen in years as well (and in some cases, making their M$G returns); but as a whole – then all of this centennial nonsense was an abject failure.
After all, and unlike Toronto in 2016 (I’ve written about this in my first book and then on this site several times afterwards, so check the archives for all of it) – and the Rangers refused to right all of their wrongs – as they did not retire one number during any of these nights.
You know the deal.
The names of Frank Boucher, the Cook Brothers, Emile Francis, Lester Patrick, Ching Johnson, Ron Greschner, and you know the rest, all belong in the rafters of M$G.
And to a lesser extent, then once those names are up there, then a banner should be reserved for Brad Park too.
Let’s not forget Sam Rosen either.
None of that happened this season.
Who’s to blame?
Then the man who not only holds the title of general manager – but team president too – Chris Drury.
But at least Lundqvist was honored six times.
And while I bring up the Lundqvist stuff just to say it – but the most horrific display of ineptness?
The fact that not only was Glen “If I had the Rangers’ payroll, then I’d win the Stanley Cup every year” Sather was honored on Thursday night – but for FUCK’S SAKE – so was Sieve Vagistat – the worst back-up goalie in franchise history!
I don’t know how I remain a fan of this franchise, but I am, and if nothing else, then I am loyal – but also absolutely disgusted too!
When it came to Thursday night’s ceremony – “The Modern Era of Rangers” – then it was always going to be tough to pull this off.
After all, then most names that should be honored during this either play or work elsewhere, including guys like Mats Zuccarello (the day he returns will be huge), Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, Martin St. Louis and of course, my favorite and yours, Cam Talbot.
Sam Rosen, and as he’s done for all of these tributes, emceed the evening’s festivities.
For whatever reason, and whether it be family reasons or not – and we haven’t had the Fabulous One himself, “Jumpin'” Joe Micheletti, back at M$G this season.
Say whatever you want about Micheletti’s commentary from the past nineteen years – but he deserved to be honored.
He was a complete a class act, absolutely selfless, during Rosen’s retirement tour.
Knowing that he was going to be leaving too – and Micheletti didn’t utter a word – as he didn’t want to take away from Rosen’s moment.
That should never be forgotten.
Honored for this latest token celebration were: Tom Renney, Glen Sather (wasn’t booed like he should’ve been – and why he was here was beyond me), Colton Orr (local), the worst goalie in franchise history Sieve Vagistat, Derek Dorsett (glad to see him back, he had to retire young), Darius Kasperminus, Michael “Lisa Ann” Del Zotto, Dominic Moore (so underappreciated), Kevin Klein (a freakin’ monster in a good way), Brian Boyle (he loves this team), Brandon Prust, Sean Avery (back for the second time this season), Brandon Dubinksy, Carl Hagelin (hated how they traded him – but glad to see him back), Marc Staal (one of the most underrated Rangers of all-time), Marian Gaborik (less said about 2014 the better), and Lundqvist for the sixth time this season.
As Rosen asked these men to give the fans a “Stick’s Up Salute,” then at the time – and I forgot what the Rangers’ win song was – that is – until it was played here.
In case you missed the ceremony, then you can watch it here:
Centennial Night – Modern Era Full Pregame Ceremony https://t.co/uYWgxTk26J via @YouTube #nyr
— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 6, 2026
Let’s now get into Thursday night’s GAME REVIEW – and where yes – I’ll try to keep it short as possible. (Easy for me to say!)
But of course, then the win was conflicted – and for all of the reasons as previously explained since returned from the Olympic break (it’s nice to see the young players do well, but they, along with CZAR IGOR, are absolutely ruining the Rangers’ chances of winning this year’s draft lottery).
And as always, then if you want my complete and live running commentary from the game, then check out my Tweeter/X feed, and as you can do by visiting https://x.com/NYCTheMiC
Let’s roll.
FIRST PERIOD
Here’s how I opened up my commentary about this game from my Tweeter feed – and this really says it all:
After the ceremony, which just delayed puck drop for ten minutes and CZAR IGOR and Joey Woll take their nets. Mika and Matthews head to center ice, the hopeful future Ranger (AM34) wins the draw and we’re underway – and I’m not making this up – Matias Maccelli scores at just the 13-second mark. 1-0, Leafs! That’s Ranger hockey baby – another minus for Mika after the cross crease one-timer!
Here’s the Maccelli goal, with the son of a Ranger, Willy Nylander, picking up the sweet assist too:
THE LEAFS SCORE 13 SECONDS IN 🤯
William Nylander fins Mattias Maccelli on the back door for the opening goal of the game. pic.twitter.com/XtDnehfGO9
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 6, 2026
1-0 them – and another early goal as allowed by the Blueshirts.
But hey – at least Miller wasn’t there!
After all, then if he was there, then he would’ve been offended by all of the booing!
Right after the score, then, and at just the 38-second mark, Maccelli slashed Big Billy Borgen.
With a chance to tie the game via the power-play – and the Rangers didn’t do as such.
They didn’t even register a SOG either!
As fans, and for whatever reason, were chanting “POTVIN SUCKS!” (and where really, it’s time to replace “POTVIN” with “DRURY!”); then it dawned on me, that the Blueshirts’ latest fourth line, their first in some time to not feature either Goodrow or Carrick in the middle of it, was one of the worst bottom six trios that I’ve ever seen.
Will Cuylle, who had a good night, tied the game at the 6:45 mark.
On this play, McCabe failed to clear a puck, Braden Schneider then ripped the rubber with a rocket of a shot and as a result, Cuylle Hand Luke was there with the tip:
Will Cuylle ties it off the deflection pic.twitter.com/bbrMdUPB7y
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) March 6, 2026
1-1 – and where on his next shift, with 10:37 remaining – and Schneider almost got his second point – but Woll was there to make the save.
As we hit ten-minutes remaining, both teams remained with the 1-1 score – and with three SOG a piece as well.
Five-minutes later, and both goalies came up with a highlight reel save each – as Woll stopped a Lafreniere-to-Perreault door-step try, while CZAR IGOR denied Captain America, Matthews, from an in-between the legs goal.
Speaking of Matthews?
Then he had six SOG – and where three of them were looking as sure-fire goals.
CZAR IGOR denied the sextet of them.
Come 4:26 remaining and the Leafs drew their first power-play, as Parssinen hooked son of a Ranger, Max Domi.
CZAR IGOR had to make one save during all of this and as a result, the Rangers’ penalty kill was now a perfect one-of-one.
In what was telling at the time, then out of a commercial and Kenny Albert was plugging a Rangers’ free Knicks jersey ticket promotion.
I don’t care about the NBA – but those jerseys looked nice – and they didn’t look cheap either.
The fact that the Blueshirts are giving those away for free tells you that they need to do something in order to pump up single-game sales.
In an update, then after telling you how Monday night’s match against Columbus was the least attended game of the season, then three days later and the attendance improved to 17,262.
Of course, Matthews, and Toronto road-trippers, also helped boost the draw – but this game wasn’t sold out either.
As far as anything else from this frame, then CZAR IGOR, the goalie on record for giving up the customary early goal against, denied Nicky Robertson from scoring the customary end of the period goal against.
One-up through twenty minutes of action.
Here’s what I said at the time:
1-1 through 1. 1P Thoughts:
— SOG 8-4
— Kind of boring after the first minute
— Both goalies with a big stop each – Igor on Matthews, Woll on Perreault
— Surprised AM34 and JT91 aren’t eating these guys alive – but I’ve heard TOR has their issues just like #NYR
— After…— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 6, 2026
SECOND PERIOD
Matthews, and as he did at the start of all three periods, beat Mika at the dot.
In total, then Captain America finished 17-5 at the circles (77.3%), while the overpaid failed Olympian Swede finished 10-12 (45.5%).
CZAR IGOR was challenged early in this period and by the two-minute mark, had racked up three quick saves.
Conversely, and Woll made his sixth save of the game at the 4:32 mark, with a denial on Gavrikov.
Nearly a minute later, the 5:27 mark, and Easton Cowan, after a hell of a feed from Matty Knies, regained Toronto’s lead, via his 2-1, them, off-the-rush, score:
Easton Cowan snipe 🚨 pic.twitter.com/gmbH6ZX3LD
— Leafs Papi (@LeafsPapi_) March 6, 2026
Two things.
One, this would be the last Leafs’ goal of the evening – and where no one was thinking that at the time.
Two, some deja vu, because after this goal, and just like Toronto’s first red lamp, and the Blueshirts immediately drew a power-play, thus getting a chance to tie.
With Reilly in the box for hooking Iorio, then, and with about twenty-seconds remaining on the Rangers’ second power-play of the match – and Gavrikov continued his single-season career-high goal scoring, his 11th score this campaign, via this rebound PPG:
Gavrikov ties it up
🎥: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/F0PaqbSZVP
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) March 6, 2026
2-2 at the 7:29 mark – and the first of an eventual five unanswered goals.
As both goalies continued to exchange saves, then each team also had plenty of scoring chances – but neither could find the 3-2 goal in this frame.
This was most certainly on display towards the end of the period, when CZAR IGOR reached 19 saves – and where saves #17, #18 and #19, took place during a shift where five Rangers were caught on the ice for three-minutes in total.
And this was another example of CZAR IGOR, now 2-0-2 since returning, distancing the Blueshirts’ dreams of landing Gavin McKenna too.
2-2, through forty-minutes.
Here’s what I said at the time:
2-2 after 2. 2P thoughts:
— SOG 21-12, TOR
— #NYR have erased two one-goal deficits
— Igor has had Matthews’ number tonight
— Lifeless building
— It would be nice if the Rangers can lose this (McKenna).— BlueCollarBlueShirts (@NYCTheMiC) March 6, 2026
THIRD PERIOD
Perreault (-1, no points), the best player on Monday night, set up some early offense to begin this period – but again – nothing doing for him during this match.
In the other end, and at about the 3:12 mark, and CZAR “EFF YOUR TANK” IGOR, stopped a Leafs’ 3 x 2 chance.
Right after that, and Pajama Boy, ex-Isle John Tavares, prevented Cuylle from scoring on a 2 x 1 try.
As we hit the five-minute mark, then the Rangers’ third line had a hell of a shift – and one that kept Toronto in their own zone for about two-minutes.
Following a Leafs’ desperation icing infraction, the Blueshirts’ top line came on, Toronto could never clear the puck, the puck then took a fortunate bounce to Mika, Woll was screened, the dee-jay blasted the puck – and blammo – there was Lafreniere for the 3-2, home team, deflection goal with 14:22 remaining:
The New York Rangers have the lead in the third period courtesy of Alexis Lafreniere ✅ pic.twitter.com/DYVTFDy3Dw
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 6, 2026
Matthews almost immediately scored after the Lafreniere goal – but again – CZAR IGOR isn’t interested in meeting McKenna anytime soon.
As we got under ten-minutes remaining, then all you could think of, outside of the Rangers selecting 11th-overall come the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, was that they were also minutes away from their first regulation win on M$G ice since November 24th, 2025.
And when Jaroslav Chmelar, who was originally going to be scratched prior to the “roster purpose management” news, scored his first NHL goal in his career, and as he did via the breakaway with 9:33 remaining?
Then it looked like the Rangers were helping Toronto’s tank!
Here’s Chmelar’s goal – and one that he’ll never forget about either:
WELCOME TO THE NHL, JAROSLAV CHMELAR! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/MZAOrcx4vI
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 6, 2026
4-2 – and where the rout was now about to commence.
Down to 9:00 remaining – and Mika missed a wide open and GAPING net.
The net was so wide open and GAPING that even Maloney called this misplay a “MacKinnon Moment,” referencing the 2026 Gold Medal game in Milan.
Funny enough?
Then just 19-seconds later – and Mika got the same chance, albeit from a tougher angle.
He didn’t miss this time:
After a nice tic-tac-toe play Mika Zibanejad gives the Rangers a 5-2 lead. pic.twitter.com/m2k1nxWPN6
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) March 6, 2026
5-2 – and with the Rangers just eight-minutes and change away from their third regulation win on home ice this season.
No joke?
Then despite everything that was going on at the time – and I was thinking – “how will the Blueshirts blow this?”
Nothing was blown – that is – sans Drury’s trade deadline on Friday.
Craig Berube, bench boss in Toronto, pulled Woll with 5:51 to go.
Their net remained empty for the next two-minutes – and where CZAR IGOR wasn’t challenged once during this time either.
While a Leafs’ power-play goal wouldn’t have changed the final outcome of this contest; but just under 3:00 remaining, and Maccelli was slashed behind the net when going for a rebound afforded to Tavares.
The refs weren’t interested in pausing and delaying this game any further, thus not making the obvious call (Maccelli’s broken stick was all over the ice).
As a result, and with Maccelli out of the play as he was complaining to the officials – and Cuylle put the game away, via his 6-2, home team, empty netter with 2:51 remaining.
6-2, the Rangers finally win a game in regulation time at M$G, your final.
FINAL THOUGHTS
If there’s one that I hate in sports, and this goes for hockey, football, whatever; then it’s whenever a team, in contention for a first-overall pick, says that they can build off a meaningless late season win.
And that’s what Vagistat was bloviating about during the M$GN post-game show.
As if any win now will have anything to do with what goes on come October.
Heck, who knows who will even be here by then?
(I can only pray to the hockey gods that Drury won’t be!)
Following the win over the Leafs, and what happened on Friday too (more below), then I just don’t see what light is at the end of this tunnel.
As repeated to the point of ad-nauseam, then CZAR IGOR is marring any chance at landing a top pick at the draft.
Also repeated incessantly on this site?
That meaningless 9-2 win against the Islanders from last year – you know – a Rangers’ win that not only directly took themselves out of the running for the first-overall pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft – but a meaningful loss for the Isles that then allowed them to nab Matthew Schaefer.
Between the state of this franchise, the owner who allows this incompetent fool to run it, and everything else – and I can’t tell you when the Rangers will challenge for the Stanley Cup again.
Sadly, perhaps not in my lifetime.
Following the 6-2 win, with many Blueshirt fans in bed, and while I was still at the real j-o-b – and the first domino prior to Friday’s 3:00PM deadline dropped – Sam Carrick was going to Buffalo.
Let’s now explore all of Drury’s moves – and non-moves too – during the past 24-hours.
Here’s how the Blueshirts covered the trade of Carrick to Buffalo, in exchange for two picks, courtesy of https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-acquire-third-round-and-sixth-round-draft-picks-in-exchange-for-sam-carrick:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has acquired two draft picks from the Buffalo Sabres – Buffalo’s own third-round draft pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and Chicago’s sixth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft – in exchange for forward Sam Carrick.
Following the trade, the Blueshirts now have 11 picks in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft – one first-round pick, one conditional first-round pick, one second-round pick, three third-round picks, one conditional third-round pick, one fifth-round pick, two sixth-round picks, and one seventh-round pick.
Just for reference, then this reminder:
Granted, while the circumstances were completely different due to NDA Panarin’s no-movement-clause (and this also applies to the Trocheck no-trade too); but for the greatest prize of this year’s trade class – and all Panarin brought back was a prospect, a third-round pick and a potential fourth-round pick.
Conversely, Carrick, paid $10M less than Panarin, also brought back a third-round pick, while also fetching a fifth-rounder too.
As Carrick did throughout his short Rangers’ tenure – and he over-delivered – while also possessing the most value out of anyone.
Listen, the Rangers aren’t going to be any good for some time, so I understand why Drury was trying to get some draft capital in exchange for him.
Conversely, and I also think that Carrick, and especially at his contract, could’ve been a good asset and leader to have around as the team gets young.
What I’m trying to say here is that I understand the trade – but I hate it too!
Thank you Carrick – and a guy who will be remembered one day as “Once a Ranger, Always a Ranger” – and perhaps at the franchise’s 150th birthday celebration too!
In what was an AHLer-for-AHLer deal, and the Rangers wanted a forward while the Blackhawks desired a defenseman.
In turn, then Aidan Thompson was acquired in exchange for Derrick Pouliot.
Here’s how the club covered the news, courtesy of https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-acquire-aidan-thompson-in-exchange-for-derrick-pouliot:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has acquired forward Aidan Thompson from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defenseman Derrick Pouliot.
Thompson, 24, has notched 15 points (6G-9A) through 40 games in his first full season with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL).
The 5-11, 180-pound forward spent three seasons with the University of Denver, recording 117 points (42G-75A) in 120 games, where he was a member of the 2024 National Championship team. In his final season with the Pioneers (2024-25), he ranked second among all NCAA skaters in points (55) and tied for third in assists (34), while ranking second on Denver in goals (21) as he served as an alternate captain.
Prior to playing collegiately, the Fort Collins, Colorado native played in 109 games across two seasons for the Lincoln Stars of the USHL. During the 2021-22 season, Thompson ranked third among all USHL skaters in assists (58) and fourth in points (82).
Thompson was originally selected by the Blackhawks in the third round, 90th overall, of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.
Unless Thompson breaks out of the AHL ranks, and then goes on to have a substantial NHL career (and the same applies for Pouliot too), then this deal, like 99.9% of these AHL help deals, is of no consequence or significance.
As we approached the 3PM hour, then the two thought of biggest prizes of the deadline, Vincent Trocheck and Nazem Kadri, remained with their clubs.
As that was going on, then, and of course, we received the 79867868798698689679867986 annual reminders that deals can spill in after 3PM, as teams await their calls and faxes to be accepted by the NHL’s registry.
Once past the deadline, then it was reported that the Calgary Flames had acquired former Ranger, Ryan Strome, then of the Anaheim Ducks – and all for a seventh-round pick.
This deal made no sense at the time – but where keen brains also thought – “Kadri must be moving.” (Ryan Strome’s contract replaces Kadri’s hit, and in turn, keeps Calgary cap-compliant.)
And that’s what happened, as in the biggest bombshell during one of the most boring NHL deadlines of all time (the new CBA rules have killed a ton of action), the following news broke:
We have acquired Nazem Kadri and a 2027 fourth-round pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Victor Olofsson, the rights to unsigned draft pick Max Curran, a conditional 2028 first-round pick and a conditional 2027 second-round pick. pic.twitter.com/dGUReen2CJ
— Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) March 6, 2026
Seriously – who is going to beat the Avalanche in the playoffs this year?
I’m not even kidding – I just don’t see how the Denver club loses four games in a seven-game series to anyone.
Between their previous winning ways, the pissed-off silver medal Olympians (MacKinnon and Makar), and now the return of 2022 Cup Champ Kadri – and they are, and overwhelmingly at that, the biggest favorite to win the 2026 Stanley Cup.
While the likes of Minnesota, Edmonton, Anaheim (who just got John Carlson from Washington at around the same time Carrick was dealt to Buffalo) and others will challenge them in the west, while both Tampa and Carolina are hoping to be in the Final come June too – but I just don’t see how the Avs go down.
But that’s why they play the games on the ice – and not on paper.
With Kadri moved, then that left Trocheck as the only big name left on the table.
And that’s where he remained – and more on him on the other side of this.
After all, then Calgary, and the Rangers too, made another trade official after the 3PM cutoff.
The end result?
The “end” of “The Appendix Era.”
As all eyes in Rangerstown, USA were focused on Trocheck’s whereabouts; then another player that many thought would be traded, Brennan Othmann, finally saw the end of his terrible tenure in this organization reach its merciful end.
And why the Rangers thanked Othmann, rather to say “goodbye and good riddance,” is also beyond me.
Here’s how the Rangers covered this trade – and where let’s be fair – this is also another failed AHLer for failed AHLer transaction.
The following comes from https://www.nhl.com/rangers/news/rangers-acquire-jacob-battaglia-in-exchange-for-brennan-othmann:
New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has acquired forward Jacob Battaglia from the Calgary Flames in exchange for forward Brennan Othmann.
Battaglia, 19, has skated in 52 games between the Kingston Frontenacs and Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season. Between the two teams, he has recorded 28 goals and 17 assists for 43 points. Before being traded to Flint, he served as captain of the Frontenacs.
The Mississauga, Ontario native has appeared in 259 OHL games across four seasons and has notched 225 points (104G-121A). Last season, he recorded a career high of 40 goals and 50 assists for 90 points. In the OHL, he ranked eighth in goals and tied for 11th in points. He led the Frontenacs in goals in back-to-back seasons (31 in 2023-24 and 40 in 2024-25) and tied for the team lead in points (90) during the 2024-25 season. The 6-1, 196-pound forward has also appeared in 16 postseason games, recording 20 points (6G-14A).
Battaglia was originally selected by the Flames in the second round, 62nd overall, of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Conversely, then here’s what Calgary said about the arrival of “The Appendix,” courtesy of https://www.nhl.com/flames/news/flames-acquire-brennan-othmann-from-new-york :
The Flames have acquired forward Brennan Othmann from the New York Rangers in exchange for forward Jacob Battaglia.
Othmann, a native of Scarborough, ON, has played in 17 games for the Rangers this season, scoring his first NHL goal. He has also played 26 games with their AHL affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, netting eight goals and adding eight assists for 16 points and 49 penalty minutes. The 23-year-old winger and former first round pick has won two gold medals with Canada’s World Junior Team in 2022 and 2023 and an OHL Championship with Peterborough in 2023.
BORN: Scarborough, ON DATE: January 5, 2003
HEIGHT: 6’0” WEIGHT: 191 lbs.
SHOOTS: Left
DRAFTED: NYR – 1st round (16th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft
I’ve already said everything that’s needed to be said about Othmann in the past.
For Drury’s first-ever first-round pick – he never worked out.
I don’t know if it was development issue, an ego issue or what – but whatever Othmann accomplished in lesser ranks never translated to the NHL.
And you could see how Sullivan had no time for him either, as even in his most recent comments about Othmann (last week), Sully said that he wasn’t ready for the NHL.
Othmann’s legacy in New York?
The obvious – how Drury once said he was “untouchable” – and as he did during the 2024 trade deadline – the last peak of Rangers’ history.
Had Othmann, along with other players that Drury deemed “untouchable,” such as the failures known as Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko, been moved for help at the 2024 deadline (Jake Guentzel, J.T. Miller when he was good, etc) – then maybe the Blueshirts would have won their fifth Cup in franchise history.
Sadly, and we’ll never know.
I do know that I was complaining about Drury’s 2024 deadline at the time – and where as noted 798678678798698686 times since the 2024 ECF loss too (my friend, Cora, always reminds me about this too) – then after those two events, I said, “that was the peak of this core. It’s all downhill from here. It’s over.”
That said?
I never realized how bad it would truly become.
Again, we’ll get into Trocheck in just a second, but a quick glance at this graphic above, and my first thought, after Drury announced his intent to “retool” was, “THIS IS IT?”
Granted, the draft and the summer that follows it will present more changes – but for a team that was looking to sell players for draft capital – and this idiot couldn’t even get a first-round pick in return for any of his assets?
And this is where the failure of not moving Trocheck hurts the most.
I’ve said it a few times leading up to the deadline – but one more time:
I WANTED TROCHECK AS CAPTAIN GOING INTO THIS SEASON.
And I didn’t want him traded either.
That said?
Then, and after Drury’s letter, where as it often goes, and the sequel isn’t as good as the original (The Godfather II, the obvious exception), and he couldn’t get a deal done for his best asset.
As we all know, then Minnesota was the biggest odds-on favorite to land Trocheck.
Not only was Trocheck posing with members of the Wild during Team USA’s photo-ops, but both the player, and the GM of both the Wild and USA Hockey, Bill Guerin, was joking about it.
As it became official that Trocheck was going to remain in New York, then Guerin did an interview with ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, where on the failed try to land the gold medal Olympian, he said, “I thought winning gold with Chris Drury would have gotten me a little bit of a discount, but he wasn’t in that mood.”
What Guerin said here was something that we heard throughout all of trade deadline Friday – GM’s of sellers not getting their “price.”
We’ll need more information to trickle out (and as always – it will come from Canada – and not from the Blueshirts’ birdbrain beat); but from what we know right now, then a first-round pick and a pair of prospects were offered – but not the prospect that Drury desired.
How Drury could poo-poo the idea of landing a first-round pick is just ridiculous.
Listen, and let me reiterate this again:
I LIKE TROCHECK.
He’s been a good Ranger.
I didn’t want him moved in the first place.
But that said, and this is a business.
What can’t be disputed is that Trocheck’s value was never higher as it was prior to 3PM Friday.
Coming off the gold medal victory and with a friendly contract, then potential suitors could’ve not only got the excellent center for a great price – but for an additional playoff run too.
Trocheck will only get older and regress with age over time.
And let’s not forget that just last week, he was talking about how he wanted to win a Stanley Cup before he gets too old.
Not only did Drury fail to get anything back for a player at his peak value; but he also messed with Trocheck’s mental mindset and family too.
We all know about Leo Trocheck. We all know about Trocheck’s open interview from last week too.
With Trocheck willing to accept his fate – even being scratched for a game too – and Drury sang along to Billy Idol’s “Rebel Yell” – “I want more, more, more!”
Again, while the Panarin situation was completely different – but this non-move of Trocheck may be worse, long-term, than the trade with L.A.
As of this writing, and Trocheck has yet to comment about any of this – but I expect he will on Saturday – as barring some sort of injury that we don’t know about – and he should be skating against the Devils.
Prior to addressing Drury’s post deadline comments, then after his failure on Friday, and I was left wondering – is Drury still holding onto his 1990s POGS collection until he gets his price?
And how much are those crappy pizzas going for over at the Colony Grill these days too!?!?!
While there weren’t that many as usual (due to the new CBA), but all over the place, and first-round picks were being dealt left-and-right.
Just ask the Islanders, who landed St. Louis Blues’ captain, Brayden Schenn.
Drury, who has to be the most hated GM in all of the league, couldn’t get one.
Seriously – then outside of his buddy in San Jose, Mike Grier – and does any of the other 30 GMs in the league respect Drury?
Even Guerin was laughing about his fellow USA peer.
And for a GM that has a bad reputation among players too (See Trouba, Jacob; Goodrow, Barclay; Kreider, Chris, etc) – then I can only imagine what Trocheck and his family are thinking right now.
To be fair, maybe they are relieved, but they also have to think that the other shoe will eventually drop – and where Trocheck’s limited NTC decreases over the years, thus meaning that he could be dealt to a Western Conference team in the future.
I should also mention that it was reported all over the place that prior to the deadline and Trocheck removed all Ranger references from his Instagram account.
All of his Carolina references remained – but where like Minnesota – and Drury never got the price he desired out of the Raleigh club either.
Furthermore?
Then after his public decree, where he gave up a lot and didn’t get much back in return; then who in their right mind trusts Drury to hit a home run come the draft and summer?
Prediction?
Drury re-signs Conor Sheary to a max seven-year deal with a NMC attached and calls it a day.
And it’s hard to feel bad for James Dolan, with over sixty-seasons of ownership with the Rangers and Knicks, yet no championships to show for it, too.
He’s doing it to himself.
Why he is hellbent on sticking with this crooked-nose kook remains beyond me.
And this now brings us to what Drury said to the media, in of course, another closed ZOOM call.
For the 798678678678967986th time, and the Rangers have 767676767867867986 cable channels, social media mediums, you know the rest – yet never have Drury show his face to the fans.
Yet they want people to pay and attend these games.
Bold strategy, Cotton!
At this time, Drury’s comments – and where the birdbrain beat, the Rangers’ state media, didn’t challenge him at all either.
For whatever reason, and Pizza Boy thanked both Othmann and Carrick for their services – and as if Othmann’s named deserved to be compared to Carrick in the same sentence.
Here’s what Drury said about his failure to land a first-overall pick for Trocheck:
“Vincent Trocheck is a great player. He’s been a great Ranger for us and a leader on and off the ice. Broadly speaking, to any player in the organization as it pertains to a retool and this trade deadline and moving forward is we’re going to make deals that make sense. The deals we made today and leading up to this deadline, to us made sense. Certainly weren’t going to make a trade on any player just to say we made a trade. We will always continue to try and make the team better. It certainly doesn’t stop today at the three o’clock deadline.
“I think it’s not just this deadline, but when you’re trying to put deals together and you already have something in mind — whether it’s me or the other general manager — just try to stick with it and make the best deal you can. Things ebb and flow in conversations over time. At the end of the day, there is a deadline. When push comes to shove, our goal is to make deals that make sense for the organization. Just how it ended up today.”
Nobody asked if the Panarin deal made sense – nor if Mr. NDA was willing to accept the same two-year deal that he signed in L.A.
Also not brought up?
The following:
— Was moving Panarin the sole purpose of this “retool?”
— Why is Mika still here?
— How did all of this affect Trocheck’s mentality and family?
— Is he going to move Trocheck over the summer?
— How did his series of moves make sense in the grand scheme of things?
— Why won’t he talk to, or at least in front of, the fans?
On his stupid “retool” letter, Drury said:
“It allows us to be opportunistic as we retool the team. The decisions we made today give us flexibility in the months ahead as we continue to work toward our goal, which is to become a Stanley Cup contender again. With the trade we made today, we’ve added draft capital and two young players. We’re excited about that. At the end of the day, we have to make decisions in the best interest of the organization, both short and long term.
“It didn’t make any sense to do something just to say we did it, or to do something just because we wrote a letter.”
What flexibility does Drury have?
There aren’t any big-name unrestricted free agents around this summer.
Unless the American-born, but playing in Canada, Auston Matthews and Brady Tkachuk, get run out of the Great White North – then what immediate help is Drury looking at?
That help won’t be coming at the draft with CZAR IGOR starting every game.
Another question not asked?
What is Drury’s timeline – but we know that he’ll never answer that either.
Fox, and as talked about on this site previously, has had two chances to publicly commit to Drury’s retool, but during each occasion, left the option of playing elsewhere on the table.
When asked about his best d-man, a man who moved heaven-and-earth to play for the only team that’s ever loved, Drury replied with the following:
“Adam’s obviously a terrific person, a great player, local guy. I’ve known him for a long time, as have our coaches. We’re thrilled he’s a Ranger and continues to be. We’re certainly happy he’s here and look forward to seeing him back more on the ice now. He’s had a rough year with some injuries. It’s nice to have him back. Again, couldn’t be happier he’s a Ranger and we’ll continue to be happy about that.”
Not one question was brought up in regards to Fox’s Olympic snub and how that may have negatively impacted their relationship.
I mean, really think of this.
USA might not win another gold medal anytime soon.
Heck, 46-years separates the prior two victories.
This could’ve been Fox’s only chance at winning one.
While it all worked out in the end for everyone not named Adam Fox – but from his perspective – and I could understand if he was pissed-off.
In what will be our final comments about Othmann for hopefully all of our existences, Drury said about the failed first-round pick:
“He’s a terrific kid and worked extremely hard to try and make it work here. For a number of reasons, it just didn’t. To no one’s fault. I think he’d been looking for a new opportunity, and really wanted to give him that chance. Just like any other deal, not going to give him away. Think he’s a good young player and we were able to get the prospect we did with Calgary and made the deal. Certainly, no hard feeling on our end and wish him luck.”
Drury traded a first-round pick for a player that was a late second-round pick.
And he dealt him to hockey purgatory to boot – a city that most players don’t want to go to (just ask Matt Tkachuk and let’s face it – even Jonny Gaudreau deserted it before he was murdered too) – Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
I also like how Drury said that he thought Othmann had been looking for a new opportunity.
What, he didn’t know that for a fact?
I will say, the Rangers gave Othmann plenty of chances, and it didn’t work out.
Not asked during this?
What was Drury thinking when he drafted Othmann (16th-overall) – and when he could’ve landed Wyatt Johnston (23rd-overall) in 2021?
As far as anything else, Drury tried to sell a grand white boy summer for himself, continued to push how this retool is looking successful and how new hire, Jacob “Bates” Battaglia, currently plays with Blueshirts’ prospect, Nathan Apsinall, in the OHL.
If you haven’t picked up on this already, then yeah – I have no faith in Drury at all.
Let’s wind down to the end of this.
Just to give you some updates on Duguay, then the former Rangers’ great provided as such via his Twitter/X account:
@SarahPalinUSA was with me during my most difficult time, sleeping next to me in a chair for 5 days while i was recovering ❤️🩹 pic.twitter.com/nNSaV030lX
— Ron Duguay (@RonDuguay10) March 5, 2026
— Ron Duguay (@RonDuguay10) March 5, 2026
Again – all the best to Duguay – and keep on kicking cancer’s ass.
We’re all rooting for you.
Up Next For The Rangers: The retool continues on Saturday, where the Blueshirts are set to play the Devils for the first time this season in New Jersey.
Note the 3PM puck drop – and ABC broadcast too.
Up Next For Me: Despite 15K words tonight – and I’m under the weather. It’s my plan to go to the bar to watch the game, and if that’s the case, and especially after icing my fingers once publishing this – then no GAME REVIEW blog tomorrow.
But if I just take in the game from the couch – then I might return.
That said?
I just don’t see the point anymore – and especially with CZAR IGOR stealing points left-and-right.
They’re going to blow the only thing going for them – the draft lotto (and keeping Trocheck doesn’t help either) – and where I can’t just let go of this either.
This too – RIP Lou Holtz.
See ya when I see next, but until then, your favorite segment and mine, you know…
PLUGS TIME! (Buy a book and support my Rangers’ induced therapy bills. After all, I don’t run ads on this site!)
My fourth title and tenth book is now available!
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My second plug of tonight’s blog – the mandatory plug for my book, “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden.”
As mentioned previously, the book is now available in hardcover, in paperback and in Kindle formats. To purchase a copy of the book, visit this link:
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For those still looking for signed paperback versions of the book, I have re-ordered more copies. I now have a few signed copies for sale at $25 a pop (includes shipping price) through me directly. Here is all the information on that:
Order “The New York Rangers Rink of Honor and the Rafters of Madison Square Garden” Book Today
My four-volume set of books, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is a game-by-game recount of the Rangers 2021-22 campaign.
My second title as an author, “One Game at a Time – A Season to Remember,” is now available in eBook, paperback and hardcover formats.
To obtain signed copies, visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/onegamebook/
To purchase all four volumes on Amazon, visit: Amazon.com – “One Game at a Time.”
The greatest volume-set of books on Rangers’ history today!
“Tricks of the Trade – A Century-Long Journey Through Every Trade Made In New York Rangers’ History,” a four-volume set of books that meticulously covers every trade made in franchise history, is now on sale.
All four volumes of the title can be purchased on Amazon.com and are presented in three different formats – eBook, paperback and hardcover.
To purchase Volume I: Conn Smythe (1926) – Craig Patrick (1986), visit Amazon.com
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To purchase Volume III: Glen Sather (2000-2015), visit Amazon.com
To purchase Volume IV: Jeff Gorton (2015) – Chris Drury (2022), visit Amazon.com
To purchase signed copies of all four volumes, visit https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
If you haven’t already, subscribe to this blog for the next update:
Don’t forget to order my four-volume set of books, “Tricks of the Trade!”
If you don’t order through me, all four volumes are now available on Amazon.com
For more details, check out: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/tricksofthetrade/
Thanks for reading.
LET’S GO RANGERS!
Sean McCaffrey
BULLSMC@aol.com
