Greetings and salutations everyone and welcome to another blog here on BlueCollarBlueShirts.com. I promise – no WNBA talk this time around!
That said?
And I still remain forever faithful to my beloved Indiana Fever as they enter their postseason journey!
Since I last left you, then the Rangers abbreviated four-game preseason has come-and-gone and we’re now just mere hours away (depending on when you read these words), from the first puck drop of the Blueshirts’ 84-game 2026-27 campaign.
After four exhibition games where I’m not sure what really was learnt (or at the very least – I don’t think anyone learned anything new about these guys) – and come Tuesday night (9/29), over in Boston, MA – and the Bruins will host the Rangers in an Original Six opening night match-up.
While I did give you my short NHL 2026-27 season preview last time around; but in this particular manifesto, then not only will I cover the recent Rangers’ news – but I’ll also give you my thoughts and mini-recaps from the quartet of preseason games played.
After that, a deeper dive into the 2026-27 New York Rangers – although there are still some roster decisions to be made – and where I’ll soon tell you what I’d do to boot!
And oh yeah – I also have a photo gallery for you tonight too – as I attended Friday night’s (9/25) Rangers’ 6-1 trouncing of the nomadic Islanders – a strong showing in their preseason finale to say the least!
Before pressing on, then the usual spiel at this juncture during any of my tomes:
In case you missed it, then here’s where I last left off – my 20,000-word return from a ten-week summer sabbatical:
Just to say it – then I don’t think that you can put too much into the preseason.
While you want to see your favorite team get off to a good start; but at the same time, and as we all know too – and the results of these games don’t matter.
Furthermore?
Then these games really only matter for the fringe players trying to make the varsity roster.
After all, then we pretty much knew going into these games about 97% of who will be here come Tuesday night in Boston.
Plus, and perhaps more than ever before – and players don’t want to run the risk of injury either – that is – unless you’re “The Concussed Czech” Filip Chytil, who will now begin the season on the IR after his latest mishap of misfortune:
Chytil and the referee collide along the boards.
Although both got up at first, Chytil has since gone to the locker room. pic.twitter.com/lKtFkqOy64
— Daily Faceoff Vancouver (@dfovancouver) September 25, 2026
As noted about five concussions ago in regards to Chytil – then I’m now long past the point about caring about him anymore.
As repeatedly said in this space – he’s just doing it to himself.
As Paulie once said in Goodfellas to Henry Hill – “now I gotta cut you off.”
Simply stated?
Chytil needs to wake up – and for as much as it sucks, realize what Michael Sauer once did – he’s just not made to play in the NHL.
If he doesn’t refrain from playing the game, then he won’t even know his own name by the time he’s thirty-years-old.
I know that it’s a tough and heartbreaking decision to make, but with something like $30M in career earnings – then he can call it a career and find something else to do in hockey.
And I still can’t believe that The Colony Grille Champion, Drury himself, considered Chytil not only to be “UNTOUCHABLE” in 2024 – but also did everything in his power to keep the Czech’s roster spot available come playoff time to boot.
But I’ve ranted-and-raved about these subjects too many times before – so let’s get back to the Rangers of today.
The Blueshirts went 2-2 in their four preseason games played and much like their record, where they also went 1-1 against both the Islanders and the Devils – and I thought it was a mixed-bag – some good, some bad and some “Same Old Rangers.”
On Monday, 9/21, the Rangers’ B-team dropped a 3-2 decision to a New Jersey team that skated the bulk of their regulars/NHL players.
Dylan Garand (28 saves on 31 shots) took the loss – and where despite the talent disparity on the ice – then the game wasn’t won until Mr. Golden Goal himself, Jack Hughes, scored the eventual game-winner with just 2:12 remaining in regulation.
In a way, then despite the “SAME OLD RANGERS” staple of a low SOG total (18 SOG) – but this loss was also somewhat encouraging.
Not only was Garand, who for whatever reason, doesn’t have a guaranteed roster spot at the time of this writing, the best Ranger on the ice – but other “YOUTS”, players such as Liam Greentree (1 assist) and Drew Fortescue (1 goal) showed up against the Newark club too.
Unfortunately, then the biggest event of circumstance to transpire during the game was the injury that Adam Sykora sustained:
New York Rangers forward Adam Sykora will miss 4-5 months with a lower-body injury after falling awkwardly into the boards following a hit from New Jersey Devils defenceman Mikael Diotte. pic.twitter.com/wrST6gi2s3
— Complete Hockey News (@CompleteHkyNews) September 23, 2026
Just a day later after Skyora went down the team’s tunnel, then the Rangers reported that Sykora will miss anywhere from 4-5 months after taking this hit from Devils’ rearguard, Mikael Diotte.
When it comes to Sykora, then while he probably wouldn’t have made the varsity roster straight out of camp, then, and duh – this injury just absolutely mars a year of development for the 22-year-old on the last year of his current contract (he will become a restrict free agent at the end of this season).
Assuming that it’s only five months that Sykora will miss, then that takes us to February, and between rehab, getting his legs back, returning to hockey shape, etc – and he might not return until March.
While not as severe as the other big injury in town, the Giants’ Jaxson Dart – and either way – and this is just a bummer for the young Slovakian.
The best of luck to him on his eventual return.
Elsewhere and AHL defenseman, Vincent Iorio, sustained a lower-body injury too – but his affliction is not as severe as Sykora’s, hence the rearguard’s current (and vague) “day-to-day” status.
On September 22nd, the Rangers hosted the Islanders.
Each side of this rivalry skated about 90% of their NHL regulars.
Going into this game (and Tweeter/X postings don’t lie) – and I actually predicted the Rangers to take a one-goal lead into the third period – and then lose the game by a goal come the final horn.
The reason for such a dark (and soon-to-be proven correct) prediction?
Easy – it was said earlier in the day by head coach Mike Sullivan that CZAR IGOR would start the first forty-minutes, while Spencer Martin, who, and for whatever reason, still has a pro contract with this organization, would enter the barrel for the final twenty-minutes of play.
Arguably, the first period of this game was the most enjoyable of the preseason – or at least at this point in time – as Friday’s victory against the Isles was just sixty-minutes of ecstasy.
The Blueshirts, once again out-shot by their opponents (28-19), focused on quality instead of quantity.
In a battle against the Russian BFF’s, CZAR IGOR and Ilya Sorokin, and the Rangers looked phenomenal in the first frame.
They’d then soon score three goals on their first nine shots.
While the Rangers did have most of their regulars on the ice; but it was new rookie, Cole Beaudoin, acquired in the Vincent Trocheck trade (Utah), that broke the ice with a nice clean up goal in front of Sorokin.
Up 1-0 through twenty-minutes, then the next period was twice as exciting.
The next hopeful star in the Big Apple, Pavel Dorofeyev, sniped a puck past Sorokin, following a feed from Oliver Bjorkstrand, for the 2-0 goal at the 6:03 mark.
Taylor Raddysh, and of all people at that, kicked the Blueshirts’ field goal just a tad over a minute later (7:20 mark) – and where the new third-pair in town, fifth-overall pick Alberts Smits and Braden “Will They or Won’t They?” Schneider assisted.
Outside of a strong showing out of rookie Liam Greentree, acquired in the Artemi Panarin trade (Los Angeles), who held his own in a wrestling match/”fight” against NHL heavyweight Scott Mayfield – then it was pretty much all downhill for the Rangers after the Raddysh score.
Kyle MacLean, son of John, broke up CZAR IGOR’s NYET NYET at the 11:36 mark.
Still, this only made the score 3-1.
Up next?
THE TEXT BOOK EXAMPLE OF THE INFAMOUS ANNOUNCER’S JINX!
With just 2:41 left to play in the second period of this 3-1 game and Beaudoin hooked Islander hopeful Victor Eklund.
Dave Maloney, who we all know that I adore and think is one of the best color men in TV today?
Well Mister RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT? then went on a five-minute tirade about how the Islanders’ power-play was dog shit last season, how their parents are embarrassed of them and how the blue-and-orange couldn’t even score a man-up goal against a pee-wee team.
The newest Ranger Killer in the league, and now 2025 Calder Trophy winner too, Matthew Schaefer, kicked off the Isles comeback with a power-play goal just seconds into his team’s man-up advantage time.
3-2.
Come the third period, and with both Martin in net and this score in-tact – and Schaefer then assisted on two more power-play goals – and with both scores coming from the stick of Matias Maccelli.
3-3.
4-3, Isles, your final.
This blown three-goal lead screamed “SAME OLD RANGERS.”
So did Alexis Lafreniere’s miss on a breakaway – and Mika Zibanejad shooting wide during the final seconds with his team’s net empty.
Speaking of the player that I would’ve never re-signed in 2021 and would’ve traded three-years ago too, then Zibanejad, a team leader (and now the longest-tenured Ranger), has displayed acts of cowardice before.
I mean, how many times have I brought up his ballerina act against the Devils from two-years ago?
Despite THE ANNOUNCER’S JINX being bestowed upon the Blueshirts by Maloney; but the youngest captain in franchise history also didn’t hold back when calling out both Smits and Schneider late in the third period during a scrum.
As five Islanders were jumping three Ranger forwards behind Sorokin’s net – and both defensemen were hanging out at the circles at the faceoff dots.
Maloney blew a gasket and said what was going through my head at the time too:
“Kenny, that can’t happen! Smits and Schneider need to get in there and even the odds. You can’t let your teammates get jumped like that!”
Smits is young. He’ll learn.
Schneider, and like Mika before him, should’ve known better – and especially for a guy once nicknamed as “BABY TROOBS.”
And just for the rotten cherry on top?
Then it was the returning Semyon Varlamov, another Ranger Killer himself, playing in his first game in over a year’s time due to injuries and surgeries, that picked up the win.
(At least the Rangers would soon avenge – and get their revenge too – on the Isles’ goalie.)
Of all games, then I thought Tuesday night’s loss was the lowest.
But hey – there was also nowhere to go but up afterwards.
And that’s what the Rangers did, in their pair of “revenge” preseason games on Thursday and Friday night.
On 9/24, the Rangers reversed roles in their 4-3 victory against the red-and-black attack.
However, if the Blueshirts were blown out on Thursday night – then I don’t think that you’d hear that many complaints about it either.
I know that I’m not the only one who had these thoughts going into this game – but I was hoping for a 6-0, 7-0, 8-0 Devils win – and for one reason only:
Chris Drury’s pride-and-joy, his latest signing mistake too – Joonas Korpisalo – was in net – and would be tasked to play the full sixty-minutes (soon-to-be 65-minutes with a shootout to boot) too.
Had Korpisalo been blown away – then perhaps Garand’s roster spot would’ve been served up to him on a silver platter.
Alas, and that’s not what happened.
In a game where the Rangers had more of their regulars dressed than their opponents did – and in a match that at least for half of it, had as much life as Terry Schiavo – and it were the Devils that raced out to a quick 2-0 lead.
At points, then for all of the talk about “SULLY’S SYSTEMS” – and I thought his designed gameplan, and akin to last year too, was to bore everyone to death.
Once the other team dies of boredom – then boom – BLUESHIRTS BOMBS BABY!
Akin to Tuesday night and the Rangers quickly gave up an uncontested power-play goal in the first period, this time to Stefan Noesen.
1-zip after one boring first period.
The Devils then got a second goal, a 2-0 strike, when defenseman Ethan Edwards increased their lead with just eight-minutes remaining in the middle period.
It wasn’t until the final frame when the Rangers started to mount their eventual comeback.
Will Cuylle kicked off the scoring just 3:10 into the final frame – and with both Matthew Robertson and Gabe Perreault assisting on the goal.
Anton Blidh, who had a good preseason but won’t get a varsity roster spot (and perhaps forever to be a “4A” type), equalized the game at the 5:21 mark.
Blidh’s most likely teammate in Hartford for the 2026-27 season, defenseman Scott “K’Andre Miller Won What?” Morrow scored the Rangers’ go-ahead goal with just ten-minutes remaining.
So what once was a 2-0 Devils’ lead was now a Blueshirts’ 3-2 edge.
But alas – SAME OLD RANGERS!
In what was a bad goal allowed, 23-year-old center Amadeus Lombardi, who the Devils are very high on, returned the score even – and as he did with just 100-seconds remaining in regulation.
In another chapter from “SAME OLD RANGERS” – then the Blueshirts, now in the overtime period, received a power-play when Lombardi slashed Noah Laba just fifty-seconds into the 3 x 3 time.
The end result?
A failed power-play and a shootout that was then soon required.
Korpisalo, who will probably start the season as CZAR IGOR’s back-up (against my wishes – and as you’ll see outlined below), did what he had to do here.
Lenni Hameenaho, Topias Vilen and Lombardi all had wrist shots denied by Korpisalo.
After Devils’ goalie Nico Daws denied a Perreault backhanded try, then it was Cuylle, who already had both a goal and an assist in the contest, who called ball game – and as he did with his wicked wrister for the 1-0 shootout round victory and 4-3 team win.
Again, it’s preseason and blah-blah-blah – but while the Rangers should’ve won this game – nor ever been in jeopardy of losing it either – then at least after falling behind – then they did prevail come the end of it.
Up next?
The best game of the lot – Friday night’s 6-1 pummeling of the Isles.
I’ve written much praise about the IBS Arena during my five or six stays there – and here was my most recent review of where the Belmont Bozos call home: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/fb25/
I know that Ranger fans hate to hear it – but the Isles, who don’t get much right, 100% nailed the execution of this arena.
In short, it’s hockey nirvana.
Again, the IBS Arena is spacious, there are no bathroom lines, it takes just seconds to get a beer, there are outside areas for people who want to get fresh air and/or a smoke, and most importantly above all else – and there’s not one bad seat in the house.
The arena was just built for hockey – you know – the complete opposite of the now antiquated M$G.
Seriously, I can’t name another arena in the league that has tighter corridors, shoulder-to-shoulder walking room everywhere, horrible exits, terrible sight lines, less bathrooms, etc than M$G.
But alas, I’ve written all of this before, so if you want my complete review of the IBS Arena, then just check out the archives of this site or the link posted above.
Yeah, we all know the “it’s only the preseason” disclaimer – but heading into Friday night – and there was no excuse:
THE RANGERS HAD TO WIN THIS GAME.
Not only was this their last tune-up prior to the games becoming real – but the Blueshirts were also skating what could wind up becoming their opening night roster, while the Isles, outside of the six NHL regulars requirement in preseason matches (Tony DeAngelo, Anthony Duclair, Ryan Pulock, Semyon Varlamov, Kyle MacLean and Alex Romanov) had nothing but minor-league players out there.
In a way, then I was surprised that new Isles’ bench boss, Pete DeBoer, would wave the white flag in front of the “hometown” fans – and where the word “hometown” is in quotes for the obvious reason – as this crowd was most likely 60/40 – and in favor of Ranger supporters.
In what was a good win to enter the regular season, then the Blueshirts just bombarded an arena that lost more blue-and-orange jerseys in the stands as the game progressed.
The new line of Dorofeyev/Miller/Bjorkstrand saw two of these players score within the first 4:43 of the game.
Bjorkstrand scored at the 3:48 mark, while the captain, on a power-play, pushed the Rangers to 2-0.
The second period was complete team-work.
Not only did the Rangers score three goals in the middle twenty (Tye Kartye, Gabe Perreault and Will Cullye), but each goal also featured two helpers too (Adam Fox and Matt Rempe, Vladislav Gavrikov and Miller & Noah Laba and Marcus Pettersson).
Elsewhere, and while he wasn’t challenged much – and CZAR IGOR was lights out – that is – until garbage time (15 saves on 16 shots).
Sully’s Squad, 2/4 on the power-play (and that includes a late one where Sully awarded & rewarded his bottom-sixers with time), saw their second man-up goal scored at the 1:23 mark of the third period – and with Zibanejad picking up his A-Rod goal – which also doubled-up as the team’s touchdown strike.
Only a harmless Pierre Engvall fluke goal, scored with just under nine-minutes remaining, marred what otherwise would’ve been a CZAR IGOR shutout.
6-1, Blueshirts.
One funny story before my final thought and photo gallery.
Once Mika made the game 6-0, in what at the time, was now a 75% empty arena – and some drunk Islander fan absolutely lost it.
The dude was bat shit bonkers.
No joke?
For about three-minutes and this fan cut a f-bomb and profanity-laced promo on his favorite team for all to hear – and it only sounded louder with all of the available echo in the near-empty arena.
He was standing up and cursing out his players, while whining about the six-goal deficit – and how his new arena was overrun by Ranger fans too.
I, like every other Blueshirt backer, was hysterically cracking up during all of this.
Conversely, and this guy’s fellow Baby Brother brethren, told him to shut up.
After all, not only was DeBoer playing his bums – but there were little kids in the arena too.
As far as the game itself, then 100% – I’m happy that the Rangers did what they were supposed to do.
Not only did they win in a wire-to-wire and convincing fashion – but they just blew out the Isles in their own barn too.
And thanks to my dear old pal for over 30-years, Big Bad Ass Billy W., for the free ducats!
But that said, then what really was learnt outside of what should be the obvious?
The Rangers FAT CATS were better than the young kittens on the Islanders?
And had that not been the case – EGADS – and let’s not go there!
For those of you who like this sort of thing (and I usually take a ton of pictures at the games I attend so I can use them in the future on this site), then here’s a bevy of iPhone camera snaps from the game:
Throughout last week and as recent as of this weekend – and the Rangers trimmed their roster as they prepare for Monday’s 5PM NHL roster compliant deadline.
The first round of cuts saw Dennis Cholowski, Justin Dowling, Bryce McConnell-Barker, Juuso Parssinen and Urho Vaakanainen all get waived on 9/22.
A day later, and with all of these players clearing waivers, this group were then all assigned to Hartford.
This process was repeated the next day, as Jacob “Don’t Call Me Bates” Battaglia, Brody “Had a Little” Lamb, Spencer “Mr. KHL” Martin, Dylan Roobroeck and Callum Tung were all put on waivers, only to then be assigned to Connecticut once clearing.
The third round of cuts were players that didn’t need to clear waivers.
On Friday, 9/25, and Nathan Aspinall, Cole Beaudoin, Jackson Dorrington, Drew Fortescue, Liam Greentree and Carey Terrance were all out-right assigned to the AHL affiliate.
A day later, 9/26 and Anton Blidh, Marc Del Gaizo and Glenn Gawdin also joined the Pack in Hartford.
To summarize, then as of this writing (late Saturday night/early Sunday morning) and here are the players that are still with the varsity club:
CENTERS: Noah Laba, J.T. Miller (who can play wing), Matt Rempe, Joe Veleno and Mika Zibanejad.
LEFT WINGERS: Will Cuylle, Tye Kartye and Alexis Lafreniere.
RIGHT WINGERS: Oliver Bjorkstrand, Jaroslav Chmelar, Pavel Dorofeyev, Gabe Perreault, Taylor Raddysh and Eeli Tolvanen.
DEFENSEMEN: Sean Durzi, Adam Fox, Vladislav Gavrikov, Scott Morrow, Marcus Pettersson, Matthew Robertson, Braden Schneider and Alberts Smits.
GOALIES: Dylan Garand, Joonas Korpisalo and CZAR IGOR.
A quick count of those names – and that’s 25 players.
The Rangers, and just like every other team in the league, are only allowed to carry 23 players.
In other words – two cuts remain ahead of Monday’s 5PM deadline.
We all know that Korpisalo is a Drury mistake.
I’ve written about it before and I won’t do it again.
It would be foolish and idiotic to carry three goalies.
It just never works.
That said, then Garand, now a tenured AHL veteran, would have to clear waivers in order to be returned to Hartford.
As a cheap goalie ($875K) with a promising future – then it’s highly unlikely that he’d clear waivers.
Korpisalo, and because he stinks and has a huge cap hit ($4M), would most likely clear waivers.
Plus, teams pretty much have their salary caps set at the start of the season, thus meaning they wouldn’t have $4M to splurge on a journeyman goalie to either.
But should Dumbass Drury put Garand – and not Korpisalo – on waivers?
Then thank you Dylan for your service.
If we are to assume that one of the goalies will be waived between now and Monday afternoon, then that means there’s one more cut to be made.
We pretty much know the concrete players – so no reason to lay that out for you.
In my eyes, then it’s Chmelar, Rempe, Morrow, Smits, Raddysh and Robertson who are all battling for the final four spots in this six-man race.
I didn’t talk about him much before, but I thought that Marc Del Gaizo, now in Hartford, had a good preseason.
But for the defenseman, who will turn 27-years-old in October, then it was easy to have him pass through waivers – and where keep in mind – every team is shedding cap room and becoming roster-compliant.
It feels like Smits, who is waiver-exempt, will start the season on Broadway.
It was reported over the weekend that the fifth-overall pick already has had a locker installed for him at both M$G and at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown.
While I would’ve given Smits some time in the AHL to grow; but Drury, who I think is fighting to maintain his job, wants to show off his latest shiny new toy.
After all, that’s why he drafted Smits instead of the more promising defensemen that were available at this year’s draft in the first place – as it’s thought that Smits, while perhaps not having the most potential of the lot – is the most NHL ready for the 2026-27 season.
That said?
And I once heard that seven-foot moron, Sieve Vagistat, say the exact same thing about Kaapo Kakko – and while besmirching Jack Hughes in the same sentence.
Don’t get me started about this again!
Assuming that Smits is a lock, that now brings us to to Chmelar, Morrow, Raddysh, Robertson and Rempe.
Among this barbershop quintet, then only Chmelar is waiver-exempt.
First glance at these five names?
Then you need both a forward and rearguard alike.
In the Robertson v. Morrow battle, then I’d go with the former – as Robertson had a decent rookie year last season.
Morrow will just be an answer to a future K’Andre Miller related #CadillacTrivia question.
There’s also something to be said about familiarity too – and I do think that Robertson, after a rocky beginning, did make his bones with Sullivan last season.
I can’t say the same about Morrow.
And since you only really need one spare defensemen, then I think that Morrow is most likely to be cut amongst the skaters.
That now brings us to the forwards – and where the Rangers could carry all of them should Morrow and Korpisalo get cut.
As noted, Chmelar is waiver-exempt.
But should he go down?
I don’t think so.
And neither should Rempe.
At 28-years-old and making $1.5M a year – then I don’t think that anyone will claim Raddysh – but give me a second – as I’ll quickly return to #14 in blue.
But should Rempe be exposed?
Then, and very easily at that – and his hometown Calgary Flames – a bad team and one in desperate need of a draw – will come calling.
And yeah – I get it – Rempe isn’t for the analytical losers/chart humping homos.
But he does have potential – and if coached the right way – then he could be a threat.
At the very least – then you don’t want to lose him for nothing.
Conversely, and should it come down to it?
Then do the Rangers really need Raddysh?
Outside of Toronto, who may look to reunite him with his brother Darren – then is any other team in the league going to pick him up?
In our last real news item of the day, then William “We Hardly Knew Ye” Trudeau, acquired in the trade with Montreal in exchange for Brett Berard (6/26/26), was also waived by the Rangers on Friday.
A day later, Saturday, and the Nashville Predators claimed the defenseman from the waiver wire.
While I don’t think that Berard had much of a future in New York, and who knows what he goes on to do with the Habs’ organization either; but it should be noted that once again, and Drury held onto a player for too long.
Granted, Berard is on a smaller scale, but Drury also received diminishing returns for the likes of Brennan Othmann, Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil, Vitali Kravtsov and a bevy of others in recent years.
In turn, he waited too long on Berard, picked up Trudeau and now, after the Predators’ claim – got nothing in return for the once promising forward.
That’s just bad management – which has also become a staple of this administration.
As we wind down here, then these four exhibition games didn’t really tell me much.
That’s why my prediction about this team’s chances in the 2026-27 season hasn’t really changed – and as talked about here, where I picked them to finish seventh-overall in the Metro: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/92126/
While the roster will change all season, and where what you see on Opening Night on 9/29 in Boston could even change come October 1st, Game 2 of the season, the Rangers’ home-opener against Tampa; but at least for Beantown and I think we’ll see this:
FIRST LINE: Perreault/Zibanejad/Lafreniere
SECOND LINE: Dorofeyev/Miller/Bjorkstrand
THIRD LINE: Cuylle/Laba/Tolvanen
FOURTH LINE: Kartye/Veleno/Rempe (or Chmelar)
FIRST PAIR: Gavrikov/Fox
SECOND PAIR: Pettersson/Durzi
THIRD PAIR: Smits/Schneider
STARTING GOALIE: CZAR IGOR
BACK-UP: Garand
HEALTHY SCRATCHES: Rempe or Chmelar, Raddysh and Robertson
When it comes to the Blueshirts, then I see a lot of people saying that not only would a playoff berth mean a good season – but such a scenario would also keep Drury’s employment ongoing into the years beyond as well.
Listen, I’m not rooting for the Rangers to lose – but I also wouldn’t mind a new GM either!
And as said many times over – then once the new man running things, Quentin Dolan, gets comfortable – then just like any other corporate takeover – and I see him replacing his underlings and employees with people of his own vision.
This happens all the time – and not just in sports either.
For the Rangers to make the playoffs, and where as noted last time, there’s a lot of competition in the East (Florida, Tampa, Buffalo, Montreal and perhaps even Boston could claim playoff spots in the Atlantic, while Carolina, Washington and the Devils will be tough in the Metro) – then everything has to go right.
This isn’t a team that can afford any misgivings.
One wrong, including injuries – then this team could remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference – and as was the case last year.
Like it or not, fair or not too – and both Adam Fox and CZAR IGOR, the two best players on the team, have been injury prone in recent years.
Another injury sustained to either of them, and as was the case last year – BOTH OF THEM – and there’s not much depth.
In this hopefully unlikely event – then you’d need both Smits and Garand to really rev up their engines.
I’m not sold on the alleged best two forwards on this team either – or at least the two highest-paid forwards from last season – Mika and Miller either.
While I do think Miller has more to give after an injury plagued first season as team captain; he’s also a moody player.
If a team is good, then he shines.
But if a team is bad, he kind of personifies that.
Don’t believe me?
Then just ask fans of the Vancouver Canucks about this!
As noted a billion times before – the time to get Miller was prior to either the 2023 or 2024 playoffs.
Similar to Mika, who hit the 1,000 games played milestone last season and Miller, also 33-years-old, if healthy, will hit this milestone this season (939 games played entering 2026-27).
That’s a lot of mileage on a physical player on what’s alleged to be a “retool and contending” team.
For the people with rosy colored Ranger glasses on, then these hopefuls are also banking on huge seasons from Lafreniere and Perreault.
This season, if you can believe it, marks Lafreniere’s seventh NHL campaign – and where if healthy – he’ll hit 500 regular season games played too (462).
Is Year Seven, now away from Panarin, thus meaning a regular role on the team’s first power-play unit, the key to finally unlocking Lafreniere?
And should’ve it taken this long – and especially with other recent first-overalls jumping out the gate as potential future Hall of Famers during their rookie campaigns?
(Power, Hughes, Bedard, Celebrini, Schaefer, etc.)
For Lafreniere lovers – then this motto applies – “better late than never!”
Conversely, and I believe that Perreault, now in his official sophomore NHL season, has potential.
The Rangers just need to get him the puck more – and put him on the first power-play too.
We all know the talk about the Rangers’ crown jewel of the off-season – Pavel Dorofeyev.
Time will tell if he was a Marner and Eichel merchant or not.
Regardless, and the more snarled Miller and the future one-and-done Bjorkstrand aren’t the same linemates that Dorofeyev had in Vegas.
The third line should improve – as Laba now has a year of NHL experience under his belt and as Cuylle continues to improve.
I’m not sold on Tolvanen at all – and I wonder how Kartye and/or Rempe, for their physical presence, would improve this line.
Speaking of Kartye, he may become my favorite non CZAR IGOR and Adam Fox player on the team.
He’s no longer “Sam Carrick Light” – he’s his own effing man.
While I was impressed with some things this preseason, then it was Kartye who impressed me the most.
He just gives it his all every shift – and he’s my odds-on favorite to win the Steven McDonald award this season too.
But if the Blueshirts falter?
Then I could see a contender looking to add Kartye to their ranks – and as was the case last season when the Sabres came calling about Carrick.
I think the Rangers’ fourth-line will be a hodge-podge mix all season – meaning many substitutions.
And that’s not a bad thing either.
Chmelar has shown signs of promise.
While I’m not sold on Veleno at all (I’d rather try out Cole Beaudoin – or at the very least – give him an audition as the season progresses); but this final trio of forwards should be serviceable.
All of this said?
And I really don’t see who fills in the production lost by the departures of both Panarin and Trocheck.
Instead, and it will have to be committee that fills in these holes.
Defensively, and on paper at least (and we all know how that goes), and the Rangers are much better equipped at the blue line this year than as opposed to last season.
Then again, and like every other comparison with the centennial club – and that’s a low bar.
I do like what I’ve seen out of Sean Durzi – and I’m aware of what he did in Utah/Arizona.
Marcus Pettersson, in my eyes, is just a coach’s hire – and where every old guard coach in the league always tries to reunite with a former player.
In this instance, Pettersson is that guy for Sullivan – and as the golden nephew-in-law, Conor Sheary, was for Sully last year.
You’ll find no complaints out of me about the top pair, Fox and Gavrikov, while conversely and the third pair is obviously unproven.
Can Smits adapt to the NHL?
Time will tell.
Will the regressing Schneider flashback and return promise from his rookie season?
Again, time will tell.
I’m not worried about CZAR IGOR in net – I’m just worried if he can stay healthy.
The back up spot, as brought up before, should be Garand’s.
I just see no purpose for a team trying to get young to drag out a washed-up goalie every three games played.
And even if Garand flames out?
Then I’d rather see him get the opportunity and fail – and instead of never seeing him get the chance.
I’ve said some iteration of this after the 2024 Eastern Conference Final loss about 98667869867867896 times before:
We have now entered the third Dark Age in franchise history (1960s and late 1990s-to-Lundqvist/salary cap era).
While it’s easier to get back to the playoffs than ever before (that is – unless you’re Detroit) and only because of parity around the league; but I do see this season as another failure – the third consecutive year of no playoff houses.
What I’m really looking for this season is to see the rookies and young players make big leaps.
Should the Rangers look promising, and while they’ve never had trouble attracting big free agents before in spite of the insane state income taxes in New York – then perhaps the Summer of ’27 could be big for them.
Hello Connor McDavid?
Maybe.
But make no bones about what I’m about to say next:
If the Rangers don’t make the playoffs, thus preventing the Dolan’s from making postseason cash – then Drury will be gone.
And if it’s a one-and-done exit?
Then Quentin might find someone who can rush this retool into a contender.
Hello Glen Sather?
MY WORST NIGHTMARE!
Up Next: The final Roster Cuts by 5PM Monday.
After that?
The first of 84 real games begin – and hopefully more games after that!
As noted last time around – then I may not be back after the Rangers/Bruins game on Tuesday night – as I’m going to my local watering hole’s watch party!
And as also spoken about last time around too – then I might just do one big ass blog a week this season – but that remains to be determined.
After all, I started this site to share my enthusiasm about the team – and not my disappointment in them!
If things go good, then the updates will be frequent.
If not, then we’ll see!
But you can always subscribe below in order to be guaranteed every entry out of yours truly!
My Yankees are missing Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
My Giants’ season is already ruined with the Jaxson Dart injury.
My beloved Fever are ran by a terrible coach, Methanie White, and may be eliminated in the first round of the WNBA playoffs.
Can my New York Rangers, my favorite team among them all, surprise me?
If not, then I always have college football – where Notre Dame will steamroll until their inevitable heartbreaking loss – and as is always the case. (But I do believe in head coach Marcus Freeman!)
R’s v. B’s, this Tuesday night on the terrible ESPN.
For those who care, the Bruins are a slight favorite (-122), while the Rangers are a tiny underdog (+102).
In other words, the sharps in Vegas see this as an evenly matched game.
Here’s a rarity out of me – I’ll be positive – and predict CZAR IGOR to lift the Rangers to a 1-0 record.
Since no one likes the negativity, then the less said about the home opener hosting the Lightning – the better!
I’ll be back when I get back.
But in the meantime, 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!
“The Top 100 Villains of New York Rangers History,” is now available for sale!
For complete information, please visit: https://bluecollarblueshirts.com/rangerkillers/
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:
https://www.amazon.com/Rangers-Rafters-Madison-Square-Garden-ebook/dp/B09CM5N2WD
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
To purchase Volume II: Phil Esposito (1986) – Neil Smith (2000), visit Amazon.com
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
