Who says all hockey news is done by mid-July? Although I’m sure the Rangers folks are happy to be out of the headlines after spending the last six months squarely in the eye of the storm.

Call this the Mike Sullivan effect. Having covered him for the last decade, I will attest that the new Rangers’ bench boss detests outside noise and has borrowed a few pages from Bill Belichick (minus a controlling 20-something girlfriend) on running a tight ship.

And, enjoy a smoother crazy train, Ozzy. It was only fitting to go out with a bang.

New York Rangers

Forever Blueshirts: It was a brutal 2024-25 season for Chris Kreider. The Rangers stalwart sank amidst the internal strife. Teammates also admitted he was playing through significant injuries and personal disappointments. It’s a good read as Kreider is dealing with his new reality in Anaheim and no longer being part of the Rangers roster.

The annual Shoulder Check Showcase is this week, and we will be all over it. Ahead of the event, youth mental health has been a big focus, and former Blueshirts defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk spoke up as he wore a hat for his late former teammate Jimmy Hayes.

NHL Trade Talk & News

You may have noticed we’re spending a little more time with our new colleagues at the Hockey Now network. We haven’t made any public announcements yet, but it will be a fruitful partnership.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: There’s no direct evidence or report, but the circumstantial evidence surely looks like the holdup in the rest of the NHL offseason, and the team gumming up the works is the Rangers’ Metro Division rival, GM Kyle Dubas and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

ESPN: How much would you have paid Kaapo Kakko? Count us as a little surprised that the Seattle Kraken ponied up a three-year extension worth $13.575 million. If you’re counting, that’s an average annual value of $4.525 million. Kakko had 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games after the Rangers traded him to Seattle on Dec. 18.

TSN Video: Changes to Team Canada despite winning the Four Nations Face-Off? Frankie Corrado said there could be some real changes to the Team Canada roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Sportsnet: Speaking of the Penguins, they’re holding on to a unique trade chip. How often is it hard to trade a Norris Trophy-winning defenseman? Yet the Penguins are finding it tough. The Canadian giant put pen to paper for five potential landing spots.

Puckprose: Just think of Connor McDavid on the market. How about Jack Eichel? The league-changing effects of the star-laden list of 2026 UFAs could reshape the balance of power for a decade.

DFO podcast: The Athletic’s Minnesota Wild beat writer Michael Russo dropped some big contract updates. First on Kirill Kaprizov wanting a mega payday, but also the increasingly icy lack of negotiations between the team and Marco Rossi. It’s a drama summer in Minnesota.

Philly Hockey Now: I’ll admit, I love this kid, Matvei Michkov. He’s got the right outlook. Since the 2023 NHL Draft in Nashville, the brash Russian forward has set high expectations for himself, and he also has some strong views on how hockey should be played. He absolutely shredded boring dump-and-chase hockey yesterday. The Philadelphia Flyers have a gem.

New Jersey Hockey Now: It seems the Columbus Blue Jackets are less than eager to trade Yegor Chinakhov, despite his agent’s very public trade request. It’s been a week, and colleague James Nichols tees up Chinakhov as a perfect fit for a New Jersey Devils trade.

Unfortunately, I’m old enough to have been covering the 2004 NHL Draft when the then Phoenix Coyotes, led by Wayne Gretzky, shocked everyone by taking Wheeler fifth overall.

I was doing a radio show live on the draft floor. People howled, even the hockey neophytes in Carolina. The Great One took piles of criticism that he was pretending to be an executive, and Wheeler, who was playing high school hockey, was the worst pick of the draft.

I suppose Wayne knew what he was doing, eh?

Blake Wheeler is calling it a career after 1,172 games! 👏

Best of luck in retirement, Blake! pic.twitter.com/j1h41nVE80

— NHL (@NHL) July 19, 2025

Maybe someday, I’ll tell you about my drive to that draft in Raleigh and trying to find a gas station at 2 a.m. as my car pinged and flashed that the fuel was low while we rolled through the rural Carolina countryside. Then, magically, a Kwik-Fill sign appeared like a mirage, almost in the middle of a cornfield … and it was closed.

I’ve come to believe that my new car didn’t want to stop in those parts unknown either, and found some extra gas hiding somewhere in the lines until salvation appeared.

New York Rangers

Forever Blueshirts: “I had nothing left.” The big forward spent 16 years with the Winnipeg Jets before his final season in 2023-24 with the New York Rangers. Here’s the full story. Fare thee well, Blake Wheeler.

Ok, so how about THE free agent signing of ALL free agent signings? Yes, we’re talking about the Rangers reportedly keeping an eye on the status of Connor McDavid.

NHL Trade Rumors, News, & the Sportsnaut Family

NHL Trade Rumors.com: OK, count me as not a fan of many of the rumor rags that use speculation as reporting, toss stuff on the wall without identifying it as conjecture, and otherwise bat .100. However, it seems some are connecting Jared McCann to the Rangers.

McCann and Mike Sullivan do have a good history from their time in Pittsburgh. I will attest, McCann is Sullivan’s type of player, and it wasn’t a popular move internally when former GM Ron Hextall traded him to avoid losing him in the expansion draft, but kept some badly fading veterans.

Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Kyle Dubas dropped some dimes on podcast host Dimitri Filipovic. From the Penguins figuring out how to identify which draftees they can improve, to their free agent class that resembled the Last Chance Saloon, and a potential goalie shakeup, it was a Pittsburgh Penguins expose.

NYI Hockey Now: The Fish Stix have a pair of unsigned players. The most notable is first-overall pick Matthew Schaefer. The other will be settled in a couple of weeks as Maxim Tsyplakov is heading towards arbitration, which presents a few options for the New York Islanders.

Philly Hockey Now: The buzz in Philadelphia was enormous for tiny rookie Matvei Michkov. The kid from Russia wiggled out of his KHL deal to get to Philly and had himself a year. Now the question is, what about Michkov’s next contract?

New Jersey Hockey Now: Colleague James Nichols has unearthed a potentially valuable asset. Goaltenders are so scarce at the moment that aging Jake Allen was the momentary belle of the ball until he re-signed. However, there is another goalie, another New Jersey Devils trade chip to watch.

Florida Hockey Now: We’re a little envious of George Richards in Florida. He’s covered three Stanley Cup Finals in a row, including a pair of victories. After the re-signings and finding salary cap space in the couch cushions for everyone, it surely seems that, yes, the Florida Panthers are a dynasty.

Enjoy your Sunday, kids. If you’re in the city, grab a slice for me.

That is just one element of a broader Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) framework the League and players’ union are working to get done, with a public announcement possible as soon as Friday ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman confirmed Wednesday that the two sides are closing in on an agreement that would extend the current CBA by four years, carrying through the 2029-30 season.

For those unaware, the CBA is essentially the agreement that governs everything from player salaries and contract lengths to health benefits, scheduling, rules, and travel. The current agreement, signed back in 2013 and extended during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, is set to expire in September 2026.

“This whole process has been trending positive.” Bettman said following the Board of Governors meeting in Las Vegas, where he gave as what he describes as a “quite extensive” update on the negotiations, “The relationship is in a great place. (NHLPA head) Marty [Walsh] and I have a terrific relationship. We don’t always agree on everything, but it’s constructive and professional. And so, I think things are good.”

The two sides are not ready to begin the formal ratification process just yet, as one final issue remains unresolved. Once an understanding is reached, both the Board of Governors and the NHLPA’s representatives will need to vote on it before it becomes official.

Reports state that changes could indicate an expanded regular season, new limits on loopholes, adjusted contract term limits, and updates to players benefits and rights.

Related: Dysfunctional Rangers focused more on ’emotional sh–‘ than playing hockey last season: Michael Peca

Biggest changes Rangers can expect with new CBA

Dress code no more

One change that’s likely to spark plenty of debate is the elimination of the NHL’s League’s long-standing dress code, which would go into effect starting in the 2026-27 season. Hockey is the only one of the four major American sports that requires players to wear suits on game days, and many fans feel it seperates hockey players from the rest — making them look professional and classy.

It’s a noticeable difference, especially for teams like the Rangers, when the MSG walk-ins have almost become a fashion show. From Henrik Lundqvist’s designer fits to Artemi Panarin’s flashy style or Mika Zibanejad’s classic look, the MSG hallway often doubles as a runway. The change will open the door for self-expression, something we see in the NBA and NFL all the time, but new territory for a league built on tradition.

Scheduling & structure

Another major change coming in the new CBA is the expansion of the regular season from 82 to 84 games, starting in the 2026-27 season. For the Rangers, that means a more balanced schedule — and more games against division rivals. With the League now at 32 teams, the new format would have the Rangers play four games against every Metropolitan Division opponent, three against teams in the Atlantic, and two against every Western Conference club. That fixes the issue in the schedule where the Rangers only saw two division opponents three times a year.

To help manage the added games, the preseason would be cut down to four games, and veterans with over 100 NHL games of experience would only be allowed to appear in two of them. It gives younger players more preseason reps, and lessens the wear and tear on more established players.

Contract limits & LTIR changes

The new CBA would also bring changes to contract limits, reducing the maximum deals moving forward. Extensions would be capped at seven years instead of eight, and unrestricted free agents would only be able to sign for a maximum of six years, down from the current seven. For a team like the Rangers with several key players either approaching the end of their contracts or due for an extension, the timing of these implications could be important.

Artemi Panarin is set to hit free agency in 2026, just before the new limits kick in. That means the sides would need to act fast if an eight-year extension is on the table, though that’s highly unlikely since Panarin will be 34 at that point. Braden Schneider is another name to watch. He’ll be an RFA in 2026 under the new rules, and the Rangers would lose the ability to lock him up for eight years unless a deal is reached beforehand.

The League is also planning to part ways with the deferred salary structures, a tactic used to spread cap hits out over time. Also, a new playoff salary cap system is expected to limit how teams use the long-term injured reserve (LTIR) loophole to stack rosters before the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Player rights & benefits

Another change is that teams would retain the rights to unsigned draft picks until that player turns 22, regardless of whether they’re playing in the NCAA, CHL, or overseas.

Another interesting addition would introduce full-time Emergency Backup Goalie (EBUG) positions. And off the ice, players would get expanded health insurance and post-career support, while playoff bonuses are set to double.

The 28-year-old native of Traverse City, Michigan, was the Rangers’ first pick (second round, No. 59 overall) in 2014 and turned pro in 2016-17 after twice playing for the United States at the World Junior Championship, winning a bronze medal in 2016. Shesterkin was taken in the fourth round (No. 118) that year, but the Moscow native remained in his home country and became a star in the KHL until he signed with the Rangers on May 3, 2019, and arrived in North America for the 2019-20 season.

By then, Halverson was already well-traveled.

He split 2016-17, his first pro season, between the Rangers’ ECHL affiliate in Greenville, South Carolina, and the AHL Hartford Wolf Pack, then did the same in 2017-18 — with the exception of Feb. 17, 2018. That’s when Halverson backed up Henrik Lundqvist and made his NHL debut after “The King” was pulled in the third period of a game against the Ottawa Senators at Canadian Tire Centre, having allowed five goals on 27 shots.

Halverson stopped five of six shots in 12:33 of playing time in a 6-3 loss. That appearance made him the eighth U.S.-born goaltender to play for the Rangers. Keith Kinkaid became No. 9 when he played in 2020-21 and 2021-22, and Jonathan Quick, who joined New York last season and is Shesterkin’s backup, is the 10th.

Halverson’s career since that night in Ottawa hasn’t gone the way he’d planned.

Related: Keith Kinkaid tries to finish ‘Metropolitan-area trio’ with Islanders PTO

After Rangers debut, Brandon Halverson’s career has been long, winding road

With Shesterkin having signed with the Rangers, Lundqvist still on hand and promising newcomer Alexandar Georgiev also seeking playing time, there was no place for Halverson after he split 2018-19 between Hartford and Maine of the ECHL.

Halverson became a free agent, spent most of 2019-20 with Norfolk of the ECHL and played four games for ECHL Wheeling in 2020-21 before a high ankle sprain ended his season. Halverson didn’t play at all in 2021-22 when he was recovering from knee and wrist surgery (instead, he worked on a farm), then returned to the ice in 2022-23 with Bayreuth in Germany’s second division.

“The only thing that kept me going was just the dream and knowing that something was going to break through,” Halverson told Patrick Williams of AHL.com. “I’m going to get rewarded in some sort of way. I just have to keep working hard, and that’s just been my mindset this entire time.

Halverson went to camp last year on a PTO with Syracuse, Tampa Bay’s AHL affiliate, and won four of five decisions before earning a two-year AHL contract from the Crunch in late November. He ended up splitting time between Syracuse and Orlando, the Lightning’s ECHL affiliate, but excelled at the AHL level, where he was 7-3-3 in 14 games with a 2.18 goals-against average, .913 save percentage and one shutout. It was the best showing of his professional career. And he was Syracuse’s starter in the Calder Cup Playoffs, when he was 3-4 but finished with a 2.19 GAA and .916 save percentage.

However, Halverson faces a tough challenge in his efforts to get back to the NHL. Andrei Vasilevskiy, a two-time Stanley Cup winner who’s also won the Vezina Trophy and Conn Smythe Trophy, is locked in as the Lightning’s No. 1 goalie. Jonas Johansson (26 games before being injured) and Mat Tomkins (six) each spent time with Tampa Bay last season; Tomkins also played 30 games for Syracuse before his recall.

But the former Rangers prospect is not about to be deterred.

“When there’s no light, you’ve just got to make your own.”

The extension runs through 2026-27 and carries an average annual value of $8.7 million. The 37-year-old center, born on Aug. 7, 1987 (yes, 8/7/87), is entering the final season of a 12-year, $104.4 million contract that also has an $8.7 million cap hit, though his actual salary this season is $3 million. No. 87 became eligible to sign an extension July 1 and could have become an unrestricted free agent next summer.

“There are no words to properly describe what Sidney Crosby means to the game of hockey, the city of Pittsburgh and the Penguins organization,” general manager Kyle Dubas said. “Sidney is the greatest player of his generation and one of the greatest players in the history of the game. His actions today show why he is one of hockey’s greatest winners and leaders. Sid is making a tremendous personal sacrifice in an effort to help the Penguins win, both now and in the future, as he has done for his entire career.”

It's a great day to re-sign the captain!

#87 for $8.7 through 2027 👀 We wouldn't want it any other way. pic.twitter.com/8IH5jWoiT4

— Penguins PR (@PenguinsPR) September 16, 2024

Pittsburgh’s captain is the leading active scorer in the NHL — and 10th all-time — with 1,596 points (592 goals, 1,004 assists) entering the Penguins’ season-opener against the Rangers at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 9, the start of his 20th NHL season. He was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017.

The Rangers have been one of Crosby’s biggest victims since he entered the NHL in October 2005. He has 40 goals and 108 points against the Rangers in 85 regular-season games. The 40 goals are his fourth-highest total against any team; his 108 points are third. Crosby had two goals and two assists in Pittsburgh’s three games against the Rangers last season, when he finished tied for 12th in the NHL with 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists). He and Wayne Gretzky, who finished his NHL career by playing three seasons with the Rangers, are the only two players in League history who have averaged at least a point per game in each of their 19 seasons.

Now it appears the Rangers will have to contend with Crosby in divisional matchups four times or so per season for at least three more years.

Related: Rangers contingency plan if this misfortune happens again

Rangers rival remains in contention after Sidney Crosby extension

Crosby’s extension is another indication that despite dealing high-scoring, free-agent-to-be Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline in March, the Penguins under second-year GM Dubas and coach Mike Sullivan are still all-in on trying to win with a core group on the far side of 30. It’s a strategy that could lead to long-term misery — but could make them a thorn in the side for the Rangers, who will try to repeat as Metropolitan Division champs and make a long postseason run.

The Penguins inked contracts with two other late-30s veterans, center Evgeni Malkin (four years, $6.1 million average annual value) and defenseman Kris Letang (six years, $6.1 million AAV), in the summer of 2022. Malkin is 38, one year older than Crosby, and Letang is 35.

Despite all his accomplishments in black and gold, Crosby is not the highest-paid player on the Penguins. That title belongs to Erik Karlsson, the 2022-23 Norris Trophy winner as the top NHL defenseman, who was acquired in a trade with the San Jose Sharks last summer. The 34-year-old’s contract carries an average annual value of $10 million and also runs through 2026-27.

Former Rangers center Kevin Hayes is among the additions made by Dubas this summer to a roster that came up three points short of the playoffs last season. Hayes is 32 and has two years remaining on his $3.571 million AAV deal.

In all, the Penguins could have 11 players over 30 on their roster this season. Having extended Crosby, it’s hard to envision the Penguins changing direction and not adding more veterans in win-now mode.

Crosby is showing no signs of slowing down, although the Penguins haven’t made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons after a 16-season streak of postseason appearances that included three Stanley Cup titles. Their most recent playoff appearance came in 2022, when the Rangers defeated them on a Game 7 overtime goal by Artemi Panarin. Crosby had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in six games during that series; he missed Game 6 with a concussion after leaving early in Game 5 following a big hit by Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba.

The two-time Hart Trophy winner as League MVP said Sept. 9 at the NHL/NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas that he’s confident the Penguins can remodel their roster on the fly.

“Some teams have been able to go through that transition a little quicker or a little bit differently than others,” Crosby said. “It’s definitely possible … as a player, though, you always want to win. That’s why you play the game.”

“I played 11 years in the NHL. Now is a good time to return to Europe with my family,” Raanta told Ilta-Sanomat. “Every other day, the wife sees on Instagram, when the wife of someone playing in Switzerland has updated pictures from there, and how great it looks there.”

Though he mentioned Switzerland, Raanta didn’t say which country he’d like to play in this season. It’s unlikely he’ll play in his native Finland because of tax reasons.

“At the end of the season and in the summer, I thought about all sorts of things, but as the summer progressed and my body felt good, Europe started to attract me more,” Raanta said.

Raanta spent two of his 11 NHL seasons with the Rangers, serving as Henrik Lundqvist’s backup in 2015-16 and 2016-17. He was 27-14-4 in 55 games (44 starts) in those two seasons, with a solid 2.25 goals-against average, .921 save percentage and five shutouts. He had an NHL career-high four shutouts in 26 starts in 2016-17.

The affable and popular Raanta posted a 22-save shutout in his Rangers debut on Oct. 19, 2015, a 4-0 win against the San Jose Sharks. He won his first four decisions with the Rangers that season, and was 7-2-0 in his final nine decisions in 2015-16.

He got off to another fast start on Broadway in 2016-17 when he won his first five decisions, and eight of nine. He allowed more than three goals just three times in 30 games that season.

Related: Former Rangers goalie Keith Kinkaid tries to finish ‘Metropolitan-area trio’ with Islanders PTO

Antti Raanta had several good seasons after leaving Rangers

After two seasons with the Rangers, Raanta signed a three-year, $12.75 million contract with the Arizona Coyotes. He spent four seasons there before joining the Carolina Hurricanes. His first season with the Hurricanes, in 2021-22, he helped them win the William Jennings Trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the NHL.

Raanta fought through injuries during his time with the Hurricanes. But last season, he struggled with a 2.99 GAA and .872 save percentage in 24 games (20 starts). He was bypassed by Pyotr Kochetkov on the Hurricanes depth chart and ended up in the minor leagues.

He said several NHL teams expressed interest in bringing Raanta in on a PTO or as a third option on the depth chart this season, and that holds no interest for him. The Vancouver Canucks were one of those teams.

“I turned it down right away and announced that I’ve kind of made up my mind that I won’t be going there anymore,” Raanta explained.

Raanta has a career. 2.48 GAA and .915 save percentage in 277 NHL games (251 starts), to go along with 20 shutouts for the Chicago Blackhawks, Rangers, Coyotes and Hurricanes.

Martin will attend Islanders training camp on a PTO, with a chance of landing a contract for the 2024-25 season.

“Matt Martin will be coming to camp on a tryout,” Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello said Friday, when meeting with reporters at their rookie camp.

Just last month, Lamoriello said that the Islanders will “probably be moving on” from Martin and Cal Clutterbuck. Those veteran forwards helped form the Islanders’ “Identity Line” with center Casey Cizikas for the large part since 2013-14.

But Martin trained on Long Island this summer with the hope of getting another opportunity with the Islanders. The 35-year-old has played 955 NHL games, all but 132 with the Islanders. He is seventh all-time in franchise history with 823 games played, and sixth with 985 penalty minutes.

Last season, Martin accepted Matt Rempe’s challenge and fought the Rangers rookie on his first NHL shift in front of 79,000 fans at MetLife Stadium. Martin finished with eight points (four goals, four assists) and 43 penalty minutes in 57 games.

Fitting Martin under the salary cap will be difficult for the Islanders. Sitting right at the cap limit of $88 million, the Islanders would have to trade or release someone — a forward likely — from the NHL roster to make room for Martin on an affordable deal.

Related: Former Rangers goalie Keith Kinkaid trys to finish ‘Metropolitan-area trio’ with Islanders PTO

Rangers rival reveals Ilya Sorokin injury

Lamoriello also provided information about star goalie Ilya Sorokin which should catch the attention of the Rangers and all other Islanders opponents.

“During summer training, he had a little bit of a thing. He is skating, it’s nothing we’re concerned about,” Lamoriello said. “Will he miss the first day (of training camp), the first couple of days? Maybe, but I’m going to leave that up to the training staff.”

Lamoriello said that “thing” is an upper-body injury.

There was speculation about Sorokin because he wasn’t taking part in informal practices with teammates ahead of training camp. Lamoriello expressed surprise at recent rumors concerning Sorokin.

“There is no one with a more impeccable character and mental toughness than Ilya Sorokin,” Lamoriello said. “I was shocked and have no knowledge of anything that was rumored out there. … He’s been here all summer.”

A Vezina Trophy finalist in 2022-23, Sorokin struggled last season. He posted an NHL career-worst 3.01 goals-against average and . 909 save percentage and was pulled in his one start in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, when the Islanders lost in five games to the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Islanders also have veteran Semyon Varlamov in goal. The 36-year-old stepped up last season with a 2.60 GAA and .918 save percentage.

Kinkaid is a Long Island native, who worked out this summer at the Islanders practice facility before landing the PTO.

“I did grow up an Islander fan,” Kinkaid said Thursday. “I loved coming to the [Nassau] Coliseum. That was always a joy of my life. It’s really cool. I played for the Devils and Rangers, I’m hoping we can make the Tri-State or Metropolitan-area trio.”

Kinkaid played nine games (seven starts) with the Rangers in 2020-21, when he had a 3-2-1 record, 2.59 goals-against average, one shutout and a save percentage of .898. He became the ninth U.S.-born goalie to play for the Rangers, joining Jack McCartan (the 1960 U.S. Olympic gold-medal winner), Joe Schaefer, John Vanbiesbrouck, Mike Richter, Mike Dunham, Steve Baker, Guy Hebert and Brandon Halverson. Jonathan Quick, a Connecticut native and the Rangers’ current backup to Igor Shesterkin, became the 10th last season.

He won his only appearance with them in 2021-22, making 29 saves in a 3-2 win against the Arizona Coyotes on Dec. 15, 2021. Kinkaid spent the rest of that season with Hartford, the Rangers AHL affiliate, where he was 20-14-3 with a 2.94 GAA, .904 save percentage and three shutouts.

The New Jersey Devils signed Kinkaid as an undrafted free agent in April 2011. Current Islanders general manager Lou Lamoriello was GM of the Devils at the time and signed him after he played two seasons at Union College.

He had an NHL career-high 26 wins, when he helped the Devils reach the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2017-18. That was the first of two consecutive seasons when he played in 41 games for the Devils.

“Lou knows me from the beginning of my career, so I’m hoping that I can show [the Islanders] what I’ve still got,” he said.

Related: Rangers rival sustains major blow with Luke Hughes injury

Keith Kinkaid aims to be 12th to play for Rangers, Devils, Islanders

Kinkaid could become the 12th all-time to play for the Rangers, Devils and Islanders. But there’s a long way to go to even consider that. The Islanders are set with Ilya Sorokin and Semyon Varlamov on the varsity. And Kinkaid still needs to impress enough here in September to even land a minor league deal.

“I’m just putting my best foot forward. Be a pro, be a rookie, but just bring some experience,
Kinkaid explained. “Kinda show the way. This is my 14th season. I just want to do anything I can to turn heads. Still got a lot left in the tank and, yeah, go from there.”

Three other goalies played for each of the three Metro-area teams: Dunham, Vanbiesbrouck and Kevin Weekes.

The personable Kinkaid, nicknamed “Blockade,” played last season with Chicago of the AHL, appearing in 24 games with an 8-14-2 record, 3.54 GAA and .880 save percentage.

His last NHL action was in 2023, when he was 1-0-0 with the Boston Bruins before being traded to the Colorado Avalanche. Kinkaid played 28 minutes in relief with a no decision for Colorado on March 4, 2023.

Kinkaid has appeared in 169 NHL games, with a 70-58-21 record, 2.91 GAA, .905 save percentage and eight shutouts for the Devils, Montreal Canadiens, Rangers, Bruins and Avalanche. That record includes a 2-2-0 mark in five appearances against the Rangers.

#NEWS: The New Jersey Devils announced today that defenseman Luke Hughes suffered a left shoulder injury earlier this month during off-season training. Upon examination by New Jersey’s medical staff, it was determined that he will not require surgery.

Hughes’ recovery time is… pic.twitter.com/i5OJlnxG2Q

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 12, 2024

Hughes is in New Jersey, receiving physical therapy with the Devils medical staff. His timeline means he could miss between 11-17 games to star the season.

The injury update comes after the Devils were met with another shoulder injury concern when defenseman Simon Nemec was hurt after an awkward collision during an Olympic qualifying game with his native Slovakia against Hungary earlier this month. He did not return to play after the hit to his left shoulder and missed the final qualifier against Kazakhstan.

It was initially reported that nothing was dislocated nor broken. Nemec returned to New Jersey but the Devils haven’t provided a further updates on the 20-year-old, so his status may not be fully known until training camp begins next week.

Hughes was New Jersey’s first-round pick (No. 4 overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft. Nemec was their first-round selection the following year (No. 2 overall). Each is expected to be a regular on the Devils blue line this season.

The Devils hoped their injury woes from 2023-24 were over since Dougie Hamilton is healthy again, after their top defenseman was limited to 20 games last season because of a torn pectoral muscle. All-Star center Jack Hughes, Luke’s older brother, has recovered from shoulder surgery in April and will take part in training camp. So, the Devils finally seemed to be healthy again until this 1-2 punch of bad news.

The injuries cast a pall on the Devils upbeat offseason. After finishing out the playoff race last season with a disappointing 81 points, the Devils acquired goalie Jacob Markstrom in a trade with the Calgary Flames and forward Paul Cotter from the Vegas Golden Knights, and signed several key free agents, including Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, Stefan Noesen and Tomas Tatar, to vault right back into contender status.

Related: Rangers rookie camp notebook: Robertson seeks mental edge, young center eyes spot on roster

Devils injuries could help Rangers in quest to win second straight Metro crown

Hughes was a rookie last season and notched nine goals and 38 assists, when the 21-year-old suited up for all 82 games. He averaged just over 21 minutes of ice time per game and was a key part New Jersey’s top power-play unit, amassing 25 points with the man advantage.

He led rookie defensemen in goals, power-play goals (four), power-play points, and takeaways (42). Hughes finished the season tied for second in rookie scoring (47 points) with Brock Faber of the Minnesota Wild, placing both defensemen behind only Chicago Blackhawks center Connor Bedard, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

Hughes was a finalist for the Calder Trophy, which was awarded to Bedard for being the best rookie in the NHL as voted by the Professional Hockey Writers Association.

The Devils will have their defensive depth tested and will explore their options with players like Pesce, Brenden Dillon, Nick DeSimone, or prospects like Seamus Casey. It looks like the team, slated to be stiff competition for the Rangers in the Metropolitan Division, will face some adversity right out of the gate.

Crosby, the leading active scorer in the NHL — and 10th all-time — with 1,596 points, said Monday at the NHL/NHLPA media tour in Las Vegas that he’s confident he’ll sign a contract extension with the Penguins before Pittsburgh opens its season against the Rangers at PPG Paints Arena on Oct. 9. The 37-year-old is entering the final season of a 12-year, $104.4 million contract. His cap hit is $8.7 million, though his actual salary this season is $3 million. He’s been eligible to sign an extension since July 1 and can be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season.

“I’m pretty optimistic it’s going to get done,” the three-time Stanley Cup champion said of a new deal with the only NHL team he’s ever played for. “I don’t know what day specifically, but it’s been really positive. It hasn’t been a difficult process at all.”

That’s not great news for the Rangers, who’ve been one of Crosby’s biggest victims since he entered the NHL in October 2005. He has 40 goals and 108 points against the Rangers in 85 regular-season games. The 40 goals are his fourth-highest total against any team; his 108 points are third. Crosby had two goals and two assists in Pittsburgh’s three games against the Rangers last season, when he finished tied for 12th in the NHL with 94 points (42 goals, 52 assists).

Now, not unexpectedly, it appears the Rangers will have to contend with Crosby in divisional matchups at least four times per season for several more years.

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Signing Crosby to an extension would be another indication that despite dealing high-scoring, free-agent-to-be Jake Guentzel to the Carolina Hurricanes ahead of the NHL Trade Deadline in March, the Penguins under second-year general manager Kyle Dubas and coach Mike Sullivan are still all-in on trying to win with a core group on the far side of 30. It’s a strategy that could lead to long-term misery — but could make them a thorn in the side for the Rangers, who will try to repeat as Metropolitan Division champs and make a long postseason run.

The Penguins added defenseman Erik Karlsson, the 2022-23 Norris Trophy winner as the top NHL defenseman, in a trade with the San Jose Sharks last summer. They also inked contracts with two other late-30s veterans, center Evgeni Malkin (four years, $6.1 million average annual value) and defenseman Kris Letang (six years, $6.1 million AAV) in the summer of 2022. Malkin is 38, one year older than Crosby. Letang is 35 and Karlsson, whose $10 million AAV contract runs through 2026-27,is the “kid” in that group at 34.

Former Rangers center Kevin Hayes is among the additions made by Dubas to a roster that came up three points short of the playoffs last season. Hayes is 32 and has two years remaining on his $3.571 AAV deal.

The Penguins could have 11 players over the age of 30 on their roster this season. When they sign Crosby, it’s hard to envision the Penguins changing direction and not adding veterans in win-now mode.

Crosby is showing no signs of slowing down as he approaches his 20th NHL season, although the Penguins haven’t made the playoffs in each of the past two seasons after a 16-season streak of postseason appearances that included three Stanley Cup titles. Their most recent playoff appearance came in 2022, when the Rangers defeated them on a Game 7 overtime goal by Artemi Panarin. Crosby had 10 points (two goals, eight assists) in six games during that series; he missed Game 6 with a concussion after leaving Game 5 following a big hit by Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba.

Crosby, a two-time Hart Trophy winner as League MVP, said he’s confident a roster remodel on the fly is possible.

“Some teams have been able to go through that transition a little quicker or a little bit differently than others,” he said. “It’s definitely possible … as a player, though, you always want to win. That’s why you play the game.”