Rangers Roundup: Players hit the ice, Shesterkin’s new bucket, and more
The New York Rangers are back on the ice getting ready for the start of training camp which is just weeks away.
On Friday, the Rangers social media team posted some videos of the players practicing at the team’s training facility in Tarrytown, NY. The Blueshirts will be playing their first exhibition game on September 24 against the Boston Bruins.
Fans who can’t wait that long can get a glimpse of the team’s future on September 15th and 16th when the Rangers’ rookies take on the Philadelphia Flyers rookies.
For more on the Rangers 2023-24 schedule click here.
New York Rangers hit the ice
In a video posted by the Rangers, Vincent Trocheck was all smiles with his teammates in Tarrytown because hockey is back.
The new look Rangers will have Peter Laviolette behind the helm replacing Gerard Gallant.
Laviolette, 58, was named the 37th head coach in franchise history on June 13. For his NHL coaching career spanning 21 seasons, his record stands at 752-503-25-150 with a 78-76 mark in the playoffs. He’s also been to three Stanley Cup Finals (2006, 2010, 2017) winning with the Carolina Hurricanes on his first attempt.
Additionally, the Rangers made some excellent low-cost free agents signings due to their limited cap space that included veterans Blake Wheeler and Jonathan Quick.
Wheeler, 36, registered 16 goals and 39 assists for 55 points in 72 games. For his career, he’s notched 312 and 922 points in 1,118 matches with 45 points in 65 postseason contests.
“My focus is having a great summer, coming in in as great of shape as I can be and put my best foot forward,” Wheeler said. “You look at the (Rangers) roster and there are world class players up and down this lineup – I see myself being able to complement some of the elite guys this roster has.”
Quick, 37, has a career mark of 375-277-84 with a GAA of 2.47 and .911 save percentage. He also knows a thing or two about winning as he backstopped two Stanley Cup runs with the Los Angeles Kings in 2012 and 2014.
Igor Shesterkin sports new helmet
The Rangers star goalie was also on the ice and sporting a new bucket for the upcoming season.
Shesterkin, 27, posted a record of 37-13-8 last year with a GAA of 2.48 and a .916 save percentage. He enters his fifth NHL campaign just one win shy of the century mark. For his young career, the 2021-22 Vezina winner is 99-42-14 with a GAA of 2.37 and a .924 save percentage.
News and Notes
Michael Del Zotto Retires
Former Rangers defenseman Michael Del Zotto announced his retirement on Thursday.
The 33 year-old played parts of five seasons with the Blueshirts from 2009 to 2014 registering 121 points in 292 games. For his career, Del Zotto amassed 262 points in 736 games and won the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019.
NHL Trade Deadline
Although not official by the league, Pierre LeBrun is reporting the NHL Trade Deadline will be March 8.
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