Rangers Daily: Jonny Brodzinski future on Broadway; Devils fire GM
You know who’s been a good player and leader for the New York Rangers these past two dismal seasons on Broadway?
You know who can be an unrestricted free agent this upcoming offseason?
Jonny Brodzinski.
Now, listen, the chance that the Rangers very well could lose Brodzinski or choose to let him walk in free agency isn’t exactly going to set off alarms or cause rioting by Blueshirts season-ticket holders. After all, we’re talking about a 32-year-old forward, who averages fewer than 11 minutes TOI per game in his career, and never played more than 57 games in any one NHL season.
But you’ve got to admit, Brodzinski is a really nice fit as the 13th forward here in New York. He accepts his role, isn’t standing in the way of younger players or prospects, and is always ready to play when called on — 52 games this season, never fewer than 51 in three full seasons with the Rangers. He fills in up-and-down the lineup, with a decent skill set, non-stop motor, and always willing to play a 200-foot game. Plus, he sets a terrific example to all of his teammates, not just the young ones who respect the heck out of him, of how to be a pro.
Count Jonny Lazarus from Daily Faceoff as one who’d love to see the Rangers re-sign Brodzinski and keep him in that role as 13th forward.
“I love Jonny as a player,” Lazarus told Forever Blueshirts on the Rink Rap podcast. “The beautiful thing about Jonny Brodzinski is that if a guy on the top line gets hurt, you can plug him in. Is he going to be super impactful? Maybe not. But he can at least fit in. And I think the same thing on the fourth line, Jonny can fit in.
“And to me, Jonny is the perfect blend between the AHL guys and the NHL guys. I have not heard one bad word about Jonny Brodzinski, and from getting to know him a little over the years, I love that guy. … I think it’s important to have a guy like him with the NHL part of the organization. And I think he’s earned the respect of Mike Sullivan over the year.”
Oh, and there’s this, too.
“He’s got a wicked shot,” Lazarus said about Brodzinski, who scored 12 goals last season. “I tell people all the time, when Jonny Brodzinski shoots the puck, that’s one of the hardest ones in the NHL in my opinion.”
Brodzinski takes a three-game point streak into the final home game of the season at Madison Square Garden against the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday. He has 16 points (six goals, 10 assists), three shy of his NHL career-high set in each of the past two seasons when he finished with 19. Very quietly, he’s creeping up on 300 games played in the NHL.
He currently sits at 261 games. Will he reach that next NHL milestone wearing the Blueshirt next season?
“We’re just going to wait on that,” Brodzinski told The Athletic, when asked about his future.
Rangers news and analysis
Jess Rubenstein has a packed Rangers prospects Notebook, full of nuggets about those still playing in the postseason, what Blueshirts approach should be with goalies in this year’s draft, and which players could be sitting there if they have the No. 4 overall selection in June.
ICYMI: that was a pretty cool weekend of hockey at Madison Square Garden that just passed.
Looking ahead, the Rangers play twice this week, including their final home game of the 2025-26 season.
NHL news and rumors
New Jersey Hockey Now: Tom Fitzgerald is out as general manager of the Devils, fired with a bit more than a week remaining in a very disappointing season across the Hudson River.
ESPN: Greg Wyshysnski reports that he’s already heard talk that Brendan SHanahan could land in New Jersey and be the Devils president of hockey operations, with a new general manager working under him.
NYI Hockey Now: On his first day on the job, new Islanders coach Peter DeBoer said the opportunity “came out of left field.” That and more takeaways from what DeBoer said is all here in the latest from Pat Pickens.
NYI Hockey Now: As for why the Islanders canned Patrick Roy so late in the regular season, and why they believe DeBoer is the right man at the right time to coach this group, GM Mathieu Darche had plenty to say Monday.
NHL.com: Leon Draisaitl won’t play again in the regular season and may miss the start of the Stanley Cup Playoffs due to a lower-body injury that first sidelined the Edmonton Oilers star on March 15.
The Athletic ($$): Pierre LeBrun sits down with Florida Panthers GM Bill Zito to discuss how the two-time defending Stanley Cup champs come back from missing the playoffs amid an insanely injury-ravaged year.
Daily Faceoff: So, why is Tampa Bay L:ightning coach Jon Cooper calling for a penalty box official to lose his job?
The Athletic ($$): The Minnesota Wild signed their top prospect Charlie Stramel — remember that name Rangers fans? — to an entry-level contract.
Sportsnet: Seattle Kraken goalie Philipp Grubauer sustained a lower-body injury against the Winnipeg Jets on Monday and didn’t finish the game.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Shelly Anderson breaks down why the Penguins must seriously consider bringing Evgeni Malkin back next season, and what’s changed with that narrative recently.
