Rangers Daily: NHLPA Rookie Showcase; Massive Kirill Kaprizov extension upcoming
Gabe Perreault of the New York Rangers was one of 31 NHL prospects who took part in the 2025 NHLPA Rookie Showcase on Wednesday.
The rookie showcase is fun and significant for a couple reasons. First, it’s a celebration of sorts for many of the best young players expected to make their mark in the NHL sooner rather than later. It’s cool to see Perreault receive that recognition this year.
The showcase is also a sign that training camps are right around the corner, soon to be followed by the regular season. It comes at you fast now. The calendar flips to September, the Labor Day weekend holiday is celebrated, the annual NHLPA rookie showcase takes place, and then, boom, here we go.
Perreault should be the biggest name at Rangers rookie camp, which begins next week and includes two games against Philadelphia Flyers rookies. Then it’s time to show new coach Mike Sullivan he’s ready to make the opening-night roster, when Perrault takes part in his first Rangers training camp in mid-September.
We wrote about what Perreault had to say Wednesday regarding his goal to be on the Rangers roster for the Oct. 7 opener against the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 2023 first-round pick’s got the skill and pedigree, but cracking the lineup is no slam dunk.
In my book, the 20-year-old is the most intriguing player to watch in camp this year.
However, you never know who might be the next Adam Edstrom. Though he’s not a star, Edstrom dominated rookie camp and used that as a springboard to have an excellent training camp and earn a roster spot with the Rangers last year.
Perreault is an obvious choice to follow that path this time around. But is there someone with a lower profile, like Edstrom, that may surprise?
We will find out soon enough. It comes at you fast now.
New York Rangers news and analysis
There’s another former Rangers player heading to the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Scott Gomez was one of five people — including famed NHL photographer Bruce Bennett, a New York native — named the Class of 2025.
With Chris Kreider now plying his trade in SoCal with the Anaheim Ducks, the Rangers power play faces uncertainty this coming season. And it also provides opportunity for a fresh new look. Our Tom Castro breaks it down.
If you need a laugh, check out how former Rangers forward Reilly Smith got the best of a stand-up comic in Las Vegas recently. It’s worth the click!
NHL news and rumors
The Athletic ($$): Kirill Kaprizov can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, but it doesn’t appear that the Minnesota Wild are going to let the star forward slip away. Wild owner Craig Leipold believes the sides are closing in on a massive contract extension.
TSN: Though not a big surprise, Vegas Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said he plans on playing Mitch Marner and Jack Eichel on the same line during training camp to determine if they have chemistry together.
Sportsnet: Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes reiterated he’s not thinking about his long-term future and whether or not he would sign a contract extension when eligible next summer. It’s more of the same of what he’s said before. But you better believe it’s big news up in the Great White North.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Speaking of the Hughes family, James Nichols explains what’s really going on in the contract standoff between the Devils and young defenseman Luke Hughes.
The Athletic ($$): Pierre LeBrun provides an excellent breakdown of how NHL general managers believe the new LTIR rules and playoff salary cap will alter how they do business moving forward.
X: LeBrun also reported that the NHL will begin the 2026-27 season in late September and award the Stanley Cup in mid-June, as well as move to an 84-game schedule (and shorter preseason).
The Hockey News: Here’s another big blow for those of us who love radio broadcasts of hockey games. The Ottawa Senators won’t travel their English broadcast team on the road anymore in order to save some money. Instead, the television broadcast will be simulcast on radio, which never makes for the best broadcast experience.
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