Rangers Daily: Preseason opener vs. Devils; Matthew Tkachuk TV star
The New York Rangers play a hockey game Sunday. Five months after their 2024-25 season finale, the Rangers pull on the jerseys to skate against the New Jersey Devils in a preseason tilt at Prudential Center, their first game of any kind under new coach Mike Sullivan.
Yes, it’s only a preseason game. And it happens to be played on an NFL Sunday. Not to mention that the Mets and Yankees play rather important games at the same time the Rangers are underway in Newark.
But, it’s more than OK to be excited that the Blueshirts are back at it Sunday. Let’s be real, that offseason was way too friggin’ long. especially sitting on what was one of the most disappointing seasons in franchise history.
Sully and new captain J.T. Miller said earlier this week to leave the past in the past. That’s easier to do once the new season is underway, and, yes, a preseason game counts as new, turning the page on what’s happened before.
The flip side of this preseason opener is not to overreact to what you see. Observations, evaluations? Sure, that’s a part of it all. But no reason to overreact to both the good and bad that will inevitably be on display at The Rock.
But enjoy that Rangers hockey is back? 100 percent. You deserve that, Blueshirts Faithful.
Drop the puck!
New York Rangers news and analysis
John Kreiser breaks down three key things we learned from Mike Sullivan’s presser Saturday, ahead of the preseason opener Sunday.
After three days of practices, the Rangers made their first training camp cuts Saturday. Thirteen players were trimmed from the roster, including 2025 draft picks Evan Passmore and Artem Gonchar, and 2024 selection Raoul Boilard.
Artemi Panarin missed Rangers practice Saturday with a lower-body injury sustained the day before.
NHL news and rumors
Florida Hockey Now: Since Matthew Tkachuk isn’t taking part in Florida Panthers training camp as he nurses a lower-body injury that will keep him out until December, he’s got some extra time on his hands these days. So, the Panthers forward was a celebrity guest on “College Game Day,” which was airing live on ESPN from the University of Miami home game against the University of Florida.
Sportsnet: Three Toronto Maple Leafs regulars missed training camp practice Saturday. Defenseman Simon Benoit and forward Nicolas Roy each has a lower-body injury, and goalie Joseph Woll was ill.
Hockey News: The puck dropped on the NHL preseason Saturday, and the Dallas Stars edged the St. Louis Blues 2-1 in a shootout. Justin Carbonneau, the Blues first-round pick (No, 19 overall) this year, scored the goal of the preseason.
WATCH: Here’s Carbonneau’s power-play goal Saturday.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Veteran forward Robby Fabbri told Dan Kingerski that he was surprised to not receive a single contract offer in free agency this summer. But Fabbri added he’s excited to join the Penguins on a PTO in training camp.
Sportsnet: Winnipeg Jets coach Scott Arniel, the former Rangers assistant, had the hockey understatement of the year when asked of his impression about getting to know Jonathan Toews in training camp.
