Rangers Daily: Rising expectations; Preseason injuries mount in NHL
It’s appearing more and more that the New York Rangers are a popular choice to rebound from a dismal season and return to the Stanley Cup Playoffs in 2025-26.
I’ve felt that way all summer. As long as they can leave the dysfunction — on and off the ice — in the rearview mirror, the Rangers are good enough to reach the postseason. They’re not a Stanley Cup favorite, maybe not even a serious championship contender. But unless things go off the rails — see 2024-25 — this looks like a playoff team to me.
Mike Sullivan’s “No BS” mantra needs to be more than simply a cute tee shirt slogan. And it’s fair to believe that there’s complete buy-in on that approach, again, both on and off the ice.
The Sportsnet hockey crew in Canada is the latest to publicly support a full Rangers rebound this season. Of the teams which missed the playoffs a year ago, Sportsnet’s Ryan Dixon listed the Rangers as most likely to land a postseason berth this season.
“The Rangers may not be the Cup challenger some thought they were 12 months ago, but it is not hard to envision this club climbing back into the top eight in the East,” Dixon stated.
He pointed to “altering the awful vibes” as a key reason why things should go better on Broadway this time. Sullivan’s arrival, a full season of J.T. Miller in the lineup, and return to elite form by Igor Shesterkin supported his argument.
Dixon also listed the teams that made the playoffs in 2024-25 that may struggle to do so this season. Interestingly, the New Jersey Devils are high up on that list.
“The Devils may be the most high-variance team in the League based on the number of oft-injured players they have in big roles; think Dougie Hamilton, Jack Hughes and Jacob Markstrom,” he wrote.
Just some more food for thought with opening night two weeks away.
New York Rangers news and analysis
Some really good, raw, honest stuff from former Rangers forward Jimmy Vesey, who’s out of the NHL and playing in Switzerland this season.
Rangers coach Mike Sullivan is impressed with rookie Gabe Perreault so far in the preseason. But he’s not quite ready to say whether Perreault’s going to make the opening-night roster.
Sullivan raved about rookie center Noah Laba and towering forward Matt Rempe after practice Wednesday, detailing how each player fits the style of game the Rangers plan to play this season.
Yes, that Rangers preseason meltdown against the Boston Bruins on Tuesday brought back nightmares from their atrocious 2024-25 season. But let’s not overreact — at least not yet.
ICYMI: here are our key Rangers takeaways after they blew a three-goal lead in the third period Sunday and lost to the Bruins 5-4 in overtime.
NHL news and rumors
Daily Faceoff: Some pretty bad news for the Nashville Predators, who hoped to leave the bad mojo of last season in the past. Key defenseman Nicolas Hague sustained an upper-body injury in a preseason game Sunday and is out 4-6 weeks.
Forever Blueshirts: Former Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko left the Seattle Kraken’s preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers on Wednesday with an upper-body injury after he was slashed on the hand
Ottawa Citizen: Drake Batherson is out two weeks for the Ottawa Senators after the forward pulled a muscle in his upper body the other day. The could open an opportunity for former Rangers forward Arthur Kaliyev, who’s been the 13th forward during camp.
New York Post: Islanders captain Anders Lee should be able to open the regular season on time, but he’s sidelined 1-2 weeks with an upper-body injury sustained in a preseason game Sunday.
The Athletic ($$): Pierre LeBrun reports that the Buffalo Sabres and pending UFA Alex Tuch “aren’t in the same ballpark” when it comes to a possible contract extension.
Sportsnet: Vasily Podkolzin returned to Russia on an indefinite leave of absence after his father died suddenly. Earlier this week, the forward signed a three-year contract extension with the Oilers.
TSN: Milan Lucic is in camp with the St. Louis Blues on a PTO, but the veteran forward’s chances of earning an NHL contract took a hit because he’s now sidelined with a groin injury, though he’s listed as day to day.
