WATCH: 5 funny videos posted at Rangers expense during 2025-26 NHL team schedule releases
The NHL released its full 2025-26 schedule on Wednesday, and social media teams from many clubs found creative ways to make their announcements stand out. Several leaned into current pop culture trends, and used well-placed jabs — especially at the New York Rangers.
Teams treated it like a mini content competition, using mascots, skits, and viral trends to draw attention on social media.
This year, a handful of organizations found clever ways to work the Rangers into their videos — some with bar jokes, dodgeballs, and even a grainy chicken wing. Whether it was trolling or just having some fun at New York’s expense, the Rangers became one of the most talked about teams of the day, without even posting a video themselves.
Related: 10 can’t-miss games on the Rangers 2025-26 NHL schedule
5 videos poking fun at Rangers during 2025-26 NHL team schedule releases
Let’s break down the five best shots taken at the Rangers:
1. Buffalo Sabres — Lights, (security) camera, action
The Buffalo Sabres used chicken wings to represent each opponent on their schedule video, all shot in high-def. Except one.
The Rangers wing was shown in grainy CCTV footage, a not-so-subtle jab at New York’s social media situation, which sparked plenty of speculations from fans last season. After an internal incident, the Rangers reportedly banned their content staff from traveling to road games and going to restricted access ares, leaving them to post actual arena cam clips.
Suboptimal, making the Rangers an easy target for the creative folk in Buffalo.
2. New Jersey Devils — Dodgeball drama
The New Jersey Devils opened their schedule video with a dodgeball game between NJ Devil and a group of kids wearing NHL team shirts. After being told to leave, the Devils mascot caught the ball from the kid in a Rangers shirt.
The camera cut to the kid, now clearly regretting his decision. NJ Devil wound up and drilled him in the face — and right as the ball hit, the schedule flashed on the screen. The Rangers don’t even play the Devils until March, but New Jersey made sure to start its video with an aggressive statement.
3. Nashville Predators — What’s a Manhattan?
The Nashville Predators went with a country bar skit for their schedule release, where some fans walked in and ordered drinks based on their team.
When a Rangers fan asked for a Manhattan and a New York Islanders fan followed with a Long Island Iced Tea order, the bartender paused and said, “This is awkward … we don’t serve those here. How about some sweet tea?”
That definitely went over well in Tennessee.
Related: NHL season opener against Rangers ‘bit ironic’ for Penguins coach Dan Muse
4. Minnesota Wild — Smash the apple
The Minnesota Wild smashed a different object for each opponent in their schedule release. For the Rangers, it was a brown ceramic apple getting obliterated with a sledgehammer.
Maybe not so original, but certainly gets the point across.
5. Detroit Red Wings — You’ve been bounced
The Detroit Red Wings went with a bar scene for the schedule drop, opening with a massive bouncer tossing out two fans — one in a Rangers jersey, the other in Chicago Blackhawks gear. It’s a clear shot taken at two fellow original six franchises.
