New York Rangers Daily: Watch and learn in playoffs; Oilers advance; Flyers, Canucks, Kings make key hires
Sure hope the New York Rangers are watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs closely.
There’s much to be learned about what it takes to be a winner. First and foremost, just watch how relentless the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers play. And that every single player buys into that relentless, ferocious style. This group is committed to the cause.
But there’s more there, and Chris Drury as Rangers general manager should take serious note of this. Look at the depth of the Panthers. Already, 17 different players have scored a goal for the Panthers in 10 postseason games. They hammered the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 5 on Wednesday with Matthew Tkachuk, Aleksander Barkov and Carter Verhaeghe combining for one point and two shots on goal. That’s because they did their jobs in other areas of the game AND the rest of the lineup contributed offensively, including three goals from defensemen and six different goal scorers from up and down the lineup.
Remember, that’s a team which lost more than half of its bottom six, two regular defensemen and the backup goalie after winning the Stanley Cup last season. But Florida retooled in the offseason, added Seth Jones and Brad Marchand in-season and have complete buy in. Now they Panthers are one win away from a third straight trip to the Eastern Conference Final.
Carolina Hurricanes? Yup, complete buy-in to their system, to go along with quality goaltending and terrific depth — even after the Mikko Rantanen fiasco.
Edmonton Oilers? They took out the Vegas Golden Knights in five games in the second round not just because they have two of the greatest players of their generation. Buy in and depth certainly doesn’t hurt when you’re trying to win a Cup with Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard as your goalies.
Gotta play defense, too. And each of these teams commits to that. Yes, even the Oilers, 1-0 winners in overtime on Wednesday.
Keep watching Rangers. Keep watching.
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New York Rangers news
Chris Drury’s report card for this atrocious season wasn’t pretty, but we explain why exactly the Rangers general manager didn’t receive a failing grade.
J.T. Miller didn’t make the cut at a 2025 U.S. Open golf qualifier, but he shared his thoughts about taking a crack at it, as well as how he feels about Mike Sullivan being hired as Rangers coach.
Speaking of Sullivan, Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper weighed in on how the new Rangers bench boss stands out as an elite NHL coach.
And Sidney Crosby shared his thoughts with The Athletic about Sullivan’s departure from the Pittsburgh Penguins.
If the Rangers keep their first-round pick this year, here’s why they need to select the best center available at No. 12.
To that end, here’s a breakdown between Jack Nesbitt and Roger McQueen, two possible center candidates the Rangers could select at No. 12.
ICYMI: Will Cuylle scored a beauty for Canada in their latest win at the World Championships.
Gotta love Calvin de Haan. The veteran had some great quotes and stories to share on the Cam and Strick podcast, including about his brief and unfulfilling Rangers tenure.
NHL news and rumors
Sportsnaut: The Edmonton Oilers mean business. They’re headed to the Western Conference Final after their 1-0 overtime win in Game 5 eliminated the Vegas Golden Knights.
Sportsnaut: And the Oilers may just be on a repeat collision course with the Florida Panthers in the Stanley Cup Final. The Panthers absolutely demolished the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 5, their third straight win in the series, and are now one victory away from the East Final.
ESPN: Not surprisingly, Rick Tocchet was named coach of the Philadelphia Flyers, replacing old friend John Tortorella.
NHL.com: And in Vancouver, the Canucks replaced Tocchet with his former assistant, Adam Foote.
Forever Blueshirts: We broke down just how close former Rangers first-round pick Manny Malhotra came to landing the Canucks job.
Sportsnet: The Canucks also signed 2023 top pick Tom Willander to his entry-level contract. The highly-regarded defenseman starred at Boston Univsersity.
NHL.com: The Los Angeles Kings hired three-time Stanley Cup winner Ken Holland to be their new general manager.
The Athletic ($$): Arthur Staple reports that Brendan Shanahan is “a long shot, but not off the table” to be considered for a front office role with the New York Islanders.
Sportsnet: Because it’s Canada, of course there’s debate over what it’d take to get Sidney Crosby to play for the Montreal Canadiens.
New Jersey Hockey Now: Despite rumors that assistant Sergei Brylin will leave the Devils to coach in the KHL, NJHN reports that won’t be the case, that the Stanley Cup winner plans to remain in the Garden State.
The Fourth Period: Dave Pagnotta reported that D.J. Smith interviewed for the Penguins coaching vacancy and the former Ottawa Senators coach is a top candidate to replace Mike Sullivan.
WATCH: Kasperi Kapanen scores the overtime winner for the Oilers, to eliminate the Golden Knights in the second round.
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