Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects says there’s plenty of interest in the 25-year-old, and that the Rangers have told teams he’s available. Robinson says Miller could also be the target of an offer sheet, and with the Rangers close to the salary cap and having key RFAs like Will Cuylle needing new contracts, potential suitors could opt for that route.

One player whose name keeps popping up at the Combine is K'Andre Miller.

I'm told the Rangers have let teams know he's available, but clubs are weighing that option versus the Offer Sheet route.

Appears to be significant interest in the 25-year-old.

— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) June 5, 2025

There’s no doubt that Miller has the wheels and the skills to be an impact player. But he’s never had the kind of breakout season the Rangers and their fans were hoping for. He struggled badly at times this season, finishing with 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) in 74 games. He also finished with an even plus-minus rating, the first time in his five NHL seasons that he wasn’t a plus player.

It’s the second straight season his points total has dropped after he had a career-high 43 points (nine goals, 34 assists) in 2022-23.

Miller is coming off a two-year contract that has an average annual value of $3,872,000, according to PuckPedia. He also had surgery last month to repair an upper-body injury sustained toward the end of the season. A League source told the New York Post that Miller tried to rehab the undisclosed injury but ultimately decided surgery was his best option – he’s expected to be back around the start of next season.

There figures to be plenty of interest if the Rangers decide, for whatever reason, to move on from Miller. The San Jose Sharks, who desperately need help on defense, are among the teams rumored to be sniffing around.

New York Rangers news

New coach Mike Sullivan’s coaching staff is set after he named three assistants – including one who Rangers fans are quite familiar with.

Rangers legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Ed Giacomin turned 86 on Friday. Here’s a look at “Fast Eddie’s” decade in New York, which saw him do everything but win a Stanley Cup.

Our Eric Charles takes a look at two more value options available to the Rangers if they decide to use their first-round pick (No. 12) in this year’s NHL Draft. Lynden Lakovic and Benjamin Kindel figure to be available if the Rangers decide not to give their pick to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

NHL news and rumors

Sportsnaut: Brad Marchand was the hero for the Florida Panthers on Friday, scoring at 8:05 of the second overtime to give the Cats a series-tying 5-4 win over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final. We look at three takeaways from a memorable night.

Sportsnaut: Game 2 of the Final by the numbers. Game 3 is Monday night in Sunrise, Florida.

Sportsnaut: Our Ryan McInerney looks at the winners and losers from Game 2. Hockey fans definitely fall into the “Winners” category after watching the Panthers and Oilers start the series by splitting two overtime games.

NHL.com: So what do players do on travel days in the Final, especially on the five-hour flight from Edmonton to South Florida? Eating and playing cards are two of the most popular pastimes.

Sportsnaut: In the wake of the firing of Peter DeBoer by the Dallas Stars on Friday, one week after they were bounced in the Western Conference Final for the third straight year, here’s a look at the NHL’s 10 longest-tenured coaches. Suffice it to say that this is one profession where there’s not a lot of job security.

NHL.com: Spencer Carbery was named winner of the Jack Adams Award, given to the NHL’s top coach — with his family on hand. Carbery led the Washington Capitals to first place in the Metropolitan Division and the top spot in the Eastern Conference.

TSN: The Toronto Maple Leafs hired Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach under Craig Berube, beginning next season. He coached the Detroit Red Wings for two-plus seasons before being fired in December.

ESPN: Colorado Avalanche forward Logan O’Connor had hip surgery Friday and isn’t expected back until December at the earliest.

Tampa Bay Times: The Tampa Bay Lightning filled the coaching staff vacancy created recently when Jeff Blashill was hired as coach of the Chicago Blackhawks by hiring former NHL forward Dan Hinote as an assistant under Jon Cooper. Hinote had been coaching with Colorado of the AHL.

It’s not always for the faint of heart, of course. But having been an NHL reporter since before Twitter (now X) was even created, I’m well-versed in the give and take, that often borders on irrational with Rangers fans.

Such was the case when a simple post by me before the Rangers hosted the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday fired up a certain contingent of Blueshirts Faithful. Apparently, it was blasphemous that I agreed with coach Peter Laviolette’s decision to scratch Juuso Parssinen and insert rookie Brett Berard into the lineup one day after New York’s 4-3 overtime loss in Ottawa.

The first snark arrived quickly in my notifications.

“This is Berard not Bedard” it read, sarcastically referring to the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

That was quickly followed by “It’s not the lines dude the team is shot. Berard not going to change anything.”

Then my favorite tweet of the day: “Glad to see we got 2 healthy scratches for Lindgren and Vesey.” That is in reference to Calvin de Haan joining Parssinen in the press box.

That was quickly followed by more vitriol — to be honest, directed more at Laviolette than me — angrily questioning how Parssinen could be a healthy scratch just four games after being acquired in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche! Especially after that great video made the rounds on social showing Parssinen score a sick shootout goal! I mean, this guy’s the next stud! The Rangers are benching a future star! Laviolette doesn’t develop young players!

Well, I guess it was overlooked that Berard is 22 and Parssinen in 24. But that’s not even the point here.

As hysteria mounted over a pretty simple lineup decision, I had a laugh or 10.

Berard brings more speed, energy and grit to the lineup. Parssinen adds more size and many hockey people believe a higher upside that he’s still trying to reach. So, Parssinen played Saturday. Berard played Sunday. Nobody’s locked into a spot here, a little competition is a good thing. That includes Brennan Othmann — the 2021 first-round pick who is getting some run and has been a physical force in the bottom six, but needs to start scoring too. Throw recent healthy scratch Arthur Kaliyev into this mix, as well.

And speaking specifically of Parssinen, he had that fight against the Washington Capitals a few games ago, his most notable Rangers moment. But he’s been largely a non-factor in his first four games. Minimal ice time. Zero shots on goal. On ice for two of Ottawa’s four goals Saturday, largely a spectator on Ridly Greig’s goal midway through the third period that kickstarted the Senators comeback.

The Rangers didn’t exactly scratch Mark Messier here.

But settle down. Parssinen will play some. Berard will play some. The Rangers will find out what they have in their youngsters, while trying to navigate this playoff chase minefield.

See you on X! Look forward to it!

Subscribe to the RINK RAP podcast on the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page

New York Rangers news

The Rangers have their work cut out for them this week, including a three-game road trip, games against the Winnipeg Jets on the road and Edmonton Oilers at home, and a rematch against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Here’s an understatement by the Rangers: “Our power play has got to be better.” Yes. Yes, it does.

Another understatement? “This one sucks” — the Rangers take after watching the Blue Jackets skate out of MSG on Sunday with a 7-3 win.

Here’s a look back at the winners and losers from that 7-3 Rangers’ loss to the Blue Jackets.

And our three Rangers takeaways from the defeat, including a breakdown of playing at not-so-even strength.

Our latest Hartford Wolf Pack weekly features updates on Chad Ruhwedel, Jake Leschshyn and two new Rangers: Brendan Brisson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel.

NHL news and rumors

Just as everything appeared to be on track for another Florida Panthers postseason run, word came down Monday that defenseman Aaron Ekblad is suspended 20 games for violating the NHL performance-enhancing drug policy.

Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff has a solid breakdown of why contract talks broke down between Brad Marchand and the Boston Bruins and how exactly the Bruins captain ended up being traded to the Panthers.

Wow. Carolina Hurricanes coach Rod Brind’Amour told a local radio station that Mikko Rantanen informed the club he had zero interest in signing with them immediately after they acquired him, and that there were four teams on his wish list to be traded to , if he were to be moved again.

This is how a true pro accepts criticism from his coach. Read here about Jake DeBrusk’s reaction to losing ice time for the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday and then being called out by coach Rick Tocchet — even though the forward’s in the midst of a 22-goal season.

The Athletic reports that the Pittsburgh Penguins never got close to trading Rickard Rackell ahead of the deadline. It’s also reported that they will try to move veteran defenseman Erik Karlsson this summer.

The Seattle Kraken recalled 20-year-old forward Jani Nyman from Coachella Valley of the American Hockey League, where he leads AHL rookies with 26 goals.

James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now believes that by signing defenseman Jonathan Kovacevic to a long-term contract, the Devils have put the futures of Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey with the organization in doubt.

Good and bad in the same for the Rangers in their playoff chase. The Ottawa Senators edged the Detroit Red Wings 2-1 with newcomer Dylan Cozens scoring the game-winning goal. Good news for the Rangers is that the Red Wings lost their sixth straight game and appear to become a non-factor in the playoff race. The bad news is that the Senators moved into the first wild card in the East, three points ahead of the Rangers with a game in hand.

Nathan MacKinnon reached 1,000 points in the NHL with an assist on an Artturi Lehkonen goal, part of a 3-0 win for the Colorado Avalanche over the Chicago Blackhawks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs grinded their way to a 4-3 shootout win against the Utah Hockey Club.

Tage Thompson scored twice and now has 33 goals on the season, tied for fourth most in the NHL, when the Buffalo Sabres defeated the Edmonton Oilers 3-2.

The Rangers made four trades in the final week ahead of the deadline, the last coming Friday when they acquired forward Nicolas Aube-Kubel from the Buffalo Sabres for defenseman Erik Brannstrom. It’s a depth trade involving a pair of guys who have NHL experience but are in the American Hockey League right now.

Overall, the Rangers made seven trades during the season, the biggest being their acquisition of J.T. Miller from the Vancouver Canucks on Jan. 31. Along the way, they shipped out former captain Jacob Trouba, popular younger forwards Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil, rookie defenseman Victor Mancini and three veteran pending UFAs they were not going to re-sign — Ryan Lindgren, Jimmy Vesey and Reilly Smith.

Along with Miller, the Rangers added defensemen Carson Soucy, Will Borgen, Urho Vaakanainen and Calvin de Haan, center Juuso Parssinen, forwards Brendan Brisson and Aube-Kubel, and a slew of draft picks.

“Just trying to thread the needle, trying to make sure we got some assets back for the future, while trying to show the group I still believe in them, which I do,” Rangers general manager Chris Drury said Friday.

That belief gets put to the test Saturday, when the Rangers visit the Ottawa Senators in a crucial matinee matchup. The teams are tied with 67 points apiece, but the Senators are percentage points ahead for the second wild card in the Eastern Conference because they’ve played one fewer game.

Right ahead of the Rangers and Senators are the Columbus Blue Jackets, whom the Rangers host Sunday at Madison Square Garden. Columbus is the first wild card, one point ahead of the Rangers and Senators. And don’t forget that the Rangers trail the listing New Jersey Devils by five points for third place in the Metropolitan Division and have two games in hand.

Yeah, this is getting fun. Game on!

WATCH Exclusive 1-on-1 interview with former Rangers goalie Marty Biron on the RINK RAP podcast

New York Rangers news

Here are three things to watch for when the Rangers visit the Senators on Saturday, including the end of the bromance between J.T. Miller and Brady Tkachuk.

Urho Vaakanainen landed a two-year contract with the Rangers, likely the biggest deadline day news for the Blueshirts.

Here are the latest Rangers injury updates ahead of the Senators game and whether to expect newcomer Carson Soucy to be in the lineup.

Speaking of Soucy, the Forever Blueshirts staff handed out trade grades following the Rangers acquisition of the big, physical defenseman from the Canucks.

Our Dane Walsh breaks down how the Mikko Rantanen trade from the Carolina Hurricanes — and some other factors — benefit the Rangers playoff push.

Here’s why the Rangers are “super impressed” with everyone’s favorite fourth-line center Sam Carrick.

NHL news and rumors

To get the lowdown on every NHL trade, not only from the deadline but the entire 2024-25 season, check out the official trade tracker on NHL dot com.

Our John Kreiser assesses the Islanders trading Brock Nelson to the Colorado Avalanche for a pretty decent haul.

Here’s why trading for and extending Mikko Rantanen was an opportunity the Dallas Stars “couldn’t pass up.”

Not only did the Stars land Rantanen, but they signed forward Wyatt Johnston to a five-year, $42 million contract.

There was plenty of emotional reaction after the Boston Bruins traded captain Brad Marchand to the Florida Panthers in a deadline-day blockbuster.

Here’s why the surging Montreal Canadiens didn’t make any noise ahead of the trade deadline.

The League’s top team, the Winnipeg Jets, made one significant move Friday, reacquiring gritty forward Brandon Tanev.

Ahead of their game against the Rangers, the Senators landed center Dylan Cozens from the Buffalo Sabres in a four-player trade that included Josh Norris.

You may have missed this during the flurry of trades Friday, but the Edmonton Oilers announced that forward Evander Kane is out for the season.

James Nichols from New Jersey Hockey Now is spot on with his column stating that the trade deadline was a complete fail for the Devils.

On top of failing to land significant help to their struggling lineup, the Devils learned that top defenseman Dougie Hamilton “will be out for an extended time” with a lower-body injury and that defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler won’t play the rest of the regular season. All this on top of Jack Hughes’ season-ending shoulder surgery.

But wait, there’s more! The Devils were trashed by the Jets, 6-1 at The Rock.

The Detroit Red Wings continue to show they may not be up to competing in the Eastern Conference playoff race as they lost their fifth straight game, 5-2 to the Washington Capitals.

Elias Pettersson lives! The beleaguered center scored his first goal in 16 games to help the Canucks defeat the Minnesota Wild 3-1.

Former Rangers forward was held off the score-sheet but the Vegas Golden Knights easily handled the woeful Pittsburgh Penguins 4-0.

Watch Connor Bedard score the OT winner in the Chicago Blackhawks’ 4-3 win over the Utah Hockey Club

The New York Rangers center was robbed by goaltender Jordan Binnington 1:55 into the extra period on a one-timer from the left circle that would have given Sweden a come-from-behind victory. Marner then scored at 6:06 of OT to give Canada a 4-3 win in the tournament opener, spoiling Sweden’s comeback from a pair of two-goal deficits.

“We did a good job working ourselves back into the game,” Zibanejad said. “Overtime could have gone both ways.”

Sidney Crosby, the game’s First Star, got his third primary assist of the night when he fed Marner, who raced into the offensive zone and ripped a high shot from the right of the slot through an inadvertent screen by Swedish defenseman Erik Karlsson that beat Filip Gustavsson for the win.

“He’s amazing. He’s just ageless. It’s a credit to him,” Connor McDavid said of Crosby. “It’s a credit to how much he puts into it his work ethic, credit to how he takes care of himself and credit to how smart he is out there. He just gets it done time and time again, and he did that again tonight.”

Canada has won 26 consecutive games in international competition with Crosby in the lineup.

AN ABSOLUTE ELECTRIC #4Nations OPENER! 🙌

Mitch Marner scores the @SUBWAYCanada OT winner for Canada. pic.twitter.com/PTTYLar7BV

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 13, 2025

Scoring the overtime winner on an assist from his boyhood idol was special for Marner.

“You tell 13-year-old Mitch that he scored an overtime goal assisted by Sidney Crosby, the guy he looked up to since day one, it’s pretty crazy,” he said. “I really just tried to enjoy the moment after. The building was rocking, and it was nice to have them cheering for me instead of against me.”

Crosby also set up goals by Nathan MacKinnon in the first period and Mark Stone in the second. Brad Marchand, who fueled Canada’s World Cup win nine years ago with a tournament-leading five goals, scored the other goal.

“As someone who loves to play in environments like that, I grew up a Montreal Canadiens fan, and to have an ovation like that here was really special and something I’ll always remember,” Crosby said.

Binnington made 23 saves, allowing goals by Jonas Brodin in the second period and Adrian Kempe and Joel Eriksson Ek in the third. Gustavsson finished with 24 saves, including seven in overtime.

Canada lost defenseman Shea Theodore early in the second period with an upper-body injury, and coach Jon Cooper said after the game that Theodore will miss the rest of the tournament, which ends Feb. 20.

Zibanejad finished the game minus-1 and had two shots on goal in 20:01 of ice time. He had one takeaway and was 12-10 on face-offs — no other Swedish center was over .500 on draws.

“I think toward the end of the first (period) and from then on, we started playing a little bit more,” Zibanejad said. “We could have won this game.”

Having to go into the 10-minute overtime before winning means Canada got two points for the victory, instead of three. Sweden got one point.

Each team will have two days off before playing its biggest rival. Sweden faces Finland on Saturday afternoon, while Canada and the United States square off Saturday night. The Americans, featuring four Rangers — defenseman Adam Fox and forwards J.T. Miller, Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck — play Finland in their first game Thursday night.

Related: Former Rangers captain believes Jacob Trouba was ‘spiritual leader’ before trade to Ducks

Canada 4 – Sweden 3 (OT)

Zibanejad was in the starting lineup, centering a line with Rickard Rakell and William Nylander, and won the opening face-off. But he had already gone off for a line change when Nylander was called for high-sticking MacKinnon 44 seconds into the game.

That brought out Canada’s No. 1 power-play unit, which needed just 12 seconds to open the scoring. McDavid fed Crosby at the goal line to the left of Gustavsson, and Crosby’s backhand pass across the top of the crease found MacKinnon. The NHL leading scorer wasted no time snapping it into the net for a 1-0 lead.

“We get a penalty on the first shift and they score, what, 15 seconds into the power play,” Zibanejad said. “The building gets going and they get a second goal.”

The Canadians dominated play and had not allowed a shot on goal before Marchand scored at 13:15 to make it 2-0.

Seth Jarvis’ pass sprung Brayden Point and Marchand on a 2-on-1 break. Point found a wide-open Marchand in the lower left circle, and he hit the half-empty net for a 2-0 lead.

Brad Marchand in Montreal! 🇨🇦

Canada leads 2-0! #4Nations

🇺🇸: @NHL_On_TNT & @SportsonMax ➡️ https://t.co/4TuyIATi3T
🇨🇦: @Sportsnet or stream on Sportsnet+ ➡️ https://t.co/4KjbdjVctF pic.twitter.com/1OeWbNgQN7

— NHL (@NHL) February 13, 2025

Marchand admitted during a between-periods interview with TNT that “I heard a few boos” amid the cheers after the goal but added that “It’s incredible the way the fans rally behind Canada.” The Boston Bruins captain has heard his share of boos at Bell Centre over the years, playing for one of the Montreal Canadiens’ biggest rivals.

Canada had the first seven shots of the game before the Swedes finally got their first shot at 13:49 when Nylander got off a backhander that Binnington had no trouble with. They had the final three shots on goal in the period, none of which was dangerous.

“We had an awesome start,” Stone told TNT.

The Swedes finally began to find their game as the second period neared the midway point and cut the deficit to 2-1 at 9:33.

Jonas Brodin scored Sweden’s opening goal while making his debut at an NHL International Tournament. #4Nations

Tune in on @NHL_On_TNT, @SportsonMax, truTV, @Sportsnet and @TVASports. #NHLStats: https://t.co/fAVu10HCM6 pic.twitter.com/129wkho3Tu

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) February 13, 2025

Brodin, who has four goals in 34 games for the Minnesota Wild this season and only recently returned to the lineup after missing four weeks with a lower-body injury, let go a bad-angled shot from near the right boards. With Rakell screening Binnington, the shot went over the goaltender’s shoulder and just under the crossbar.

Swedish defenseman Rasmus Dahlin saved a goal 3 1/2 minutes later by beating MacKinnon to a loose puck in the crease after a chop shot by Crosby leaked through Gustavsson.

But Crosby got his second assist of the night when he did most of the work on Stone’s goal at 17:28. With Zibanejad on the ice and Sweden pressing for the tying goal, Crosby picked up a miss by Mattias Ekholm and raced up the right wing. He muscled away defenseman Gustav Forsling in the lower right circle long enough to find Stone, who was flying down the middle and one-timed No. 87’s pass behind Gustavsson for a 3-1 lead.

He's just so good at protecting the puck 😳 #4Nations https://t.co/Ie6mX8CBpm pic.twitter.com/cjL6u4Iiy7

— NHL (@NHL) February 13, 2025

Sweden got back within a goal 1:54 into the third period when Kempe backed off his Los Angeles Kings teammate, defenseman Drew Doughty, and created enough room to snap a shot past Binnington from between the circles.

Eriksson Ek got the Swedes even at 8:59, finishing a nice passing play with Lucas Raymond and Jesper Bratt, who faked a shot and fed the Minnesota center for a flip shot over Binnington and a 3-3 tie.

JOEL ERIKSSON EK TIES THE GAME FOR SWEDEN! 👀 #4Nations 

Catch all the action on Sportsnet! 📺 pic.twitter.com/56Nre5MnDY

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 13, 2025

Gustavsson saved the day for Sweden with just under nine minutes remaining when he got his blocker on a shot from the slot by Devon Toews, who was alone in the slot and appeared to have a half-empty net to shoot at.

Marchand was suspended for roughing and high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tristan Jarry in the final minute of a game on Feb. 8. Not only did he punch Jarry in the head during a scrum in front of Pittsburgh’s net, while being restrained by an official, he shoved his stick into Jarry’s mask.

On Friday, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wasn’t buying the excuses and upheld a six-game suspension after the NHL Players’ Association appealed the ban on Marchand’s behalf.

Remember when Marchand called Panarin “soft”?

Marchand is one of the biggest trash-talkers in the game. Earlier this season, he got into it with New York Rangers forward Artemi Panarin. As the two were chirping at the benches, Marchand said something that set Panarin off, leading to him throw a glove at the Bruins agitator.

Both players were both tossed from the game, and Panarin received a $5000 fine for throwing his glove at Marchand.

“I said that no one in Russia likes him,” Marchand admitted. “So if that is now what is setting guys over the edge, then this is the softest league in the world.”

“No one should be allowed to say anything,” Marchand responded. “Because there’s a lot worse things said out there than that. If that’s what he’s crying about, then it is what is is.”

So, what exactly did Jarry say to upset thick-skinned Brad Marchand?

According to multiple reports, Marchand told the commissioner that Jarry said, “How about that f–king save?”

The irony here is just too delicious not to share. Of course, the ever-vocal Marchand will likely tell anyone who asks that Jarry said it such a deep and scary voice that it sounded life-threatening.

NHL upholds Marchand suspension

The 33-year-old forward argued that his actions were “stupid” but not “suspension-worthy.” Bettman wrote in his complete ruling that he accepted Marchand’s explanation, and he did not believe Marchand had the intention of injuring Jarry, but the commissioner said Marchand had to be regarded as a repeat violator.

This was the eighth suspension of his career and the second this season; he received a three-game suspension in November for slew-footing Vancouver Canucks defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

“When a player repeatedly commits multiple violations worthy of supplementary discipline within a relatively short period of time, the principle of progressive discipline clearly warrants an escalation in the quantum of discipline,” Bettman wrote. “That is particularly true where, as here, the Player is one whose career has been marked by repeated prior instances of supplementary discipline.”

Marchand still can elect to have his case heard by an independent arbitrator. He has already served four games of the suspension.

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Mark Giordano is set to play in front of fans in Calgary as a member of the Seattle Kraken. However, is a Flames reunion inevitable? Read more.

–Field Level Media contributed to this report.

Yesterday, as he was addressing his suspension of three games for slew footing Oliver Ekman-Larsson in Boston’s 3-2 win over the Canucks. He was bemoaning why the NHL still considered his prior history as he claimed, “I’ve worked to get away from that and be a good player.”

Oliver Ekman-Larsson likely disagrees, and Artemi Panarin went on record saying, “I don’t like that guy.”

Marchand says Panarin “crying”

“I said that no one in Russia likes him,” Marchand admitted. “So if that is now what is setting guys over the edge, then this is the softest league in the world.”

Last Friday, the Rangers beat the Bruins 5-2. In the waning seconds, Marchand and Panarin had a heated exchange that led to a glove being thrown.

“It’s important to to let people know I didn’t start it,” Panarin explained per USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano. “I didn’t say good things about him, too, but I think when you touch country, it’s different. Probably all Russians would want to defend their country.”

Both players were both tossed from the game, and Panarin received a $5000 fine for throwing his glove at Marchand.

“No one should be allowed to say anything,” Marchand responded. “Because there’s a lot worse things said out there than that. If that’s what he’s crying about, then it is what is is.”

Panarin dealt with a political hit job last season

What Marchand is leaving out is the serious situation involving Panarin last season involving unfounded allegations by his former KHL coach that caused him seek a leave of absence. A political hit job that had him concerned for his family living in Russia.

This summer, former Rangers GM Jeff Gorton provided some insight into the situation.

“We gave the Breadman his space and time he needed to figure things out,” Gorton said on the Cam and Strick Podcast. “The biggest thing when those things are happening back home – he has family there. We don’t know what’s going on in the world. I’ve been to Russia but you don’t know how mad people get or what they will do so we just gave him his space to work through it.”

The Rangers played a big role in helping Panarin and his family out during that time.

“We have security staff and people in place that had a lot of connections just making calls and making sure everyone is fine,” Gorton revealed about the effort to make sure he felt comfortable that his family was fine. “It was about letting him get through it mentally as far as feeling confident that his family was going to be ok.”

The Rangers and Bruins will not face each other again until the last weekend of the regular season. A home and home on March 23-24 that I’m sure Marchand’s quotes will be plastered on the walls of the Blueshirts locker-room.

NHL Suspends Lemieux for biting

The NHL has come down hard on Brendan Lemieux with a 5 game ban. Read more.

“It’s important to to let people know I didn’t start it,” Panarin explained per USA Today’s Vince Mercogliano. “I didn’t say good things about him, too, but I think when you touch country, it’s different. Probably all Russians would want to defend their country.”

Both players were both tossed from the game, but it was the Blueshirts’ forward that received a $5000 fine for throwing his glove at Marchand.

Panarin fined, gives his feelings on Marchand

The Breadman was fined the maximum allowable under the league’s collective bargaining agreement for throwing his glove at Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand following a verbal exchange at the bench during Friday’s game.

After the game, Marchand had some fun about the subject of their conversation. “We were just asking each other how Thanksgiving dinner was and he didn’t like what I ate,” he said after the Bruins’ lost 5-2 at home to the Rangers.

Of course, there was no Thanksgiving discussion as Marchand went right for an obvious sore spot. Remember, Panarin needed to take a leave of absence last season due a former KHL’s coach’s unfounded allegations.

The 30 year-old didn’t hold back on his feelings about Marchand. “I don’t like that guy,” Panarin said.

As for the $5000 fine, he thanked former GM Jeff Gorton for his big contract so that he would be able to pay the league for his “misconduct.”

Then, at the end, Panarin dropped the mic with this message for the league (and Jeff Gorton):

"I lost 5K. But thanks to the old general manager for $11.6 (million). I’m good."

🤣 💰#NYR

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) November 27, 2021

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Matt Murray hits waives and latest on J.T. Miller trade talk. Read here.

According to multiple reports, Marchand taunted Panarin by stating no Russians like him and invoking Vladimir Putin.

For the uninitiated, Panarin was the victim of a political hit piece by his former KHL coach Andrei Nazarov, who is a big supporter of Putin. He made unfounded allegations that Panarin assaulted a young woman, which caused Panarin to take a leave of absence during last season.

NY Rangers’ Artemi Panarin has been fined $5,000, the maximum allowable under the CBA, for Unsportsmanlike Conduct during yesterday’s game with the Boston Bruins.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) November 27, 2021

NHL fines Panarin

Well, the NHL in its infinite wisdom has opted to fine Panarin $5000 for throwing his glove at Marchand.

After the game, Marchand downplayed the incident. “We were just talking about what we had at Thanksgiving and he didn’t like what I ate,” he said with a laugh.

Ryan Strome, who was within earshot was not amused with Marchand’s taunts.

“I don’t want to comment, I don’t think it’s my place” Strome answered if Marchand went over the line. “Yeah, I guess we’ll see what happens.”

According to Larry Brooks the Rangers contacted the league about the comments.

It should also be noted that Marchand was wearing a microphone for the nationally televised game so ABC should have exactly what he said recorded.

No word if Marchand will face any discipline, but it doesn’t seem likely.

NHL Rumors

Islanders actively looking for help. There’s a mess in Vancouver and the Rangers goalie issue. Read here.

Broadway’s Breadman scored the go-ahead goal with 8:25 to play the third period and added an assist to help lead the New York Rangers over Boston.

Panarin tipped in Julien Gauthier’s pass from the right circle while skating through the crease. New York’s Alexis Lafreniere finished off a 2-for-1 with a wrist shot from the left circle with under four minutes to go to seal the deal.

With the victory, the Rangers have 29 points (13-4-3) which is good for second overall in the NHL.

Marchand made Russian taunt to Panarin

Toward the end of the game, Panarin and Bruins super-pest Marchand were jawing at each other. The confrontation ended with Panarin throwing his glove at the talkative agitator.

Both players were tossed from the game and received 10 minute misconducts.

When asked afterwards, Marchand downplayed the incident saying he was caught by surprise with the glove toss. “We were just talking about what we had at Thanksgiving and he didn’t like what I ate,” he said with a laugh.

Ryan Strome, who was within earshot was not amused with Marchand’s taunts.

“I don’t want to comment, I don’t think it’s my place” Strome answered if Marchand went over the line. “Yeah, I guess we’ll see what happens.”

Multiple reports indicate that the nature of the comments made by Marchand towards Panarin involved Vladimir Putin and a sentiment that no Russians like him.

The remarks by Marchand, a well know chirper, referenced unfounded allegations made by his former KHL coach which was politically motivated. Panarin required a leave of absence to deal with the matter.

According to Larry Brooks the Rangers contacted the league about the comments.

It should also be noted that Marchand was wearing a microphone for the nationally televised game so ABC should have exactly what he said recorded.

Rangers take it Boston in Thanksgiving Showdown

Strome, Dryden Hart and Jacob Trouba (empty-netter) each added one goal for New York, which has won three straight games and seven of its last eight overall. Igor Shesterkin made 34 saves in his fifth straight start in net for the Rangers.

New York has scored four of more goals in six of its past eight games.

“It’s a good feeling but it’s a group that’s not satisfied,” Strome said after the win. “The important thing for us is to continue to build. [Head coach Gerard Gallant] keeps up pretty honest, he pushed us at the end of the game on the bench. Night in and night out it’s going to take that the rest of the year.”

Craig Smith and Patrice Bergeron each scored for Boston. Bruins rookie goaltender Jeremy Swayman stopped 26 of 30 shots to take his second straight home loss after winning his first eight starts at TD Garden dating back to last season.

“I don’t set expectations, but I am real happy with where we are at,” Gerard Gallant said of his team’s record. “I take it one game at a time. When I look at the stats on the way home on the I’ll be happy.”

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–Field Level Media contributed to this report

Artemi Panarin and Bruins super-pest Brad Marchand were jawing at each other. The confrontation ended with Panarin throwing his glove at Marchand. ABC commentator, AJ Mleczko was in between the benches when the altercation took place. “I don’t mean to laugh,” she said. “It is heated and intense.”

Both players were tossed from the game and received 10 minute misconducts.

What did Marchand say to Panarin?

So what set Panarin off? According to Gerard Gallant, he doesn’t know what Marchand said.

“I have no idea,” he said. “I’m at the other end of the bench and I’ve got no clue.”

The Bruins forward did speak to the media after the game and gave “his side” of the story.

“That caught me off guard,” Marchand joked about the Panarin glove toss. “We were just discussing what we had at Thanksgiving and he didn’t like what I ate.”

One person who wasn’t pleased was Panarin’s longtime center, Ryan Strome.

“I don’t want to comment, I don’t think it’s my place” Strome answered if Marchand went over the line. “Yeah, I guess we’ll see what happens.”

Based off of that, will there be further discipline coming for Marchand? At least it appears Strome thinks there should be.

Panarin powered the Rangers to victory with the game winning goal and an assist. He now has 21 points in 20 games this season.

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