The vast majority of Rangers games during the past two decades have been started by goaltenders who were selected after the 100th pick in their respective drafts. The Rangers captain from 2011-14 was also taken well after pick No. 100 in his his draft year, as were a pair of excellent defensive forwards who were part of the 2013-14 team that lost to the Los Angeles Kings in the Stanley Cup Final.

Most recently, three forwards who were part of this past season’s team and appear to be staples next season were lower-round picks within the past six years: Brett Berard (2020; fifth round, No. 134), Matt Rempe (2020; sixth round, No. 165) and Adam Edstrom (2019; sixth round, No. 161).

Each hopes to enjoy the success that these five later-round choices (all taken after pick No. 100) enjoyed with the Rangers.

Related: NHL insider fuels trade rumors, states Rangers coach ‘not huge fan of K’Andre Miller’s game’

Igor Shesterkin (2014; Round 4, No. 118)

Igor Shesterkin wasn’t even the first goaltender taken by the Rangers in the 2014 draft. That honor belongs to Brandon Halverson, who played one game in relief with the Rangers on Feb. 17, 2018, and finally made his first NHL start with the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 22 of this past season.

Meanwhile, the Rangers waited on Shesterkin, who thrived in the KHL before signing with the Rangers in the summer of 2019.

Shesterkin was 10-2-0 in 12 appearances in 2019-20 before the regular season came to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic. Two seasons later, he won the Vezina Trophy as the top NHL goaltende, when he led the League in goals-against average (2.07) and save percentage (.935). He also led the Rangers to the 2022 Eastern Conference Final; though they lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in six games, Shesterkin excelled with a 2.59 GAA and .929 save percentage.

Shesterkin’s remained one of the top handful of goalies since then, averaging more than 36 wins in a three-season span. He helped the Rangers to a franchise-record 55 victories in 2023-24 on the way to winning the Presidents’ Trophy and again reaching the Eastern Conference Final.

Shesterkin begins an eight-year, $92 million contract, the richest fora goalie in NHL history, in 2025-26 – meaning he figures to be with the franchise for a long time. It’s been a remarkable first six NHL seasons for a player who lasted well beyond the first 100 picks in his draft year.

Henrik Lundqvist (2000; Round 7, No. 205)

The Rangers were looking for a goaltender in the late rounds of the 2000 NHL Draft. Little did they know they would find a future Hall of Famer and the winningest goaltender in their history with the 205th pick.

Christer Rockstrom, then the Rangers’ head European scout, had seen a young Swedish goalie names Henrik Lundqvist play in the years leading up the to 2000 draft. Lundqvist didn’t impress in international tournaments, but Rockstrom saw him play with his club team and at practice. He was impressed, as was Jan Gajdosik, a European scout for the Blueshirts.

Don Maloney, who was overseeing the draft table, happened to look to his left when the Rangers turn in the seventh round approached and saw Lundqvist’s name at the top of Rockstrom’s list. A few minutes later, the Rangers had their goaltender of the future.

It took a while – Lundqvist’s game developed in Sweden, where he won an SHL championship with Frolunda, until he came to North America in 2005. He began 2005-06 as the backup to Kevin Weekes but soon became the starter and kept that role for the next 15 seasons. He won at least 30 games in each of his first seven seasons and 11 of the first 12 (ironically, his 24 wins led the NHL during the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season).

Lundqvist was a Vezina Trophy finalist in each of his first three seasons before winning the award in 2011-12. He backstopped them to the 2014 Stanley Cup Final, though the Rangers lost to the Kings in five games – with three of the losses came in overtime.

He signed with the Washington Capitals for the 2020-21 season but had to retire because of a heart problem, meaning that Lundqvist played his entire career with the Rangers. He retired as holder of team records with 887 games played, 459 victories, 64 shutouts and a .918 save percentage (minimum 60 games played). His No. 30 hangs in the rafters now and forever at Madison Square Garden.

Lundqvist was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023, capping one of the greatest unexpected careers in NHL history.

Ryan Callahan (2004; Round 4, No. 127)

Few players in Rangers history have worked harder than Ryan Callahan, who went from being left out of the intrasquad game at training camp in 2005, one year after being drafted, to captain of the Blueshirts six years later.

“He put so much into the game,” former Rangers coach John Tortorella told the New York Post after Callahan officially retired in December 2020. “In my mind, he epitomized the way you have to play the game, at least in my opinion. He did it by pure effort and desire. Never took a shift off. Never took a practice off.

“And that’s how he becomes the captain of the Rangers.”

Callahan, who held the team record for hits (285 in 2009-10) until Will Cuylle surpassed him with 301 in 2024-25, was part of the “Black and Blueshirts,” and would do anything the Rangers needed to win. Block a shot? He broke his ankle in 2010 blocking a blast from Zdeno Chara. Step into an opponent? He had at least 224 hits in four straight seasons from 2008-09 through 2011-12. 

But Callahan also was a skilled forward, who produced solid offensive numbers. When he was piling up all those hits from 2008-12, he also averaged 23 goals and 45 points, including 29 goals and 54 points in 2011-12, when he helped the Rangers finish first in the Eastern Conference and get to the conference final.

However, his numbers began to drop off, and with Callahan headed for free agency after the 2013-14 season, the Rangers traded him to the Tampa Bay Lightning on March 5, 2014, as part of the package that brought Martin St. Louis to Broadway. Callahan missed the run to the 2014 Cup Final but got a measure of revenge the following year when he and the Lightning defeated the Rangers in Game 7 of the East Final to advance to the 2015 Stanley Cup Final against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Callahan’s body began breaking down not long after. He played his last NHL game in 2018-19 and retired in 2020. As he told the Post, “I gave everything I had until there was nothing left to give.”

Jesper Fast (2010; Round 6, No. 157)

Fast really was fast — coach Alain Vigneault nicknamed him “Quickie.” But his journey to the NHL took a while.

The forward from Sweden spent two more seasons in his native country before the Rangers signed him in May 2012. He played one more season at home with HV-71, winning the Swedish Hockey League’s equivalent of the Lady Byng Trophy, when he finished with 18 goals and 35 points in 47 games.

HV-71 was eliminated from the SHL playoffs earlier than expected, and Fast joined the Rangers organization. He scored a goal for the AHL Connecticut Whale (now the Hartford Wolf Pack) in his North American debut but sustained a knee injury and didn’t play again until the following season.

He spent most of 2013-14 in the minors but did get into 11 regular-season and three playoff games with the Rangers. Fast was a regular by the end of the following season and remained one through 2019-20. He developed into a dependable bottom-six forward and penalty-killer who was effective on the forecheck and averaged 10 goals and 26 points during a five-year span. He helped the Rangers get to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Final in 2015 and had career-highs of 13 goals and 33 points in 2017-18.

Fast became a free agent in the summer of 2020 and signed with the Carolina Hurricanes. He played four seasons with the Rangers rival and was on the losing end when New York defeated Carolina in the second round in 2022. A neck injury kept him out of the rematch in 2024, when the Rangers again knocked off the Hurricanes in six games, and he retired in June 2025 after missing all of 2024-25 following offseason neck surgery. He ended up playing 703 regular-season games, 422 with the Rangers, and scored 55 of his 91 goals with New York.

Carl Hagelin (2007; Round 6, No. 168)

Hagelin, another swift forward from Sweden, took a different path to the NHL after he was selected by the Rangers in 2007, following two excellent seasons in Sweden’s Under-20 league.

Instead of staying home as Fast did, Hagelin came to North America and played four seasons at the University of Michigan, becoming the first Swede ever to play for the Wolverines. The Rangers signed him after his college career ended in 2011, and he joined the Connecticut Whale in time for the AHL playoffs.

He had an assist in his NHL debut on Nov. 25, 2011, then scored his first goal the next day against Sergei Bobrovsky of the Philadelphia Flyers. Hagelin won the Fastest Skater competition at the NHL All-Star Weekend and finished his first NHL season with 14 goals and 38 points as well as a plus-21 rating.

Speed was Hagelin’s stock in trade. He was an effective third-liner and penalty-killer who averaged almost 15 goals during his four seasons on Broadway despite almost no power-play time. Hagelin helped the Rangers get to the Stanley Cup Final in 2014, chipping in seven goals and 12 points in 25 postseason games.

Though Hagelin matched his career high with 17 goals in 2014-15, he also became a free agent that summer. Management decided to trade him rather than lose him for nothing, so he was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks on June 27, 2015.

The Ducks traded him to the Pittsburgh Penguins three months later, just in time to help them win the Stanley Cup in the spring of 2016 as part of the “HBK Line” with Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel. The Penguins repeated in 2017, when Hagelin scoring the clinching empty-net goal in Game 6 of the Final. The Penguins traded him to the Los Angeles Kings in November 2018, and the Kings wheeled him to the Washington Capitals two weeks later. He played with Washington through the 2021-22 season, missed 2022-23 after an eye injury and hip surgery, and officially retired in August 2023.

That first-round pick will be an important one for the Blueshirts since they do not have a selection in the following two rounds. So, there’ll much pressure to get it right near the end of the first round.

But Chris Drury will be looking for some Day 2 magic at the draft, hitting big on a pick or two in the latter stages. It’s happened before for New York, notably in the seventh round of the 2000 draft when the Rangers selected a goalie by the name of Henrik Lundqvist.

The Hockey Hall of Famer is the gold standard of successful later-round draft picks by the Rangers, but there have been some other notable wins, as well.

Related: Ranking New York Rangers first-round picks in NHL Draft since 2000

New York Rangers late-round gems in NHL Draft since 2000

Let’s examine the top 10 best late-round draft picks made by the Rangers since the turn of the century in 2000.

10. Matt Rempe (2020, 6th round, No. 165 overall)

It’s a very small sample size for a very big (6-foot-8) forward, but Matt Rempe squeezes into this list ahead of forwards Ryan Hollweg (2001, 8th round. No. 238 0verall) and Nigel Dawes (2003, 5th round, No. 149 overall). Part of that is the crazy impact Rempe made in just 28 games as a rookie this season (17 regular-season games, 11 in Stanley Cup Playoffs) and the bright future he has at just 21 years of age. The kid is popular and looks like he has what it takes to be a fourth-line staple for years to come.

9. Petr Prucha (2002, 8th round, No. 240 overall)

Petr Prucha scored 30 goals as a 23-year-old rookie with the Rangers in 2005-06 and added 22 the next season. His play really dropped off after that when Prucha scored just 11 goals in his next 90 games on Broadway before he was traded to the Phoenix Coyotes. Prucha was out of the NHL after the 2010-11 season but was a successful late-round pick all things considered.

8. Morgan Barron (2017, 6th round, No. 174 overall)

Morgan Barron has carved out a nice role for himself as a checking center with the Winnipeg Jets after the Rangers traded him there ahead of the 2022 deadline as part of a package for forward Andrew Copp. He only played 18 games in parts of two seasons with the Rangers but 164 games since with the Jets. The 25-year-old scored an NHL career-high 11 goals this past season.

7. Ryan Graves (2013, 4th round, No. 110 overall)

Ryan Graves never played an NHL game with the Rangers, but has become a top-four defenseman in the NHL elsewhere. In 372 NHL games, Graves is a plus-94, including a League-best plus-40 in 2019-20 with the Colorado Avalanche. He’s also had two excellent seasons with the New Jersey Devils and is now on a long-term contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

6. Marek Zidlicky (2001, 6th round, No. 176 overall)

Another defensemen drafted by the Rangers in a later round who never played for them and had a solid NHL career. Zidlicky played 836 NHL games for five teams, notably with the Nashville Predators and Minnesota Wild. He also played in three Winter Olympics, including 2006 in Turin when he helped the Czech Republic win the bronze medal.

5. Jesper Fast (2010, 6th round, No. 157 overall)

The Rangers landed one of the best defensive forwards in the game when they selected Jesper Fast late in the 2010 draft. He played seven seasons for the Rangers and helped them reach the 2014 Stanley Cup Final and 2015 Eastern Conference Final. He’s continued to be a respected NHL player with the Carolina Hurricanes since leaving New York as a free agent, and has played 703 regular-season games and 80 postseason games in the NHL.

4. Carl Hagelin (2007, 6th round, No. 168 overall)

One of the fastest skaters in the NHL, Carl Hagelin played four seasons with the Rangers, helping them reach the conference final three times and the Stanley Cup Final once. A solid two-way player, who twice scored 17 goals for the Blueshirts, Hagelin played 713 NHL games for five teams. He won the Stanley Cup twice, in 2016 and 2017 with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

3. Ryan Callahan (2004, 4th round, No. 127 overall)

It’s not too bad when you land a top-six forward, who’s a popular two-way stalwart, three-time 20-goal scorer and team captain in the fourth round. Such was the case with Ryan Callahan, who played parts of eight seasons with the Rangers and another six with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Callahan scored 186 goals in 757 NHL games.

2. Igor Shesterkin (2014, 4th round, No. 118 overall)

Igor Shesterkin won the Vezina Trophy as the top goalie in the NHL in 2021-22 and has led the Rangers to the Eastern Conference Final twice in the past three seasons. He’s considered one of the best goalies in the world and proved it again in the 2024 NHL postseason. Shesterkin is already seventh all-time in Rangers history with 135 wins (he’s 135-59-17) and fifth with a 2.43 goals-against average.

1. Henrik Lundqvist (2000, 7th round, 205th overall)

The gold standard. Henrik Lundqvist joined the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023 after winning 459 games in his career, most in Rangers history and sixth all-time in the NHL. He won the Vezina Trophy in 2011-12 and was the backbone for the Rangers when they advanced to three conference finals in four years. His No. 30 hangs in the rafters at Madison Square Garden.

Since its introduction in 1990, many Rangers players have participated in various skills competition events like the hardest shot, shooting accuracy, breakaway challenge, and one of the marque events, the fastest skater.

Over the past 68 years, more than 170 Rangers skaters have been selected for the NHL All-Star Game. However, very few have participated in the skills competition, let alone won an event. Today, we look back at the players in the record books while wearing a New York sweater.

Latest: NHL back at the Olympics

NHL All-Star Skills: New York Rangers

1990 – Fastest Skater – Mike Gartner

At the first NHL All-Star Skills Competition held at the Civic Arena in Pittsburgh, PA, Mike Gartner earned the honor of being the league’s fastest skater by recording a top speed of 28.1 mph. Unfortunately, there is no data to showcase how long it took him to complete his lap since the NHL didn’t track the event with time intervals until 1993.

1992 – Goalie Competition – Mike Richter

During his first NHL All-Star Game appearance at 25 in 1992, Mike Richter became the third netminder to win the Goalie Competition, making 23 saves on 25 shots. As one of the elite netminders of his generation, he edged Hall of Famers Patrick Roy and Ed Belfour, plus Tim Cheveldae, Don Beaupre, and Kirk McLean, to win the event.

1992 – Breakaway Relay – Mike Richter and Don Beaupre (shared)

After being introduced in 1991, with Mike Vernon winning the inaugural competition, Richter and Beaupre combined to give up the fewest goals during the second-ever breakaway relay event. Even though other tandems would win the breakaway relay in the following years, this duo became the first. Richter remains the only goalie in franchise history to win the event.

1993 – Fastest Skater – Mike Gartner

In the 1990s, Gartner was considered one of the fastest skaters in the NHL, participating in the fastest skater event in several All-Star Games. In 1993, he became the first player to win the competition twice, recording a time of 13.510 seconds.

THIS DATE IN 1993: @NYRangers forward Mike Gartner’s #NHLAllStar Weekend included winning the Fastest Skater competition and a 4-1—5 outing in the All-Star Game to earn MVP honors. #NHLStats pic.twitter.com/FbIpgm8VTR

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) February 6, 2021

Eventually, as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 1996, he set the event’s record for the quickest time at 13.386, a mark that stood until Dylan Larkin broke it in 2016 with 13.172 seconds.

1996 – Shooting Accuracy – Mark Messier

When the shooting accuracy event debuted in 1990, Ray Bourque, a defenseman, won the first competition. In the following year, Mark Messier, a member of the Edmonton Oilers at the time, won the event.

As history will showcase, Bourque dominated this event during the decade, losing out to Messier at the 1996 All-Star skills competition when The Moose went 4-for-4. Messier remains only one of three skaters to win the event more than once.

2000 – Goalie Competition – Mike Richter

After his goalie competition win in 1992 and All-Star Game MVP award in 1994, Richter, who was 33, made his third and final appearance at an All-Star Game when he skated at the 2000 event. Although he made only 16 saves in that year’s competition, he again only gave up two goals to become the fourth goalie to win the event twice. Furthermore, the victory propelled Richter to the top of the Rangers All-Stars Skill Competition wins list, becoming the only skater with three wins.

2012 – Fastest Skater – Carl Hagelin

After some success at the skills competition in the 1990s, the Rangers didn’t win another event until 2012, when 23-year-old Carl Hagelin became the fastest skater. Not only did his win give the Rangers two fastest skater titles, Hagelin broke Gartner’s record with an impressive 13.218 lap.

Even though his record would only last a few seasons, New York skaters have held the top mark at this particular event twice.

2019 – Save Streak – Henrik Lundqvist

Since most of the NHL All-Star Game Skills Competitions are for the players, the league often has to devise creative ways to keep the goalies involved. In 2018, they introduced the Save Streak event, with the netminder winning by making the most consecutive saves.

After Marc-Andre Fleury won the first Save Streak competition, recent Hall of Fame inductee Henrik Lundqvist won the second event in 2019 with 12 straight saves, two off the record set by Fleury.

Note: Some historical data via NHL Records

Historically, New York has drafted 58 players in the sixth round, with 18 appearing in an NHL game and 16 suiting up for the Blueshirts. Interestingly, the club’s first sixth-round pick was Duane Wylie (81st overall) in the 1970 NHL Amateur Draft, and their most recent one is Dylan Roobroeck (178th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

Join us each week to see who makes the cut.

Note: Dates and statistics from Hockey-Reference.com were used to compile this list

Top New York Rangers Draft Picks From Round 6

5. Marek Zidlicky – 176th Overall 2001

NHL stats: 836 GP – 89 G – 328 A – 417 Pts

New York stats: Never played

Marek Zidlicky was a Rangers sixth-round pick (176th) in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft but never played for the franchise. While the Czechia native was skating in Finland in SM-liiga, New York traded him to the Nashville Predators on Dec. 12, 2002, along with Tomas Kloucek and Rem Murray for goalie Mike Dunham.

Eventually, Zidlicky made his NHL debut in 2003, playing with the Predators for four seasons, collecting 175 points in 307 games. After that, he would spend four seasons with the Minnesota Wild (123 points) before returning to the Hudson River area when he was traded to the New Jersey Devils.

Although his best seasons came with the Predators, he finished his NHL career dressing with the Detroit Red Wings (21 games) and New York Islanders (53 games), retiring in 2016 after 12 seasons and 417 points in 836 games. Internationally, Zidlicky won a World Championship (2005), World Championship Bronze Medal (2011), and Olympic Bronze Medal (2011).

4. Tony Granato – 120th Overall 1982

NHL stats: 773 GP – 248 G – 244 A – 492 Pts

New York stats: 115 GP – 43 G – 45 A – 88 Pts

Tony Granato began his US Hockey Hall of Fame-worthy career when the Rangers drafted him as the 120th pick in the 1982 NHL Entry Draft. Before making his NHL debut in 1988-89, when he netted 63 points in 78 games, he was a Hobey Baker Award Finalist, winning the NCAA (WCHC) Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year Award in 1987.

Besides finishing third in Calder Trophy voting, he would eventually win the Bill Masterton Trophy in 1997 while a member of the San Jose Sharks. Ultimately, his career on Broadway lasted only a season and a half before a deal (including Tomas Sandstrom) for Bernie Nicholls took place on Jan. 20, 1990, that sent him to the Los Angeles Kings. Immediately, Granato found great success with his new team, tallying 305 points in 380 games, including a career year in 1992-93 with 82 points in 81 games.

After signing as a free agent with the Sharks in 1996, he would skate in the Bay Area for five seasons before retiring in 2001 and becoming an assistant coach with the Colorado Avalanche in 2002. Since then, Granto has been a coach for the Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings, and University of Wisconsin.

3. Kjell Samuelsson – 119th Overall 1984

NHL stats: 831 GP – 48 G – 138 A – 186 Pts

New York stats: 39 GP – 2 G – 6 A – 8 Pts

Kjell Samuelsson was a New York sixth-round pick (119th overall) in the 1984 NHL Entry Draft. Although many would associate him with the Philadelphia Flyers, where he skated in 545 games over two stints with the Metropolitan Division rivals, he made his NHL debut with the Rangers in 1985.

After just 39 games, the club traded him to the Flyers and a second-round pick in the 1989 draft (Patrik Juhlin) in exchange for Bob Froese on Dec. 18, 1986. Eventually, he would get dealt to the Penguins and help the team win the Stanley Cup in 1992 before returning to the Flyers as a free agent in 1995.

Despite a lengthy run with Philadelphia, he signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 1998, playing the final 46 games of his career with the team before announcing his retirement. Besides winning the Stanley Cup, he was a one-time NHL All-Star (1988) and won a World Championship (1991). He serves as a development coach for the Flyers, continuing a 23-year working relationship with the Flyers organization, which started in 2000-01.

2. Carl Hagelin – 157th Overall 2007

NHL stats: 713 GP – 110 G – 186 A – 296 Pts

New York stats: 266 GP – 58 G – 72 A – 130 Pts

Carl Hagelin may have won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles as a member of the Penguins, but his best seasons in the NHL came as a member of the Rangers, who drafted him 168th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

After making his debut at 23 in 2011-12, Hagelin would collect 130 points in 266 games in New York while finishing fifth in Calder Trophy voting. However, after four seasons, the Rangers dealt him to the Anaheim Ducks on June 27, 2015, for a second-round draft pick 2015 (Ryan Gropp) and Emerson Etem.

Two-time #StanleyCup champion @CarlHagelin has announced his retirement. 🏆🏆

We wish you the best as you embark on your next chapter! pic.twitter.com/OeoJuRM3bX

— NHL (@NHL) August 30, 2023

Although his time in Anaheim lasted only 43 games, he wound up in Pittsburgh, where he won two championships in 2016 and 2017, before a trade sent him to the Kings in 2019. At the tail end of his career, Hagelin skated with the Washington Capitals. Unfortunately, in March 2022, he suffered a severe eye injury in practice, leading to his premature retirement at 33.

Besides the two Stanley Cup rings, Hagelin won two NCAA (CCHA) championships (2008, 2009), a U20 World Junior Championship Silver Medal (2008), and an Olympic Silver Medal (2014).

1. Reljo Ruotsalainen – 119th Overall 1980

NHL stats: 446 GP – 107 G – 237 A – 344 Pts

New York stats: 389 GP – 99 G – 217 A – 316 Pts

Reljo Ruotsalainen played only seven seasons in the NHL, winning the Stanley Cup twice with the Edmonton Oilers in 1987 and 1990. Initially drafted by the Rangers in the sixth round (119th overall) of the 1980 NHL Entry Draft, the Finnish-born defenseman would make his North American debut in 1981-81, tallying 56 points in 78 games.

After five seasons on Broadway, where he netted 316 points in 389 games, the Rangers dealt him to the Oilers in a blockbuster eight-player swap on Oct. 23, 1986. Although he would later suit up with the Devils for 31 games in 1989-90, he would finish his NHL career in Edmonton with a second championship in 1990.

Despite a brief run in the NHL, Ruotsalainen had great success on the international stage and in Europe, where he is a member of the Swiss and Finnish Hockey Hall of Fame. Besides two Stanley Cup titles, he won three NLA Championships (1989, 1991, and 1992), an Olympic Silver Medal (1988), a SM-liiga Championship (1981), a U20 World Junior Championship Silver Medal (1980), plus a long list of personal achievements and awards.

The Swedish winger, who spent four seasons with the New York Rangers, announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday due to an eye injury that had sidelined him for more than a year. 

The Rangers drafted Hagelin in the sixth-round of the 2007 NHL Draft and he turned out to be one of the squad’s top forwards on the left-side during his 2011-2015 Blueshirt stint. 

Traded in June 2015 to Anaheim, nobody has quite replicated Hagelin’s flair and swagger on Broadway since his departure. His distinct speed and style made him nearly unstoppable on the breakaway and propelled the team in big moments. 

Forever a part of the #NYR family.

Thank you for being a part of our story, Hags. 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/sp8zAb1xD9

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) August 31, 2023

In classic Rangers style, Hagelin showed New York what it was missing after the team failed to lock him down and he went on to win back-to-back Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.

With a stop in Los Angeles before landing on the Washington Capitals for the last four years of his pro career, Hagelin’s curtain call comes after 11 seasons in the league and a total 296 points (110 goals, 186 assists) in 713 regular-season games. 

You hate to see a guy go out because of injury –– on top of the left eye issue, Hagelin also underwent two hip surgeries and spent all of last season on long-term injured reserve –– but “Swagelin” no doubt made his mark while an active player. 

Let’s take a look at Hagelin’s top three moments as a Ranger, below. 

2015 first-round overtime goal to secure series win over Pittsburgh Penguins 

There are few things more satisfying than beating the Penguins on Garden ice, especially in a series-clinching playoff game. Hagelin sent Pittsburgh packing in Game 5 of the 2015 playoffs’ first-round with a wrap-around overtime goal.

Dominic Moore worked the puck downlow in the corner with two Penguins on him when the rubber popped out and Hagelin scooped it up behind the net. Circling around to the right face-off dot, Hagelin released a snap-shot while falling to the ice, creating a dogpile celebration once the puck soared past Marc-Andre Fleury. 

The Rangers are never known as the team to put a series away quickly, but Hagelin handedly changed the narrative with the Game 5 victory against a divisional rival. The forward always seemed to rise to the occasion, and that specific postseason goal will remain on the highlight reel for quite some time. 

2014 shorthanded goal against the Montreal Canadiens in the Eastern Conference Final

When the Rangers needed a boost of energy, Hagelin was sure to provide it. His sparky speed created open-ice opportunities where he was strides ahead of the opponent. In Game 4 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Final against the Canadiens, Hagelin saw a shorthanded opportunity and Brian Boyle nearly read his mind on the outlet pass down center ice. 

Hagelin collected the puck near the blueline heading full speed towards the net, flipped to his back-hand and swiftly tucked one past Dustin Tokarski for a 1-0 lead in the first period. He snatched the momentum away from the Habs, and came up big in overtime time too.

Martin St. Louis’ unforgettable OT top-shelf snipe put the Rangers up 3-1 in the series, and was set up by Hagelin who dished it across the zone to St. Louis low on the right side. I still remember thinking MSG was going to explode after that play, beers flying in the air while strangers exchanged emphatic hugs and high-fives. 

2013 first-round goal blasted home against the Washington Capitals 

Hagelin’s game was much benefited by his confidence. The guy was not afraid to shoot, and when in the right position, knew it had a high chance of going in. This absolute rocket came in Game 4 of the 2013 first-round against the Capitals when the Rangers were down 2-1 in the series –– making it an unofficial must-win contest. 

After shutting down a Washington chance on the other end of the ice, the Rangers started the rush the other way. Derrick Brassard had the puck on the right end of the blue line and swung it over to Hagelin near the left face-off dot who momentarily settled the puck before hammering it over Braden Holtby’s left shoulder and in. 

Hagelin’s no-hesitation play doubled the Rangers’ advantage to 2-0 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the second period. The Blueshirts ultimately won the game 4-3 and later, the series in seven games. 

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Perhaps it’s too extreme to call Hagelin a Ranger great, but the youngster at-the-time showed up every night with his heart on his sleeve and produced the way the team needed him to. Haggy had an NHL career kids dream of, and it was built upon his own making. 

Unfortunately, another injury-related retirement, as Carl Hagelin announces the end of his career: 713 games and a two-time Stanley Cup champion pic.twitter.com/gQ5w8BjzfQ

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 30, 2023

As the current New York Rangers team meanders their way through what is sure to be a second consecutive playoff-less spring, and as our fantastic team of writers profiles potential draft picks for the upcoming NHL entry draft, let’s go back in time a bit. Let’s take a gander in our rear-view mirror at Rangers squads that came oh so close to capturing Lord Stanley’s gleaming silver chalice.

Yes, the grim reality is that only one Rangers team in the last 79 years has achieved hockey immortality. However, if not for some unlucky bounces, egregiously bad officiating and freakish, untimely injuries, it is quite possible, if not probable, that there would be more than just four Stanley Cup banners hanging from the rafters at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

The Stanley Cup is universally considered to be the most difficult trophy to capture in any of the team sports. The playoff tournament winner has to endure through and come out victorious after four rounds of best-of-seven series. No longer can a hockey team reach the Promised Land on sheer talent alone. The NHL playoffs has evolved into a survival of the fittest/war of attrition that is not for the faint of heart. Having said all of that, we will examine the aspirational Ranger teams in the post-expansion era (since 1968) that came up millimeters short of the proverbial finish line.

1978-79: Rangers lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the Montreal Canadiens 4-1

When the 1978-79 Rangers are mentioned, it has become obligatory and Pavlovian to start any and all conversations with the super-human playoff goaltending performance of John Davidson. “JD” carried his Rangers team on his 6’4″ frame to series victories over the LA Kings, Philadelphia Flyers, and, of course, the shocking upset over the rival and heavily favored NY Islanders in the semi-finals. Once the Rangers got to the final round, they had very little gas left in their collective tanks and were no match for the powerful Canadiens dynasty. We’ll never know how the Rangers would have fared against Montreal with a healthy Ulf Nillson, the player in which Denis Potvin injured that gave birth to the infamous chant. Nillson’s broken leg suffered on February 25th, 1979 certainly falls under the “freakish, untimely injury” category.

2011-12: Rangers lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to the New Jersey Devils 4-2

If John Davidson is unquestionably synonymous with the 1979 Rangers, then Henrik Lundqvist is equally as identifiable with the 2011-12 bunch. Not only did “The King” capture the Vezina Trophy that season as the league’s best goalie, but Lundqvist also set career bests for wins (39), GAA (1.97) and save percentage (.930%). Throw in eight shutouts and his scintillating performance in that season’s Winter Classic, which included that now legendary penalty shot save on Danny Briere with 20 seconds left in regulation, and it’s no wonder why the Rangers were just two wins shy of reaching the Finals.

Lundqvist was able to drag his tired team to game seven victories over the Ottawa Senators and Washington Capitals in the early playoff rounds. However, once the Rangers all-time leader in wins started to tire himself, the Devils, after being down 2-1 in the series, would go on to win three straight games and the series culminating with Adam Henrique sticking a dagger through the torsos of each and every member of the Garden Faithful with his game six overtime tally.

2013-14: Rangers lost in the Stanley Cup Finals to the LA Kings 4-1

The 2014 Rangers playoff run was a true Cinderella story. After finishing the regular season with 96 points and after struggling to beat a very average Flyers team in the first round of the playoffs, the Rangers faced a daunting 3-1 series deficit against the mighty Pittsburgh Penguins in the next round. Then came the sad and unfortunate passing of Marty St. Louis’ mother, France, and all of a sudden, something very strange happened. The Rangers morphed from a sad-sack team making plans for summer vacation into an absolute juggernaut. The Blueshirts stormed back from the seemingly insurmountable deficit to steal the series away from the Steel City inhabitants. Then, the Rangers traveled north of the border to Montreal, where they ran over the Canadiens taking the Eastern Conference Finals 4-2.

Amazingly, the New York Rangers were in the Stanley Cup Finals against the Los Angeles Kings. The Finals were as excruciating a series as anyone could have possibly imagined, especially the three contests played on the west coast. You see, the Rangers lost all three games played in Staples Center in overtime. And the second of those games will forever be known by the Garden Faithful as the egregiously horrific missed goalie interference call in which referee Dan O’Halloran determined that Kings forward Dwight King was in the goalie crease legally and therefore, did not interfere with the exasperated Lundqvist and his ability to play his position.

2014-15: Rangers lost the Eastern Conference Finals to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4-3

The 2014-15 team was the most likable bunch of Blueshirts since the magical year of 1994. The 2014-15 season was the most exciting since Mark Messier and co. permanently silenced the nauseating 1940 chant. Not only did AV’s squad capture the President’s Trophy that season, but they also set team records for wins (53) and points (113). The Rangers would also sweep the season series that year from the New Jersey Devils which is always a plus. The Rangers that season were fast, deep, talented, driven and a whole lot of fun. Finishing with the most regular-season points meant the Blueshirts would have the home ice advantage in every playoff series.

The first round match-up against the Penguins ended with a game five “Golden Goal” from speedy winger Carl Hagelin. The second round battle with the Capitals ended with a game seven “Golden Goal” from center Derek Stepan. Their third round match-up with the Tampa Bay Lightning ended with an emphatic thud as the Rangers string of game seven magic ended with a sleepy 2-0 loss sending the team from Florida’s Gulf Coast to the finals and the Rangers to answer all of the “what happened” questions. The 2014-15 Rangers loss to Tampa is an anomaly of sorts as it is the only series on this list that does not include a bad bounce, ball call or bad injury. The Rangers simply ran out of gas and lost to a better team.

1971-72: Rangers lost to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Finals 4-2

The Rangers of the early 1970s are actually considered by some hockey historians as one of the best teams in NHL history to not win the Stanley Cup. After all, this time period was when the GAG line ran roughshod over the rest of the NHL. This was the era of “Ed-die, Ed-die.” This was when defenseman Bard Park finished second to Bobby Orr in the Norris Trophy voting year after year. This was when Madison Square Garden was the most intimidating and menacing arena for road teams in the entire league. The 1972 Rangers entered the playoffs that Spring on a mission. They knocked off the defending Cup champion Montreal Canadiens in the first round, and then swept Bobby Hull, Stan Makita, and the Chicago Blackhawks in the following round. Next up, in the finals, were the aforementioned Orr, Phil Esposito and the rest of the big, bad Boston Bruins. The great Jean Ratelle, who had sustained a broken ankle in March of that year, tried returning for the finals. Unfortunately, #19 was a shell of his former self, registering just one measly assist in the six finals games. Similar to Ulf Nilsson’s injury in 1979, we’ll never know if the Rangers would have beaten Boston in the 1972 Finals if Ratelle was healthy and playing at full strength.

1991-92: Rangers lost to the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Patrick Division Finals 4-2

Ironically, the year in which I feel, more than any other year, SHOULD HAVE ended with a Rangers parade down the Canyon of Heroes is the only team on this list that did not win at least two playoff rounds. I’ll explain my reasoning momentarily.

If I could describe the 1991-92 Rangers in one word, that word would be “machine.” Head coach Roger Nielson, along with Hart Trophy winner Mark Messier, Norris Trophy winner Brian Leetch, and All-Star goalie Mike Richter, completely dominated the rest of the NHL. The Rangers in 1991-92 were the only team to eclipse the 50 wins and 100 points marks. Their goal differential of plus-75 was tops in the entire league. The Rangers were skilled. The Rangers were tough. The Rangers were deep. The Rangers had moxie. In other words, the Rangers of 1991-92 had all the makings of a true Stanley Cup contender. It is the belief of yours truly, that if not for one atrocious gaffe by their All-Star goalie, the Rangers would have, in fact, ended the Stanley Cup drought and silenced that infuriating 1940 chant two years earlier. If your mobile device is nearby, go ahead and grab it and type in “Infamous Ron Francis Goal 1992 Playoffs” in the search bar. I’ll wait for a minute while you watch the video…

To this day, there is no question in my mind that if Mike Richter made what should have been the most routine of saves, the Rangers would have won that game, the series, and the Stanley Cup. After all, the Penguins, starting with the game in question, game four, did not lose another contest the rest of the way. They would sweep the Bruins in round three and sweep the Blackhawks in the finals. You could chalk up the Francis 70-foot slap shot to a band bounce if you really want to get technical. The puck seemed to dip right as it approached the surprised Ranger goaltender. Be that as it may, this was a save that Mike Richter needed to make. Thankfully for Rangerstown, #35 made up for his error in 1992 by backstopping the Rangers to the Stanley Cup in 1994.

Debates like these tend to be generational, so I look forward to reading your comments as to which was the best Rangers team not to win the Stanley Cup.

Chris Kreider will take the reins from Henrik Lundqvist as the face of the New York Rangers franchise. Yes, that’s a big statement but his play is backing it up.

His value and talent is unmatched on this current roster. There is still a lot of hockey left for Kreider, who is signed on until 2020-21, which will be his 29-year-old season. Its shown in the early stages of this season, as he is on pace to crush his career highs. At the moment he has scored 11 goals and assisted on 7 others in the first 20 games of this season. For projection sake, thats 45 goals and nearly 29 assists, both career highs.

It seems as though his expectancy has grown each year, and each year he has surpassed it. His goal production has improved with each season, his locker room leadership is starting to take shape and the respect is coming from his peers. Another area he has excelled in is being a nuisance in front of opposing goaltenders. Using his 6’3 frame to keep the point men in the shade, Kreider creates a-lot of scoring chances with deception.

Since joining the Rangers in the 2012-13 season, Kreider is among a small list of NHL forwards that have registered a 99+ PDO score in that time. Those who highlight the list are Tyler Johnson and Ondrej Palat of Tampa Bay and Mark Scheifele in Winnipeg. All three of those players are raking in upwards of $5 million AAV over the coming years.

Kredier is currently taking $4.6 million off of the Rangers payroll over the remainder of this season and next. His re-signing will be a hefty price tag, but with the thought of coming out of this rebuild by then, it will be worth the money. The aforementioned players are key pieces to their organizations and so is Kreider.

Its been discussed on this site before that Chris Kreider could be moved to garner more prospects and picks for the future. But, in all due respect, the future resides in Chris Kreider.

The rebuild is still in effect, but Kreider must remain. Filip Chytil is beginning to find his stride, Brett Howden has been a spark plug for this seasons success and with more young guys like Tim Gettinger and Ville Meskanen making a mark in Hartford, the future looks bright. That is of course, for now.

The New York Rangers are winning hockey games in a season that many believed would be one to forget. Its an early but optimistic time for this team and Kreider is a big part of it. Under coach David Quinn, it seems that Kreider has found the right coach for him and his skill set.

As reported by Larry Brooks of the New York Post, Kreider is a veteran on this babyfaced team, but has acknowledged his role and expectation under Quinn.

“There’s a strong element of accountability here. If you’re a young guy and are helping the team, you’ll play. If you’re an older guy and are helping the team, you’ll play. If you’re young and you’re not contributing, you’ll sit. If you’re older and not contributing, you’ll sit,” Kreider said. “We’re developing but at the same time we’re trying to win games, we’re trying to make the playoffs.”

With Henrik Lundqvist nearing the end of his storied career, the face of the franchise is due to shift. Chris Kreider should be the unanimous favorite to hold that title. Who knows, maybe he will even get a “C” on his chest to commemorate the honor.

Let the K’Andre Miller hype train start its engines!

Last time we checked in with the University of Wisconsin freshman, Miller had just begun his collegiate season with the Badgers earning a goal and an assist, turning many heads along the way. Fast forward just a couple of weeks, and all of a sudden, the freakish athlete from Minnesota has sky-rocketed towards the top of the Rangers prospect list. He is, hands down, the Rangers number one North American prospect and could very well end up being the steal of the entire 2018 draft class. Miller has tallied two goals and five assists and is an impressive +9 in his team’s first six games.

Leading up to the 2018 NHL entry draft, Miller was one of those ambiguous wild cards who was projected to go anywhere in the middle or late first round. Miller’s talent and potential were being compared to the first overall pick, defenseman Rasmus Dahlin. Dahlin was far more polished and NHL ready than the raw Miller, which was why the Buffalo Sabres made the highly skilled Swede the top pick in the draft. Miller was and still is, a project who is a minimum of two years away from turning pro and joining the Blueshirts. His progress at Wisconsin will be closely monitored by the team’s brain trust and Rangers fans will have another reason to watch Team USA at the World Junior Championships other than national pride.

The University of Wisconsin has been very kind to the New York Rangers over the last 35 years. Current Badger head coach, Tony Granato, holds the Rangers rookie single-season goal scoring record by lighting the lamp 36 times in the 1988-89 season. Stanley Cup champion and Rangers legend Mike Richter, who was teammates with Granato at Madison, is another Badger alumni. In more recent memory, Derek Stepan and former Rangers captain Ryan McDonagh were products of the Wisconsin hockey machine. It’s safe to say that Rangers fans and management will be thrilled if the exciting Miller has a Rangers career on par with the aforementioned former Badgers.

Defenseman Joey Keane of the OHL’s Barrie Colts has also impressed in this young season. Keane has three goals and seven assists and is a +7 in 13 games. The two goaltenders mentioned in our last piece, Tyler Wall and Adam Huska, continue to be an adequate insurance policy in case super-prospect Igor Shestyorkin decides to stay in the KHL after this season. Wall is sporting a sparkling 1.50 goals-against-average and .950 save percentage after four games for UMass-Lowell. Huska’s 2.99 goals-against and .905 save percentage are nothing to sneeze at either for UConn. The Rangers are very excited about their future depth in goal once incumbent Henrik Lundqvist decides to call it quits and/or accepts a trade to a contender.

The majority of the Rangers top prospects are either playing in Europe or at their AHL affiliate in Hartford. Moving forward, our North American prospects status updates will continue to be centered around K’Andre Miller. That doesn’t mean that the likes of Nico Gross (OHL), Riley Hughes (BCHL) and Morgan Barron (Cornell University), won’t get any mention in this space. If they are deserving of adulation and recognition, they will most certainly receive it. The above three prospects all currently have under-the-radar status as they were later round picks with not much in the way of fanfare.

It is not uncommon however for a later round prospect, with little to no shot of making the NHL, end up being a surprise at training camp and find themselves on the opening day roster. Jesper Fast (6th round), Carl Hagelin (6th round), Ryan Callahan (4th round), Peter Prucha (8th round), and of course, Henrik Lundqvist (7th round) were all in the position that Gross, Hughes and Barron currently are in. Those three should continue to work hard and seize an opportunity if one arises.

I’ll leave you all with this final thought. Once K’Andre Miller does leave Madison, Wisconsin, turn pro and take his talents to Broadway, I hope he wears number ten so that Rangers fans who had J.T. Miller jerseys could start wearing them to the Garden again (tongue is firmly planted in cheek).

As Henrik Lundqvist and fellow Rangers teammate Mats Zuccarello gear up for Zuccarello’s charity all-star game in his native Norway, both players spoke with Roy Kvatningen of Nitten about the upcoming season and more.

When asked about his state of mind heading into training camp, Lundqvist said that he is “pumped for a new season.” He added that he isn’t sure what the team’s goals will be coming into the season, but that he knows the group will figure it out.

During their interview, both players discuss how the, now infamous, letter affected each of them. Henrik said that it was not an easy thing for him to hear. “It was pretty tough, to be honest when we decided to rebuild instead of trying to go for it. It was a tough end to the season. The first half felt good, but there were a few months where I had to work on the mental challenge of adjusting to the new situation.”

Zuccarello added a similar sentiment to that of his longtime goaltender: “When you get such a letter, it’s clear that you get frustrated and want to go away.” However, those frustrations that Zuccarello is alluding to aren’t taking away from his excitement and willingness to stay with the Rangers. “Of course, I want to be here. I feel I can be a good player and a good teammate if they are going to rebuild. Whether it takes one, two or three years, I feel I can be a good player to have in that process.”

Lundqvist was asked about his impressions of new head coach David Quinn and he had very positive things to say about the first encounter with his new bench boss. “I got a very positive first impression. It was a really good talk. We spoke about the future, about what’s been going on, and I got a good feel for what kind of person the new coach is. Of course, it will be easier to get to know him once the pre-season starts, but it was a very positive meeting.”

Note: For Zuccarello’s comments on David Quinn, click here.

Lundqvist has repeatedly stated his commitment to finishing out his career with the Rangers, which we have covered here on Forever Blueshirts, and he reaffirmed that statement when speaking to Nitten. “Yeah, I made that decision when I signed my contract four years ago, If I get the opportunity, I’d love to play my whole career with one club. My goal is to finish my career with the Rangers. Few players ever get that opportunity. The question is, of course, if that feeling is mutual. But I really, really enjoy being a Ranger. This club has treated me exceptionally well.”

Finally, Lundqvist talked about all of the young guys coming into the locker room and how the veterans can help bring the team together. “I hope we can set a standard where the young players know what’s expected of them. It’s important to implement this at the beginning of the season. Mats Zuccarello and I have been here a long time and will be an important part of this club for a long time, and we’ll be an important part of the mix between younger and older players.”

Lundqvist and Zuccarello are both excited as we inch closer and closer towards training camp and the start of the 2018-19 season. As this is being written, both players are focused on raising money for children around the globe at the Henke & Zucca Summer Classic taking place on Saturday, along with former Rangers Derick Brassard, Carl Hagelin, Antti Raanta, Ryan McDonagh, and Artem Anisimov.

Editor’s Note: All translations courtesy of article’s author Roy Kvatningen. If you can read Norwegian, you can read the original article here.

It’s no secret that there are a number of former Rangers still in the playoffs. Each former Ranger has provided their new team with some sort of contribution. Ok, Michael Grabner pretty much sucked in New Jersey, but that was part of the plan; gain a second rounder, give no significant contribution, and re-sign with New York on the cheap. That being said, let’s see how the rest of the former Blueshirts are doing.

Michael Grabner

After scoring 31 points (25G, 6A) in 59 games this season for the Rangers, Grabner scored a mere five points (2G, 3A) in 21 games for New Jersey. Traded for to be a depth scorer on a newly competitive Devils team, Grabner simply did not do what he was traded for. Always a streaky scorer, Grabner went cold when he crossed the Hudson and did not improve his numbers in the playoffs. Grabner went pointless in two games before being scratched for the Devils last three games. If you are looking for a bright spot here, the only positive is if the Rangers truly want to bring him back. If that’s the case, Grabner’s contract leverage may have been slightly affected and will be able to be signed for cheaper than if he had gone on a tear in the last 20 games with the Devils.

Brian Boyle

Brian Boyle signed with the Devils in the offseason after spending the last few years with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Boyle was brought in to be a veteran leader on a young and contending Devils squad. Amongst active players, there are few who can match the amount of Stanley Cup Playoff experience (111 games) that Boyle has. During the first round series loss to the Lightning, Boyle did not produce any points for the Devils. However, Boyle was in the middle of the entire series and got into it with Mikhail Sergachev after Sergachev appeared to throw an elbow into Blake Coleman.

Nick Holden

After a career year last season with the Rangers, Holden took a slight step back this season. He still scored 12 points (3G, 9A) with the Rangers in 55 games before providing the Bruins with five points (1G, 4A) in 18 games. However, like Grabner, Holden has received a few healthy scratches. In the playoffs, Holden has played just a single game for the Bruins and scored one point. As the playoffs go on, look to see Holden get more playing time as the bumps and bruises begin to take their toll on his fellow Boston defensemen. I may be in the minority, but Holden is not a bad depth defenseman and actually had the best-advanced numbers of any Ranger defensemen this season prior to the trade.

Rick Nash

Holden’s teammate Rick Nash has seen a little more success with the Bruins. After a down season with only 28 points (18G, 10A) in 60 games with the Rangers, Nash has found a home on Boston’s second line scoring six points (3G, 3A) in 11 games. While Nash was injured at the end of the regular season, he was in the lineup for Game 1 against Toronto. In eight games so far Nash has four points (3G, 1A).  Don’t let his stats fool you, Nash continues to be the most snake-bitten player in history, as every Ranger fan knows all too well. In Game 7, Nash batted a puck out of mid-air towards a wide open net only to see the puck get stopped by the butt end of Andersen’s stick. When Nash finally breaks out, look for Boston’s offense to become deadly.

Carl Hagelin

Hagelin has now won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins and is looking for a third as the Penguins dispatched the Philadelphia Flyers in six games. During the series, Hagelin scored three points (2G, 1A) and was a consistent threat with his speed on a line with Phil Kessel and Evgeni Malkin. However, late in the series, Hagelin got destroyed by Claude Giroux and had to leave Game 6 prior to the conclusion of the series, and has yet to play for the Penguins in the second round.

Derick Brassard

After spending a year and a half in Ottawa, Brassard was reunited with Carl Hagelin on the Penguins. Brassard has provided the Penguins with the center depth that they needed behind Crosby and Malkin. If Evgeni Malkin’s injury keeps him out of the lineup for any time, look for Brassard to slide up onto the second line behind Sidney Crosby. During the series against Philadelphia, Brassard scored three points (1G, 2A) in six games.

Ryan Callahan

The former captain and heart and soul of the Rangers, Callahan returned from injury for Game 5 after missing Games 3 and 4 with an upper-body injury. Callahan scored an empty net goal to seal the game and series for the Lightning on an assist from Ryan McDonagh, something about two former Ranger captains linking up to eliminate the Devils is a beautiful thing. If Callahan is able to stay healthy, he will help to provide depth, forechecking, and physicality for the Lightning as the playoffs continue.

Dan Girardi

Dan Girardi was bought out by the Rangers this past summer and was quickly signed by the Lightning. Girardi has played a significant amount of time on the top pairing with Victor Hedman. Girardi, as we all know, is not a flashy player. However, his dependable play, coupled with a structured defensive system has allowed Hedman to play to a Norris Trophy level this season. In the playoffs, Girardi has not scored a point while playing close to 16 minutes a game. However, his stay at home play has allowed the other Lightning defenders the freedom to join the rush and contribute offensively.

Anton Stralman

The man that the Rangers allowed to walk in favor of Dan Girardi has made a home for himself in Tampa. Stralman has been a steady presence on the Lightning blue line. In the playoffs so far, Stralman has averaged close to 23 minutes a night and has contributed one point (0G, 1A) in six games so far. On a blue line with Ryan McDonagh, Victor Hedman, Mikhail Sergachev, and Dan Girardi, Stralman can fly under the radar. However, his steady play has clearly not gone under the radar for those who follow the Lightning closely.

JT Miller

JT Miller is the person who has benefitted most from the trade deadline. Out from under AV’s thumb, Miller has thrived as nearly a point-per-game player. Granted part of this can be attributed to playing with Steven Stamkos and Nikita Kucherov, however, Miller is clearly at home on that line and not overwhelmed by the star power next to him. In the playoffs Miller has four points (1G, 3A) in six games. Look for Miller to be a big contributor as the playoffs continue.

Ryan McDonagh

O Captain, My Captain. Probably the hardest trade for Rangers fans to stomach, Ryan McDonagh has thrived in Tampa. With Victor Hedman as the clear top left-handed defenseman on the team, McDonagh has not had to be THE guy every single night. Additionally, joining a team with so much leadership on the roster, McDonagh does not have the added pressure that being the captain in New York brought with it. Since the trade, McDonagh scored three points (2G, 1A) in the regular season. However, in the playoffs McDonagh has scored four points (0G, 4A) while seeing 23 minutes a night in all situations.

The Rangers may not be in the playoffs, but we as fans still have plenty of reason to cheer. I, for one, will continue to support the Tampa Bay Rangers. I look forward to seeing Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, JT Miller and Ryan Callahan on the ice as the Lightning close out the Stanley Cup. Additionally, the first round pick that we get next year will make it much easier to swallow.