The Jets rallied from a 3-1 deficit late in the third period, tying the decisive Game 7 of their first-round playoff series against the St. Louis Blues with three seconds remaining in regulation, before winning 4-3 in double overtime.

“That was one for the ages,” Jets coach — and former Rangers assistant — Scott Arniel said postgame.

Pionk and Namestnikov had their fingerprints all over this one.

Already playing without No. 1 center Mark Scheifele for the second straight contest, the Jets lost their top defenseman, Josh Morrissey, less than eight minutes into the game with an unspecified injury. By that point, Winnipeg already trailed 2-0.

Pionk, though, stepped up in Morrissey’s absence and logged a game-high 46:15 TOI, more than twice his normal workload this season. He became the first player to log over 40 minutes in a Game 7 since Chris Pronger and Al MacInnis did it with the Blues in 1999 against the Phoenix Coyotes.

Clearly, he was ready for the moment. Pionk assisted on three of Winnipeg’s four goals, including the game-winner, when his shot from inside the blue line was deflected into the net by captain Adam Lowry at 16:10 of the second overtime.

ADAM LOWRY IS YOUR #GAME7 DOUBLE OVERTIME HERO!! 🤯

The @NHLJets have punched their ticket to the Second Round of the #StanleyCup Playoffs thanks to their captain's @energizer overtime goal!! pic.twitter.com/x7Fxq5nuHn

— NHL (@NHL) May 5, 2025

The 29-year-old defenseman, whom the Rangers dealt to the Jets in the Jacob Trouba trade back in 2019, also assisted on Namestnikov’s goal with goalie Connor Hellebuyck pulled for the extra attacker at 18:04 of the third period that made it 3-2. With Hellebuyck again on the bench, Cole Perfetti tied the game on a neat deflection at 19:57 to send the crowd at Canada Life Centre into bedlam, saving the Jets season.

Pionk was a horse at each end of the ice throughout the game and especially in the two overtime periods. He finished with seven shot attempts, three shots on goal, six hits and four blocked shots, juggling defense partners with Winnipeg down to five healthy defensemen.

To say Pionk looked more than worthy of that six-year, $42 million contract he signed with the Jets three weeks ago is a major understatement.

Related: Rangers rumors — Irritated Brady Tkachuk says trade wish ‘just not true’

Former Rangers Neal Pionk, Vladislav Namestnikov help Jets reach second round of playoffs

Namestnikov came up big, as well. With Scheifele out again, Namestnikov played more than 25 minutes at center and had seven shot attempts, three shots on goal and three hits. He had a pair of Grade-A scoring chances denied by Blues goalie Jordan Binnington, who was outstanding making 43 saves.

The 32-year-old came though when the Jets needed him most, though. His right circle shot hit a Blues stick in front and redirected past Binnington with under two minutes to play in regulation, and gave Perfetti the chance to tie the score in the closing seconds.

Vladislav Namestnikov – Winnipeg Jets (2)*
pic.twitter.com/P4x9w3Rd3u

— NHL Goal Videos (@NHLGoalVideos) May 5, 2025

Neither Pionk nor Namestnikov had such moments on Broadway with the Rangers. They were Rangers teammates from 2017-19, when the Blueshirts were at the start of a rebuild under coach David Quinn. So, neither appeared in a playoff game with the Rangers.

Pionk, a rookie in 2017-18, was moved to the Jets the summer of 2019; and Namestnikov, who arrived from the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2017-18 as part of the package for Ryan McDonagh and J.T. Miller, lasted until the 2019-20 season before he was traded to the Ottawa Senators.

They reunited with the Jets in 2022-23 and have been teammates again the past two and a half seasons. Namstnikov signed a two-year, $6 million extension in February, so they’ll remain teammates for the foreseeable future — and will continue on into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs this spring against the Dallas Stars.

Jacob Trouba was traded to the Rangers for Neal Pionk and a first-round pick, a massive deal that was set to give the Rangers a huge boost on defense amidst their sped-up rebuild heading into the 2019-20 season.

In Winnipeg, Trouba had established himself as a consistent top-four defenseman. In his last season with the Jets, he certainly upped his trade value by scoring 50 points, an NHL career high, before heading to New York. Since then, he signed a seven-year contract with the Rangers, carrying an AAV of $8 million. He has also served as their captain since the 2022-23 season and become a veteran leader for this group.

Trouba also hasn’t come close to matching his final season with the Jets, at least not offensively. He did have 39 points in 2021-22 and 30 the following season, though scoring is not always the best measure of his value.

Pionk had a solid two seasons with the Rangers before the trade to Winnipeg. In his rookie season he played in 28 games, earning 14 points in the 2017-18 season. In his first full season in the NHL, he logged 26 points in 73 games, but was a minus-16 on a struggling Rangers team.

Since being traded to the Jets, he has been a top-four mainstay. Pionk set an NHL career-high with 45 points in his first season after the trade and has been over 30 every season since. He’s off to a great start offensively this season with 14 points (three goals, 11 assists) in 15 games, fourth among all NHL defensemen.

He is currently on a four-year $5.875 million AAV contract with the Jets.

Side note, that first-round pick in the trade? Winnipeg selected defenseman Ville Heinola with the pick and the oft-injured 23-year-old has played just 35 NHL games, including 10 this season.

Related: Rangers vs. Jets: 3 things to watch for facing off against top team in NHL

Trouba and Pionk face off against former teams

While both players have done a fine job since being swapped for one another, let’s take a look at how things are shaking out present day.

The road for Trouba has been a rocky one, to say the least. After a down season in 2023-24 with just 22 points in 69 games and struggles in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there was speculation that general manager Chris Drury tried to trade his captain and free up that $8 million in cap space. This didn’t go over well with Trouba, and rumors spread regarding the possibility that he may have even shut the trade down with his no-move clause.

Trouba got off to a hot start on the season with four assists in his first three games, but has just one assist in his past 10. He’s yet to find the back of the net, but all things considered, is off to a better start this season than how he ended the last.

That being said, it’s still been a rough go for the Rangers captain. According to Natural Stat Trick, Trouba has been on the ice for 98 scoring chances for, 185 against, as well as 46 high-danger chances for, 78 against in all situations. However, the Rangers have a slight edge in scoring, 13-12, when he’s been on the ice. His xGF at 5v5 is decent, 49.6 percent.

Pionk couldn’t be having a better time in Winnipeg. The Jets are rolling this season with a 14-1-0 record, the first team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 games. Pionk has been the better player of these two offensively with 14 points, and his scoring chances look much better, though that could also be because he is on a team that’s playing much better this season. Still, his 52.99 percent xGF 5v5 is impressive.

In all situations, Pionk has been on the ice for 147 scoring chances for, 145 against, and 69 high-danger chances for, 61 against. The Jets have outscored opponents 33-18 when he’s been on the ice. His numbers are vastly better than Trouba’s in these categories.

Compare them in any way you like, these are two second-pair defensemen with very different play styles. Trouba is a more physical defenseman, a shot blocker, and a captain. Pionk is more skillful, offensive-minded, and uses his skating to enhance his play.

Winner or loser in this trade? Again, there are many ways to judge that. But in the end, the Rangers have reached the conference final in two of the past three seasons with Trouba playing a big role. The Jets have advanced to the second round of the playoffs once since the trade.

But make your own judgement Tuesday when Trouba’s Rangers and Pionk’s Jets face-off at MSG.

The Jets (14-1-0) have won six in a row after losing their only game of the season Oct. 28 against the Toronto Maple Leafs. They started off with an eight-game wining streak and are the only team in NHL history to win 14 of their first 15 games. Under new coach Scott Arniel, a former Rangers assistant, the Jets have fired on all cylinders since Day 1 this season.

Winnipeg just took care of the Dallas Stars, defeating the Western Conference power 4-1 on Saturday. That followed a pair of shutouts against the Utah Hockey Club and the Colorado Avalanche. They Jets are also 6-0-0 on the road.

You get the point. The Jets are playing at a superb level. How sustainable this run is can be debated. But there’s no debate that they’re the best in the NHL right now.

The Rangers (9-3-1) have the fifth-highest points percentage in the League (.731) even though they’re 4-3-0 in their past seven games. They were better in a 4-0 shutout win against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday, following an ugly 6-1 loss to the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday. But there’s plenty that needs to be cleaned up in their game, especially facing such an elite opponent Tuesday.

Related: Rangers look to take down ‘top dogs’ when they face NHL-best Jets

3 things to watch for when Rangers host Jets

1. First goal wins

OK, this is quite simplistic. But with the Rangers and Jets, scoring the first goal is a big deal. How big? Well, the Rangers are 9-0-0 when scoring first this season. Yes, that accounts for each of their wins so far. Conversely, the Rangers are 0-3-1 — winless — when allowing the first goal.

The Jets are 7-0-0 scoring first. Of course, since they’ve won all but one game this season, they’re still pretty darn good — 7-1-0 — when giving up the first one.

That doesn’t mean you can pick up and leave The Garden on Tuesday after the first goal is scored because you know the game’s outcome already. But it is something to keep an eye. Especially for the Rangers, who could use a major jolt of energy that comes from an early lead on home ice. They could use that at a time their confidence is not so high right now and against such an elite opponent.

2. Best on best

Each team owns elite goaltending. Winnipeg’s Connor Hellebuyck (11-1-0, 1.83 goals-against average, .935 save percentage, three shutouts) is the reigning Vezina Trophy winner as top NHL goalie, and a two-time Vezina winner. He’s also the NHL First Star of the Week after allowing one goal in three starts. New York’s Igor Shesterkin (6-3-1, 2.62 GAA, .920 save percentage, one shutout) won the Vezina in 2021-22 and has been lights out this season, except for his last start against the Sabres when he allowed five goals on 12 shots.

The Jets have the lowest team GAA (2.07) and the Rangers are second (2.31). The teams are tied for best save percentage (.929). So, safe to call it best on best Tuesday.

An equally intriguing elite matchup will be the League’s top power play — the Jets are an almost absurd 41.9 percent — against the top PK in the NHL, where the Rangers are 91.1 percent and have allowed one power-play goal in the past seven games, and only four in 13 games this season.

3. Trade partners

The Rangers and Jets swapped defensemen in a trade back on June 17, 2019, when New York acquired its future captain Jacob Trouba in exchange for Neal Pionk and a first-round draft pick. Though Trouba is the higher profile player — not to mention higher paid ($8 million AAV to $5.875 million) — it’s been a trade that, by and large, has worked out for each side.

Despite his overpriced contract, Trouba has been a hard-hitting defenseman and team leader, who twice topped 30 points. He struggled badly last season and through the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. He started strong this season but has tapered off, and his defensive play is again under fire.

Pionk’s been extremely steady for the Jets, and actually has a higher TOI these days (21:01) than Trouba (20:28). The 29-year-old has 30+ points in each of his five seasons with the Jets, including an NHL career-high 45 in 2019-20. He’s off to an outstanding start on the second defense pair this season; his 14 points are fourth most among all NHL defensemen so far and are three more than New York’s star d-man Adam Fox, who has 11.

New York Rangers projected lineup

Panarin – Zibanejad – Lafreniere

Kreider – Trocheck – Smith

Cuylle – Chytil – Kakko

Edstrom – Carrick – Rempe

Lindgren – Fox

Miller – Trouba

Jones – Schneider

Shesterkin

Quick

Rangers vs. Jets: When, where, what time, how to watch

Who: New York Rangers vs. Winnipeg Jets

When: Tuesday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m. ET

Where: Madison Square Garden

How to Watch: MSG

Click here for New York Rangers complete 2024-25 schedule and game results

The somewhat surprising and undoubtedly controversial buyout of Kevin Shattenkirk, coupled with the acquisitions of right-shot defensemen Jacob Trouba and Harvard standout Adam Fox, have made the Rangers defense younger and quicker. Now add in the uncertainty around Tony DeAngelo’s new contract after a breakout season; it’s become unclear to many Ranger fans what their depth on the right side will be when the puck drops on the 2019-2020 NHL Regular Season. Let’s take a look at what David Quinn’s defensive lineup could look like when the Rangers face the Winnipeg Jets on October 3rd.

1st Pair – Brady Skjei (LD) and Jacob Trouba (RD)

While these two lifelong buddies will look to reignite their previous chemistry on the ice, there will be a lot of expectations and pressure on both Skjei and Trouba to perform well on Broadway this season. Skjei is coming off his second consecutive 25-point season. But after his impressive rookie campaign in which he nearly scored 40 points, as well as the addition of Trouba to the Rangers lineup as his defense partner; there will be a lot of eyes on Skjei to take his game to the next level in 2019-2020. Skjei had a rotating cast of defense partners last season, as he was frequently paired with Neal Pionk or Kevin Shattenkirk, neither of whom will be donning Rangers sweaters this season.

Skjei has shown flashes of his ability these past three seasons in the Big Apple. He is a terrific skater and can join the rush and create offense. However, it remains to be seen if he can emerge into a top-pair defender or if he is better suited for second pairing minutes going forward. Partnering with a player like Trouba will give Skjei the perfect opportunity to showcase his abilities while finally playing with a steady defense partner. It will be necessary for Trouba and Skjei to communicate well with one another on the ice, as both players have tremendous skating abilities and can both help generate offensive chances by pinching down the boards or joining the rush.

In regards to Trouba, a lot of pressure will be placed on the American-born defender, and rightfully so, because of his contract. After inking a seven-year, $56 million deal with the Rangers this summer, the 25-year-old Trouba will be expected to replicate his 50-point performance from Winnipeg last season on Broadway in 2019-2020 and beyond. The Rangers need Trouba to assert himself as that legitimate number-one defenseman who can play over 20 minutes a night and can be used in all situations. One of Trouba’s best attributes is on the breakout, as his ability to make a stretch pass up the ice will enable the Rangers forwards to turn defense into offense in a matter of seconds.

2nd Pair – Marc Staal (LD) and Adam Fox (RD)

In theory, Marc Staal is the perfect type of defenseman for Adam Fox to play with during the Harvard alum’s rookie year. However, the Marc Staal of 2019 is not the Marc Staal of 2009, which is well-known to Ranger fans. Staal is overpaid for his services – with a $5.7M cap hit – but his experience on Broadway as well as his slow, steady game may be a good fit for Fox, an offensive-minded defenseman that often joins the rush and is at his best with the puck on his stick.

Staal has lost a step in regards to his mobility on the ice, but it’s essential to realize that Fox will be the mobile defenseman of the two, as Staal will be the one covering up for mistakes that the 21-year old will inevitably make in his first season playing professional hockey. Staal has played all 12 of his NHL seasons with the Rangers and provides intangibles such as character and perseverance to the game of hockey after suffering several severe injuries during the earlier part of his career on Broadway. “Staalsy” also brings the experience of 840 career games to help mentor a group of relatively young and inexperienced blueliners, like Adam Fox, that may learn a thing or two from Staal. It’s also important to note that Staal partnered with Tony DeAngelo often in 2018-2019, the season in which DeAngelo finally broke out and recorded 30 points in 61 games. While his contract may be what keeps Staal on the roster and most likely in the top-four again, it’s important to note the experience he brings and the impact he can have in a mentor-like role for the Rangers.

3rd Pair – Libor Hajek (LD) and Tony DeAngelo (RD)

Libor Hajek will be a fascinating player to watch for the Rangers in 2019-2020 and a player that Ranger fans should quietly keep their eye on. Hajek was supposedly one of the centerpieces in the Ryan McDonagh/J.T. Miller blockbuster trade to Tampa last February and there were high hopes for Hajek in the AHL in 2018-2019. However, Hajek did not perform up to expectations in Hartford last season, suiting up for 58 games and recording just five assists and during his AHL stint. He was also a -26 for the Wolfpack last season, as there were concerns about his game on both ends of the rink.

However, after being called up to play for the Rangers, Hajek’s play seemed to improve. Hajek only played five games for the Blueshirts last season before separating his shoulder and missing the remainder of the season. That being said, Hajek was productive during his short stint in the Big Apple. He scored his first goal against the Devils on March 9th and was very solid while donning the Rangers sweater. Hajek was a +1 and received 21:44 TOI the game before his injury. It’s important to note that Hajek did not have a stable defense partner on the Wolf Pack, as the team came in last place in the division and allowed the third-most goals of any AHL team in 2018-2019.

Hajek seems like he can develop into a solid defenseman that can skate well and move the puck, as well as occasionally provide offense. Tony DeAngelo, another offensively inclined defenseman, appears to be the best partner for Hajek as he attempts to establish himself as an NHL-caliber blueliner. DeAngelo flourished under David Quinn last season and still needs to be re-signed by Rangers management, but it’s clear that DeAngelo has created a strong rapport with Coach Quinn and a spot on one of the Rangers power-play units. DeAngelo still has to work on his defensive game, but the offensive ability is present and this past season was important for “Tony D” in regards to cementing his ability to play at the NHL-level. I’d like to see DeAngelo suit up for all 82 games next season (if healthy) to see what the Rangers genuinely have with him. And following the Shattenkirk buyout, it’s clear that the Rangers envision DeAngelo on the back end when the puck drops on the 2019-2020 NHL regular season.

7th Defenseman – Ryan Lindgren/Brendan Smith

Who Jeff Gorton and David Quinn keep as the team’s seventh defenseman will depend on whether the organization decides to give Smith another opportunity at the NHL level or whether they’d rather bury him in the AHL, which would also give the Rangers a little bit of salary-cap flexibility. Lindgren was solid in limited minutes last season, but time will tell if he can earn a roster spot in 2019-2020.

All in all, the defense for the Rangers has a lot of “if’s” and “maybe’s” heading in 2019-2020, but this is what a rebuild truly is. David Quinn will have his hands full examining a tremendous amount of young talent on the Rangers roster when training camp kicks off in a few weeks.

With each passing day, we are slowly stepping closer to the 2019 Entry Draft, and in turn, closer to the start of free agency. The Rangers, who are in their second consecutive year of missing the playoffs, are gearing up for an eventful offseason.

There are a considerable amount of questions leading to this offseason such as: If they do go after a big fish free agent, who would it be? Will the Rangers get Kaapo Kakko or Jack Hughes with the second overall pick? Will Kreider be traded? Which blueline player could be bought out? Any offer sheets in play this offseason? This is just the tip of the iceberg for the Rangers heading into the draft and free agency. Let’s dive deeper into one of the smaller fish the Rangers need to fry.

Neal Pionk is a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason. With the signing of Adam Fox, the emergence of Tony DeAngelo, as well as the large contracts of Marc Staal, Kevin Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei, and Brendan Smith, there is little room for Neal Pionk.

Pionk’s Season in Review

The undrafted Minnesota native played significant minutes for the Blueshirts this past season. Along with an average ice time of over 21 minutes, the 23-year-old registered 26 points (6G, 20A). The unfortunate side of this season was the -16 he had to show for himself, which was tied for second worst on the team. Granted, this Rangers team had a goal differential of -46 and the best +/- on the team was only at a +6, it still shows that Pionk has a long way to go before he’s considered to be a match for NHL stars.

The bright side for Pionk is that he was second in ice time for a skater, only behind Brady Skjei, and that he was only one powerplay assist shy from tying Mika Zibanejad’s team-leading 12 assists. Pionk has shown flashes of an offensive game that could make him valuable to the Rangers, but it means nothing if his defense isn’t up to the task.

Qualifying Offer and Arbitration

Neal Pionk is in his second year with the Rangers and his contract is now up which means that the Rangers may extend a qualifying offer to him. Currently, Pionk’s base salary is sitting at $825,500, and since this is between $660,000 and $1 million, the Rangers must offer Pionk at least 105% of his previous salary. This qualifying offer now becomes a one-year deal sitting at a base salary of $874,125. That is if Pionk decides to accept this offer. More often than not, players head to arbitration if they are eligible and the team’s and player’s representatives plead their case to a third party. This is to determine what next season’s salary will be, based on performance and what other similar players from around the league received at this age. But we all know that, as well as the three choices that the Rangers can take after the arbitration hearing is through: Accept the one-year deal set by the arbitrator, reject the deal and have Pionk become an unrestricted free agent, or negotiate a new contract before the arbitration is finalized (or before hitting arbitration in the first place). If the Rangers do indeed extend Pionk to anything other than the qualifying/arbitration deal, then it will be for two or three years, most likely capping out at $1 million per year. There is no reason that the Rangers will need to dig themselves a bigger hole at this point for an unproven defenseman.

Trade Scenarios

The bottom line for Neal Pionk is that he is expendable. An RFA on a rebuilding team can be a sticky situation, and even more complicated if the team is ready to take the next step forward in their rebuild. With the significant talent coming to free agency this summer such as Artemi Panarin, Erik Karlsson, Matt Duchene, and Jeff Skinner, the Rangers may need as much salary cap room as possible to make a significant splash. Pionk becomes even more expendable if you factor in the four other RFAs that the Rangers currently need to negotiate with this offseason. The likelihood of re-signing all five RFAs is low and some are due for a big raise such as Pavel Buchnevich. This leads the Rangers to possibly trading Pionk’s rights to another team looking for some depth defensemen if the righthanded d-man seems to want a somewhat similar raise. With Pionk’s limited NHL experience and a poor start to his career, the Rangers could look for a third, fourth or fifth round pick to ship him out. This could most likely come at the Entry Draft in Vancouver this June to help the Blueshirts gain even more draft picks to add to their already impressive collection. Pionk could even be used in a potential ‘blockbuster’ involving Kreider or a lower Rangers draft pick to help them move up to better a draft position. A young righthanded defenseman could help add to the trade, such as the trade the Rangers and Coyotes completed two drafts ago, where we saw Stepan and Raanta go and got back the seventh overall pick and the young Tony DeAngelo. Rumors of these trades may be scarce leading up to the draft, but it does help to keep an open mind and anything can happen at the drop of a hat.

Pionk’s Future

The most likely scenario is that the Rangers do try to give Neal a qualifying offer. Let’s remember that defensemen do take longer to mature and hit their peak in the NHL. Throwing the kid into the fire may not look the prettiest when it comes to development, but it’s the best way to learn. Not one defenseman on the Rangers played 82 games this past season, and all but one had a positive plus/minus (that played at least half of the season). It’s easy to put blame on players that perform poorly in a losing season but lets cut the kid some slack and the fact that he was one of the better defensemen does say something, it might not say a lot, but it’s still something. Neal Pionk, unless he’s traded at the deadline, will probably get a one-year deal for next season to get another shot to prove himself. This is most likely scenario since he will be a very low cost and controllable player and who knows, if he does pan out, he’d have some extra trade value at next years deadline that might allow him to go for a pretty penny.

On Tuesday, the New York Rangers acquired the rights to Adam Fox from the Carolina Hurricanes. Fox, who just finished his junior year at Harvard, is 21 years old and will qualify for a three-year entry level contract. But what will the addition of Fox mean for the Rangers blue line?

In an interview following the trade, Jeff Gorton (GM) was pretty clear on his intentions: “We think Adam is ready to play now. People talk about a year from now, but a lot can happen in a year, or 16 months. That comes with a lot of ‘if’s.’ So for me, it was easy. We wanted him here and we didn’t want to wait. We want to get moving.” That level of confidence in a prospect is rare for the Rangers, and fans need to realize this isn’t a prospect on the level of Jimmy Vesey or Neal Pionk. While those two were good college hockey players, Adam Fox obliterated records at the same level. Adam Fox is a lot closer to Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes, who both made the leap to the NHL near the end of the season and have made their teams better for it. That’s the type of impact Rangers management expects from Adam Fox.

The Rangers currently have Kevin Shattenkirk, Marc Staal and Brendan Smith signed until 2021 with a combined cap-hit of $17.6 million and varying clauses. Neal Pionk and Anthony DeAngelo are both restricted free agents. Fox’s arrival could mean the Rangers move on from Shattenkirk who, unlike some fans may think, still has value on the trade market. The Rangers can retain a maximum of 50% of his contract, which would result in a $3,325,000 cap-hit with just $2,800,000 in actual money for the next two seasons.

Another potential casualty is Brendan Smith, who has a $4,350,000 cap hit without salary retention. Unlike Shattenkirk, the return on the trade market will be lower for Smith, with the Toronto Maple Leafs seeming to be a potential trade partner for either player. They need to replace Jake Gardiner and Ron Hainsey, while not committing to too much money with Marner, Kapanen and Jonsson all restricted free agents this off-season. The condition in the trade for Fox indicates both parties are expecting Fox to make the team out of camp next year. The third round pick in 2020 will become a second round pick if Fox plays in 30 NHL games in the 2019-20 season.

The third possibility is that the Rangers move on from either DeAngelo or Pionk in a trade this off-season. Both young defensemen are restricted free agents this summer and with Fox entering the mix they could fetch a nice return for one of maybe even both.

Adam Fox is a New York native, born in Jericho, NY, and played Bantam hockey for the Long Island Gulls. He has been linked with the New York Rangers for quite some time and the news yesterday should not come as a surprise to anyone. Fox played for the USNTDP between 2014 and 2016, before committing to Harvard University, where the 2016 third round pick (66th overall) recorded 40 points, 22 more than any other defenseman 18 years old or younger. The 40 points were the most by a U19 defenseman in NCAA Div 1 hockey since 1987.

Next season just got a lot more exciting for Rangers fans with the addition of Adam Fox.

A jolt of life was infused across the Rangers fan base (and organization) this past week when the team luckily acquired the second overall pick in this year’s draft. As time ticks closer to draft day and free agency, it’s important that the Rangers higher-ups bring back all of their restricted free agents that need to sign on the dotted line before next year.

Each one of these guys are set to become restricted free agents, and since the Rangers have control to extend their contracts before any other team can, that’s exactly what they need do.

Pavel Buchnevich (23 y/o, $925,000)

Many in the Rangers fan base was quick to give the cold shoulder to the Russian forward in his early career. However, in the second half of this past season, Buchnevich showed that his potential has yet to be reached. During the last ten games of the season, Buchnevich tallied 9 points, while producing a 7 game point streak during that span.

The explanation behind the forward’s productivity is quite simple, in my opinion. When Buchnevich is given a shot each and every night like he was post-deadline, he excels. The KZB top line (Kreider, Zibanejad, Buchnevich) was by far the strongest line the Rangers had all year long. Buchnevich finished the year with 38 points in 64 games. If we look ahead under Quinn he should be in the top-six and I expect that these numbers will continue to climb.

As far as a new contract, which is needed, there is no question that the Rangers will bring Buchnevich back. With what he did in the second half and the scoring presence he can bring on the wing and power play, Buchnevich showed the Rangers that he’s worth a deal for the next couple years at a value number.

Editor’s Prediction: 3-4 years at $3M per

Brendan Lemieux (23 y/o, $839,167)

I mean come on with Mr.Lemieux! This guy immediately showed how important a gritty, hard-nosed presence can bring a team. It took Lemieux 19 games to become a fan favorite in New York, and even though he only tallied six points, that wasn’t exactly what he was brought here to do.

He’s the guy every team needs, and the guy the Rangers haven’t had in a while. He will drop the mitts, get in your goalies face, and fly up and down the ice while getting in all of the dirty areas. When being acquired from Winnipeg in the Kevin Hayes deal, it was said the he was brought to New York per the request of David Quinn, and aren’t we all glad about that now.

Editor’s Prediction: 3 years at $2.5M per

Neal Pionk (23 y/o, $925,000)

The 23-year-old defenseman certainly has had his ups and down this past year, to say the least. Pionk found himself on the wrong side of many plays in the defensive zone this year, and even though he finished the year north of 20 points, the overall feeling of Neal Pionk’s game came with some worry.

But that doesn’t mean the team is going to give up on him – because they won’t. When Pionk burst onto the scene for 28 games now two season ago, he showed that he can play with the big boys. And at just 23, Pionk will find himself a new deal with the Rangers, even if his game is expected to improve going into next year.

Editor’s Prediction: 2 years at $1.5M per

Tony DeAngelo (23 y/o, $863,333)

Arguably the best Rangers defenseman throughout the year is due for a new contract as well. Since coming over from Arizona, he’s played in 93 games and tallied 38 points. He was also the only Rangers defenseman to hit the 30 point mark this year, and led the crew in ice-time as well. Which was certainly a come out party for DeAngelo this year, the fiery offensive-defenseman has the highest of standards when he returns with a new contract

Editor’s Prediction: 3-4 years at $3.5M per

Fredik Claesson (26 y/o, $700,000)

The last RFA the Rangers have this year is defenseman Fredik Claesson. He played in 37 games in his first year in New York, and did pretty much what he was expected to do, if not a little more.

Re-signing Claesson to the same, if not similar contract as he had last year to provide the Rangers depth on the back end can be important, as you can never have too many defenseman.

Editor’s Prediction: Rangers may let him walk due to the amount of prospects like Ryan Lindgren and Libor Hajek competing for spots next season. If signed, 1 year at $850,000 at best which he can likely do better elsewhere

Editor: Anthony Scultore

Anyone who has ever completed a jigsaw puzzle knows that it is largely trial and error, and that some pieces seem like they may fit even if they actually do not.

Similar to a jigsaw puzzle, Jeff Gorton and David Quinn are soon going to be implementing the same strategy of trial and error on defense. They will likely pick out a corner piece and build out from there, but the plethora of options spanning across the globe gives the Rangers more options than they have had in recent years.

Pieces to the Puzzle

The overflow of defensive prospects is promising for the organization, as they believe they’re well on their way to building an offense as well, having drafted Vitali Kravtsov and Filip Chytil to go along with the offensive prowess of Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider.

Of course building a team isn’t an ordinary jigsaw puzzle. It is more like 3 puzzles mixed in a bag but only one set is complete. Ultimately, not every piece is part of the final product. Some of these prospects will never be New York Rangers. Some will stay overseas, remain in the minor leagues, or find themselves trying to crack a different NHL roster.

But realistically what could the Blueshirts’ defense look like as the rebuild moves on? Well, there are a few concrete answers to that. Kevin Shattenkirk, Brady Skjei, and Tony DeAngelo all have earned their spots on the roster for now. Consider them your corner pieces and next season will feature these three as the most solid aspects of the defensive corps. This may be good or bad, only time will tell.

What pieces fit?

Then there are some wild cards for next season. Will Neal Pionk be able to keep his top-six spot? What about the bloated contract of Brendan Smith or the flashes of top-six potential that Frederik Claesson displayed this season? How about the future of Marc Staal on Broadway? There are so many questions.

Like I said, Shattenkirk, Skjei, and DeAngelo will be around. Staal may be around too. In fact, if Staal stays he will most definitely have his name thrown into the ring to be the next Captain of the historic Original Six franchise.

As much as Claesson has looked like a relatively safe defenseman, chances are he will not be much of a factor next year. Even if he is re-signed, he likely will take a backseat to the younger guys that management needs to see more of.

Smith will still be around playing under that questionably high contract of his, but I expect the Rangers to bite the bullet and start him on the bench or in the AHL, despite the money they’re paying him. He could also be traded at the draft for a mid round pick if the Rangers eat some salary.

Then there’s Neal Pionk, who had an excellent start to his career at the end of last season. This year, not so much. He has notched a respectable amount of points, but his defense has been lacking. In the words fellow Forever Blueshirts writer James Van Casteren, Pionk is “an ECHL defenseman” at best. In fairness, as GM Jeff Gorton admitted, Pionk had been given too much responsibility in his first full year as a pro and it may have adversely impacted his play.

Finding the right piece

So then what is the Rangers defense even going to look like next year? To start off, those three guys mentioned first will be in the mix. Shattenkirk will hope to rebound after yet another difficult campaign, Skjei will look to keep up the momentum from his second-half bounce back, and DeAngelo will continue to lead on offense while managing to get under the skin of just about everyone in the league. Staal will still be in the mix, but will probably watch the game from the press box more often.

Enter Libor Hajek, who looked like a stud in just a few games with the team before injuring his shoulder. There’s a good chance he will be in the top-six for most, if not all of next season. Hajek displayed an excellent ability to set up plays and move the puck while also staying back on defense. He is the perfect compliment to an offensive-minded defenseman like Shattenkirk or DeAngelo.

Ryan Lindgren will also see time next season, although he might get pushed aside a little in favor of Hajek. But Lindgren, who also looked solid in his brief Rangers stint, has earned some time for next season.

Then there is the wild card: Harvard senior defenseman Adam Fox. As reported by Pierre LeBrun earlier this week, Fox is not expected to sign with the Carolina Hurricanes who own his rights and has sparked interest from the Rangers. Furthermore, Fox grew up on Long Island rooting for the Blueshirts as a child. The latest news is that the Rangers and Hurricanes have been in talks, but Gorton and Co. may be more inclined to try to sign Fox when he is a free agent next offseason

So there are two scenarios then. One including Fox, who has extremely high potential, and one without.

The Rangers starting defensive pairings may look like either of the two scenarios below:

• Skjei/DeAngelo
• Hajek/Shattenkirk
• Staal/Fox
• 7th and 8th D: Lindgren/Pionk

Or…

• Skjei/DeAngelo
• Hajek/Shattenkirk
• Staal/Pionk
• 7th and 8th D: Lindgren/Smith

The Bigger Puzzle

Obviously the eventual departure of veterans means the puzzle is not complete and has more pieces to fit. The above option do not solve the question of what our defense may look like a little further down the line. Within the next few years, the departure of Staal and Smith will open up spots. Shattenkirk will also see his time in New York conclude, either via trade or after the expiration of his contract, meaning a void must be filled.

Rising up in the ranks will be Yegor Rykov, K’Andre Miller, and Nils Lundkvist. Even Rangers prospects Nico Gross, Tarmo Reunanen, and Sean Day may be presented with opportunities. Although it isn’t likely that Day will stick in the NHL, having spent time in multiple minor leagues. He was a kid with solid potential, but there are many better prospects in front of him.

One of the more likely final pieces is K’Andre Miller, who was arguably the most impressive freshman defenseman in the NCAA this season. He will find himself in the Rangers top-six in the coming years. Lundkvist, a good puck moving all-around defenseman should have a chance as well. Rykov will get his shot but may eventually be the odd man out.

Nico Gross is intriguing. The lefty defenseman looks like he may have the tools to make an NHL stint. Same goes for Tarmo Reunanen who has been tearing it up over in Europe.

So therefore, in terms of future defense, there is a world of possibility. Expect Miller, DeAngelo, and Skjei to be the faces of the defensive corps. Rounding out the bottom three will likely be Hajek, Lundkvist, and either Lindgren or Rykov. That said, do not be surprised if Rykov does not make it over Reunanen. The Finnish defenseman has been proving that he has a lot of tools to make it in this league.

Lindgren will certainly be fighting for one of those spots, likely spending time as the 6th or 7th defenseman for a bit. Of course, if Adam Fox comes to New York the story will change. My guess is that Fox will indeed put on Rangers blue and play in the Big Apple. If this is the case, our future defense should consist of DeAngelo, Skjei, Miller, Hajek, Fox, and Lundkvist/Rykov. Again, though, keep an eye on Reunanen.

The Rangers have done an excellent job in accumulating defensive prospects. As Glen Sather relinquishes his title as President, Rangers fans should rest easy knowing that he didn’t leave the organization with nothing to be excited for. The future of the defense is pretty bright.

The Rangers faced the Ottawa Senators in another matchup of teams living in the NHL’s basement. And while this is a game you might expect the Rangers to win, the team from Canada’s capital would be the ones celebrating after sixty minutes with a 4-1 victory at Madison Square Garden.

Lias Andersson – The lone goal from the Rangers came from the Swedish rookie, scoring a shorthanded beauty to get the Rangers within two of Ottawa. Andersson faked to his backhand before sliding the puck to his forehand and tucking it behind fellow countryman Anders Nilsson for his second goal of the season.

It’s been a rough season for Andersson, who is trying to prove that he is an NHL caliber player. It’s a little too late for Andersson to do much that will change the coaches opinions of the 20-year-old, but at least he can try and enter the offseason on a positive note.

Mika Zibanejad – The team’s leader in offensive production was chosen as the Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner. The award, which is voted on by the fans, goes to the player that “goes above and beyond the call of duty.” And in a season that was marked for failure from day one, Zibanejad has been the brightest light for the Broadway Blueshirts. Zibanejad enters the final weekend of the season with career highs in goals, assists, and points, (32-40-72) and should be in some serious consideration for the captaincy next season.

Special Teams – The story of this one was the special teams play, and Ottawa made the most of their chances in those situations. The Senators scored two power play goals, including one during a 5v3, and added a shorthanded goal on a give-and-go between Magnus Paajarvi and Zack Smith.

Henrik Lundqvist – King Henrik’s teammates didn’t do much to help him out, as three shots on special teams and another one following a ghastly Neal Pionk turnover would get behind the long-time Rangers netminder. Lundqvist has struggled this season, who is in the final years of both his contract, and likely his NHL career. It’s been tough on Lundqvist this year, a guy who has never been on a team expected to lose as much as the Rangers have this season. Henrik has said repeatedly that he wants to finish out his career wearing the colors of the team he’s called his own since he was drafted in 2000. Hopefully that will be the case, and Lundqvist can retire with the Rangers as one of the greatest to ever to stand between the pipes.

Next Game: The Rangers play their final game at Madison Square Garden on Friday night when they host the Columbus able Jackets. Puck drops at 7!

LETS GO RANGERS!!

The Rangers came into tonight’s contest following a strong comeback attempt against the Tampa Bay Lightning. They fell short on Saturday night, but the effort was unquestionable as David Quinn’s squad pushed for the equalizer until the final whistle. Tonight, however, the Kings found the equalizer with 60 seconds remaining in regulation, allowing Tyler Toffoli to play the hero just 25 seconds into overtime.

Chris Kreider – The team’s leading goal scorer added to his total as the power forward got the Rangers on the board in the first period with his 24th goal of the season. Kreider was the recipient of a great pass from defenseman Tony DeAngelo – in the lineup for the healthy scratch Cody McLeod – giving Kreider a simple tap-in from the top of the crease.

The 27-year-old Kreider has played some of the best hockey of his career under David Quinn this season. And while there are rumors he may be on his way off Broadway, it’d be wise for the Rangers to keep Kreider around as a piece for the Rangers to build around in the coming years.

Mika Zibanejad – Perhaps the hottest player in the league, Mika Zibanejad scored his 21st goal of the season to give the Rangers a 2-1 lead in the second period. After Mats Zuccarello had his shot saved by Jonathan Quick, the Swedish center quickly got to the loose puck and poked it into the net.

https://twitter.com/4bnyrgameday/status/1092590005904650240?s=21

Zibanejad also added an assist on Chris Kreider’s goal, which made him the first player in franchise history to record a point on ten consecutive team goals. If there was one skater that can be guaranteed to be “safe” during the upcoming roster purge at the deadline, Mika Zibanejad would be that player.

Adam McQuaid – The Rangers’ top line weren’t the only ones putting the puck into the net in this one as rugged defenseman Adam McQuaid got his first as a member of the Blueshirts to give his team a 3-2 third period lead. Former Ranger Carl Hagelin chipped the puck up the boards to the waiting McQuaid, who took a wrister that snuck by a screened Quick.

McQuaid is, in this writer’s opinion, almost guaranteed to be moved at the deadline, as playoff-bound teams may be looking to add size and experience to their blue line. It’s always nice seeing a guy get his first with the club, but having it come in a loss will make it a bittersweet moment for the veteran defenseman.

Neal Pionk – It has been a rough season for the young defenseman. Pionk has played in 47 of the team’s 52 games this season, but he hasn’t been as steady as he was when he first got called up toward the end of last season. It was Pionk who iced the puck before Anze Kopitar took advantage of the tired Rangers and lifted a backhander behind Henrik Lundqvist. It was also Pionk who was a little late getting over to the unmarked Kopitar, giving the LA captain the time and space to pick his spot for the goal.

Throughout the season, we have seen David Quinn be quick in sending a player to the press box – affectionately known as the Quinn Bin – for making costly mistakes. Don’t be surprised, as NY Post best writer Brett Cyrgalis tweets, if Pionk isn’t dressed for Wednesday night’s contest against the Bruins.

Unable to Close – The Rangers held a 3-2 lead heading into the final 90 seconds of the game. Then, Adrian Kempe scored his second of the night with exactly 1:00 to go in the third before Tyler Toffoli won the game for the visitors just 25 seconds into the extra frame. Coach Quinn summed it up perfectly in his postgame remarks: “We have a tendency at times, when we’re winning 2-1, to act like it’s 5-1,” coach David Quinn said. “Just such a fine line between winning and losing at this level. You have to finish the job.” Perhaps these are just the growing pains of a rebuilding team, but David Quinn’s squad needs to figure it out sooner rather than later.

Next Game: The Rangers return to action on Wednesday night against the Boston Bruins at MSG. Puck drops at 8!

LETS GO RANGERS!!