In fact, they haven’t reached the Cup Final since 2014, their lone appearance since their most recent Stanley Cup title 30 years ago in 1994. Of course, each of those precede his tenure as GM, but while Drury has built some competitive and successful rosters, he’s made a few critical mistakes that have prevented New York from reaching their peak.

As we’re currently in the midst of arguably his most important offseason to date, let’s take a look at his worst moves as general manager of the Rangers.

It’s way too early to tell with this current offseason so none of those transactions are on the table, but everything else since he took charge in June of 2021 is fair game.

Related: 5 best moves by Rangers GM Chris Drury

Worst moves by Chris Drury as Rangers GM

5. Acquiring Patrick Kane before 2023 trade deadline

Acquiring Patrick Kane was a dream come true for many Rangers fans and seemingly a no-brainer when the Rangers acquired the forward ahead of the 2023 NHL trade deadline. With the future Hall of Famer all but forcing his way to New York, all it took was a second and fourth-round pick, which made the move even more appealing.

Kane did not impress in the regular season (five goals, 12 points in 19 games), and although he’s not to blame for a first-round playoff exit to the New Jersey Devils, scoring a goal and six points in the seven-game series, the addition of the injured superstar only made things more complicated.

A hip injury that ultimately required surgery in the offseason greatly limited Kane’s effectiveness. While the name still carried plenty of cache, a visibly hampered Kane didn’t do much to move the Rangers in the direction of Stanley Cup contender.

Drury had already acquired a talented veteran scoring winger in Vladimir Tarasenko, so Kane was less of a need and more of an added bonus. Perhaps there’s something to the expression “too many chefs in the kitchen” because what resulted was a disjointed forward grouping that never truly found its footing.

Kane is not to fault for a disappointing first-round exit but, in retrospect, Drury should’ve stayed away from the injured superstar.

4. Signing Barclay Goodrow in 2021 offseason

One of Drury’s first moves as Rangers GM was signing Barclay Goodrow to a 6-year, $3.64 million AAV contract.

Fresh off helping the Tampa Bay Lightning to consecutive Stanley Cup championships in 2020 and 2021 as part of a dynamic third line with Yanni Gourde and Blake Coleman, Goodrow was a desirable target League-wide. But Drury overpaid to acquire his championship pedigree and veteran leadership, giving a hefty contract with a lot of term to a bottom-six role player.

Goodrow largely saw a fourth-line role as the center of New York’s top checking line. Despite getting top penalty kill minutes as well, Goodrow’s ATOI dipped from 16:43 in his first season down to 12:34 in 2024.

After back-to-back 10-plus goal, 30-plus point seasons with New York, his production fell off a cliff in 2024, when he scored just four goals and finished with 12 points in 80 games while recording a minus-13 rating. He proved to be a valuable asset in the postseason, though, when he scored six goals in this past spring’s run to the Eastern Conference Final, but it wasn’t enough to get the Rangers to the Cup in any of his three seasons.

His impact on the penalty kill and postseason should not be overlooked, but it’s overshadowed by his AAV that was simply too high for someone who only played a bottom-six role. The fact that Drury put him on waivers after his strong postseason is a telling indictment of the contract, and the GM was fortunate the San Jose Sharks claimed him and the final three years of that deal.

3. Trading for Jack Roslovic before 2024 deadline

Drury’s first trade deadline was a resounding success, but the next two have left something to be desired. After failing via the superstar route in 2023, Drury opted for a quieter trade deadline in 2024, trading for Alex Wennberg, Nic Petan, Chad Ruhwedel, and Jack Roslovic.

While Wennberg was ultimately a solid move to bolster depth down the middle, Roslovic was not the answer at wing that the Rangers were searching for.

Despite a very good record and a lead in the Metropolitan Division, the Rangers faced a familiar issue with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, who struggled to mesh at even strength with a medley of right wingers that included Kaapo Kakko, Blake Wheeler, and Jimmy Vesey.

Plenty of talented wingers switched hands at the deadline. Pittsburgh Penguins star Jake Guentzel was the headliner when he was shipped to the Carolina Hurricanes, but other enticing names like Tyler Toffoli, Anthony Mantha, and Anthony Duclair were available as well. The Rangers, though, acquired the enigmatic Roslovic, who’d scored more than 12 goals once in his career, right before the deadline from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The speedy winger had just three goals and eight points in 19 regular-season games after the trade, all on the top line. After a hot start to his postseason, recording a point in each of his first five games, Roslovic’s production completely cratered. By the Eastern Conference Final, he was relegated to a fourth-line role.

Like Kane, he’s probably not the reason the Rangers fell in the postseason, but perhaps a stronger offensive winger could’ve helped turn the tide back in their favor. Drury only gave up a fourth-round pick, so the deal itself isn’t a disaster, but when there’s a Stanley Cup title in reach, it hurts to miss on a top-six add like that.

Roslovic is out the door already after signing a one-year contract with the Hurricanes this summer.

2. Signing Patrik Nemeth in 2021 offseason

Another one of the moves from his first offseason, Drury signed Patrik Nemeth to a 3-year, $2.5 million AAV deal with hopes he could be a reliable bottom-pairing defenseman.

Nemeth was 29 at the time and coming off a solid season splitting time with the Detroit Red Wings and Colorado Avalanche, posting 10 points and a plus-5 rating. But Nemeth’s metrics took a deep dive as soon as he donned the Rangers uniform.

Nemeth recorded seven points and had a minus-9 rating through 63 games, grading out in the bottom one percent of all skaters in Evolving Hockey’s player charts.

With two years and $5 million still left on his contract, Drury attached a pair of second-round picks just to send him to the Arizona Coyotes and get his money off the books.

Nemeth’s lone season in New York was a disaster and the collateral of two second-round picks just to get rid of him easily makes this signing a complete failure.

1. Trading Pavel Buchnevich in 2021 offseason

The most maligned move of Drury’s tenure, unsurprisingly, is trading Pavel Buchnevich in the summer of 2021.

Buchnevich was due a significant raise as a restricted free agent, and the Rangers were tight against the salary cap. So, Drury opted to avoid a bigger payday for the then 25-year-old winger, tradsing him to the St. Louis Blues for Sammy Blais and a second-round pick.

Blais had a brutal knee injury, didn’t score a goal and had just nine points in the 54 games he played for the Rangers before ultimately getting shipped back to St. Louis in the Tarasenko trade in 2023. The second-rounder was flipped to the Winnipeg Jets for Andrew Copp, leaving the Rangers with no remnants from the trade, though Copp was a nice short-term add after the 2022 deadline.

If the lack of return wasn’t painful enough, Buchnevich has thrived since leaving New York, taking the leap that many fans envisioned he would.

After scoring 20 goals and 48 points in his last season as a Blueshirt, Buchnevich immediately made the step to elite winger, scoring an NHL career-high 30 goals and 78 points in his first season with the Blues. He’s kept up the production, posting 60-plus points and 25-plus goals in each of his first three seasons in St. Louis.

Despite Rangers fans longing for a return, Buchnevich won’t be going anywhere after signing a 6-year, $8 million AAV extension to stay with the Blues long term.

New York, meanwhile, has been left with a void at right wing that Drury has failed to fill outside of Frank Vatrano’s half-season in 2022. Even Vatrano wasn’t quite able to replicate the chemistry and production that Kreider, Zibanejad, and Buchnevich were able to develop.

This offseason’s trade for Reilly Smith marks the latest attempt to fill a gap that has lingered ever since Buchnevich’s departure. Drury’s made his share of missteps, but none quite compare to this.

The New York Rangers were able to trade defenseman Patrik Nemeth and his entire cap hit off the books to the Arizona Coyotes.

After opting not to buy Nemeth out on Tuesday, the Rangers were able to shed his entire $2.5 million cap hit for two seasons but at a cost. GM Chris Drury has to add a second round pick in 2025, plus a conditional pick that will either be a second round pick in 2024 or 2026.

New York Rangers trade Patrik Nemeth

Nemeth, 30, finished with 2 goals and 7 points in 63 games. He had -9 rating but also posted solid numbers in the blocks (102) and hits department (115).

The Rangers have acquired prospect defenseman Ty Emberson from Arizona.

Per the team’s press release:

Emberson, 22, skated in 58 games for the Tucson Roadrunners of the American Hockey League (AHL) in 2021-22, notching four goals and seven assists for 11 points. In 2020-21, Emberson made five appearances for the Roadrunners, scoring one goal.

Emberson is from Wisconsin and played for the University of Wisconsin in the NCAA. With the Badgers he recorded 34 points in 101 games. He’s a nice sized defenseman at 6-1 and 195 lbs.

New York Rangers sign Louis Domingue

If you can’t beat them, join them!

The New York Rangers have inked another backup goalie in Louis Domingue, who certainly impressed them during their first round matchup in the playoffs. In six games against the Rangers during the 2022 playoffs, he posted a 3-3 record.

Per Frank Seravalli, it is a 2 year deal with a low cap hit of $775,000.

Domingue, 30, has a record of 59-60-10 in 142 career appearances. His GAA of 3.04 and SV% of .905 are also respectable for a backup.

New York signed Jaro Halak earlier in the day, so Domingue should be manning the nets in Hartford for the Wolf Pack to start the season.

The New York Rangers watched the first window pass and opted not to place Patrik Nemeth on waivers for the purpose of a buyout. By doing so, they have sent a clear message that they either have a trade in the works to move out his cap hit, or feel there’s a better option.

For those who may not fully understand the CBA, the Rangers can’t use the second buyout window which can only be triggered after an arbitration case or award is completed. While restricted free agents Tim Gettinger and Austin Rueschhoff are both arbitration eligible, you can only buyout out a contract of a player with a minimum cap hit of $4 million.

Nemeth, 30, has two years remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $2.5 million.

New York Rangers will not buyout Patrik Nemeth

Now that the decision has been made not to buy him out, what will the Rangers do if they can’t trade Nemeth and either all or some of his cap hit away? New York could desperately use some of that money, so why take the chance? Let’s take a closer look at what a buyout would have meant.

Per CapFriendly’s buyout calculator, a Nemeth buyout would add $1.5M this offseason to work with. It’s even bigger in 2023-24, where the full $2.5M is back on the books. That’s just in time for Alexis Lafrenière, K’Andre Miller, and Filip Chytil’s new deals.

Here’s the reason why the Rangers may have opted not to do it. Starting in 2024-25 there’s a penalty of $1 million against the cap for two seasons.

Next season, the Rangers can bury up to $1.125 million of his $2.5M AAV in the AHL with the Wolf Pack. That’s just $375K less than a buyout would have provided. In 2023-24 it goes slightly up to $1.150 million.

Of course, there’s still a good chance that Nemeth will be attractive to a team on the trade market. That also depends on how both sides will work out his modified no-trade clause.

This past year, Nemeth finished with 2 goals and 7 points in 63 games. He had -9 rating but also posted solid numbers in the blocks (102) and hits department (115). The biggest issue was his inability to suppress shots no matter who his partners were as he posted a corsi for percentage of 40.7.

At the end of the day, GM Chris Drury wisely evaluated all his options and he obviously didn’t feel a buyout was the best route to take.

NHL News and Rumors

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• Dylan Strome a UFA, Georgiev’s new deal

The New York Rangers will be present at tonight’s NHL Draft being hosted in Montreal. The Canadiens hold the first overall selection while the Rangers have no picks after completing the conditions of the Andrew Copp trade. Winnipeg now has that selection which went from a conditional second-round pick to a first after reaching the Eastern Conference Final.

Chris Drury is also up for the Jim Gregory Award as GM of the Year. Despite having an amazing first season as a general manager, Forever Blueshirts has been told that’s he unlikely to win it.

Here’s a quick look at the Rangers’ picks and where they are slotted:

• Round 2, 31st pick, 63rd overall
• Round 4, 14th pick, 111th overall
• Round 5, 30th pick, 159th overall
• Round 6, 30th pick, 191st overall

Update: The Rangers have acquired a 3rd and 5th round pick in the 2022 Draft from the Avalanche for Alexandar Georgiev. Full details here.

New York Rangers Patrik Nemeth buyout

While the Rangers have four picks at this moment, any trades over the next two days of this draft could increase or decrease that amount.

Since they were eliminated, Chris Drury has been working the phones to trade Patrik Nemeth and Alexandar Georgiev with little success. As the insiders love to say, that could all change with a phone call.

However, when it comes to Nemeth a buyout is the most likely scenario to get some of his $2.5M AAV for the next two seasons off the books.

The 30 year-old defenseman finished with 2 goals and 7 points in 63 games. Nemeth had -9 rating but posted solid numbers in the blocks (102) and hits department (115). The biggest issue was his inability to suppress shots despite who his partners were as he finished the season with a 40.7 CF%.

Forever Blueshirts was told that trading Nemeth’s entire cap hit would require attaching a second round pick. Considering the few selections the Rangers have they are unwilling to do so.

According to Larry Brooks of the NY Post’s latest reporting the Rangers are likely to buyout Nemeth before the first buyout window closes on July 12. That’s also the day before Free Agency opens.

Per CapFriendly’s buyout calculator, a Nemeth buyout would add $1.5M this offseason to work with. It’s even bigger in 2023-24, where the full $2.5M is back on the books. That’s just in time for Alexis Lafrenière, K’Andre Miller, and Filip Chytil’s new deals. There’s a -$1M penalty for two seasons after which the Rangers can easily manage.

Rangers asking for too much for Alexandar Georgiev

Over the last week, multiple reports indicate that the Rangers are asking for a high pick or a prospect that is waivers exempt for the rights to Alexandar Georgiev.

There were teams interested in acquiring the pending RFA since January, but from what I gathered the best offer received came from the Edmonton Oilers and it was a mid-round pick.

The Colorado Avalanche also had some interest, but as they work to re-sign Darcy Kuemper they’re likely no longer in the mix. It was also rumored that the New Jersey Devils had some interest but they’ve set their sights on UFA Ville Husso. One other possibility are the Toronto Maple Leafs but they’re targeting Marc-Andre Fleury in free agency.

At this time it looks like Drury overplayed his hand. Georgiev is owed a $2.65M qualifying offer on July 11th and it’s unlikely the Rangers will extend it and thus make him a UFA on July 13.

Teams knew this, which is why the ask was nonsensical to them. Maybe tonight, if Drury comes down drastically the Rangers could get a third or fourth round pick for his rights.

NHL Rumors

The NHL Draft is tonight and the trade rumors are buzzing around the league. As general managers meet with the media in preparation for first round selections, there’s plenty of speculation buzzing. Read more.

The New York Rangers have gotten off to a promising offseason by signing Vitali Kravtsov and Sammy Blais on the cheap. However, with limited cap space and the need to sign several other players, they must find a way to move on from Patrik Nemeth.

This past offseason the Rangers were looking for a physical veteran defenseman for their third pair. Chris Drury went to the Colorado Avalanche for permission to speak with the pending UFA, whom they signed to a 3-year deal worth $2.5M per season and a limited no-trade clause.

Patrik Nemeth’s rough season

The 30 year-old defenseman scored 10 points in 52 games while averaging 18:01 per night for the Avs in 2020-21 and seemed like a solid pickup. He had been regarded as a stay-at-home type, who was utilized by other teams with heavy defensive zone starts around 66%.

At 6-3 and 228 lbs, he was a physical presence that Drury envisioned could help fellow Swede and highly touted prospect Nils Lundkvist acclimate to the NHL. That experiment did not go as planned with Lundkvist eventually demoted to the Wolf Pack in December.

Nemeth’s struggles continued and eventually he became a permanent scratch in the playoffs. That made way for trade deadline acquisition Justin Braun to pair with outstanding rookie Braden Schneider.

For the season, he finished with 2 goals and 7 points in 63 games. Nemeth has -9 rating but posted solid numbers in the blocks (102) and hits department (115). The biggest issue was his inability to suppress shots despite who his partners were as he finished the season with a 40.7 CF%.

Rangers must trade or buyout Nemeth

New York just went on a run to the Eastern Conference Final likely a year before expected. Their Stanley Cup window is now open but they only have $11.93M in cap space per CapFriendly after signing Sammy Blais for less than his $1.6M qualifying offer ($1.525).

It’s safe to assume that signing RFA Kaapo Kakko and either UFAs Andrew Copp or Ryan Strome could eat $7.5M to $8.5M. That leaves around another $3M for a back up and possibly Tyler Motte. Taking that into consideration, the Rangers need more cap room.

Patrik Nemeth, who has 2 years remaining at $2.5M on his deal is the top candidate to find it.

The first option for Drury will be to explore the trade market. There are logical places to deal Nemeth along with a draft pick to a team that will assume his full cap hit. Take for example teams like the Arizona Coyotes and Buffalo Sabres that need to reach the cap floor.

Here’s the rub, Nemeth has an 8-team no trade list and it’s likely the Yotes and Sabres are on it. Trading him will be difficult, but there’s always the possibility that he could be amicable to waive the clause.

Of course, enticing a team to assume the full hit for two more years will be costly. One knowledgeable source told me that would likely need to be a high draft pick, along the lines of a second round selection.

If the Rangers need to eat 50% of his salary in order to trade him, then a buyout is the best route.

Per CapFriendly’s buyout calculator, a Nemeth buyout would add $1.5M this offseason to work with. It’s even bigger in 2023-24, where the full $2.5M is back on the books. That’s just in time for Alexis Lafrenière, K’Andre Miller, and Filip Chytil’s new deals. There’s a -$1M penalty for two seasons after, which the Rangers can easily manage.

If they can move some or all of Nemeth’s $2.5M cap hit, that extra money can be used to possibly re-sign UFA Frank Vatrano as well.

NHL News and Rumors

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Rangers rugged defenseman Ryan Lindgren is a game-time decision for Game 5 on Wednesday night versus the Penguins.

According to Gerard Gallant, he will take pre-game warmups and the team will decide if he can go. If that is the case, it’s also possible the Rangers will go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen as insurance.

Gallant said Lindgren will skate in warmups to see how he feels. Still a game-time decision. He said there’s a good possibility they’ll go with 11F/7D. #NYR

— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) May 11, 2022

NY Rangers lineup: Ryan Lindgren possible

Lindgren, 24, has not played since Game 1 of the series. In that contest he registered 3 hits and 5 blocks in nearly 30 minutes of action. Against the Capitals during the last game of the season, he got tangled up with a Caps player late and hobbled off the ice.

He also appeared to get banged up several times in Game 1 and left the bench for extended periods of time.

For the season, Lindgren posted 15 points in 78 games this season while averaging 20:06 TOI.

If Lindgren can play, he’s expected to be paired with Adam Fox. That leaves the interesting question of who will be the extra? Will it be Justin Braun or Patrik Nemeth.

Braun, 35, has an assist and an even rating in three games in the playoffs.

Nemeth, 30, has no points, four minor penalties, and a -4 rating in four contests this postseason.

Filip Chytil says the team likes to pass to much

Yesterday after practice, Gerard Gallant preached to his team to stop with the fancy stuff and play more “straight-line” hockey.

He also made it clear that the Rangers need to start shooting the puck more and it sounds like young Filip Chytil got that message.

“We had a lot of opportunities to shoot on great chances and didn’t shoot,” Chytil said heading into Game 5. “We didn’t do that the last two games, so now we have to change it and put into our heads that every shot can end up in the goal. We just have to shoot more.

“We’re probably one of the teams who loves to make an extra pass. But we can’t play like this. We see that it didn’t work in the last two games. We can look at Pittsburgh– they shoot from every possible angle. We have to do the same.”

Chytil, 22, has 1 assist in four games this postseason but the Kid Line with Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko has generate excellent chances in the last two games.

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The NHL announced its three finalists for the Calder Trophy (rookie-of-the-year). Anaheim’s Trevor Zegras is up against Detroit’s Moritz Seider and Toronto’s Michael Bunting. Is Zegras favored to win it? Read more.

The New York Rangers practiced today at the MSG Training Center in Tarrytown in preparation for their first place showdown with the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday.

Only two points separate the clubs with two games to play, both at Madison Square Garden.

When asked if the Rangers would rest some players down the stretch, head coach Gerard Gallant wasn’t giving that much thought.

“No… after the last game we’ve got a great schedule to finish with,” Gallant said. “We’ll play it one game at a time and if someone needs a rest, we’ve got no issues putting someone else in. We’ve got lots of good players here.”

New York Rangers injury report

Chytil, 22, has registered 19 points in 60 games this season while being hampered with injuries he’s tried to play through. The big center was extremely noticeable against the Penguins before being scratched on Saturday versus the Senators.

Monday at practice, Filip Chytil skated with the extras on a fifth line.

“Chytil skated today,” Gallant said. “The trainer will tell me this (later), but he looked fine out there.”

Earlier, Gallant said anyone who was banged up would certainly get a rest so it’s likely that we will see the same lineup from Saturday against the Canes.

That means another third d-pairing of Justin Braun with Braden Schneider.

Patrik Nemeth, who normally plays with Schneider missed the last game due to personal reasons and remains out. He did not participate at practice.

The team wanted to make clear there was no residual issues with COVID as was the case the last time he was out.

This has nothing to do with Nemeth’s previous COVID fatigue, #NYR say https://t.co/XdHnQlDUWd

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) April 11, 2022

Editor’s Note: Corrected Rangers last game from Sunday to Saturday

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Despite producing one of their highest shots-on-goal totals, the Rangers retraced a familiar pattern on Thursday against the Red Wings in lieu to a 2-1 shootout loss.

“You have to get yourself prepared, do your workouts, focus on your first shift and things will take care of themselves,” he said.

Rangers looking for a better start against the Senators

After two days off, the Rangers look to start more quickly Sunday when they visit the Ottawa Senators at 5:00 PM.

New York is 3-0-1 in its past four games, all played on home ice. On Thursday, New York earned a point when Mika Zibanejad scored the tying goal midway through the third period, but the Rangers wound up taking a 3-2 shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings.

New York took the loss despite getting 39 shots on goal, its third-highest of the season and highest total since getting 40 shots on goal in a 4-1 win at Anaheim on Jan. 8.

On Thursday, the Rangers were outshot 11-8 in the opening period and fell behind 2:18 into the game. It marked the fourth straight game they were outshot in the first period. In those games, opponents outshot them 48-23 in the opening 20 minutes.

I think we still need to work on starting games better,” New York’s Barclay Goodrow said. “Right from the beginning, we’re chasing from behind and it’s hard to play like that. If we played the first 20 like we played the last 40, we would have put ourselves in a better spot.”

K’Andre Miller also scored for the Rangers on Thursday when New York produced 31 shots in the final two periods and overtime and dropped to 12-10-3 when allowing the first goal.

Patrik Nemeth day-to-day, lineup should stay the same

Patrik Nemeth, who was placed on IR retroactively is eligible to return at any time, practiced on the third pair with Braden Schneider.

When asked if Nemeth could play tomorrow, Gallant replied: “It’s day-to-day. We’ve been speculating for a week and a half and it isn’t fair to anybody.”

According to the NY Post, it’s believed that Nemeth is still dealing with lingering effects after contracting COVID-19 back in December.

Nemeth, 30, has two points in 38 games this season. He last played on January 22, in a 7-3 Rangers win over the Coyotes. If he can’t go, the pairing of Zac Jones and Schneider should stay together.

One potential change could be Alexandar Georgiev getting the start in goal. He has been mentioned recently in trade rumors and may be on the move come the NHL Trade Deadline on March 21.

Senators will be tough

Ottawa is 2-3-1 over its past six games but also a respectable 7-5-2 in its past 14 since a three-game losing streak Jan. 18-22.

The Senators are also looking to break a four-game home losing streak after taking a 3-2 overtime loss to the Boston Bruins on Saturday night. During its home skid, Ottawa has been outscored 12-4.

Tim Stutzle scored in the second period and Nick Holden netted the tying goal early in the third. Senators coach D.J. Smith thought his team did a lot of positive things in front of a limited-capacity crowd as restrictions were lifted to 50 percent capacity.

“There were a lot of things I was happy with. I thought we turned it over too much, but our compete level was high,” Smith said. “That was probably one of the more physical games we’ve played in the last month. There were big hits and there wasn’t a lot of room out there.”

Ottawa gained the point despite being shorthanded on the blue line as defenseman Thomas Chabot missed his third straight game with an upper-body injury that will likely sideline him again Sunday.

Anton Forsberg made 30 saves in place of Matt Murray, who is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, and Filip Gustavsson will likely make his first start since a 5-3 loss to the New York Islanders on Dec. 7.

Ottawa is 6-2-0 in its past eight home meetings with the Rangers. New York overcame a two-goal deficit in the first meeting when Chris Kreider, Ryan Lindgren and Goodrow scored in the final 5:23 of a 3-2 win on Oct. 23.

NHL Roundup

The Blues double up the Leafs, who afterwards pulled off a three player deal. Plus Flames spoil Giordano’s return, and all the action recapped here.

–Field Level Media contributed to this report.

Patrik Nemeth, who was placed on IR retroactively is eligible to return at any time, practiced on the third pair with Braden Schneider.

New York Rangers practice notes

Head coach Gerard Gallant was asked if Nemeth could play tomorrow, but he really didn’t entertain it. “It’s day-to-day,” he said. “We’ve been speculating for a week and a half and it isn’t fair to anybody.”

According to the NY Post, it’s believed that Nemeth is still dealing with lingering effects after contracting COVID-19 back in December.

Nemeth, 30, has two points in 38 games this season. He last played on January 22, in a 7-3 Rangers win over the Coyotes. If he can’t go, the pairing of Zac Jones and Schneider should stay together.

Gallant also called the recent slow starts for the Rangers all mental. “You have to get yourself prepared, do your workouts, focus on your first shift and things will take care of themselves.”

Alexandar Georgiev trade situation

Alexandar Georgiev rebounded nicely after a slow start to this season. After being temporarily thrusted into the #1 role when Igor Shesterkin injured his groin on December 3rd. He’s proven to be a more than capable backup with starting goalie potential.

The 25 year-old’s numbers have improved drastically over the last few months to 7-7-2 record with a 2.98 GAA and an .898 SV%. His status as a pending RFA and the Rangers future cap situation will have them looking for a cheaper option going forward. Georgiev makes $2.5M and his qualifying offer must be at least that much.

Larry Brooks of the NY Post believes that the Rangers may trade him at the deadline. That means they will need to bring in a capable backup. For that he suggests Detroit’s Thomas Greiss or Vancouver’s Jaro Halak.

The Vegas Golden Knights have recently expressed interest in acquiring Georgiev as well.

In January, I spoke with a knowledgeable source to gauge what the market is for Georgiev, and if the Rangers could do better than a third rounder many believe he would fetch.

“If you wait until the draft, everyone knows they can’t qualify him so it won’t be any higher,” the source explained. “They can’t qualify him at the end of the season – if he takes the qualifier, the Rangers will be in a bind and everyone knows that. So no one is really going to step up (their offer).”

Should that be the case, I feel that Georgiev is more valuable as Igor’s insurance policy this season than a third round selection in 2022.

According to the NY Post, it’s believed that Nemeth is still dealing with lingering effects after contracting COVID-19 back in December.

Nemeth, 30, has two points in 38 games this season. He last played on January 22, in a 7-3 Rangers win over the Coyotes.

Nemeth on IR means more Jones and Schneider

With Nemeth being out of action, head coach Gerard Gallant is expected to stay with the young defensive paring of Zac Jones and Braden Schneider.

Schneider had another outstanding game against Boston, registering an assist on Chytil’s goal in 17:53 of ice time. His partner, Jones also fared well in his 16:15 of action. They were each a +1 on the night.

“Jonesy came up and played and our (defense) played really good,” Gallant said on Saturday. “Those last couple of games (the defense) played solid hockey. It’s nice to see guys come up and play well. But the whole group played really good together.”

Ryan Lindgren is also impressed with the rookie pairing, which seems akin to his own experience.

“Both of them were just so confident out there,” he said. “Me and Foxy had that when we were rookies playing together, and I think it’s key you’re just building each game and trying to get better and better.”

Marc Staal returns to MSG

The 35 year-old Marc Staal played 13 seasons on Broadway and this will be his first trip back since being traded in 2020.

“It’s strange. It’s different coming in as a visitor for sure,” Staal said this morning via MLIVE. “But such a great building and a lot of great memories here. It’s really fun to be back.”

When the Rangers moved him, Staal was shocked.

“I didn’t have much of a head’s up,” he began. “Got a call, told me I was on my way to Detroit and… I mean it’s surprising and shocking when it happens. This is the only place I’ve been my whole career,” Staal explained. “This has been home for me for a very long time.”

Staal has 8 points in 43 games this season with a +11 rating.

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