“I’ve had a lot of great captains; the guys that stick out are the ones I had when I was first here, [Ryan McDonagh] and [Ryan Callahan],” Miller said Thursday in his first public comments since he was named the 29th captain in Rangers history on Tuesday.

“It was ingrained in me as a young kid what it means to be a captain around here, and I’m super lucky and grateful to represent a group like that.”

The Rangers selected Miller with the No. 15 pick in the 2011 NHL Draft. He suited up for the Rangers in the 2013 lockout-shortened season, when Callahan was captain. And he broke out as a lineup mainstay in 2015-16, when McDonagh wore the C. 

Their impact on Miller is felt to this day.

“I tried to be a sponge around those guys, mainly about the way they play, absolute warriors of the game,” Miller explained. “Not exactly ‘rah-rah’ but when it’s time to speak up, it’s time to listen. That’s something I’ll never forget.”

Related: Rangers ‘not going to take any sh**’ this season, and there’s no time for BS

J.T. Miller plans to play with ‘heart on my sleeve’ as Rangers captain

Those lessons learned from Callahan and McDonagh are ingrained in Miller. But that doesn’t mean he had a smooth road to stardom.

Miller spent his first few seasons shuttling back and forth between Hartford of the American Hockey League and Broadway. He had a well-earned reputation as a cocky kid, but struggled to back it up on the ice.

Though he twice scored 22 goals with the Rangers, Miller was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of the rebuild in March of 2018. One trade later, he settled in and became a star with the Vancouver Canucks, recording 103 points just two seasons ago.

Now he’s back in New York, starring for his original NHL team and serving as its captain.

When asked Thursday if Miller ever thought he’d one day be Rangers captain when he was in his first tenure with the club, his response came with a smirk.

“Absolutely not. I learned a lot along the way, which was pretty well documented, and I’m thankful for all of the tough times now.”

Miller said he remains friends with Callahan and McDonagh. And in an ironic twist, they were reunited as teammates for a couple of years in Tampa, with McDonagh part of the same trade, and Callahan dealt to the Lightning ahead of the 2014 trade deadline.

As for the present, Miller explained that Rangers coach Mike Sullivan and general manager Chris Drury helped fill him with confidence that he will succeed as Rangers captain.

“I got a lot of advice from Mike and Chris about being yourself, and for me, that means a lot,” he said. “I’m an emotional player; I put my heart on my sleeve. I try to put that on 80-90 percent of the good, but I really appreciate that they believe in me.”

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.

So, here’s a shoutout to Talkin’ Rangers on X (formerly Twitter), who designed a fun post asking fans to create the best possible starting lineup with a $20 budget in relation to the financial values for each player assigned in the graphic. The players available are Rangers from 2010-present.

Build a New York Rangers Lineup using $20 #NYR pic.twitter.com/A9VfYHBQFb

— Talkin’ Rangers (@talkin_rangers) July 25, 2024

Fans must fill six spots — center, left wing, right wing, two defensemen and a goaltender — with a variety of players whose value ranges from most expensive ($5) to least expensive ($1).

Think this is so easy? Good luck trying to play general manager and spending that 20 bucks in the most effective way.

Related: New York Rangers all-time best free agent lineup

Taking turns building best Rangers lineup since 2010

Four members of the Forever Blueshirts staff took a whack at this and each admitted it’s nearly impossible to build a perfect starting six with the dollar-value restraints. Interestingly, not one player was included on each of the four lineups. Three players appeared in three lineups.

After this fun exercise, perhaps, at least a few of us came away with more admiration for what Chris Drury and other general managers contend with in building their rosters.

Jim Cerny, executive editor

C: ($4) Mika Zibanejad

LW: ($5) Artemi Panarin

RW: ($1) Ryan Callahan

D: ($5) Adam Fox

D: ($4) Ryan McDonagh

G: ($1) Jonathan Quick

This was a fun exercise, one where I have eight solid possibilities staring up at me from my scratch pad. Henrik Lundqvist is my goalie in seven of the eight options. But the very last option I seriously considered, slotted in three-time Stanley Cup winner Jonathan Quick for a buck and that really let me load up elsewhere in the lineup. There’s risk here not going with the best goalie, which Quick is not at this stage of his career, but every one of my options come with risks – even one or two that include Jacob Trouba for $1 on defense! By starting Quick, I am able to achieve my main goal of having a top D pairing of Adam Fox and Ryan McDonagh, which might be as good as any defensive combo in Rangers history. And it allowed me to keep two more expensive options – Mika Zibanejad, who is clearly the best center here, and Artemi Panarin, the best and most consistent point producer in this group. The best value by far is Ryan Callahan for $1. His name is all over my scratch pad, a no-brainer at that price for all he brings to the table.

Lou Orlando, staff writer

C: ($2) Derick Brassard

LW: ($5) Artemi Panarin

RW: ($1) Ryan Callahan

D: ($5) Adam Fox

D: ($2) Marc Staal

G: ($5) Henrik Lundqvist

After much deliberation, I chose to go big on three of the four $5 players and fill the remaining three spots with some value picks. While Quick was tempting for just $1, I couldn’t deny myself one of the elite Blueshirts goalies of all-time. You can’t go wrong with either Shesterkin or Lundqvist, but I went with “The King,” partially out of nostalgia but because he was elite for over a decade — I know exactly what I’m getting with him. Except for maybe Jaromir Jagr, I’m not sure Hank ever played with a forward quite as dynamic as Artemi Panarin, so I made sure to lock down the elite scorer and playmaker. Derick Brassard isn’t quite as flashy, but he’s a beast in the postseason and a reliable top-six guy. Then, I just couldn’t turn down Ryan Callahan at $1, the definition of a 200-foot player and the first Ranger I ever fell in love with. Marc Staal will be the reliable safety net on the blue line that allows Adam Fox to do his thing offensively. All of that in front of the greatest goalie in Rangers history? Yes, please!

Related: Rangers new addition ‘dynamic,’ Chris Kreider raves

Nick Palmer, staff writer

C: ($4) Mika Zibanejad

LW: ($3) Chris Kreider

RW: ($4) Rick Nash

D: ($5) Adam Fox

D: ($3) Dan Girardi

G: ($1) Jonathan Quick

Having Quick as a $1 option is the biggest steal on the board, and allows you to spend lavishly on your five skaters. Quick, in his prime, is arguably the best goaltender here. But even if he plays as he did last season, posting a 2.62 goals-against average and the way he helped carry the Rangers through the first half of the year, that still brings incredible value. Fox and Girardi will take the blue line, even though we know they’re both right-hand shots. I’ll take that liberty, believing Girardi could slot in on the left. Fox’s playmaking abilities and offensive skill with three straight 70+ point seasons combined with Girardi’s shot-blocking prowess (he blocked 2337 shots in his career) as a stay-at-home partner make for a formidable pairing. The special teams unit will be lethal with Zibanejad leading the way, and the forward group relying on Nash’s ability to shield the puck in the offensive zone. Once Nash fires the puck toward the net, Kreider’s power-forward identity with a six-foot-3 frame will be used to crash the crease and create opportunities for Zibanejad and Nash, as well as for himself. This will be a solid team that creates greasy goals, and gorgeous ones.

Dane Walsh, staff writer

C: ($4) Mika Zibanejad 

LW: ($3) Chris Kreider 

RW: ($1) Ryan Callahan

D: ($4) Ryan McDonagh

D: ($3) Dan Girardi 

G: ($5) Henrik Lundqvist 

This may be my early 2010s nostalgia getting the best of me, but if I had $20 to pick a starting six for the Rangers, I find it hard to beat this one. Taking the duo of Kreider and Zibanejad and adding in Captain Callahan creates a perfect first line. If Callahan were in his prime, he would be a great fit here. Always so reliable, always willing to grind for pucks, and could chip in offensively. Playing with Kreider, one of the best Rangers of all time, and Zibanejad, who is not too far behind, makes for a solid forward group. On defense, I had to go with the iconic McDonagh – Girardi pairing. These two played countless games together for the Rangers and were the top defensive pair for years. This was an easy decision. And, of course, I had to have “The King” in net. I grew up for nearly two decades knowing no Rangers goalie other than Henrik Lundqvist. There’s no better goalie to have as the backstop for this lineup. Two former captains, three great Ranger veterans, and perhaps the best Rangers goalie of all time. I think it’s a great starting six.

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.

Rangers Vitali Kravtsov or Pavel Buchnevich key piece for a Jack Eichel trade

The Rangers they mention really shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who reads my work. I’ve talked about what I believe the Rangers are willing to offer in a Jack Eichel deal.

On March 4th I put forth the following:

After speaking with knowledgeable people I believe a fair offer from the Rangers would look something like Vitali Kravtsov, a roster player, a young prospect defenseman (Nils Lundkvist or Braden Schneider excluded), and a first round pick.

The Athletic has also done the same but believe it will be a choice between Pavel Buchnevich and Vitali Kravtsov. Personally, I think Buchnevich is a perfect fit on this team as a second line RW and has developed into a complete player. Kravtsov is extremely talented and will likely be the better offensive player. He would still need time to develop and the Rangers believe they can contend next season.

There’s probably some appetite among the fan base for them to buy, but they’re still several points outside a playoff spot and well-stocked to go after a bigger fish down the line. Yes, we’re talking about Eichel. That RFA group is interesting, too. Buchnevich and Chytil, in particular, have come up in the Eichel discussion already, and that’ll continue until the deal happens or dies. There’s also some duplication between Buchnevich ($3.25 million AAV) and Vitali Kravtsov, who should join the Rangers when his KHL season is over. The Rangers need to turn some of their wingers into centers, and the discussion probably starts with those two.

The Athletic

Ryan Callahan joins Rangers broadcast

Former Blueshirts captain Ryan Callahan has joined the Rangers broadcast team for two games. Press Release below:

MSG Networks just announced that former Rangers star and team captain Ryan Callahan will join the Rangers broadcast team for two select games this week. Callahan will appear in studio alongside John Giannone and Steve Valiquette (who will join remotely) for the Rangers upcoming games against the Bruins this Thursday and Saturday. The 13-year NHL veteran will provide expert and insightful analysis throughout the network’s pregame and postgame shows, as well as during intermission coverage each night.

During his storied tenure with the Rangers (’06-’14), Callahan led the team in a number of statistical categories, including goals (132), points (254), game-winning goals (26) and more. In 2011, he was named the 26^th captain in franchise history, becoming the team’s first homegrown captain since Brian Leetch. Following his career with the Blueshirts, Callahan helped Tampa Bay advance to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2015. He had a distinguished international playing career as well, competing in two Olympics games and leading the United States to a silver medal at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver.

NHL Rumors

Your latest NHL rumors are out!

Rangers draft pick update

When the Dallas Stars won their game 7, it meant the Rangers could not pick any worse than 23rd with their second first round pick. When the Vancouver Canucks lost theirs, it meant they could not jump up to 21.

So today, the Blueshirts can move up one more spot to 22 if the New York Islanders beat the Flyers. What do you think Rangers fans want to happen? That’s easy, overwhelmingly 57% of almost 900 voted they can never root for the Isles.

Trade Target: Max Domi

In case you missed it, I wrote about the Rangers possibly making an offer to obtain the RFA rights of Max Domi from Montreal. There’s rumors floating around that the Penguins, Blue Jackets, and Rangers are interested.

READ MORE HERE.

Jesper Fast update

Recently, I spoke with a source close to Jesper Fast that told me that he is likely heading to free agency. I followed this up with another source closer to the Rangers side, who confirmed that there have been no recent discussions between the two sides as of today.

As it stands, it appears the Rangers will allow Jesper Fast to hit the market when the bell opens for free agency.

Ryan Callahan on being Captain

Former Rangers captain, Ryan Callahan was a true warrior for the Black and Blueshirts. Here he is talking about his time in NY.

More NHL and NYR news

THE DAILY GOAL HORN: Check the latest news and rumors at your new home for hockey.

There is just a smidge of irony in the fact that the Rangers sent the Americans into the scrap heap of the NHL’s defunct teams and I am now profiling some of the best American born players to don the red, while and blue uniform.

Mike Richter, G

Starting in goal, number 35 and the native of Abington, PA, Mike Richter. At the time of his retirement in 2004, Richter, the clear definition of a stalwart, was the Rangers all time leader in wins with 301 and was the invaluable backstop of the 1994 Stanley Cup Championship team. Richter’s sweater was the first to be retired from the Cup winning squad and only the third jersey to be retired overall by the Rangers.

Ryan McDonagh, D

Stating on defense: Number 27 and native of St Paul, MN. Former Ranger captain Ryan McDonagh. “Mac Truck” was as tough as any player to ever patrol the Blueshirt’s blue line. His superior skating ability and dynamic hockey sense made him an instant favorite of the Garden Faithful and very much deserving of having the “C” sewn into the upper left section of his sweater.

Brian Leetch, D

His partner on defense is none other than number 2 and native of Corpus Christi, TX Brian Leetch. Leetch is. simply put. the greatest American born defenseman in NHL history which makes his inclusion on my proverbial list the worst kept secret since “Who Shot J.R. Ewing”
The Calder, Norris, Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup winning Leetch is pure Ranger royalty and his #2 sweater will forever dangle from the iconic Garden ceiling.

Ryan Callahan, RW

Starting on right wing is my third former Ranger captain and Rochester, NY native, number 24, Ryan Callahan. “Captain Cally” was the epitome of the Black-And-Blueshirt style of play under John Tortorella. Cally’s underrated offensive game was dwarfed by his relentless fore checking and his unparalleled fearlessness, Callahan could score a highlight real goal one shift and then dive in front of a Zdeno Chara 100MPH slap shot the next.

Mark Pavelich, C

At center, number 40 and native of Eveleth, MN Mark Pavelich. A member of the 1980 US Men’s Olympic “Miracle On Ice” team and the second Blueshirt to tally five goals in a single game, the diminutive Pavelich burst on the scene for the Rangers in the 1981-82 season and was consistently among the better Ranger players for his five year tenure on Broadway. Pav’s .93 points-per-game average ranks among the best in team history.

Chris Kreider, LW

And, on left wing, is the sole member of my hypothetical list that currently remains on the Ranger roster and that is the native of Boxford, MA, number 20 Chris Kreider. Ever since the hulking Kreider made his Ranger debut in the 2012 playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, the 2009 first round pick has endeared himself to Rangerstown like few others. Kreider’s unique skill sets, which include blazing speed, superior strength and uncanny goal scoring ability, recently earned him a massive, lucrative long-term extension from the only NHL team he’s ever known.

Honorable Mention: Derek Stepan. John Vanbiesbrouck. Tony Amonte. Cecil Dillon.

Now that the San Jose Sharks have fallen short of winning Lord Stanley’s Cup yet again, the Erik Karlsson rumors are starting to pick up. After a recent tweet by him, as shown below, it seems as if Karlsson is going to hit the open market on July 1.

The Rangers seem to be a team that is finding it’s way in the mix for Karlsson, but as per The Athletic’s Rick Carpinello, the Rangers will not pursue the Swedish superstar. The team that has come up the most in regards to pursuing Karlsson is the Tampa Bay Lightning. Karlsson wants to play for a winner, and not to mention his good friend Victor Hedman is down there as well. The issue with this is how would Tampa Bay be able to afford Karlsson?

With just over $8 million in projected cap, the Bolts find themselves in a tight spot financially. Karlsson, who can easily make Drew Doughty money in terms of AAV ($11 million), will have to take a serious pay cut to play with his fellow Swede and the Bolts. Tampa would still have a ton of work to do because their 92-point center Brayden Point is due for a hefty raise as well. I project Point will make an AAV of somewhere in the $8-9 million range, in the non-tax state of Florida. Tampa also has some other big RFAs due this summer and next, including Point and Paquette this summer, and Cirelli, Vasilevskiy, Sergachev, Cernak, and Joseph next summer. Even if Karlsson were to make an AAV of $6 million, an extreme discount for a player of his caliber, it would still be next to impossible to get him, re-sign Point this summer, and sign the plethora of very good RFAs next summer, one of which is a Vezina nominated goaltender. So how do the Rangers play into helping the Lightning acquire Karlsson?

In a recent post by our own Steven Voogel, he discussed the idea of the Rangers taking on a bad contract such as Patrick Marleau, and an asset such as Kasperi Kapanen attached to it to help Toronto clear some money to pay Mitch Marner.

I think that there can be something similar can be done here with Tampa to help them out in acquiring Karlsson. As we know, the Rangers and the Bolts have been trading allies for quite some time now. They clearly have a good relationship, and the Rangers are a perfect fit for this situation. The Rangers have an abundance of cap space (projected at just over $19 million as per CapFriendly), and can have even more room if they move some other pieces. If they were to help out Tampa, the Rangers would likely have to bring back former captain Ryan Callahan, who has one year left on his deal carrying an AAV of $5.8 million. Attached to Callahan could be Anthony Cirelli. Cirelli, who is only 21-years-old and has one more year left on his ELC before a solid pay-raise, is exactly the type of player the Rangers should target when making a move like this. Cirelli has 50 points in 100 career games, and had an excellent first full year in the league. In 2018-2019, Cirelli played in all 82 games, compiling 39 points; 19 of which were goals. Cirelli also represented Team Canada at the World Championships where he won a silver medal. In the tournament, Cirelli had four points (3G, A) in ten games.

With all of the big-name UFA buzz surrounding Panarin, Duchene, Karlsson, etc., I would rather see the Rangers go this route. I am not putting down the fact of signing a career point-per-game player in Panarin, but acquiring a guy like Cirelli for taking on a bad contract in Callahan for just one season may fit the Rangers timeline better.

Jeff Gorton and co. have put themselves in a fantastic spot heading into this off-season. They have compiled picks, re-stocked the prospect cabinet on defense, got the number two overall pick in the 2019 draft, and have cap flexibility. There are so many things that Rangers brass can do this summer, and I am really looking forward to it.

For years the New York Rangers have been in a situation where they had to trade players away either to generate cap space or because they didn’t have any (Hagelin in 2015 is an example of that); but now they are on the other side of the spectrum. With the rebuild in full swing and cap space not being an issue, a case can be made to use that cap space as an asset. Elliotte Friedman hinted at this in his 31 thoughts recently. But what does it mean and what can fans expect if Jeff Gorton decides to go this route?

On Wednesday night, the Carolina Hurricanes won game three in the second round of the NHL playoffs with two goals from Teuvo Teräväinen. The Finnish winger was drafted 18th overall in 2012 by the Chicago Blackhawks and came off a 35 point season in 2015-16 at the age of 21. The team had won three cups in the previous six years and in the summer of 2016 they had to made room for the eight-year contract of Brent Seabrook, which he signed the previous year. With a $6,875,000 cap hit, general manager Stan Bowman had to find a way to get rid of some bad contracts. One of them was Bryan Bickell who was on the books for $4,00,000 for one more year. They found a trade partner in the Carolina Hurricanes who were happy to take that contract off their hands but the price was steep. Teuvo Teräväinen was going with Bickell to Carolina in exchange for a 2016 second-round and a 2017 third-round pick in the upcoming drafts. This is the perfect example of a cap dump, and the Carolina Hurricanes are now reaping the rewards of that deal. Teräväinen hit 64 points last season and 76 this season with seven points in 10 playoff games so far, including five goals.

This is the blueprint Jeff Gorton needs to use this summer, and there are two potential trade partners who need to get rid of salary to make room for their elite players with RFA-status. What could a potential deal look like? Let’s examine both scenarios:

Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay has some great players and were an absolute juggernaut in the NHL this regular season. But it comes at a price. Brayden Point is a restricted free agent and the 23-year old Canadian has not made it easy for the Lightning front office. With a 66 point season (32G, 34A) last year and a 92 point season (41G, 51A) this year, he will command a huge salary increase. But the team cannot afford it. At the moment, they have a little over $73 million tied up in 16 players (2 goalies, 4 defensemen and 10 forwards). That leaves them with $6.3m in cap space with an upper limit of $79,500,000. This will go up a bit, but not enough to create cap space for Point and the other positions they need to fill.

The cap dump for Tampa would be Ryan Callahan, who has a modified NTC (he can exclude 14 teams). The former Rangers captain has a $5,800,000 cap hit for one more year. A possible target for Gorton in this case is Anthony Cirelli, who is 21-years-old with one more year on his entry-level contract and coming off a 39-point season with the Lightning. The winger, who was drafted in 2015 in the third round, is also two years removed from being arbitration eligible which is good news for the Rangers for the negotiations of his next contract in the 2020 offseason.

Toronto Maple Leafs

The other prime candidate can be found North of the border. The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a similar situation with a little over $74 million tied up in 17 players; but with Mitch Marner, Kasperi Kapanen, and Andreas Johnsson still unsigned. While Mitch Marner is the number one priority for Dubas to re-sign, the other two are young, cost-controlled forwards who scored 20 goals and hit 40+ points this past season. Kapanen, 22 years old, was acquired by Toronto in the trade that saw Phil Kessel move to the Pittsburgh Penguins and Andreas Johnsson was drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2013 in the seventh round. Looking at their cap situation, they only have one choice if they wish to retain William Nylander and that is to dump the contract of Patrick Marleau and give up one of Kapanen or Johnsson. The Teravainen-Bickell trade is again a good comparison, with a little added caveat I will get into a bit later, explaining how technically Toronto doesn’t have to lose Marleau. If Gorton steps in to take on the Marleau contract, which is $6,250,000 for one more year, with Kapanen coming to New York as the reward for relieving the Leafs from this contract, it gives the Rangers a young winger who can be added to the team’s young forward group. He would also be capable of making Kaapo Kakko feel at home in New York as a fellow Finn. Andreas Johnsson is the other option of course.

Now, the little caveat. If the Leafs commit to this cap dump, the Rangers can opt to buy out Patrick Marleau’s contract, making him an unrestricted free agent, free to sign with the Maple Leafs for a cheaper deal. There’s precedent. Last year, the Washington Capitals traded Brooks Orpik to the Colorado Avalanche together with Philip Grubauer. Orpik was bought out by the Denver-based team and then signed a new deal with the reigning Stanley Cup champions. With Marleau’s contract being a 35+ contract – he was at least 35 years old upon signing – there won’t be any cap relief, which means the $6,250,000 cap hit is on the books for the full season. Kapanen seems like a great asset to acquire as payment for this.

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).