First, the Rangers (28-25-4) need to take care of business and defeat the Islanders at UBS Arena. Then they need the Columbus Blue Jackets to lose in regulation to the Dallas Stars and the Boston Bruins to lose in any fashion to the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Ottawa Senators actually hold the second wild card but do not play Tuesday. They host the first-overall Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday, trying to end their own four-game losing streak.

So, yeah, things are looking up for the Rangers, despite their putrid play this past weekend. Really, it’s been what we’ve said all along, even during their 4-15-0 slide, the Rangers have a great chance to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That’s due, in part, to the fact that each of the teams they’re battling with is deeply flawed and mediocre.

Just like the Rangers.

Maybe playing their archrival with a chance to push them back further in the playoff race will wake up the Rangers on Tuesday. Did sneaking out of Pittsburgh on Sunday with a largely undeserved 5-3 win over the Penguins get their attention, too?

Tune in and find out at 7:30 Tuesday.

Subscribe to the Rink Rap podcast at the Forever Blueshirts YouTube page

New York Rangers news

Here are three things to watch for when the Rangers visit the Islanders on Tuesday, including

Brennan Othmann may or may not be in the Rangers lineup Tuesday. But the rookie forward was recalled from AHL Hartford on Monday amid injury concerns with Chris Kreider.

These games against the Rangers are crucial for the Islanders ahead of the NHL trade deadline. Here’s why.

Just in case you’re wondering, the Rangers are well aware that their very fortunate victory against the Penguins on Sunday is “not a recipe” for success moving forward.

The schedule remains favorable this week for the Rangers. Let’s take a look at what lies ahead.

Our weekly look at the Hartford Wolf Pack featured Zac Jones making an immediate impact — before he was recalled by the Rangers from his AHL conditioning stint.

Longtime MSG Networks studio host and broadcaster Al Trautwig died at the age of 68.

NHL news

Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks was suspended three games by NHL Department of Player Safety for interference against Detroit Red Wings forward Michael Rasmussen.

Meanwhile, Rasmussen is day to day with an upper-body injury after taking a blow to the head from Zegras.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman reduced the suspension to Minnesota Wild forward Ryan Hartman from 10 games to eight for roughing Tim Stutzle of the Ottawa Senators.

Florida Panthers coach Paul Maurice said Matthew Tkachuk’s injury sustained at the 4 Nations Face-Off, believed to be a groin issue, could be longer term, but the power forward should return at some point this season.

The Athletic is reporting that the Montreal Canadiens could consider trying to trade forwards Jake Evans and Joel Armia as a package to increase the return. The idea being they are an excellent and affordable penalty-killing tandem.

The Senators are looking to improve their group of forwards and have reportedly checked in on Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken and Ryan Donato of the Chicago Blackhawks.

With the March 7 NHL Trade Deadline creeping closer, the Edmonton Oilers are in a dilemma with their goaltending position and are considering all options.

After scoring 17 goals last season, Utah’s Matias Maccelli has only eight this season and been a recent healthy scratch, too. That makes him a player to watch ahead of the trade deadline, per reports.

The Ducks acquired goalie Ville Husso from the Detroit Red Wings for future considerations.

Sharks defenseman Timothy Liljegren is out for a bit with an upper-body injury.

Kirby Dach is out Tuesday with a lower-body injury when the Montreal Canadiens face the St. Louis Blues. Owen Beck was recalled by Montreal from Laval of the AHL.

Trevor Moore scored two goals to help the Los Angeles Kings defeat the Vegas Golden Knights 5-2.

The Winnipeg Jets won their 10th straight game, 2-1 over the San Jose Sharks in overtime, and Mark Scheifele became the all-time goals leader for the Jets/Atlanta Thrashers franchise with 329. Watch Scheifele score the OT winner against the Sharks.

The Rangers have a complete day off Thursday before returning to action Friday at Madison Square Garden against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Only one point separates the Metropolitan Division rivals (Rangers have 27, Penguins 26), though New York has three games in hand (24 to 27).

None of the Metro teams played Wednesday, but three are in action Thursday. That includes the Philadelphia Flyers, who are tied with the Rangers for fourth in the division and host the Florida Panthers at Wells Fargo Center. After that game, the Rangers will have two games in hand on the Flyers.

The game against the Penguins begins a busy stretch of three games in four days for the Blueshirts, all at home, and four in six. So, this three-day break between games is welcomed by the Rangers before things get busy again.

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New York Rangers news

Chris Kreider and Vincent Trocheck were named to the United States roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off, which will be played in February. They join Adam Fox, who was previously selected to play for the U.S. Kaapo Kakko was named to Finland’s roster, and Mike Zaibanejad was an original selection for Sweden. So, that gives the Rangers five players in the round-robin international tournament.

We took a deep dive into Igor Shesterkin’s recent struggles on Wednesday. First, Chris Savino detailed why Shesterkin deserves his fair share of blame for the Rangers recent struggles. Then John Kreiser and I debated just how concerned the Rangers and their fans should be about Shesterkin’s subpar play recently.

Speaking of deep dives, I break down who’s to blame for the current Rangers mess and explain why Fox’s recent comments irritated me — among other topics — on the latest Rink Rap podcast presented by Forever Blueshirts.

Legendary Rangers broadcaster Sam Rosen was officially honored as the winner of the 2024 Lester Patrick Trophy on Wednesday night by the United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Also, former Rangers forwards Kevin Stevens and Matt Cullen were enshrined into the USHHOF. Here’s more about that from our story published in September.

The iconic Sam Rosen, the legendary voice of the @NYRangers and a household name in hockey, has been honored with the 2024 Lester Patrick Trophy! #USHHOF pic.twitter.com/jL7Lq0W4tH

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) December 5, 2024

NHL news

Each country taking part in the 4 Nations Face-Off revealed its complete roster Wednesday. Take a look at how each team shapes up: Canada, Finland, Sweden, and United States.

The Anaheim Ducks not only lost 4-1 to the Vegas Golden Knights, but they lost forward Trevor Zegras to a lower-body injury after the forward limped off the ice in the second period. Remember, he had a pair of ankle injuries last season. when he played only 31 games.

Speaking of injuries, Vancouver Canucks defenseman Filip Hronek is out eight weeks following a lower-body procedure. And the first-overall Minnesota Wild revealed a long list of injuries, which included an update on former Rangers forward Mats Zuccarello.

The Los Angeles Kings rallied for a 3-2 win against the Dallas Stars, extending their winning streak to a season-high four games.

Auston Matthews is healthy again and the Toronto Maple Leafs are reaping the benefits. After missing nine games with an injury, Matthews has five points (three goals, two assists) in three games, each of which Toronto picked up a W. Matthews scored twice in a 3-2 win against the Nashville Predators on Wednesday.

The Fourth Period reported Monday that the Rangers are one of eight teams that “expressed serious interest” in forward Trevor Zegras. Per TFP, the Ducks are fielding phone calls on the 23-year-old from Bedford, New York and are willing to move him, though only for a massive return.

That could be tough right now because Zegras is coming off a disappointing and injury-plagued season. Limited to 31 games, Zegras had just 15 points (six goals, nine assists) this past season for the Ducks, who again failed to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

TFP reported that unless blown away by an offer, the Ducks could wait until Zegras reestablishes his value after proving he’s 100 percent and on top of his game, and then try to trade him. Zegras has two seasons remaining on his contract that pays him $5.75 million annually. He could become a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025-26 season.

The No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 NHl Draft, Zegras has 55 goals and 154 points in 211 NHL games. He scored 23 goals two seasons in a row before 2023-24 and had an NHL career-high 65 points in 81 games in 2022-23.

Related: Rangers options if looking to trade Kaapo Kakko, move up in 1st round of 2024 draft

Rangers reportedly interested in Trevor Zegras of Ducks

It’s unknown what a Zegras trade would look like from a Rangers point of view or if there’s even been a discussion of what it would take to get it done. TFP said in its report that the Ducks, who are loaded with prospects and two first-round picks in this year’s draft, want NHL players.

“Regarding the specific asking price, it varies team-by-team and so far, nobody will elaborate on the specific demands aside from emphasizing it’s a “big price,” TFP reported.

Perhaps Kaapo Kakko, taken No. 2 overall the same draft as Zegras, could be part of a proposed trade between New York and Anaheim. But that is pure speculation since it’s unknown what the Rangers level of interest is and how much dialogue there’s been between the sides.

TFP also reported that the Ducks “are taking calls” on Vatrano, who scored an NHL career-high 37 goals last season and has one year left on his contract with an average annual value of $3.65 million. Vatrano was a nice fit with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider after the forward was acquired prior to the 2022 NHL trade deadline. However, there hasn’t been anything public tying New York to Vatrano again yet this offseason.

The seven other teams reportedly interested in Zegras are the Chicago Blackhawks, Philadelphia Flyers, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators.

Torts began speaking about his comments on the Trevor Zegras’ “pass streamed around the world”, where he criticized if it was “good for hockey.” While he still feels it’s debatable if that pass is a good hockey play, he wanted to set the record straight.

Tortorella reached out to Zegras

Anaheim Ducks rookie Trevor Zegras has been the toast of the NHL since pulling off an amazing puck flip pass for a goal that has been viewed over 50 million times so far.

“I’m not trying to be difficult about it. It’s fun to watch, it’s really cool but I just think our game has gone so far away from what the game should be. A hard game, an honest game. It’s almost gotten to showman,” Tortorella said last week. “I know you need to have it, you need to sell the game but I’m from the ilk that an honest hockey game needs to be played.”

The criticism left Zegras even more shocked than the pass play he executed. “I didn’t really see where he was coming from,” he responded. “It’s just one of those things that he’s entitled to this opinion. I guess we got to just live with it.”

After hearing about the backlash and a fellow coach sending him an article where it sounded like he was being critical of the player, not the play, Torts reached out to Zegras.

“I read the article and saw what this kid was going through with the questions being asked and my heart dropped,” the former coach said. “That was the furthest thing from my mind criticizing this kid.”

“What bothers me is the media – my comments have been taken out of context trying to pit and Trevor against one another” Torts explained. “I feel terrible about that and I reached out to him and his coach. I hope he does it again quite honestly.”

From “The Point” yesterday on ESPN2 and now on ESPN+..Torts on his Trevor Zegras alley oop goal comments… pic.twitter.com/kjwSClKnTX

— BucciOT.Com (@Buccigross) December 17, 2021

Note: This article was originally published at The Daily Goal Horn.

NHL Pause Coming?

Latest on Chychrun but is an NHL Pause inevitable? Read More!

While even casual hockey fans are buzzing about it, ESPN’s John Tortorella is simply not a fan.

Tortorella says Zegras pass not good for the game

Zegras was behind the net on Tuesday night when he lifted the puck with the blade of his stick and flipped it in front to Sonny Milano, who slapped the puck into the goal.

“I had some time, so (Milano) was calling for a Michigan,” Zegras recalled after the game. “So I picked it up and passed it to him. It was pretty funny how it all worked out.”

The highlight-reel goal gave the Ducks a 1-0 lead early in the second period. They held on for a 2-0 win but Torts just wasn’t having it.

“I’m not trying to be difficult about it. It’s fun to watch, it’s really cool but I just think our game has gone so far away from what the game should be. A hard game, an honest game. It’s almost gotten to showman,” the former head coach said. “I know you need to have it, you need to sell the game but I’m from the ilk that an honest hockey game needs to be played.”

The 63 year-old Torts, known for his public confrontation with players and press, noted that it really was a great pass. Despite the acknowledgement he simply doesn’t feel it’s the right way to play.

“It’s tremendously skilled,” he said. “My position, is it good for the game? I’m not so sure. If you did that back in 2000, late ’90s you’d get your head taken off. It’s cool to watch and all that, but I’m not so sure it’s good for the game.”

These comments have received tremendous backlash with many labeling Torts a dinosaur. Yet, he wasn’t backing away from it and even doubled down by saying he’d probably give Zegras and Milano a stern talking to if he was the coach.

“I’d have a talk with [Zegras and Milano] after the game,” he admits.

Way to take the fun out of it coach.

This article was first published at The Daily Goal Horn

NHL Rumors

Tyler Toffoli an interesting trade chip for Canadiens, and will the Isles try and save their season with a move? Read more.

Aaahhhhh! The warm weather is finally here. Beach season has arrived. The winter jackets, mittens, and scarves are being replaced by shorts, sunscreen, and flip-flops. Memorial Day weekend has come and gone which means the highly anticipated and eagerly awaited 2019 NHL entry draft in Vancouver is just a few short weeks away.

Unless you’ve been living under a glacier for the last couple of months, I am sure you’re well aware that the New York Rangers will be drafting second on that Friday evening on Canada’s west coast. The Blueshirts are guaranteed of having the opportunity to select one of the two elite, franchise-altering talents in Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. The Hughes/Kakko debate has raged ever since NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daily revealed to the hockey world last month the results of the draft lottery.

The winners of the aforementioned lottery, the New Jersey Devils, will decide which future star will be wearing Devils’ red come September, leaving the Rangers with the “other guy.” This article is not about the much drawn out notion of which young stud will look better donning that beautiful blue sweater. This article is about what John Davidson, Jeff Gorton, and the scouting staff should do with the rest of the draft. One could argue that, if John and Jeff make the right decisions on June 21st and 22nd, the Rangers could be set up as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender for the next decade.

It is the belief of this author that the Devils will in fact draft Hughes. After all, the Devils don’t want to be viewed as the NHL version of the Portland Trailblazers. For those who aren’t aware, Portland passed on both Michael Jordan and Kevin Durant in favor of 7-foot centers whose careers were derailed and eventually ruined by an assortment of injuries. The Devils will go the safe route and select the American dynamo leaving the Finnish man-child there for the Blueshirts’ taking.

Now, here is what I would like to see the Rangers brain trust do after the assumed selection of Kakko. I would like to see Jeff Gorton immediately grab the earpiece of the telephone on the table in front of him and call up the Colorado Avalanche – holders of the fourth overall selection. I had written a piece a few months back about the Rangers contacting Colorado if the Avs had won the lottery, about a blockbuster Eric Lindros-type of transaction to move up and grab the number one pick.

The same logic and rationale applies to my hypothetical of contacting the Avs about the fourth overall pick. You see, the Stanley Cup window for the team from the Mile High city is wide open. They are absolutely in a win-now mode. The Avs are a top-heavy team. They need quality, NHL-caliber veterans to provide depth to their growing number of superstars. From their perspective, drafting an 18-year-old with the fourth pick that will need a few years of seasoning and maturation isn’t going to help their current championship aspirations. That is why I believe a deal could be constructed between these two organizations. In my humble opinion, there are several veterans on the Ranger roster that could step in and instantly contribute and provide the depth that the Avs desperately need.

Chris Kreider, Jimmy Vesey, Vlad Namestnikov, Pavel Buchnevich, Tony DeAngelo, Jesper Fast, Brendan Smith, the list goes on.

Any combination of such should be dangled in front of the Avalanche to initiate and facilitate discussions. The Rangers could also add some of their excess of draft capital to help the proceedings. The Avs Stanley Cup window may be open, but the Rangers are still a couple of years away. The Blueshirts can afford to let an 18-year-old learn the game on the NHL level and understand what it means to be a professional.

If Kakko’s name is announced by head scout Gordie Clark on Gary Bettman’s podium as the number two selection, he will join the 2018 first-round pick Vitali Kravtsov and, potentially, pending free agent Artemi Panarin, giving the Rangers the most electric and explosive collection of right-wings in the sport. What the Rangers don’t have anywhere in the organization’s prospect pool is an elite-level centerman. While 2017 first-round picks Lias Andersson and Filip Chytil are good kids who could ultimately provide depth, neither are what I would call a true number one pivot.

Moving up to the fourth slot to obtain a potential franchise center like Alex Turcotte, Trevor Zegras, or Dylan Cozens would give the Blueshirts a player they can slot in next to, whom I feel should be the next Ranger captain, Mika Zibanejad, and it would give the team a formidable one-two punch down the middle.

The time for the Rangers to be aggressive is now. The time for the Rangers to expedite the rebuild is among us. The time for the Rangers to set themselves up as perennial cup contenders is obtainable. Imagine for a minute, Davidson, Gorton, and Clark boarding that flight from Vancouver home to New York in possession of the second and fourth overall draft picks. If my hypothetical comes to fruition, there would be a palpable buzz surrounding the Blueshirts, the likes of which we haven’t seen in these parts in quite some time.

With the Winnipeg Jets eliminated, and either Dallas or St. Louis making the Western Conference Final, the first round pick the Rangers received in the Kevin Hayes trade will be in the 18-21 range, depending on how the second round match-ups end. Colorado, Carolina, and Columbus can all affect the pick by advancing to the next round.

With the TBL second-rounder (58th overall) and the Dallas pick being either a first or second round selection, Jeff Gorton has the ammunition to trade up in the 2019 draft. What would it cost, and who would he target with a move like that?

As shown above, the potential price to trade up is a second-round pick if the Rangers are aiming at a spot in the 10-12 range. Having at least two, and potentially three, picks in the second round, Gorton has the assets to make this happen.

Trevor Zegras (US NTDP)

James: I fully expect that USNTDP Trevor Zegras will be a target of theirs. Zegras, who just finished up a great U18 tournament with nine assists in five games for the United States, is a commit to Boston University next year. He currently has 87 points in 60 games with “The Program” where 61 out of the 87 points have come in the form of assists. The 5’11” 18-year-old is a New York native, growing up in Bedford, and I think that he would be a great fit in his home state wearing the iconic Blueshirt sweater. Zegras is a playmaker and is arguably the best passer of the puck in this entire draft, including Jack Hughes and Kaapo Kakko. Zegras makes a living up and down the walls and below the goal line. He has good skating ability and hands, but it is his patience and ability to pass the puck that makes him a top-ten prospect. He looks off defenders phenomenally, makes insane no-look passes, and draws defenders to him that eventually leads to these incredible passes and assists. If the Dallas Stars make the Western Conference Final and the Rangers end up with picks 20 and 29, I could see them packaging them together to move up and draft Trevor Zegras. Leaving the first round with Kakko and Zegras would be incredible, to say the least.

Philip Broberg (AIK – SHL)

Steven: Swedish defenseman Philip Broberg has been up and down the rankings all season long. But, the 17-year old (turns 18 in June) has had a fantastic season playing with the top team in Allsvenskan, AIK, despite missing out on promotion to the SHL in the playoffs. Broberg was part of the U20 team at the World Juniors in Vancouver last winter being one of the youngest players in the tournament. Broberg is arguably the best defensive skater in the draft and his experience playing against men in the Swedish professional system is a huge advantage. At 6’3″ and 203 lbs, he is the best among big defensemen in the draft, but that size doesn’t hold him back in other areas. He’s a great skater and his puck-handling makes him a great prospect. After a strong U18 World Championship, where he was picked as the best defenseman of the tournament, the young Broberg may climb in the rankings. But, if he’s available at ten, the Rangers can definitely target him to trade up.

Peyton Krebs (Kootenay Ice – WHL)

Russell: Krebs is everything you could want in a top-six winger in the NHL. He has shown he can play center, but at 5’11” and 181 lbs., he is more suited to the wing position in the long run. The Rangers would be getting a kid who will already be challenging for a roster spot within the next year. He’s that good. He has the drive, he has the shot, he has the speed, he has the skill, and he has the smarts to succeed in the NHL. His numbers in the WHL may not be jumping off the page – 36G, 86A in two seasons – but make no mistake, he’s basically doing it all out there. Kootenay has not exactly been the best team over the past few seasons.

To put his last season into perspective: Krebs was a point per game player on a 13 win team with 70% of those being primary points. Krebs drives play when he’s on the ice and would be a welcome addition to the Rangers’ prospect pipeline. For a player like this, except possibly both low firsts and maybe a player or third pick included in getting a deal done. Basically, the Rangers need the Dallas pick.

Arthur Kaliyev (Hamilton Bulldogs – OHL)

James: Born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Arthur Kaliyev moved to the United States at an early age and played Peewee hockey for the New York Jr. Rangers in 2013. Kaliyev is a pure goal scorer. He has a lethal shot and can score from any spot on the ice, whether it be from the dot, in front of the net, or in the high slot. Aside from his tremendous release, Kaliyev is a big bodied 17-year-old standing at 6’2″, and 190 lbs. He is able to get inside defenders with his size and get good looks from the slot. As for on the dot, he has an Ovechkin-type mentality where he can just let shots go and blow pucks by goaltenders, especially on the power play. Kaliyev also has a great set of hands where he is able to put moves on defenders and create lanes for himself to shoot.

His release is his biggest weapon in that when he does pull off a dangle, or is able to drop in between the dots through defenders, he can still snap off a great shot. The one knock on Kaliyev is his skating ability. As most pure goal scorers go, what they have in their hands, they lack in their feet. I’m not saying Kaliyev skates as if he has lead in his boots; it’s just the one part of his game that is not top-notch. The Rangers passed on Oliver Wahlstrom last year for Vitali Kravtsov -which we are all more than happy about – but Wahlstrom is a pure goal scorer, and I believe the Rangers still lack that. I believe that Kaliyev can be that guy for them.

Victor Söderström (Brynäs IF – SHL)

Steven: A smooth-skating two-way defenseman, Victor Söderström plays on the right side and has been a really solid part of the Brynäs defense in the SHL this past season. His 44 games in the SHL are the third most in a single season by a 17-year-old defenseman, trailing only Adam Larsson and Tim Erixon. He is a great puck handler and his passing is what stands out most. He creates chances for his teammates with strong rushes up the ice, similar to what Tony DeAngelo does for the Rangers. His ability to read the play and predict how it unfolds makes him one of the top defensemen in this draft. With the arrival of Adam Fox, the Rangers should not necessarily stay away from defensemen. While the focus will be on forwards, Söderström is the type of player you pick if he’s available outside the top-ten. Together with Broberg, he has the skill-set to be a top-ten selection and don’t be surprised if he ends up walking to the podium in the first hour of the draft.

His mature style enables him to stay ahead of other prospects in terms of development. His first step makes him a threat in transition. Söderström does not sacrifice defense for the sake of offense, which is what some offensive defensemen in the past have been guilty of. Unlike Broberg, he’s a more physical defenseman who uses his body to win puck battles. With seven points this season in the SHL, he has shown he can contribute in that area of the game, which makes him a top-five defensive prospect in this upcoming draft.

Matthew Boldy (US NTDP)

Russell: The complete package. Matt Boldy has a powerful shot, his skating is excellent and some describe him as the Swiss-army knife forward in this draft. He can just do it all and do it well. At 6’2” and 192 lbs., Boldy is no slouch, and for someone his size, he is extremely agile on the ice. With time to develop, he will get more muscle on his frame and be an even bigger threat every time he touches the puck. Over his past two seasons with the US NTDP, Boldy has scored 62 goals and added 95 assists for 157 points in 125 games. Those are impressive numbers and Boldy projects to be a very solid top-six forward in the NHL.

Boldy’s hockey IQ is off the charts and he is an extremely selfless player. He is that type of guy that coach David Quinn would love to have with his tenacious mindset for the Rangers going forward. On the defensive side of the puck, Boldy does a good job on the backcheck and won’t be a liability on that side of the puck. Getting Boldy would be a coup for Gorton, and if the Rangers walk away from the first round of the 2019 draft with Kakko and Boldy, that would be something special.

Conclusion: If Jeff Gorton decides to trade up in the draft, there are several targets who would add significant value to the organization. For the last two years, the Rangers have gone for quantity. They added a plethora of draft picks and prospects in the last 24 months. This is the time to go for quality. Giving up a second round pick to move up four, five or maybe even six spots in the draft and get a guy who they are very high on, makes sense when you look at the timeline of the Rangers rebuild.