Keith Yandle explains why he left the New York Rangers in 2016 after helping the team win the Presidents' Trophy in 2014‑15. The defenseman was acquired at the March 1, 2015 trade deadline from Arizona for prospect John Moore, Anthony Duclair and multiple picks, then added 11 points in the final stretch and another 11 in the playoffs. After a disappointing 2015‑16 postseason and roster shake‑ups, the Rangers traded Yandle to Florida, where he signed a seven‑year, $44.5 million deal. On the Wingmen podcast, Yandle says he saw the team “going down” and was the last top‑free‑agent defenseman left, prompting his move to the Panthers.
Rangers rookie goalie Dylan Garand is thriving thanks to a mature mindset that belies his 24 years. AHL beat reporter Patrick Williams describes Garand’s confidence, humility and ‘30‑year‑old mentality’ as key to his rise. After stepping in for an injured Igor Shesterkin, Garand posted a 6‑2‑2 record in 10 NHL games, a 1.77 GAA and .936 save percentage, ranking top‑10 in the league. He earned his first NHL shutout against Detroit and now sits 6‑1‑2 as a starter. The 2020 fourth‑round pick avoided waivers, bounced between Hartford and New York, and secured a two‑year deal, proving the Rangers’ gamble paid off.
Rangers’ NCAA prospects dominate the early season, occupying spots on the nation’s top five teams after Michigan’s 4‑1 win over No. 2 Denver. Malcolm Spence (Michigan) nets two goals, including the game-winner, snapping Denver’s 19‑game streak and lifting Michigan to the No. 1 ranking in the USA Hockey poll. Fellow prospects Sean Barnhill (Michigan State), E.J. Emery (North Dakota), Ty Henricks (Western Michigan) and Ben MacBeath (Denver) also score, while Charlie Morrison (UConn) keeps the squad in the top‑20. Six of seven Rangers prospects now play for ranked programs, positioning them as early championship contenders.
Sean Durzi quickly proves he belongs in New York, mirroring many of the traits that made Vincent Trocheck a fan favorite. The 28‑year‑old, 6‑foot defenseman logs over 20 minutes per game, has four points and ranks third on the Rangers with 18 blocked shots in 11 outings, solidifying a veteran second pairing with Marcus Pettersson. Durzi’s $6 million salary and outgoing personality fill the locker‑room gap left by Trocheck’s departure, though health remains a concern after past shoulder issues. Meanwhile, Detroit’s Dylan Larkin expands his trade wishlist to include the New Jersey Devils, adding another twist to upcoming NHL deals. The piece also previews a new Rink Rap podcast on the Wolf Pack and a deep dive on the Rangers’ defensive metrics.
The New York Rangers have gotten off to a 7-3-1 start even though star goalie Igor Shesterkin is out for the season with a lower-body injury, and backup goalie Joonas…
Your morning round-up of the latest from Blueshirt Banter, Rangers News, and updates from around the NHL
Dylan Larkin pushes his pending Detroit Red Wings trade forward, expanding his preferred destination list to ten NHL clubs. While his original shortlist featured the Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights and Dallas Stars, he now adds the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche and the Utah Mammoth. Notably, Larkin excludes both the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens, ending recent trade buzz linking him to Montreal. The move signals Larkin’s focus on joining a Stanley‑Cup contender for the 2026‑27 season.
Rangers CHL and USHL prospects shine this week. Darian Anderson snaps a seven‑game point streak but bounces back with a career‑best three‑point (two goals, one assist) effort as Flint beats Oshawa 3‑2, tallying his seventh goal and first short‑handed tally. Spencer Bowes nets his seventh goal in a 6‑2 win over Brampton and scores the overtime winner in a 3‑2 OT victory over Oshawa, tying for fourth in OHL scoring among all players. goalie Danai Shaiikov records a 42‑save shutout in a 2‑0 win over the Quebec Remparts, dropping his GAA to 2.83. Defenseman Felix Farhammar logs a career‑best three assists in Muskegon’s 5‑2 win over Youngstown. All three lead the Rangers prospect pool in points, goals and goaltending metrics respectively.
The Rangers boast a top‑four goals‑against rate (2.18 per game) and a perfect 6‑0 home record after 11 games, but defensive metrics raise red flags. Second‑pair Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson post a 42.9 expected‑goal share at 5‑on‑5, with opponents out‑chancing them 79‑73 and generating 35‑24 more high‑danger chances. Their possession numbers have declined for two consecutive seasons. The third pair, rookie Alberts Smits and veteran Braden Schneider, sit at a 40.0 expected‑goal share, again ceding more chances than they create. While the new blue‑line looks promising on the surface, the underlying stats suggest the Rangers could face defensive regression as the season progresses.
From Alexis Lafreniere to Dylan Garand, the Rangers continue to stay scorching hot, even without Igor Shesterkin.
Former Detroit Red Wings center Luke Glendening has signed a PTO with the New York Rangers following an injury to Joe Veleno.
The Rangers extend their flawless home start with a 5-2 win over the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden, staying unbeaten and never trailing. Despite three scare moments—Marcus Pettersson’s board hit, Mika Zibanejad’s facial cut, and Sean Durzi’s wrist injury—each player returned to contribute, with Durzi scoring his second goal and earning the game’s Second Star. The victory comes as New York navigates the season without starter Igor Shesterkin (season‑ending knee injury) and other depth pieces. The article also notes Gavin McKenna’s excitement after his first NHL game‑winning goal for Toronto, and discusses Rangers roster moves and power‑play concerns.
A perfect home record, a goalie who keeps stealing the spotlight, and a power play that still hasn’t figured itself out. Plus, the latest Dave Maloneyisms.
Your morning round-up of the latest from Blueshirt Banter, Rangers News, and updates from around the NHL
The New York Rangers snap a two‑game skid with a 5‑2 home win over the Anaheim Ducks, extending their unbeaten streak at Madison Square Garden to six games. Rookie netminder Dylan Garand earns his second shutout, posting a .929 save percentage and a 1.85 GAA, while Ducks coach Joel Quenneville bluntly admits his top players “weren’t very good” after the loss. The victory keeps the Rangers unbeaten at home and solidifies Garand as a key contender in the Metro Division.
The New York Rangers are actively scouting Utah Mammoth goalie Karel Vejmelka after losing Igor Shesterkin to a season‑ending knee injury on Oct. 9. With backup Joonas Korpisalo also sidelined, 24‑year‑old Dylan Garand has stepped in, posting a .927 save percentage and a shutout in five starts. Vejmelka, a 30‑year‑old on a $4.75 M cap hit, posted a 38‑win season with a .897 save percentage for Utah and is currently 5‑2‑0 with a 2.89 GAA this year. A trade would likely need salary retention, and rumors suggest Utah may move Vejmelka if they acquire Connor Hellebuyck.
Brenden Dillon sits out his fourth straight game as the Devils coach Sheldon Keefe confirms the veteran used his trade‑protection clause to veto a move last season. Meanwhile, the team’s cap space is a mere $77,077, raising doubts about a possible Connor Hellebuyck deal—his $8.5 million hit would require a blockbuster trade involving Dawson Mercer, Dillon, Nico Daws and prospect Matías Vanhanen. Keefe’s 172‑game record (88‑74‑10) outperforms John Hynes and Lindy Ruff, but scoring remains a concern despite strong defensive metrics. The article also notes Jason Robertson’s $15 million offer turn‑down and a former Devil trying out for the Rangers.
The New York Rangers extend their perfect home run to 6‑0‑0 with a 5‑2 win over the Anaheim Ducks at Madison Square Garden, marking the franchise’s third 6‑0 start at MSG and tying for the second‑longest home opening streak. Sean Durzi opened the scoring at 1:18, and the Rangers piled up four unanswered goals in the second period to lead 4‑0 at intermission. Oliver Bjorkstrand logged his second two‑goal game of the season, while J.T. Miller added a power‑play goal and Gabe Perreault finished a slick set‑up by Alexis Lafreniere and Mika Zibanejad. Rookie net‑minder Dylan Garand made 29 saves, earning a third‑star nod in his sixth win of nine NHL starts. The victory keeps the Rangers unbeaten at home (7‑3‑1 overall) as they prepare for back‑to‑back road games in Toronto and Ottawa.
After Igor Shesterkin’s season‑ending injury, 24‑year‑old Dylan Garand vaulted from a third‑depth spot to the New York Rangers’ starting goaltender. Through Oct. 14 he posted a 5‑1‑1 record with a 1.37 GAA and .949 save percentage, including a 4‑1 win over Tampa Bay where he stopped 25 of 26 shots. A rough 7‑1 loss to New Jersey on Oct. 17, however, raised concerns about consistency. With backup Joonas Korpisalo out for about a month, Garand remains the team’s primary option, and his next starts will determine if he can lock down the No. 1 role for the rest of the season.
The New York Rangers stay unbeaten at Madison Square Garden, beating a travel‑weary Anaheim Ducks 5-2 on Oct. 20, 2026. Sean Durzi scores 78 seconds in, while Oliver Bjorkstrand nets a pair, and J.T. Miller and Gabe Perreault add goals. Dylan Garand makes 28 saves, nearly posting a shutout before Nick Jensen scores with 1:09 left. The win pushes the Rangers to a perfect 6‑0‑0 home start – matching the 1983‑84 squad and edging toward the franchise record set in 1990‑91. Their next challenge: a two‑game road trip to Canada beginning Thursday.
Bjorkstrand scored twice, J.T. Miller added a power-play goal, and Dylan Garand came within 69 seconds of a shutout before the Ducks broke through late.
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The Columbus Blue Jackets enter the week of Oct. 19–25 looking for greater consistency at both ends of the ice. A 1-0 overtime win over the New York Rangers offered…
The New York Rangers add 37‑year‑old veteran center Luke Glendening on a professional tryout after lower‑body injury sidelines fourth‑line centerman Joe Veleno for 3–3½ months. Glendening, who has 934 NHL games, 85 goals and 175 points across Detroit, Dallas, Tampa Bay, New Jersey and Philadelphia, joins the Rangers with $4.4 million cap space available; he must sign a standard contract within a 10‑day PTO window, and the Rangers hold right of first refusal. A penalty‑killer and former Selke candidate, Glendening posted nine points in 70 games last season and helped Philadelphia win a first‑round series.
The Winnipeg Jets are close to trading star goalie Connor Hellebuyck before his suspension ends on Friday, Oct. 19. Advanced talks involve the Buffalo Sabres and Utah Mammoth, with a possible three‑team deal that could land Sabres' Ukko‑Pekka Luukkonen or Mammoth's Karel Vejmelka in New York. Insiders cite Buffalo’s interest, the Rangers’ need after an injury to Igor Shesterkin, and renewed Mammoth interest after a June lull. Jets reportedly may pay Hellebuyck to stay, but a trade looks imminent.