Rink Rap | A New York Rangers Podcast from Forever Blueshirts

Jim Cerny sits down with Marty Biron, the former NHL goalie and broadcaster, during the Rangers’ five-day break. The Rangers are without Igor Shesterkin for the rest of the season, so the conversation covers whether Dylan Garand and Joonas Korpisalo can keep the team afloat, what a goalie trade could look like around the holidays and why Biron wasn’t thrilled with the James Reimer start.

Biron and Jim also get into the bigger picture: the Rangers’ expected goals numbers, the finishing problem, and what the team needs from its power play and top forwards. Biron makes the case that Connor Hellebuyck joining the New Jersey Devils shifts the Metropolitan Division more than Shesterkin’s injury does.

Along the way, Biron tells the Henrik Lundqvist story from Sweden, rants about the league taking his double-zero number, and talks Devin Cooley, Jacob Fowler and the best goalies on Canadian teams.

Key talking points

• Rangers’ playoff outlook without Shesterkin
• Garand’s workload and Korpisalo’s return
• Possible trade targets, including Montembeault
• Why the Reimer start was a head-scratcher
• Expected goals against, finishing and the power play
• Hellebuyck and the Devils
• Cooley, Fowler and the top goalies on Canadian teams

Chapters:

00:00 Rangers hit a five-day break
00:50 Marty Biron joins as the “king of goaltending”
01:05 Two kings in Sweden: the Lundqvist bus tour story
01:54 Jim’s Stockholm lunch run-in with Hank’s fans
03:47 Why Marty could never be an EBUG
05:51 Marty’s double-zero rant
07:28 John Davidson’s year in double zero
08:40 How Marty ended up wearing No. 43
11:19 Rangers fans split on life after Shesterkin
12:20 Can the Rangers make the playoffs without Igor?
12:48 Lucky they didn’t lose Garand on waivers
14:07 Why this is an opportunity for Garand
14:44 Rangers could shop for a goalie by the holidays
15:23 Trade options: Gibson, Bennington, Montembeault
16:21 Montreal’s goalie logjam
17:07 Garand’s small sample size and the waiver risk
18:42 Garand’s long-term upside
19:35 Everything hinges on Korpisalo
21:12 Nine straight starts: the mental toll on Garand
22:16 Marty on stepping in for an injured Hasek
23:52 Why pulling Reimer after one period made no sense
27:49 Chicken or egg: the goalies or the defense?
29:55 Rangers rank 26th in expected goals against
31:45 The top-15 standard they need to hit
32:12 Should the Rangers worry about trailing after one period?
33:00 Plenty of chances, not enough finishing
33:42 Miller, Dorofeyev and Zibanejad need to deliver
34:29 The perfect storm
35:28 The power play as the X factor
36:32 Shesterkin’s knee and next season’s outlook
38:38 Hellebuyck or Shesterkin: what moves the Metro more?
40:30 Devils defend well but couldn’t stop the puck going in
41:39 Marty on the Devils as contenders
41:58 Devin Cooley and the Flames’ goalie turnaround
43:30 Marty’s top five goalies on Canadian teams
45:12 The Maple Leafs and the defensive concept problem
46:20 Marty on Mike Babcock and the Oilers
47:41 Rangers host Oilers Sunday, plus Jets banter
48:15 Wrap-up

Rangers prospects and the Hartford Wolf Pack take center stage as AHL.com’s Patrick Williams joins Jim Cerny on Rink Rap.

In this episode:
• Hartford’s new head coach Jay Leach and the early-season direction
• Which Rangers prospects are standing out in the AHL (and who still has work to do)
• The goaltending situation, including Callum Tung and the James Reimer PTO
• How the Wolf Pack is handling an early 0-5 stretch after a 3-0 start
• Whether this Hartford group is more resilient than past Wolf Pack teams
• Quick Rangers update covering the response after the Devils loss, the Columbus game, and the Ducks win at MSG

Patrick Williams is a longtime AHL reporter who also contributes to NHL.com. He gives an honest look at development, roster decisions, and the push-and-pull between the Rangers and their AHL affiliate.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro & Rangers update
15:00 – Patrick Williams joins
20:00 – Jay Leach and the coaching staff
28:00 – Prospects spotlight
45:00 – Goaltending situation
55:00 – Closing thoughts & what’s next

Subscribe to Rink Rap from Forever Blueshirts for more New York Rangers and Hartford Wolf Pack coverage.

Podcast number two this week. Jim Cerny breaks down the Rangers’ 7-1 loss in New Jersey, a night that looked a lot like the last two seasons after a 6-2 start. He covers the roster moves first: Taylor Raddysh is up from Hartford, Jaroslav Chmelar goes back down, and the Wolf Pack signed veteran goalie James Reimer to a PTO. Then he walks through the game: J.T. Miller’s late first-period turnover, the second-period collapse, Dylan Garand getting pulled, and why chasing games is a problem for this team without Igor Shesterkin. The Rangers visit Columbus on Saturday.

Chapters

• 00:00 Intro: a second Rink Rap this week
• 03:11 Raddysh up, Chmelar down
• 03:57 Why Sullivan doesn’t trust the fourth line
• 10:19 What Raddysh brings
• 13:53 James Reimer PTO and goalie depth
• 20:50 The Devils game: Miller’s turnover
• 24:47 Second-period collapse
• 31:00 Why one game shouldn’t cause panic
• 35:00 Wrap-up and what’s next

Igor Shesterkin is out for the season, and the New York Rangers are still 6-2-0. Jim Cerny opens with why the show missed last week and then digs into what the injury really costs this team, and why these Rangers look nothing like the soft group from two seasons ago.

He explains how Mike Sullivan has built a five-man defensive structure, how Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson stabilized the second pair, and why 18-year-old Alberts Šmits is already a real part of the third pair. He also covers Alexis Lafrenière’s league-leading seven goals and Pavel Dorofeyev’s slow start, and he makes the case for why he isn’t giving up on Dorofeyev.

Then comes the news of the day: Cole Beaudoin goes back to Hartford and Justin Dowling is recalled. Jim also lays out the goalie market with Jordan Binnington, Philipp Grubauer and Darcy Kuemper, explains why Connor Hellebuyck isn’t coming, and makes the case for letting Garand run with the job while Joonas Korpisalo recovers. The show closes with the Devils and Blue Jackets this week and a preview of live shows coming to the city.

In this episode:

• Shesterkin’s season-ending injury and what it means beyond this year
• Why the Rangers have bought in defensively under Sullivan
• Durzi, Pettersson, Schneider and Šmits on the back end
• Lafrenière’s hot streak and the Kartye-Miller line
• Dorofeyev’s struggles and the third line of Cuylle, Laba and Tolvanen
• Beaudoin, Dowling and the fourth-line center question
• Garand’s case as the starter and the goalie trade market

Subscribe to Rink Rap wherever you listen, and read more at ForeverBlueshirts.com. Follow Jim on X at @JimCerny.

#Rangers #NYR #NewYorkRangers #RinkRap #ForeverBlueshirts #IgorShesterkin #DylanGarand #NHL #RangersPodcast #LetsGoRangers

Chapters

0:00 Welcome to Rink Rap
0:52 Why there was no extra show last week
2:44 Covering the Igor news from a library
3:11 Igor Shesterkin is out for the season
4:34 The injuries are starting to add up
5:15 A wasted year for a goalie in his prime
5:51 No excuses: the Mike Sullivan Rangers
7:16 These are not the soft Rangers
9:11 So what’s actually different this year?
9:19 Durzi and Pettersson fix the second pair
11:31 6-2-0 and a total defensive buy-in
13:09 Garand’s first two starts without Igor
15:10 Tampa: Garand’s biggest test yet
16:00 Schneider and the improved third pair
16:17 Alberts Šmits is a revelation
19:12 Five-man units and fewer breakdowns
21:40 You no longer expect something bad to happen
22:41 Lafrenière leads the league with seven goals
26:00 Winning without Dorofeyev, Miller or Zibanejad scoring
27:36 Pavel Dorofeyev is frustrated and frustrating
29:51 Why Jim isn’t giving up on him
33:18 Cuylle, Laba and Tolvanen: the third line works
39:25 Carolina, Philadelphia and the Metro mush
42:57 Banking points and reclaiming the Garden
44:01 Beaudoin goes down, Dowling comes up
47:40 Do the Rangers need a fourth-line center?
49:25 Goalie depth: Korpisalo, Martin and Tung
50:12 Binnington, Grubauer, Kuemper: realistic targets?
55:29 Why Hellebuyck isn’t coming
56:15 Why Garand rises in big games
1:00:23 Devils and Blue Jackets this week
1:02:54 Live shows coming to the city

Jim Cerny and Newsday's Colin Stephenson break down the Rangers' four-game winning streak and the buzz back at Madison Square Garden. They cover Chris Drury's offseason, why the fast start looks sustainable, how Mike Sullivan turned Alexis Lafrenière into a complete player, Cole Beaudoin's NHL debut, Braden Schneider's prove-it season, J.T. Miller's leadership and whether the Rangers' new depth can hold up to injuries.

Chapters:

0:00 Rangers Start Hot

4:30 Drury's summer

8:20 Is it sustainable

16:53 Lafrenière's growth

24:15 Beaudoin's debut

29:36 Schneider's prove-it year

31:35 J.T. Miller

37:50 Rangers depth

Dylan Garand cleared waivers Monday and is headed back to the Hartford Wolfpack for a fifth season. Jim Cerny explains why the decision was made the day Chris Drury traded for Joonas Korpisalo on July 1, and why losing Garand would have left Spencer Martin as the next goalie up behind Igor Shesterkin.

Also in this episode:
- The three goalies who did get claimed: Clay Stevenson (Winnipeg), Levi Merilainen (Vancouver) and Poirier (New Jersey)
- How Garand handles going back to Hartford after saying he didn't plan to
- Albert Schmitz makes the team and debuts Tuesday
- Scott Morrow vs. Matthew Robertson for the extra defenseman spot
- Taylor Raddysh clears waivers, and Matt Rempe is in the lineup on opening night

The Rangers open the 2026-27 season Tuesday night in Boston against the Bruins on ESPN.

Read the full season preview and staff predictions at Forever Blueshirts.

Chapters:
00:00 Opening night is here
00:17 Garand and Raddysh clear waivers
(01:41) Why the Korpisalo trade decided it
(02:50) Drury and the veteran backup pattern
(04:01) Sullivan's "difficult decision"
(05:42) The goalies who got claimed
(08:11) Why losing Garand would have hurt
(09:19) Is Korpisalo the right No. 2?
(11:01) Best-case scenario for the Rangers
(12:15) How does Garand respond?
(16:41) Albert Schmitz makes the team
(18:02) Morrow, Robertson and the extra D
(19:39) Rempe in, opening night lineup
(20:17) Wrap and season preview

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The Rangers are two preseason games into a short camp. Opening night against Boston is next Tuesday, and Jim Cerny runs through who's up and who's down.

Adam Sykora will miss 4-5 months with a lower-body injury from Monday's game against the Devils. Jim didn't see a path for Sykora to the opening-night roster, but his energy and leadership will be missed in Hartford. The upside is depth. Eeli Tolvanen joins the bottom six, and Liam Greentree and Cole Beaudoin are pushing from the AHL.

Alberts Smits is the story of camp. The No. 5 overall pick has skated with the NHL group and alongside Braden Schneider every day. After his poised preseason debut against the Islanders, Jim thinks he has the inside track. Jim also covers:

• Where Smits' arrival leaves Matthew Robertson, Drew Fortescue and Scott Morrow
• What Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson change on the second pair
• The last fourth-line spot, between Taylor Raddysh, Matt Rempe and Jaroslav Chmelar
• Whether the Rangers carry three goalies to protect Dylan Garand
• Why Pavel Dorofeyev might be the Rangers' first true sniper since Marian Gaborik, and a J.T. Miller who looks energized

Plus updates on former Rangers Brennan Othmann, Jonny Brodzinski, Carson Soucy and Cam Talbot.

Coming up: Rink Rap is recording at Mustang Harry's near Madison Square Garden to kick off the season. Watch Forever Blueshirts on X for details, and read more at ForeverBlueshirts.com.

Jim Cerny is joined by Russ Cohen of Sportsology and NHL Prospects Radio to break down the Rangers' rookie series against the Philadelphia Flyers.

They cover Alberts Smits' two-game showing as the Rangers' No. 5 overall pick, Drew Fortescue playing his off side on defense, Dylan Roobroeck's physical bounce-back performance, and the development of Liam Greentree and Cole Beaudoin. They also dig into the goaltending, with both Danai Shaiikov and Callum Tung standing out, plus the chemistry between Adam Sykora and Tomas Chrenko. The guys wrap with a look ahead to what to watch at Rangers training camp.

Chapters:
0:00 Intro and Rangers-Flyers rookie series recap
0:55 Russ Cohen joins the show
5:39 Big-picture overview of the rookie series
7:21 Alberts Smits breakdown
13:52 Drew Fortescue playing his off side
17:14 Dylan Roobroeck's bounce-back game
19:44 Cole Beaudoin update and injury note
24:00 Rangers' need for top-six skill
26:49 Liam Greentree's two-way game
29:51 Adam Sykora and Tomas Chrenko chemistry
33:56 2026 draft class overview
39:36 Goaltending: Danai Shaiikov and Callum Tung
43:34 Looking ahead to Rangers training camp

Follow more Rangers coverage at foreverblueshirts.com and follow Russ Cohen's work at Sportsology and NHL Prospects Radio.

This is the Rink Rap podcast, part of the Forever Blueshirts network.

Hockey is back, and Jim Cerny is rolling into rookie camp week on Rink Rap from Forever Blueshirts.

The Rangers rookies play the Flyers on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. at PPL Center in Allentown. Cerny previews the first look at No. 5 pick Alberts Smits, Tomas Chrenko’s next step, Liam Greentree’s first Rangers sweater, and whether Cole Beaudoin can pull a Noah Laba and crash opening night.

Then it’s the roster questions that will follow this team into training camp: Eeli Tolvanen’s one-year fit next to Laba and Will Cuylle, why some fans want Cuylle in the top six with J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev, where Oliver Bjorkstrand lands, and why a Mika Zibanejad slump would be New York’s worst-case scenario after Vincent Trocheck’s departure.

Read the latest at ForeverBlueshirts.com

Jim on X: @JimCerny

Forever Blueshirts on X: @ForeverBluShirt

Chapters
0:00 Welcome to Rink Rap
0:47 More on Eeli Tolvanen
1:33 Rookie camp and Allentown schedule
2:29 First look at Alberts Smits
4:01 Ivy League polo and ESPN+
6:04 Johnny Lazarus and the Ranger tie
6:56 Why the Rangers delayed the rookie roster
9:15 Tomas Chrenko watch
11:58 Liam Greentree and Cole Beaudoin
12:40 Can Beaudoin pull a Noah Laba?
16:18 Nathan Aspinall and the next wave
17:32 Tolvanen deep dive with Rob Simpson
23:20 Cuylle, Laba and Tolvanen on the third line
23:41 Should Will Cuylle play in the top six?
25:52 Cuylle with J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev
27:00 Keeping Zibanejad, Lafrenière and Perreault together
28:08 Oliver Bjorkstrand’s role
32:54 Mika Zibanejad worst-case scenario
38:37 Weekend games, training camp and the Boston opener

September hockey is finally here. On this edition of the Rink Rap Podcast, Jim Cerny digs into the Rangers' latest offseason move: the one-year, $1.5 million signing of winger Eeli Tolvanen. Jim explains why Chris Drury waiting out a market that never developed for Tolvanen worked in the Rangers' favor, and why a rough underlying-numbers season in Seattle shouldn't scare fans off a player who's scored 23 goals and 41 points in a single season before.

Jim breaks down how Tolvanen slots into a projected third line with Will Cujo and Noah Laba, how the signing pushes Ty Cartier down to a much-improved fourth line, and why these short, affordable one-year deals (Tolvanen, Bjorkstrand, Veleno) are smart, low-risk business for a Rangers team still searching for top-end firepower. He also responds to fan criticism from both sides — those who think he's "drinking the Kool-Aid" and those who call him a "hater" — and lays out where he really stands on the Rangers' chances this season.

Plus: a preview of rookie camp and the Rangers-Flyers rookie games kicking off next week, the first-year prospects to watch (Liam Greentree, Nathan Aspinall, Cole Beaudoin, Malcolm Spence), and why only four preseason games this year means fewer chances to evaluate the kids. Jim wraps with a Labor Day sign-off and a look ahead to training camp.

Subscribe and follow along all season at ForeverBlueShirts.com, and follow Jim Cerny on X and Facebook @ForeverBlueShirts.

Timecodes

0:00 – Intro: hockey is back in September
1:59 – Housekeeping: shorter show, thanks for the support
4:57 – Rangers sign Eeli Tolvanen (1 year, $1.5M)
7:07 – Why Tolvanen's market never developed
9:23 – Tarasenko comparison and why he's not the right fit
9:52 – Projected third line: Cooley, Laba, Tolvanen
11:31 – Tolvanen's rough 2025-26 analytics explained
15:36 – Why one-year "bounce-back" deals make sense
19:16 – Addressing fan pushback: "Kool-Aid" vs. "hater" criticism
25:11 – Where the Rangers stack up in the Metro/Atlantic
28:22 – Rookie camp and prospects to watch next week
34:11 – Preseason format change: only 4 games this year
39:04 – Labor Day sign-off and what's coming next week

Jim Cerny is back from a week off and welcomes Dan D'Uva, the radio voice of the Vegas Golden Knights, for an in-depth look at the Pavel Dorofeyev trade. D'Uva breaks down why Vegas moved on from their leading goal scorer, what he brings to a Rangers lineup starved for scoring, how he compares to guys like Nikita Kucherov in adjusting to a new language and market, and whether he can produce without setups from Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. Along the way, Jim and Dan swap stories about broadcast booths and arenas around the league (catwalks, gondolas, and the infamous Johnstown press box), and Dan reflects on growing up a Devils fan in Jersey, chasing Doc Emrick and Mike Miller with a tape recorder, and how the 1994 Rangers-Devils series shaped his hockey fandom.

Chapters:

00:00 – Cold open / intro
00:15 – Jim welcomes listeners back from vacation, brings on Dan Duva
00:48 – Dan Duva introduced, voice of the Vegas Golden Knights
01:02 – Jim's Canadian Rockies trip and the new Calgary arena
01:45 – Catwalk vs. no-catwalk broadcast booths
02:35 – Ranking arenas by broadcast position (Islanders, old vs. new buildings)
04:16 – Edmonton's gondola/press bridge that never got built
04:56 – T-Mobile Arena vs. Little Caesars Arena, hopes for new Calgary arena
04:57 (5:00ish) – Saddledome and the gondola view of warmups
05:31 – Johnstown, PA and the Slap Shot broadcast booth story
06:59 – Wrapping up the arena talk, back to hockey
07:12 – Dan's Jersey/Devils roots growing up in Nutley
08:22 – The 1994 Rangers-Devils series and Stefan Matteau/Seinfeld reference
09:11 – The '95 lockout and Devils' Stanley Cup win
09:39 – Broadcasting practice tapes as a teenager, Ridgewood high school hockey
10:22 – Pestering Devils broadcasters (Mike Miller, Randy Velischek, Chico Resch)
14:52 – Transition into the Pavel Dorofeyev trade discussion
15:36 – Did Duva see the trade coming / draft-day reaction
17:01 – Salary cap situation and why Vegas moved on from Dorofeyev
19:22 – Dorofeyev's power play production and Viktor Olofsson's arrival
21:16 – Playoff scoring surge and comparison to Brett Howden
23:33 – White House visit story and Dorofeyevs drive to be a champion
26:00 – Comparing Dorofeyev to Nikita Kucherov's English/language journey
30:00 – Ivan Barbashev's influence and personality contrast
33:00 – Igor Shesterkin comparison and "I don't speak English" bit
34:33 – What Dorofeyev brings on the power play and even strength
36:35 – Can Dorofeyev be trusted in all situations (Mike Sullivan's demands)
42:39 – John Tortorella's role in Dorofeev's late-season push
47:54 – Whether Dorofeyev needs elite setup men (Eichel/Marner) to produce
52:17 – Reily Smith's "buy stock in Dorofeyev" story
56:17 – Handling the pressure of a big Rangers contract and market
1:00:20 – Comparing Dorofeyev's stage experience to Jack Eichel's Vegas arrival
1:03:23 – Ryan Craig named new Golden Knights head coach, background
1:05:10 – John Tortorella's arrival in Vegas, building early rapport
1:07:00 – The Cape Cod/Maine connection that broke the ice with Tortorella
1:11:16 – What Tortorella hates: the "non-question question"
1:16:33 – How Tortorella made Duva a better interviewer, contrast with Bruce Cassidy
1:20:33 – Tortorella's return to MSG and the "family" story with Jim's son
1:23:24 – Carter Hart's relationship with Tortorella from Philadelphia
1:25:57 – Closing thanks and sign-off

It's the dog days of August, but Jim Cerny isn't taking a week off. Flying solo this week (with a Banff vacation on the horizon), Cerny opens with a personal story from his early broadcasting days with the Islanders before diving into the meat of the show: a full breakdown of the Rangers' training camp roster crunch.

With only four preseason games this year, Cerny explains why fans shouldn't panic if top prospects don't make the opening night roster. Using Noah Laba's 2024 breakthrough as a blueprint, he walks through the cases of Liam Greentree, EJ Emery, Albert Schmidt, and Adam Sykora, and explains how waiver exemptions and one-year "placeholder" veteran signings like Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joey Velleno give the organization flexibility to develop young players on their own timeline rather than forcing them onto the NHL roster too early.

He also digs into Matt Rempe's path back after a season disrupted by a hand injury, why Rempe (not being waiver-exempt) has an edge in the fourth-line battle, and how the bottom six could shake out among Rempe, Sykora, Tychonick, and Taylor Raddish.

The show closes with a look at the growing fan chatter around "tanking" for a shot at Connor McDavid in 2028 free agency, why Cerny thinks that's a flawed long-term strategy, but also why the dream isn't entirely unrealistic given McDavid's age, cap trajectory, and history of taking less money to stay competitive.

Chapters:

0:00 — Intro, solo show, Michael Del Zotto teaser for a future episode

3:00 — Banff trip teaser and a throwback Calgary story from Cerny's Islanders broadcasting days

13:45 — Training camp overview: four preseason games, September 29 opener

14:20 — Why it's OK if Greentree, Bodwin, or Schmidt don't make the opening roster

15:00 — The Noah Laba blueprint: how he earned his spot last year

19:00 — Fewer preseason games means tougher, faster decisions this year

22:00 — Oliver Bjorkstrand signing as a "placeholder" veteran option

27:30 — The Matt Rempe question: fourth-line spot, waiver status, and his under-the-radar offseason

38:30 — Battle for the final bottom-six/13th forward spot: Sykora, Tychonick, Rempe

41:00 — Albert Schmidt and the case for patience with 18-year-old prospects

46:15 — Fan chatter: should the Rangers "tread water" for Connor McDavid in 2028?

52:00 — Cap math on what a McDavid contract could look like in 2028

Hart Levine, founder of PuckPedia, joins Jim Cerny on the Rink Rap podcast to break down the rapidly rising NHL salary cap, the evolving free-agency market, the real impact of offer sheets, and the New York Rangers’ critical upcoming decisions on Gabe Perreault, Will Cuylle, and Braden Schneider.

They also dig into the Pavel Dorofeyev contract, why teams are shifting toward shorter deals, how the end of the flat-cap era is changing player leverage, and the danger of the “mushy middle” for the Rangers as they try to retool.

If you care about Rangers cap strategy, NHL contracts, offer sheets, or the future of free agency, this is essential listening.

Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
0:48 – Hart Levine joins
1:39 – Origin story of PuckPedia (2018)
3:16 – How the site exploded after the competition folded
5:38 – “Welcome to the league” moments & recognition from teams/agents
11:22 – Wild offseason & free-agency trends with the rising cap
16:41 – Offer sheets: Carlsson, Hayton, threats vs. actual deals
21:00 – Rangers’ big decisions: Perreault, Cuylle, Schneider
32:04 – Pavel Dorofeyev’s 7-year, $11M deal analyzed
36:00 – Avoiding the mushy middle & Rangers’ path forward

Subscribe for more New York Rangers analysis, NHL cap talk, and interviews. Follow PuckPedia for the latest contract data and tools.

Jim Cerny sits down with Dan Kingerski (Pittsburgh Hockey Now) to talk through the Rangers' trade for Marcus Pettersson and why he could be the steadiest, most poised defenseman the team has had in years. They swap old Rangers-Penguins war stories, unpack Mike Sullivan's complicated reputation with young players, and talk about how new Penguins coach Dan Muse turned the room around last year — including getting the best out of Erik Karlsson. They close with a Metro Division preview and early playoff predictions ahead of training camp.

Chapters:
0:57 – Meet Dan Kingerski
1:18 – Old Rangers-Penguins rivalry stories
6:16 – The Marcus Pettersson trade, explained
11:04 – Why the Rangers needed this defensive pairing
16:47 – Rangers' speed and identity issues
20:14 – Sullivan and young players
23:00 – Dan Muse's culture reset in Pittsburgh
27:08 – Metro Division predictions
33:16 – Florida's playoff pressure
35:30 – Wrap-up and a Toronto pronunciation bit

Russ Cohen of NHL Network Radio joins Rink Rap to break down the Rangers' prospect pipeline — his specialty — and doesn't hold back. Cohen explains why he thinks the Rangers "compromised down the middle" in the Vincent Trocheck trade, why he's not sold on Noah Laba as a third-line center replacement, and why center prospect Cole Beaudoin might be the best piece of the return package, even with Sean Durzi in the mix. He also digs into Alexis Lafreniere's evolution into a "different player," caps his ceiling at 60 points, makes the case for tempering expectations on Gabe Perreault despite his top-6 upside as a line driver and line builder, and previews top prospects Liam Greentree and Alberts Smits. Russ closes with his Metropolitan Division predictions for 2026-27.

Chapters:

00:00 — Intro
00:15 — Welcome & guest intro: Russ Cohen (Sportsology/NHL Network Radio
1:22 — Mets talk (off-topic tangent)
2:39 — Into the NHL offseason
2:52 — Jason Robertson's one-year deal with Dallas
7:03 — Flyers' offer sheet for Carlson & rising agent power
8:42 — Vincent Trocheck trade: Rangers "compromised down the middle"
10:51 — Can Noah Laba replace Trocheck at 3rd-line center?
12:35 — Trocheck return package: Sean Durzi & Cole Beaudoin
16:09 — Alexis Lafreniere's evolution & point ceiling
18:03 — The Gabe Perreault debate (Pronman vs. Wheeler)
31:18 — Rangers' prospect philosophy: character over skill
32:11 — Liam Greentree breakdown
33:27 — Alberts Smits breakdown
34:59 — Should Smits start in Hartford or the NHL?
39:05 — Metro Division parity & playoff picture
48:05 — Final Metro Division predictions
52:49 — Wrap-up & where to find Russ Cohen

Rink Rap goes on location to Troy, NY, for the 2026 New York State Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where Rangers legends took center stage. Host Jim Cerny recaps a night honoring Don Maloney, Neil Smith, and Nick Fotiu — then Fotiu himself drops by the mic for stories about throwing pucks into the MSG crowd, being feared vs. loved, and his advice for Matt Rempe.

Then Hall of Fame broadcaster Sam Rosen joins to break down the Rangers' offseason: the Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson additions, Joonas Korpisalo settling the backup goalie spot behind Igor Shesterkin, and why Pavel Dorofeyev could transform the power play. Allan Kreda of the Associated Press closes the show with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet fallout, JT Miller and the captaincy question, Braden Schneider trade rumors, and where the Rangers stack up in a loaded Metro Division.

Follow all our Rangers coverage at ForeverBlueshirts.com. Like, subscribe, and drop a comment: are the Rangers a playoff team in 2026-27?

#NewYorkRangers #NYRangers #NHL #NickFotiu #SamRosen #RinkRap

Chapters:

00:00 Intro from Troy, NY – NYS Hockey Hall of Fame induction night

00:36 Inductees: Don Maloney, Neil Smith, Nick Fotiu

02:04 Nick Fotiu surprise interview

03:00 Throwing pucks into the MSG crowd (and almost hitting Jim)

08:38 Fotiu's advice for Matt Rempe: feared vs. loved

10:25 Neil Smith's induction speech & the Maloney brothers' moment

16:38 Sam Rosen interview begins

19:53 Rosen on the Rangers' offseason: "a team that can compete"

21:16 Sean Durzi & Marcus Pettersson: filling the Fox insurance gap

24:24 Korpisalo, Dylan Garand & the goalie depth chart

27:42 Pavel Dorofeyev and a more dangerous power play

32:08 Allan Kreda (AP) joins the show

33:04 Leo Carlsson's $18M offer sheet fallout

38:00 Is Dorofeyev a younger Panarin?

40:29 JT Miller, the captaincy & pressure in New York

43:45 Braden Schneider trade talk

47:54 Metro Division pecking order: where do the Rangers land?

51:31 Wrap-up: PR McGuire and more guests coming this summer

Former Rangers captain and MSG broadcaster Dave Maloney joins Jim Cerny to break down a busy start to the Rangers' offseason. They discuss the real impact of trading Vincent Trocheck, both on the ice and in the locker room, and what it means for a retooling roster. Dave and Jim dig into the remade second defense pairing with Pederson and Jersey, and why Braden Schneider's next contract might be the most important storyline of the summer.

They also cover Pavel Dorofeyev's seven-year, $77 million commitment and what it says about the direction of the franchise, the surprising money behind the Yaroslav Korpisalo goaltending trade, and how the crease shakes out behind Igor Shesterkin. Plus, a look at how Toronto and Ottawa's own offseason drama, from Gavin McKenna to Brady Tkachuk, compares to the Rangers' path forward.

A candid conversation about roster turnover, player loyalty, and what it takes to rebuild a contender.

Chapters:

00:00 Cold open — Trocek trade risk teaser
00:56 Intro — Rink Rap podcast open, Jim Cerny welcomes Dave Maloney
02:16 Catching up — Dave's grandkids, life update, offseason mood
02:53 Toronto and Ottawa fan reactions — Gavin McKenna, Brady Tkachuk
05:08 Trade talk begins — Vincent Trocek's impact on and off the ice
09:36 Comparing Trocek's exit to the Jacob Trouba situation
11:52 Remade second defense pair — Pederson and Jersey
13:57 Braden Schneider's fit and future with the Rangers
19:00 Schneider's contract situation and arbitration outlook
26:50 Goaltending — Dylan Garand, Yaroslav Korpisalo trade
32:10 Draft picks and prospect pipeline — Greenway, Beaudoin, Petaglia
34:59 Draft-day trade-up for the fifth pick
37:42 Season review — what went wrong the year before
41:24 Losing Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin the same night
44:05 Upcoming events — New York State Hockey Hall of Fame weekend
44:56 Growing Shoulder Check campaign and July 30th charity event
52:00 Sign-off

Jim Cerny is back on Rink Rap to break down an absolutely wild 24-hour stretch for the New York Rangers. After missing the instant reaction show following a chaotic July 1st, Jim dives deep into everything Chris Drury did to reshape this roster: the blockbuster trade for Pavel Dorofeyev, the surprising fifth-overall pick of Alberts Šmits over fan-favorite Chase Reid, the Marcus Pettersson and Vincent Trocheck trades, and a goaltending shakeup that's got Rangers fans split on Dylan Garand vs. Joonas Korpisalo.

Jim also gets into why the Rangers are deliberately buying time for their prospects, breaks down Cole Beaudoin's fit as a two-way center, and wraps with thoughts from Rangers development camp.

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro & Cold Open

00:15 Jim's Insane 24 Hours: The Hot Mess Wednesday Story

04:29 Programming Notes: NY State Hockey Hall of Fame (July 12)

09:08 BREAKING: Rangers Acquire Pavel Dorofeyev From Vegas

09:19 Why Dorofeyev Is Such a Perfect Fit

10:12 The Age Factor: Why 25 Changes Everything

12:36 Replacing Panarin, Not Trocheck

13:05 Power Play Weapon: Elite Numbers

13:58 The Defensive Upside Nobody's Talking About

14:53 Rangers Draft Alberts Šmits No. 5 Overall

15:21 Mixed Reaction: Why Fans Wanted Chase Reid

20:00 Reid vs. Šmits: Breaking Down the Debate

22:54 The Gabrielov Succession Plan

25:04 Grading the Draft Class (C-Minus Reviews)

26:13 Backfilling the Prospect Pool

27:13 Drew Fortescue's Path Forward

29:07 Segment 2 Begins

29:40 The Real Strategy: Buying Time for Prospects

32:11 Case Study: Drew Fortescue's Opportunity

33:50 Breaking Down the Marcus Pettersson Trade

43:42 Grading the Trocheck Trade

43:58 Vincent Trocheck's Rangers Legacy

45:57 Sean Durzi Replaces Will Borgen

48:55 Braden Schneider's New Reality

50:41 Are the Rangers Actually Better Than Game 82?

55:57 Segment 3 Begins: The Goalie Controversy

57:53 Igor Shesterkin's Backup Problem

59:29 Dylan Garand's Case for the No. 2 Job

1:01:14 The Joonas Korpisalo Trade Breakdown

1:03:40 Is Garand Getting a Fair Shot?

1:04:39 Cole Beaudoin: The Trocheck Trade's Hidden Gem

1:08:17 Cole Beaudoin's Injury Concern

1:08:24 Development Camp Wrap-Up

1:09:21 Closing Thoughts & What's Next

Jim breaks down why Pavel Dorofeyev is the perfect fit up front, then unpacks the Rangers' surprise pick of Alberts Šmits over fan-favorite Chase Reid at No. 5.

The Marcus Pettersson trade, the Vincent Trocheck deal for Sean Durzi, and why the Rangers are deliberately buying time for their prospects instead of rushing them.