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1 week ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
Only four times in NHL history has a team won the Presidents’ Trophy one season, only to miss the Stanley Cup Playoffs the following season. Incredibly, the New York Rangers account for half of those instances. They were the first team to accomplish this ignominious feat in 1992-93, and the most recent to do so this past season. Each of those seasons went up in flames after beginning with such promise, much of it fueled by finishing with the best regular-season record in the NHL the year before.
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1 week ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
Perhaps the New York Rangers most important decision this offseason will be what to do with K’Andre Miller. They could re-sign the pending restricted free-agent defenseman, who’s got arbitration rights and is due a significant raise. Or the Rangers could trade the talented yet inconsistent 25-year-old, likely to receive a nice haul in return.
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1 week ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
When it comes to whether the New York Rangers need a captain next season and, if so, which player should wear the “C” is an intriguing debate. I tend to agree with Larry Brooks, who wrote in the New York Post that the Rangers need a captain after this past rudderless season, both before and after Jacob Trouba was traded to the Anaheim Ducks. If you think that last part — “both before and after” — is a small dig at Trouba’s leadership, well, you’re right.
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1 week ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
Henrik Lundqvist was indicted into the IIHF Hall of Fame on Sunday. Fittingly for the New York Rangers legend, the ceremony took place in Lundqvist’s home country of Sweden. One of the greatest goalies in NHL history, Lundqvist is sixth all-time – – and first among goalies born in Europe — with 459 wins, also a Rangers record. As such, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2023.
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1 week ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
The World Hockey Championships ended on a good — if not perfect — note for New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad on Sunday. On the final day of the tournament, Zibanejad was in action for host country Sweden — just not in the gold medal game. Zibanejad scored a goal and added an assist to help Sweden secure the bronze medal with a 6-2 win against Denmark.
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1 week ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
The New York Rangers sure could use a defenseman like Niko Mikkola. Big, physical, plays with bite, moves the puck well, at his best in the most important games and situations, and affordable. It’d be a nice to have someone in their top four who checks all those boxes. Of course, you already know the punchline here. The Rangers had Mikkola, but let him get away.
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2 weeks ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
Michael Peca will not be part of Mike Sullivan’s coaching staff next season with the New York Rangers. Peca is leaving the Rangers to join the Chicago Blackhawks to be an assistant under new coach Jeff Blashill. As reported yesterday, Jeff Blashill is the new head coach of the Chicago Blackhawks. Anders Sorensen remains with the club as an assistant and is joined by Michael Peca (from NYR). Another assistant coach is to be named, Mike Vellucci (from PIT) has been in the running.
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2 weeks ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
If and when Reilly Smith reaches 1,000 games in the next season or two, the 58 he played for the New York Rangers in 2024-25 will be a mere footnote on his solid NHL resume. So nondescript was his brief run with the Rangers that he felt completely rejuvenated when they moved him to the Vegas Golden Knights ahead of the trade deadline this season. That deal sent him back to the team where Reilly’s had the most success in his career, the team he helped win the Stanley Cup in 2023.
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2 weeks ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
So you thought being a New York Rangers fan was tough. Well, Wednesday night wasn’t the greatest if you are hard core for the other team that calls Madison Square Garden home. Holy hell. What an epic, historic collapse by the New York Knicks in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference Final series against the Indian Pacers. Up 14 with 2:45 remaining in regulation, the Knicks let it all slip away. On home court, no less. With Indiana star Tyrese Halliburton imitating Reggie Miller’s infamous choke sign.
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2 weeks ago | 
foreverblueshirts.com | Jim Cerny
With rumors swirling again that Bowen Byram could be traded this summer, the New York Rangers owe it to themselves to at least find out what it might cost to land the 23-year-old defenseman from the Buffalo Sabres. The rumor mill first began to churn around Byram prior to the NHL Trade Deadline in March. His name is out there again, with League insider Elliotte Friedman the latest to discuss Byram’s future on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast.