The 2025-26 season can’t begin quickly sufficient for the Rangers, who need to return to playoff competition and distance themselves from the disaster that was final season.
As they work to take action, nevertheless, the Blueshirts must face a tour of former gamers.
It’s a journey of their very own making after the workforce took a nosedive within the standings early final yr, which led to the departures of a number of lineup regulars within the first important roster shake-up because the deadline purge of 2018.
Tribute movies can be performed on the Madison Sq. Backyard jumbotron. Feelings will run excessive.
The Rangers core as we as soon as knew it is going to be scattered throughout the league, with a reminder in practically each crevice of the 82-game schedule that was unveiled Wednesday afternoon.
Starting on Opening Night time, ex-assistant coach Dan Muse and the Penguins will enterprise to MSG.
That additionally means new Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan, who left Pittsburgh after 10 years this summer season, will get to face his former workforce for the primary time very early within the season.
He will even make his grand return to the Metal Metropolis simply 4 days later, after the Rangers open the street schedule at Buffalo.
If Zac Jones makes the Sabres lineup out of coaching camp, the 24-year-old defenseman could be the primary ex-Ranger from final season’s turmoil on the circuit.
He may get the primary crack on the membership he by no means fairly match into, which led to him changing into a free agent this summer season — after the Rangers didn’t qualify him and he signed a one-year, two-way take care of the Sabres.
The Rangers may see Filip Chytil for the primary time since they traded the Czech Heart to the Canucks, once they head to Vancouver on Oct. 28 as a part of a four-game swing out west.
Since he suffered one other concussion after the commerce, Chytil couldn’t play when the Canucks visited the Backyard final season.
Chytil, who stated he plans to be prepared by September, is ready to return to MSG on Dec. 16.
Simply after visiting Chytil, the Rangers will see Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren in Seattle on Nov. 1 on the finish of the western Canada swing.
Although Kakko had a powerful begin to his Kraken tenure, Lindgren will simply be getting began after signing a four-year, $18 million deal as a free agent from Colorado.
Ok’Andre Miller and the Hurricanes can be on the Backyard on Nov. 4 for a extremely anticipated matchup, after the Rangers traded the No. 22 decide in 2018 to Carolina earlier this month.
Coming off a tricky season, the 25-year-old blueliner can be trying to make a press release not just for his new membership, however in opposition to his former one.
Dec. 15 can also be certain to be a memorable one, contemplating each ex-captain Jacob Trouba and 13-year Ranger Chris Kreider can be stepping again into MSG for the primary time when the Geese come to city.
The Rangers already noticed Trouba once they went to Anaheim final season, however the 31-year-old has not returned to the Backyard since his tumultuous exit from the group in early December.
Kreider, who was traded to Anaheim in June, is bound to be given a heat welcome again in New York.
A front-loaded schedule, which options 23 street video games of the primary 41, will lead right into a second half that features a seven-game residence stand on the finish of March into early April.
All 4 conferences with the Islanders are earlier than the March 6 commerce deadline.
All three conferences with the Devils are after the commerce deadline.
The trail again to Stanley Cup relevancy is ready for the Rangers, with loads of acquainted faces to function frightful reminders and information the best way.
