“What might make more sense for the Rangers is simply finding a short-term rental option for the rest of this season. One name that could be available and make sense: Montreal’s Sam Montembeault,” Bleacher Report‘s Adam Gretz started.

“The Canadiens have two young goalies that they really like, Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler, who should be the future, while Montembeault is in the final year of his contract and likely the odd man out. He has had some really good seasons in the past and could be a solid veteran to accompany Garand for this season.”

Montembeault could be a solid option for Mike Sullivan, especially if the front office can acquire him at a reasonable price. Where will he ultimately end up in the near future?

Montembeault contract situation

Sam Montembeault is in the middle of a three-year contract extension with the Canadiens, carrying a manageable $3.15 million AAV cap hit. With Montreal rostering extra goalies and evaluating their crease long-term, Montembeault has emerged as a frequent subject in trade chatter.

For the New York Rangers, picking him up on a low-cost deal would be a ideal fit: it gives them a reliable, battle-tested netminder who can handle real starter-level workload without destroying their tight cap space. Whether as high-end insurance or a steady tandem option to keep their crease stable, getting an experienced goaltender with term at just over $3M would be a massive bargain for New York’s depth.

What happened to Shesterkin?

The Rangers took a massive blow on Friday, October 9, 2026, when Igor Shesterkin suffered a serious lower-body injury to his right knee during a 3-1 loss against the Washington Capitals. After jamming his leg awkwardly against the goalpost midway through the second period, he had to be helped off the ice, unable to put weight on it.

The ultimate diagnosis was a worst-case scenario: the Rangers announced that Shesterkin will miss the entire remainder of the 2026–27 season, completely sidelining their elite netminder and leaving New York to navigate its crease without its main anchor.

Key takeaways

• The New York Rangers are linked to Canadiens goaltender Sam Montembeault following an injury.
• Sam Montembeault carries a $3.15 million AAV cap hit on his contract with Montreal.
• Igor Shesterkin will miss the entire 2026–27 season due to a right knee injury.

It’s been a while since the Rangers last made the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Not as long as it has been for some other clubs, but the past two seasons haven’t been encouraging, either.

That’s true both from a hockey and on-ice product standpoint and from a financial perspective. And the ownership in New York didn’t sugarcoat how tough these past two seasons have been. The quality of the on-ice product made that plain to see, but the numbers tell an even bigger story and only ramp up the pressure on Sullivan and the Rangers.

“NY Rangers lost about $30.5 million during 2026 fiscal year and $23.3 million in 2025, according to MSG Rangers’ SEC filing. Rangers had $26.8 mill in profits in 2024,” as reported by Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. “Company says: ‘We are likely not to be profitable in the near term unless the Rangers make an extended playoff run‘.”

NY Rangers are now separated from NY Knicks

Though both sports organizations that call Madison Square Garden home are still owned by the same parent company, MSG Sports, they have been two separate publicly traded companies since Oct. 26.

Unless someone is interested in purchasing shares in either company, the spin-off doesn’t change much about how the Blueshirts—or the Knickerbockers, for that matter—are managed. James Dolan remains the CEO of both companies.

MSG Knickerbockers Corp. owns the New York Knicks as well as their G League affiliate, while MSG Rangers Corp. owns the Blueshirts, their AHL affiliate, the Hartford Wolf Pack, and the MSG training facility.

NY Rangers must turn the tide fast

However, with the Knicks’ revenue and profits now part of a separate corporation, the basketball team may no longer be able to toss its NHL neighbors a lifeline if they need one. The Rangers are on their own in that regard, and that’s another reason Sullivan and company will feel the pressure not only to make the playoffs but also to go on a long run.

Sullivan may be on the spot

It took a while, but Sullivan has finally had his “Welcome to New York City” moment. This is the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, but it’s also a meat grinder where, if you aren’t winning or making money, you can become expendable. If a team is losing games and money simultaneously, the head coach can only last so long—even someone with a résumé like Sullivan’s.

Fans grow suspicious

However, fans are mainly wary of the Rangers’ statement that the team is losing money. Just a year ago, the Blueshirts were ranked as the NHL’s second-most valuable team, and many believe this is merely an accounting tactic—a rather creative one—to send a message to the coaching staff and players about the expectations for the brand of hockey played at Madison Square Garden.

Key takeaways

• Captain J.T. Miller called out the New York Rangers prior to ownership financial remarks.
• NY Rangers lost $30.5 million during the 2026 fiscal year, per SEC filing.
• Separated publicly traded companies now house the Rangers and Knicks since Oct. 26.

Miller is determined not to let the 2026-27 NHL campaign be a repeat of last season for the Rangers. As New York dangerously flirts with that nerve-wracking prospect, the captain didn’t stutter to put the team on notice. In the meantime, he also reminded the league what New York is capable of when at its best.

“We’re worried about ourselves. We know that when we play the brand that we know we can bring, we’re a lot to handle for teams,” J.T. Miller admitted after the Rangers’ home loss to the Kings, via SNY. “We need to go back to play to our identity. We’re playing the opposite of that right now.”

Importance of Miller’s comments

While Miller acknowledged the team’s struggles and how the locker room has drifted away from what worked for them not too long ago, he still put the league on notice. The captain isn’t giving up on his team anytime soon.

With his postgame admission, Miller killed two birds with one stone, pulling on his teammates’ ears while sending a league-wide reminder. Sometimes, such things are as important from team leaders and captains as their on-ice production.

New York needs a spark

Even if they’re not at their best, the Rangers need to find their footing in the 2026-27 NHL season. After a hot start, they’re now staring trouble right in the face.

Obviously, Igor Shesterkin’s injury, along with Joonas Korpisalo’s, whom Mike Sullivan provided a promising injury update on, makes things tougher, but Miller is still holding his teammates to a high standard.

NY Rangers’ rough stretch

The Blueshirts have lost four of their last five games, been heavily outscored by their opponents, and failed to secure key wins at home at Madison Square Garden. It’s all bringing back memories the Blueshirts would rather not revisit, and Miller hopes it’s not too late to get back on track.

Rangers have time to right the ship, but need urgency

It’s not too late. It’s not even November, but it’s better to be cautious, and with the injury bug taking a toll on the crease, Miller might be right to deliver a strong wake-up call to the rest of the team.

Such loud statements were quite common last season, and that’s another thing that’s raising concerns for New York. Slowly but steadily, the Rangers appear to be repeating some of the problems from last year. History may not repeat itself in Manhattan, but it’s starting to rhyme.

Key takeaways

• J.T. Miller stated the Rangers are playing opposite from their identity.
• Miller still warned the rest of the NHL about New York’s A-game.
• The Rangers have lost four of their last five games in the 2026-27 season.

Going into the game, Laviolette cast Chris Drury and the Rangers’ front office in a bad light, and things didn’t look any better for the brass when Laviolette‘s Kings blew the Blueshirts out of the water at the World’s Most Famous Arena.

Making his season debut and fresh off signing a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, Reimer saw his night end in the first intermission after allowing three goals on eight shots and a 9.00 GAA. Rather than throw the goalie under the bus after the game, Sullivan showed mercy and instead blamed only himself for putting the 38-year-old in a tough spot against Los Angeles.

“I put [Reimer] in a tough spot. That’s on me,” Sullivan said postgame, via Mollie Walker of the New York Post. “For Reims, to come in the way he has in short order and come into a game like this, it’s not an easy challenge. It’s a tough challenge. I just felt like maybe Reims needs a little bit more preparation before we put him in that circumstance.“

Sullivan addresses NY Rangers’ current state

“Let’s just acknowledge we’re in a difficult circumstance when our top two goalies are injured,” Sullivan added. “We’re trying to find a way to shore this thing up as best we can. I think Dylan [Garand] has given us some really good games. His workload is mounting.“

The truth is, the Rangers as a whole are in a rough spot, but the troubles are only magnified when it comes to their crease. On the one night Sullivan hoped to give rookie-turned-starter Dylan Garand a breather and some much-needed rest, the 24-year-old was called into action and ended up playing most of the game.

Goaltending struggles

As great as Garand’s start to the year was, missing both Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo was never going to be an easy storm to weather, and the Blueshirts are now figuring that out. Through his last five outings, Garand is 1-3-1 and has allowed an average of three goals per game while posting a .888 save percentage. It doesn’t help when the rookie’s number is called up just 20 minutes into what was supposed to be a night off.

Clearly, Garand isn’t to blame, as his recent poor numbers are a consequence of fatigue and consecutive starts. In Sullivan’s eyes, Reimer isn’t to blame either. It may all be part of the natural cycle of life in the NHL, but the Rangers are finding out that even teams fully bought into an identity will feel the effects of losing their franchise goaltender for the season, while the $4 million veteran netminder they traded for to serve as his backup is also sidelined with an injury.

NY Rangers need to snap losing streak

The only way for New York to see the light at the end of the tunnel is for the skaters to play lights out and give their goalies a chance, but even then, it might not be enough. The Rangers have lost four of their last five games. In their last six outings, they have been outscored 28-17.

Allowing an average of 4.7 goals per game will lead to far more losses than wins for any team in the NHL, and it takes more than a shaky goaltending room to concede that many goals on a nightly basis. The red-hot start is clearly over, and it’s time for Sullivan and the Rangers to take a long look in the mirror and figure out where they go next.

Key takeaways

• Mike Sullivan accepted the blame for James Reimer’s first game with the New York Rangers.
• Three goals allowed on eight shots ended James Reimer’s debut in the first intermission.
• Four of their last five games have resulted in losses for the New York Rangers.

After showing Laviolette the door, the Rangers were determined to flip the script. Even though Mike Sullivan’s first season in town was nothing like what the team had expected, his second year is off to a much better start. And if Laviolette’s experience serves as a lesson, it might actually be for the best.

“It was kind of a tale of two years. The first year was really good, I mean, most wins and most points and a very storied franchise. Took it to three rounds to Florida and lost in Game 6, and that was disappointing.

“Overall, looking back at that year, it was really good. It was something that I’ll remember being here in New York. Obviously, the second year was not as smooth and had problems inside of it,“ Laviolette admitted, via Mollie Walker of the New York Post.

Laviolette shines light on Rangers’ problems

Laviolette’s statement isn’t exactly groundbreaking news. The Rangers’ struggles in the 2024-25 NHL campaign were impossible to miss, and it all started up in the suite level with the front office. Thus, Laviolette taking aim at the problems within the organization is a clear, if not-so-subtle, shot at Drury and company.

In Laviolette’s final season in New York, he witnessed a flurry of moves, including the trades of Kaapo Kakko, Jacob Trouba, Filip Chytil, Ryan Lindgren, and Jimmy Vesey, among many others. In the end, Laviolette got the shortest end of the stick and was fired just one year after helping New York reach the Eastern Conference Final, record the most points and wins in franchise history, and win the Presidents’ Trophy.

Laviolette vs NY Rangers

The magic was lost in 2024-25, and the Blueshirts didn’t hesitate to show Laviolette the door. Meanwhile, Drury and company stayed in charge, with both hits and misses ever since.

Finally, after spending a season away from the league, Laviolette is at the helm of the Kings and will face the Rangers again in the NHL. And if it wasn’t clear heading into the matchup, there are still doubts that all is water under the bridge, with some bad blood seemingly remaining.

Key takeaways

• Peter Laviolette targeted Chris Drury and front-office leadership following his New York Rangers exit.
• Mike Sullivan enters his second season coaching after replacing Peter Laviolette in New York.
• The New York Rangers fired Peter Laviolette one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy.

On that note, Sullivan offered an encouraging update on where the veteran netminder stands in his recovery from a lower-body injury. Much has been said about Korpisalo ever since he arrived in New York with two years left on a deal carrying a $4 million AAV, but it’s clear the Broadway Blueshirts need the 32-year-old goalie back as soon as possible in the 2026-27 NHL campaign.

“Sullivan said Joonas Korpisalo skated [Saturday and Sunday],” Vincent Mercogliano of The Athletic reported. “He needed to double check if yesterday was his first day on the ice but his larger point is that he’s making progress.”

Korpisalo’s season

Coming off a 31-game season in 2025-26 with the Boston Bruins, Korpisalo landed in the Big Apple expecting to be the backup to Igor Shesterkin. However, he sustained a lower-body injury before he could make his season debut and watched Shesterkin’s season come to an end with a knee injury.

Nothing has gone as planned for the Rangers so far, but Garand’s rise has made the tough pill a bit easier to take. However, adversity is now knocking at the front door, and the Rangers don’t have a solid backup plan—or a backup goaltender for that matter, until now.

When Korpisalo returns, whenever that is, he might actually be asked to start for a New York team whose red-hot start is now in jeopardy, as the crease has become filled with question marks.

NY Rangers sign James Reimer

Although Garand remains the main goaltender in Broadway, Sullivan and company have called for backup. As announced by the organization in Manhattan, the Rangers have signed 38-year-old James Reimer to a one-year deal.

According to The Athletic, the contract is valued at the league minimum for a veteran at $850,000. As if the figure doesn’t make it clear enough, Reimer is only in New York to fill a void and give Garand the occasional night off.

Garand could use some time to rest

As long as Shesterkin remains out, Garand will man the crease virtually night in and night out, while Reimer fills in occasionally. Clearly, the 24-year-old rookie goalie needs some breathers. Over his last five games, Garand has a 1-3-1 record, along with a .869 save percentage (SV%) and a 3.4 goals-against average (GAA).

The magic seems to have worn off, but that’s not to say he can’t get back to his best form. Still, it’s clear he needs some time off, or at least the peace of mind that comes with knowing another healthy netminder can fill in for him. He shouldn’t have to stand alone in the crease, trying to keep New York’s season alive, even if it’s only October.

Key takeaways

• Joonas Korpisalo skated Saturday and Sunday while progressing from a lower-body injury.
• James Reimer signed a one-year, $850,000 contract with the New York Rangers.
• Dylan Garand is 1-3-1 with an .869 save percentage over his last five games.

Although Dylan Larkin shut down the rumors of a trade to New York with his new trade list, the Rangers may still see their name linked to another disgruntled U.S. Olympic gold medalist actively requesting a trade in the NHL. However, the Blueshirts may play a role in Hellebuyck’s trade without landing the three-time Vezina Trophy winner themselves.

“I’m hearing [Karel] Vejmelka’s name a lot being linked to the Rangers. [Connor] Hellebuyck, by way of Vejmelka coming to New York, would be going to Utah,” Stephen Valiquette reported on Sportsnet.

NY Rangers could help Hellebuyck out

Thus, the Rangers may play a facilitator’s role in Hellebuyck’s escape plan from Winnipeg. With reports hinting that the Jets may lift Hellebuyck’s unpaid suspension soon, it seems a trade is imminent. As for the Blueshirts, they don’t really need Hellebuyck.

Shesterkin is out for the 2026-27 NHL season, but he is under contract through 2033. There is no realistic scenario in which the Rangers boast a Hellebuyck-Shesterkin tandem. Instead, New York could go after Vejmelka, who could form a tandem with Dylan Garand.

Though off to a red-hot start and in a market like New York City’s, the Rangers aren’t under immense pressure to win a championship this season. Opting to roll with such a goaltending duo until the wheels come off may be a wise decision, and one that comes at a relatively low price.

New York would prefer a goalie set to become UFA

Ideally, the Rangers would trade for a goalie on a contract year, adding a true rental to address the injuries in net without making a long-term commitment. However, they won’t shut their options, and Vejmelka might make sense, too, even though he’s under contract through 2030.

The bigger question would be what happens to Joonas Korpisalo in that event, but it seems that the Rangers will figure that out when they cross that bridge. Perhaps Korpisalo heads to Winnipeg, along with other valuable pieces, as part of a three-team trade between the Rangers, Jets, and Mammoth.

Rumors grow wild around Hellebuyck

Only time will tell, but rumors are heating up around Hellebuyck’s future, as well as New York’s search for help in net. Garand has played lights out ever since Shesterkin went down and his number was called, but the Blueshirts know that, sooner or later, adversity will come knocking at the door, and they need a Plan B.

Hellebuyck’s situation and trade request are complex in their own right, and it has often been said that they might require a multiteam deal. Perhaps the stars will align, and all parties involved will get what they are looking for, or something close enough.

Key takeaways

• New York Rangers are linked to Utah Mammoth goaltender Karel Vejmelka to fill Igor Shesterkin’s void.
• Stephen Valiquette reported that Karel Vejmelka moving to New York could send Connor Hellebuyck to Utah.
• Igor Shesterkin is out for the 2026-27 season with a right knee injury.

The past few days, weeks, and, why not, months have been chaotic for Detroit. The Red Wings were adamant that the worst part of Larkin’s trade drama was over just recently. And while many saw that as a potential sign that Larkin changed up his mind, it only foreshadowed the former Red Wings captain finally expanded his trade list in the NHL.

Larkin realized he wasn’t going anywhere any time soon sticking to the previous three-team list, and he’s made changes. Not without taking his sweet time to analyze the rest of the league and see which teams are expected to compete for the Stanley Cup this season, and in the next few years.

Still, two teams that have been in on Larkin and have a case to be considered Stanley Cup contenders were snubbed: the Rangers and Canadiens. It might be a tougher pill to swallow for the latter, as Larkin had fueled Montreal trade rumors after his visit to Bell Centre, in which fans chanted: “We want Larkin”. Still, that warm welcome wasn’t enough to lure the American center. His decision appears final: he will play for an U.S. based club in the NHL.

Larkin’s 10-team trade list

According to Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press, Larkin’s list is now up to 10 organizations. Essentially, Larkin has only added six or seven (no Gen Z pun intended) to his original list, which was reported to include three or four clubs: Florida Panthers, Minnesota Wild, Vegas Golden Knights, and Dallas Stars.

In addition to the usual suspects, who come up in every trade rumor mill involving an available star in the NHL, Larkin has reportedly added the Washington Capitals, Tampa Bay Lightning, Carolina Hurricanes, Utah Mammoth, New Jersey Devils, and Colorado Avalanche.

• Florida Panthers
• Minnesota Wild
• Vegas Golden Knights
• Dallas Stars
• Carolina Hurricanes
• New Jersey Devils
• Washington Capitals
• Colorado Avalanche
• Tampa Bay Lightning
• Utah Mammoth

What we learn from Larkin’s new list

As if it wasn’t clear before, it’s obvious now: Larkin wants to win the Cup, and his trade list reflects that he’s after a future with a contender in the league. In addition to the Rangers and Habs, other surprising teams left off Larkin’s list include the Buffalo Sabres and Boston Bruins.

A team like the Capitals emerges on the list as a bit of a surprise, and the Mammoth’s presence only confirms Salt Lake City’s status as a new home for Team USA stars. Larkin could join Vincent Trocheck there, as reports also point to Connor Hellebuyck potentially ending up in Utah as part of a three-team trade involving the Rangers.

The offseason and start of the 2026-27 NHL campaign have been dramatic, but it seems the answers are finally arriving.

Key takeaways

• Dylan Larkin excludes the New York Rangers and Montreal Canadiens from his trade list.
• Helene St. James reports Dylan Larkin expanded his list to 10 NHL organizations.
• Dylan Larkin added six teams including the Washington Capitals and Utah Mammoth.

Moreover, they suffocated the Anaheim Ducks en route to a 5-2 victory. After the game, Mike Sullivan heaped praise on his team, but it was Joel Quenneville’s statement that made the most noise and served as a compliment to the way New York is playing right now.

“It was flattering, the score at the end of the night. I thought our top guys weren’t very good tonight,” Ducks coach Quenneville admitted after the game, via NHL.com. “You could name them all and you probably wouldn’t be happy.“

The Rangers were in control all night long, scoring the first five goals of the game, and could’ve scored even more. It wasn’t until there were less than two minutes left in the game that the Ducks found the back of the net, scoring twice in the span of 36 seconds. Ultimately, it was too little, too late, and only spoiled Dylan Garand’s second shutout of the season.

Sullivan praises Garand

Still, the rookie goalie put on another terrific performance as the Rangers’ starter, extending his hot streak to start the 2026-27 NHL season. Garand, like the Rangers, remains undefeated at Madison Square Garden this season and is still unbeaten in regulation on home ice in his career.

“I’ve been asked the question a number of times, what do we expect from Dylan? And my expectation, just based on his body of work here, is that he’s going to win, he’s going to make saves for us, he’s going to make timely saves,” Sullivan said about the goaltender who’s become the starter overnight after Igor Shesterkin’s season-ending injury. “He’s given us a chance to win night in and night out, and that’s what we’re asking of him.”

Garand’s numbers

As it stands, Garand has a 4-2-1 record on the season, along with a shutout, a .929 save percentage and a 1.85 goals-against average (GAA). Both his save percentage and GAA rank among the top seven in the NHL.

It’s been quite the start for a netminder who had played just three NHL games before the season and wasn’t expected to play such a big role right away. At the end of the day, though, injuries happen, and it’s how players adapt that makes the difference.

It goes without saying that Garand has done just fine settling into his new primary role in Manhattan. How long can he keep it up? That’s the question, but as long as he does, the Rangers may continue to look like bona fide contenders in the Metro Division.

Key takeaways

• New York Rangers defeated Anaheim Ducks 5-2 to remain undefeated on home ice.
• Anaheim Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville admitted the team’s top players weren’t very good.
• New York Rangers goaltender Dylan Garand boasts a 1.85 goals-against average and .929 save percentage.

After the loss, head coach Mike Sullivan addressed the confusion with a bold statement that appeared to shift some of the responsibility away from himself. Instead, Sullivan shifted the responsibility—and blame—to another member of his coaching staff, David Quinn, whom he said was responsible for making the defensive pairings.

“That’s [assistant coach David Quinn’s] call back there. He’s running the defense,” Sullivan commented on Smits’ lack of playing time as of late, via the New York Post.

Smits’ limited outing

The fifth overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft logged 14:46 minutes of ice time during New York’s 1-0 loss to Columbus. Although that was his sixth-most ice time in a game this season (10 games played), his lack of shifts during crucial stages of the game raised questions, as he also logged the fewest minutes among New York’s defensemen.

Moreover, his total was boosted by the game going to overtime. According to the New York Post, Smits had just five shifts after the second period. Sullivan explained that Smits’ lack of a special-teams role also played a part, as the Rangers had three power-play opportunities in the third period and failed to score on all three.

Smits has yet to score first NHL point

After another offensively quiet performance, Smits remains in search of his first NHL point, having gone scoreless through his first 10 games of his career. Considering how defensive prospects are now entering the league and scoring in bunches, it is certainly a bit deflating for Smits to still be scoreless.

Just like Pavel Dorofeyev made little of his offensive woes, the young Latvian blueliner isn’t stressing over his offensive production, though. “I think the offense is going to come,” Smits stated, via the New York Post. “Just got to take care of the defense first. So that’s what I’m focusing on right now.”

So far, Smits has a minus-one rating on the season and has recorded a negative plus/minus in three straight games. Against the Blue Jackets, he was on the ice defending Zach Werenski’s assist to Kent Johnson on the game-ending play, so the sequence may have given Sullivan—or Quinn—another reason to consider whether Smits can be trusted in similar situations going forward.

Key takeaways

• The New York Rangers (6-3-1) fell 1-0 to the Columbus Blue Jackets (3-3-0) in overtime.
• Mike Sullivan stated assistant coach David Quinn manages defensive pairings and player ice time.
• Alberts Smits recorded 14:46 of ice time and remains scoreless through 10 games.

Dorofeyev, who inked a seven-year, $77 million contract in The Big Apple after a tremendous scoring performance in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, has struggled to find his footing. Although the Rangers have enjoyed a red-hot start to the campaign, they are still wary of their forward’s wet gunpowder.

Dorofeyev can sense the eyes across Manhattan staring at him, but he is unfazed. Instead, he made a bold statement about how he views his performance through the first few games of the season.

“I’m not focused on that stuff at all,” Dorofeyev admitted, via The Athletic. “Just trying to be myself and trying to help the team win the games. Sometimes you just have to play another way. It’s not always (about) the goals.”

NY Rangers have moved Dorofeyev around

Whether Dorofeyev cares or simply doesn’t want to admit it, it’s clear Mike Sullivan has taken notice of the Russian winger’s early struggles. New York’s head coach has made changes to the lineup, moving Alexis Lafreniere from the top unit to the second line.

Rather than serving as a punishment for Lafreniere or a reward for Dorofeyev, the move was intended to allow the former first overall pick to inject some life and scoring into the bottom half of the top six. Lafreniere did just that, but Dorofeyev, meanwhile, hasn’t benefited much from his top-line ice time. If this concerning trend continues, one can only assume Sullivan will keep throwing stuff at the wall and see what sticks. Clearly, Lafreniere can make do wherever he plays.

No reason to panic—yet

It’s still very early in the season, so the Broadway Blueshirts have no reason to panic. However, the fact that Dorofeyev, New York’s highest-paid player not named Igor Shesterkin, has just three points (one goal and two assists) and a minus-4 rating through his first eight games in New York City is hardly encouraging.

Key takeaways

• Pavel Dorofeyev signed a seven-year, $77 million contract with the New York Rangers.
• Alexis Lafreniere was moved to the Rangers’ second line by head coach Mike Sullivan.
• Pavel Dorofeyev has only three points and a minus-4 rating through eight games.