In recording the latest Rink Rap podcast Wednesday, I opened with how when the calendar flips to October, you really know that New York Rangers hockey is right around the corner. And it is. They begin the regular season next Tuesday, hosting the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden.
What I didn’t realize until scanning the Rangers schedule later in the day is that they really hit the ground running this month.
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Beginning Oct. 7, the Rangers play eight games in 14 days, literally one every other day for two weeks to get the season started. The schedule eases up a bit with one game — at home against the woeful San Jose Sharks — over a five-day stretch Oct. 21-25. But then there’s a three-games-in-five-days road trip through Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver to close out the first month of the season.
Though busy, the first week should allow the Rangers to get off to a fast start, with two games against the Penguins and another vs. the Buffalo Sabres. But then it’s five straight against teams that made the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season, including Connor McDavid and the Oilers visiting MSG on Oct. 14, two days before the Rangers travel to Toronto to play Auston Matthews and the Maple Leafs.
With little practice time over the first two weeks of the season, the Rangers want to be as sharp as possible when the puck drops Tuesday against the Penguins. That means hopefully getting Artemi Panarin at least a preseason game or two this week — he hasn’t appeared in one yet due to a lower-body injury. J.T. Miller’s played one preseason game, so far, but is out Thursday against the New Jersey Devils, also with a lower-body injury. Sam Carrick’s been hobbled and out of the lineup, as well, the past week.
Lots can happen before the 2025-26 season begins. But right now, the Rangers must get healthy, and make some important roster decisions before the weekend is over.
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The clock is ticking.
Tune in to the latest Rink Rap podcast, featuring a breakdown of the final roster battles and a detailed look at why Brennan Othmann failed to impress in training camp. You can also watch the podcast on YouTube.
New York Rangers news and analysis
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The Rangers host the New Jersey Devils in a preseason game Thursday, but J.T. Miller won’t be in the lineup due to a lower-body injury that’s got the captain listed as day to day. Here’s the complete Rangers injury update.
Coach Mike Sullivan said the Rangers are “thrilled” with rookie Scott Morrow and what he’s done during training camp and the preseason. But is there a spot for him on the Rangers defense corps to start the season?
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Our John Kreiser weighs in on why Brennan Othmann’s starting the season in the minors and not with the Rangers.
Alan Selavka is back to cover the Rangers prospects playing college hockey this season. Here’s his preview of what’s to come in the 2025-26 NCAA campaign for seven Rangers prospects.
NHL news and rumors
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New Jersey Hockey Now: James Nichols has some short- and long-term questions for the Devils after they signed defenseman Luke Hughes to a seven-year, $63 million contract Wednesday, ending his two- week holdout.
Buffalo Hockey Beat: Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen re-aggravated a lower-body injury during his first preseason appearance for the Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday, and was removed from the game against the Pittsburgh Penguins after the first period. Defenseman Michael Kesselring also exited the game early with an unspecified injury.
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The Athletic ($$): Chris Johnston reports that Carter Hart is “almost certain” to sign a free-agent contract with the Vegas Golden Knights in the coming days.
TSN: Jonathan Huberdeau left the Calgary Flames preseason game against the Vancouver Canucks with an undisclosed injury after the skilled forward collided first with goalie Kevin Lankinen, then with the post.
ESPN: The Edmonton Oilers acquired Connor Ingram in a trade with the Utah Mammoth to bolster their goaltending depth.
Daily Faceoff: Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryker Evans is out 6-8 weeks with an upper-body injury.
NHL.com: Erik Johnson, a former No. 1 overall pick by the St, Louis Blues and Stanley Cup champion with the Colorado Avalanche, retired after 17 NHL seasons.
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Sportsnet: A pair of Ottawa Senators forwards — Nick Cousins and Hayden Hodgson — were fined by NHL Department of Player Safety for separate incidents in a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens that produced 150 penalty minutes.
Daily Faceoff: The Nashville Predators claimed forward Tyson Jost off waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes.
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