MSG NETWORK REPLACES SAM AND JOE
From Jim Gordon and the “Big Whistle” Bill Chadwick in the 70’s, to Sam Rosen and John Davidson in the 90’s, to Sam Rosen and Joe Micheletti – New York Rangers’ fans have been spoiled by who we invite into our homes during hockey season.
That tradition will continue this fall as MSG Network moves the Rangers’ long-time radio duo – Kenny Albert and Dave Maloney – into the TV booth. Albert has been TNT’s lead hockey play-by-play voice since 2021 and has partnered with Maloney on radio for the last 20 years.
Prior to the 1978-79 season, in which the Rangers would end up reaching the Stanley Cup Finals, Maloney was named the youngest captain in Rangers history. He is an unabashed Rangers lifer and wears his heart on his sleeve. However, unlike other “homers”, he is not afraid to call out his team’s mistakes.
Whether he is excited, or frustrated (see last season), you’ll feel his emotion right through your TV. MSG Networks got this one right.
HOCKEY FOR MENTAL HEALTH
The 2025 3rd Annual Shoulder Check Showcase is scheduled for next Thursday, July 24 (6:30p ET) at Terry Connors Rink in Stamford, Connecticut. It’s a great opportunity to see NHL stars in an intimate setting, playing for a great cause. The event honors the life of Hayden Thorsen and promotes the importance of checking in with your family, friends and teammates. As of this writing, tickets are still available.
Current Rangers Expected to Play
Brett Berard
Adam Fox
Matt Rempe
Current Devils Expected to Play
Brett Pesce
Former Rangers Expected to Play
Kevin Hayes
Chris Kreider
Kevin Shattenkirk
Frank Vatrano
KEY DATES ON THE RANGERS SCHEDULE
Here’s the 10 most intriguing games on the New York Rangers 2025-26 season in chronological order.
- Tuesday, October 7 (8p ET) – Pittsburgh Penguins at New York Rangers Opening Night features Mike Sullivan making his Rangers Head Coaching debut versus the team he led to two Stanley Cups across 10 seasons.
- Tuesday, October 14 (7p ET) – Edmonton Oilers at New York Rangers There’s a 97% chance that Connor McDavid signs an extension with the Oilers prior to becoming a free agent next July. However, if he makes it to October 14 unsigned, it will be an opportunity for New York to remind him that Oiler legends Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky finished their careers in the World’s Most Famous Arena.
- Tuesday, October 28 (10p ET) – New York Rangers at Vancouver Canucks JT Miller returns to Vancouver to take on old pal Elias Petterson.
- Tuesday, November 4 (7p ET) – Carolina Hurricanes at New York Rangers The Hurricanes are the offseason favorites to win the Metropolitan Division, and they will feature newly signed Nikolaj Ehlers and former Ranger K’Andre Miller.
- Monday, December 15 (7p ET) – Anaheim Ducks at New York Rangers This will primarily be known as the return of Chris Kreider to MSG, but former captain Jacob Trouba will also be back for the first time as a Duck. Just for good measure, Ryan Strome and Frank Vatrano will add to the former Rangers intrigue.
- Tuesday, December 16 (7p ET) – Vancouver Canucks at New York Rangers Since Filip Chytil was out with another concussion last March when the Canucks last came to New York, this will (hopefully) be his first opportunity to play again at MSG.
- Friday, January 2 (8p ET) – New York Rangers at Florida Panthers The Rangers will be making their third appearance in the Winter Classic, but this time it’ll be in a warm climate as they face the two-time Stanley Cup Champion Panthers.
- Monday, January 12 (7p ET) – Seattle Kraken at New York Rangers Another reunion as Kaapo Kakko and former Steven McDonald Award Winner Ryan Lindgren make their returns to MSG.
- Tuesday, January 20 (10:30p ET) – New York Rangers at Los Angeles Kings Rangers’ top free agent Vladislav Gavrikov will be making his return to LA, but I selected this game because of former Kings legend Jonathan Quick. Quick hasn’t made his future plans public, but he turns 40 the day after this game, and it could be the last time the LA fans see him as an active player.
- Sunday, April 5 (7p ET) – Washington Capitals at New York Rangers Alexander Ovechkin hasn’t made it official, but speculation is that he will retire at the end of the 2025-26 season. Barring a playoff matchup, this could be the last chance for MSG fans to chant “Ovie bleeps”, live and in person.
MASON MCTAVISH
Another Anaheim Duck is playing in next week’s Shoulder Check Showcase, and it got me wondering – could he be the next rider on the Duck/Ranger express?
Center Mason McTavish, 22, was drafted third overall by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2021 NHL Draft. McTavish’s leadership skills have been lauded since he captained Team Canada to the Gold Medal in the 2022 World Junior Championship. He scored 17 points in 7 games and made the “golden save” in the gold medal game. Since then he’s tallied 140 points in his first 229 NHL games.
While it is extremely unlikely that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek would part with him, if I’m Rangers’ GM Chris Drury, I’d make one more call to his favorite trade partner before heading off on summer vacation.
Alexis Lafreniere for Mason McTavish?
The fact that Lafreniere is already locked in for the next seven seasons at $7.45m per year might interest Verbeek. The Ducks would still have budding star Leo Carlsson, free agent acquisition Mikael Granlund, Ryan Strome and Ryan Poehling down the middle.
Meanwhile, the Rangers seem intent on keeping Mika Zibanejad on JT Miller’s flank. Plus, while they have a couple of young wings in the pipeline in Brennan Othmann and Gabe Perreault, they could use a young center.
Yes, it’s unlikely, but it’s worth making the phone call. If it did happen, it would add even more intrigue to the Ducks/Rangers game on December 15th.
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