BREAD PULLING HIS HAIR OUT
Since Artemi Panarin arrived in Manhattan on July 1, 2019, the New York Rangers have generally had an elite power play. Here’s how they’ve fared in the first five years of the Panarin era:
2019-20 – 22.9% (7th)
2020-21 – 20.7% (14th)
2021-22 – 25.2% (4th)
2022-23 – 24.1% (7th)
2023-24 – 26.4% (3rd)
Last season the Rangers were a dysfunctional organization both on and off the ice so it’s easy to dismiss the fact that they dropped to 27th in the NHL, converting at just 17.6%. Except, they are even worse through the first 14 games of 2025-26.
2025-26 – 11.1% (32nd)
Panarin has 45 power play goals, and 142 power play points as a Ranger. This season, he hasn’t scored with the man advantage and has only two assists.
No wonder he has resorted to shaving his head again.
POWER PLAY SHAKE UP
Mike Sullivan shook up his power play combinations for practice on Thursday, November 6, at the MSG Training Center. When asked why, he got testy with the media for the first time since being named the Rangers’ head coach. “We haven’t had a comfort level with our production,” Sullivan said. “Isn’t that obvious?”
He then explained that whether it’s the power play or five-on-five, he wants to see his team fight harder to get to the front of the net and get there with the intention to embrace contact, win “real estate” and make the opposing goaltenders’ jobs harder.
That’s why he moved Will Cuylle to the first unit:
PP1
Panarin-Zibanejad-Cuylle-Miller-Fox
PP2
Sheary-Lafreniere-Raddysh-Brodzinski-Schneider
Sullivan is expected to deploy these new combinations when the Rangers travel to Detroit to face the Red Wings Friday night (11-7) at 7p (MSG, NHLN).
ALWAYS SOMETHING THERE TO REMIND ME
On the same day that Sullivan shook up the power play combinations, Chris Kreider scored his fifth power play goal for the Anaheim Ducks in only his ninth game. As a team, the Rangers have only four power play goals in 14 games.
In the SportsRantNY classic rant — “13 Reasons Why the Chris Kreider Trade is Depressing” — reason #2 states he left New York with 116 power play goals, tied for first in the team’s 99-year history.
Reason #3 states that from 2018-19 through 2023-24, he led the NHL with 61 tipped goals. Second place was Joe Pavelski, with 40.
As a reminder, Kreider returns to the World’s Most Famous Arena with his Ducks on Monday, December 15, at 7p (MSG).
REMPE VS REAVES
Under a new head coach, Matt Rempe’s season was off to a good start. Through 8 games, he earned more responsibility, including playing net front on PP2. He was still playing physical, with 30 hits against only two penalty minutes.
He was moved up to the third line for the October 23 game against the San Jose Sharks at Madison Square Garden. But he ended up playing only 19 seconds.
When Matt Rempe asked Ryan Reaves to fight, Rempe was taking his first shift of the game. There was no build up, no animosity. Just one heavyweight asking another to fight because that’s what they do.
Rempe did not return to that game and hasn’t played since. He’s on IR with an upper-body-injury, rumored to be a broken thumb. While he’s out, Brennan Othmann, Juuso Parssinen, Johnny Brodzinski, and now rookie Jaroslav Chmelar are getting a chance to show Sullivan what they can do in Rempe’s spot.
Fighting belongs in hockey, but not all fighting. Spontaneous fighting? Yes. Sticking up for a teammate? Yes. Sending a message? Absolutely.
Vanity fighting? No.
Not worth it.