PROJECTED OPENING NIGHT ROSTER
Gabe Perreault-Mika Zibanejad-Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle-JT Miller-Pavel Dorofeyev
Tye Kartye-Noah Laba-Oliver Bjorkstrand
Taylor Raddysh-Joe Veleno-Matt Rempe
Juuso Parssinen
Vladislav Gavrikov-Adam Fox
Marcus Pettersson-Sean Durzi
Matt Robertson-Braden Schneider
Urho Vaakanainen
Igor Shesterkin
Dylan Garand
Analysis
On paper, the Top 6 has improved. The Mika Zibanejad line was a force post-Olympics. JT Miller flashed some of his old form down the stretch when he was put back in the middle. He has stated that he likes being on a north-south line, and putting him with a power forward on one side, and a natural sniper on the other should be the tonic he needs for a bounce-back season.
The bottom six is probably missing one player — whether that’s a late-summer acquisition or young prospect winning a job in training camp — but there’s seemingly enough speed, bite, and depth for Mike Sullivan to find a couple of lines he can trust in close games.
On the backend, the first pair will benefit from playing their second year together, especially if Adam Fox can remain healthy for the first time in three seasons. The second pair was put together on July 1 in the first pair’s image — defensive stalwart on the left, puck-mover on the right.
Assuming Matt Robertson holds off prospects Drew Fortescue and Alberts Smits during camp, both he and Braden Schneider should benefit from having easier matchups. Meanwhile, the Rangers remain strong in goal with their most important player Igor Shesterkin backed up by either homegrown Dylan Garand or recently acquired Joonas Korpisalo.
If hockey were easy to predict, I’d tell you that on paper, this team should be able to compete for a playoff spot in 2026-27. However, as Peter Laviolete and Sullivan found out over the last two seasons, it takes more than just talent to win games.
PROJECTED OPENING NIGHT SPECIAL TEAMS
PP1
Left — Zibanejad
Net Front — Lafreniere
Right — Dorofeyev
Bumper — Perreault
Point — Fox
PP2
Left — Bjorkstrand
Net Front — Cuylle
Right — Miller
Bumper — Laba
Point — Durzi
SH1
F — Miller
F — Cuylle
D — Gavrikov
D — Fox/Durzi
SH2
F — Laba
F — Veleno
D — Pettersson
D — Schneider
Analysis
The only surprise on the power play is relegating Miller to the second unit. I’m suggesting it for multiple reasons. First, Gabe Perreault has a chance to be the team’s most dynamic playmaker.
Second, Sullivan said at the end of last season that he wanted to keep his top players fresh by spreading out ice time among his specialty teams. Having said that, Miller would still jump over the boards in Perreault’s place when PP1 needs to win a left face-off draw.
Similarly, I’m not projecting Zibanejad on either of the top two penalty-kill units. Of course, when the Blueshirts need a short-handed goal, or are killing a late third-period penalty, one would expect him to take a few turns on the ice.
PROJECTED HARTFORD WOLF PACK ROSTER
Nathan Aspinall-Cole Beaudoin-Liam Greentree
Jaroslav Chemlar-Dylan Roobroeck-Adam Sikora
Jacob Battaglia-Casey Terrance-Brody Lamb
Justin Dowling-Bryce Barker-McConnell-Anton Blidh
Aidan Thompson-Glenn Gawdin
Alberts Smits-Scott Morrow
Drew Fortescue-Vincent Iorio
Jackson Dorrington-William Trudeau
Dennis Cholowski-Marc Del Gaizo
Joonas Korpisalo
Spencer Martin
Callum Tung
Analysis
In the last 11 seasons the Hartford Wolf Pack have only finished higher than fourth-place in their division once. The good news is that new Head Coach Jay Leach has a roster filled with more legitimate prospects, and fewer journeymen, than most of those 11 years.
Cole Beaudoin, Liam Greentree, and Alberts Smits are the headliners. Jaroslav Chemlar, Drew Fortescue, and Adam Sikora showed this past spring that they have NHL ability. Plus, there’s legitimate hope for Nathan Aspinall, Jacob Battaglia, Brody Lamb, and Scott Morrow.
In addition to hoping for a MSG revival, Rangers fans might want to make a pilgrimage to Hartford for one or two AHL games this season.
WHAT’S NEXT
In all likelihood, the heavy lifting is done for new boss Quentin Dolan and GM Chris Drury. They probably have two more major moves left.
- Signing Braden Schneider to a two-year deal taking him to unrestricted free agency. I’m projecting $4m per season.
- Signing a discounted free agent forward to a one-year contract to compete for either a middle-six or bottom-six role. I’m sure they will be circling 27-year-old Eeli Tolvanen who is probably searching for a longer-term deal. They could also consider a reunion with Vladimir Tarasenko.
Having said that, let’s have some fun and project a couple of summer mock trades.
Mock Trade #1
In a role reversal, the Anaheim Ducks dump salary on the Rangers to help them match the Leo Carlsson offer sheet, and then sign Cutter Gauthier.
Let’s trade Taylor Raddysh ($1.5m) to the Ducks for old-friend Frank Vatrano and the two remaining years on his contract at $4.6m annual. To sweeten the pot, the Ducks give the Rangers their second-round draft pick in 2030 (strategic due to the fact that the Rangers owe their 2030 first-round pick to the Vancouver Canucks).
Vatrano was a fan favorite in his short stint with the Blueshirts in 2022. He put up 26 points (13 goals, 13 assists) in 42 regular season and playoff games. He has the skill and snarl to play up-and-down the lineup and will give New York a rare shoot-first player in their lineup (joining Dorofeyev).
Mock Trade #2
In an effort to make room for Vatrano under the cap, and to be able to accrue more space to weaponize at the trade deadline, I’m suggesting the Rangers continue to shop Schneider.
Our solution is to send him to the Buffalo Sabres for RHD Connor Timmins — who has one year at $2.2m left on his contract. Timmins is three years older and doesn’t have the same upside as Schneider. But he played 198 NHL games and would be the favorite to beat out Scott Morrow and Vincent Iorio for the opening day third-pair role.
For the Sabres to upgrade from Timmins to Schneider, they will include their third-round picks in both 2027 and 2028.
Updated Mock Opening Night Roster
Gabe Perreault-Mika Zibanejad-Alexis Lafreniere
Will Cuylle-JT Miller-Pavel Dorofeyev
Frank Vatrano-Noah Laba-Oliver Bjorkstrand
Tye Kartye-Joe Veleno-Matt Rempe
Vladislav Gavrikov-Adam Fox
Marcus Pettersson-Sean Durzi
Matt Robertson-Connor Timmins
Igor Shesterkin
Dylan Garand
ICYMI “New York Rangers: Grading Every Offseason Move”