Rink Rap | A New York Rangers Podcast from Forever Blueshirts

The New York Rangers hit a new low — just 10 shots on goal in a loss to Ottawa, on the same night they honored Mika Zibanejad's 1,000th NHL game. Jim Cerney breaks it all down on this week's Rink Rap from Forever Blue Shirts.Then, Nick Alberga from Leafs Nation and NHL Network Radio joins to tackle the big question: Who's the bigger disappointment this season — the Rangers or the Toronto Maple Leafs? And more importantly, which franchise can flip things around faster this offseason?Plus: Dylan Garand's impressive NHL debut, Drew Fortescue signing his entry-level contract, Adam Sikora's recall, the draft lottery picture, and whether the Rangers should be rooting against themselves down the stretch.🎙️ Guest: Nick Alberga (@TheGoldenMuzzy) — Leafs Nation / NHL Network Radio📅 Live Event Alert: We're planning a live broadcast from Mustang Harry's in NYC on April 4th — between the Rangers afternoon game and the NY Sirens' first-ever PWHL game at Madison Square Garden. Details coming soon!🔔 Subscribe for weekly Rangers coverage, offseason trades, draft analysis, and more.📰 Full coverage at: foreverblueShirts.com 🐦 Follow Jim: @JimCerney on X 🐦 Follow Nick: @TheGoldenMuzzy on XChapters:00:00 - Intro / Welcome back 00:16 - Jim's West Coast trip to Palm Springs 02:00 - Joshua Tree National Park & long winter recap 02:52 - Thanks to Lou Orlando for filling in 03:09 - Introducing today's guest: Nick Alberga 04:09 - Segment 1: Rangers news & quick hits 06:01 - Rangers Centennial season ceremonies 07:27 - Mika Zibanejad's 1,000th NHL game celebration 09:28 - Rangers' dismal effort vs. Ottawa (Centennial night faceplant) 11:54 - Just 10 shots on goal — near-record futility 13:22 - Dave Maloney goes off on MSG Network 15:31 - Fans rooting for Rangers to LOSE (tankathon mode) 16:53 - Draft lottery picture: Rangers tied for 2nd-worst record 17:43 - Igor Shesterkin's strong play since return from injury 18:40 - Dylan Garand's NHL debut breakdown 20:00 - Dylan Garand vs. Jonathan Quick going forward 21:20 - Adam Sykora recalled from Hartford 22:49 - Drew Fortescue signs entry-level deal 25:52 - Rangers' final three weeks: what matters 27:37 - Segment 2: Nick Alberga joins — Rangers vs. Leafs disappointment debate 28:10 - Who's the bigger disappointment: Rangers or Maple Leafs? 30:33 - Austin Matthews under fire in Toronto 32:50 - JT Miller as Rangers captain: has it worked? 34:00 - Nick's take on JT Miller's history of being moved 36:59 - How quickly can each team rebuild? 38:17 - Vincent Trocheck not traded at the deadline — right call? 40:56 - Rangers vs. Leafs Wednesday in Toronto — both want to lose 41:26 - Which team can turn it around faster? 43:53 - Craig Berube's future in Toronto / Peter Laviolette mention 46:10 - Segment 3: Closing thoughts & playoff picture for other teams 47:17 - April 4th live event at Mustang Harry's in NYC 48:54 - Who don't Rangers fans want in the playoffs? 50:10 - Columbus, Detroit, Ottawa as rising threats 51:47 - Pittsburgh surging under Dan Muse (former Rangers assistant) 53:22 - Do Rangers fans still hate the Penguins/Flyers enough to care? 54:06 - Ping pong ball history: 2019-2020 draft lottery recap 55:01 - Wrap up & subscribe reminder#NewYorkRangers #Rangers #NHL #RinkRap #ForeverBlueShirts #MikaZibanejad #TorontoMapleLeafs #MapleLeafs #NHLPodcast #RangersPodcast #IgorShesterkin #JTMiller #NickAlberga #HockeyPodcast 

A brutal 10-shot effort against Ottawa on Mika Zibanejad's 1,000th game ceremony — plus the draft lottery picture, Dylan Garand's debut, and why Rangers fans are rooting for losses.

Nick Alberga of Leafs Nation joins to debate which Original Six franchise has been more disappointing in 2025-26 — and which one can realistically turn it around faster this offseason.

Jim weighs in on the Eastern Conference playoff race, which teams Rangers fans should root against, and announces a live Rink Rap broadcast at Mustang Harry's on April 4th.

Lou Orlando fills in for Jim Cerny on the Rink Rap Podcast from Forever Blueshirts, breaking down the latest on the New York Rangers as the season winds down. Lafreniere is playing the best hockey of his career — but is it real? Plus, is Gabe Perreault being set up for the same power play frustration Lafreniere dealt with for years? And with Dylan Grandy getting recalled, what's going on in the Rangers' crease?🔔 Subscribe & follow Forever Blue Shirts for all your Rangers coverage. 🌐 www.foreverblueshirts.com 🐦 @4EverBlueShirts | @JimCerny | @SweetLouuuuuChapters:0:00 – Intro 0:18 – Lou Orlando fills in for Jim Cerny 1:37 – March Madness & Rangers struggles 3:13 – Rangers post-Olympic break: fool's gold confirmed 5:32 – Panarin's return to MSG 9:18 – Kopitar & Quick moment; hockey history 11:14 – JT Miller returns, Rangers slide continues 13:03 – Mika Zibanejad still producing 13:58 – Noah Laba injury concern 16:48 – BREAK 16:53 – Lafreniere's surge: 8 goals, 15 points in 12 games 21:00 – Is this real or garbage time production? 24:10 – Should the Rangers trade Lafreniere this offseason? 28:33 – Laviolette on Lafreniere's power play usage 33:46 – Gabe Pro: following in Lafreniere's footsteps? 37:19 – Rangers PP numbers since Olympic break 39:15 – What happens to Pro's role next season? 42:39 – Dylan Grandy recalled; the goalie situation 46:44 – Final thoughts & outro

Lou Orlando fills in for Jim Cerny and breaks down New York's three-game skid, Panarin's return to MSG, and why losing is actually the right move for this franchise right now.

Lafreniere's post-Olympic surge is real enough to get excited about, but the bigger question is whether Gabe Perrault is already being set up for the same power play exile that stunted Lafreniere's development for years.

The Rangers didn't blow things up at the trade deadline — and Pierre McGuire is here to explain why that might actually be the right call. We break down every move New York has made in their retool, dig into why Vincent Trocheck stayed put, and sit down with Pierre to get his unfiltered take on where this franchise is headed. He weighs in on Chris Drury's deadline discipline, what he sees in Gabe Perreault's future, whether Alexis Lafreniere is finally turning a corner, why the Brennan Othmann experiment ran its course, and what Braden Schneider and Scott Morrow need to become for this team. Plus — the Adam Fox contract situation is coming, and nobody's pretending it isn't. #rangers #NYRangers #NHLChapters:0:00 – Intro / Welcome 1:38 – Trade deadline recap begins; why Jim held off on a hot take 3:18 – The Trocheck decision: breaking down why he wasn't traded 5:07 – Trocheck's value, stats, and what he brings 9:56 – Will the off-season bring a better return? Cap implications, NTC shift 16:17 – Did the Rangers make the right call? Reading Trocheck's vibe post-deadline 23:20 – Quick breakdown of all Rangers trades (Carrick, Panarin, Karic, Othmann, Pulliot) 28:36 – SEGMENT 2 BEGINS: Pierre McGuire joins the show29:44 – Fool's gold or real? Rangers' strong play since the Olympic break 32:28 – Player development failures; the Schneider/Lafreniere problem 32:50 – Why it didn't work with Brennan Othmann 34:16 – The BU coaching tree: Sullivan, Quinn, Drury connection 38:54 – The Adam Fox conundrum heading into the offseason 41:30 – Is Lafreniere finally figuring it out post-Panarin? 43:10 – Gabe Perreault: Pierre's full scouting breakdown 45:06 – Quick question: Chris Drury sticking to his guns at the deadline 47:10 – Around the league: Colorado as Cup favorites, Minnesota's moves 50:30 – Should the NHL go to a play-in format? Conference-seeded playoffs? 52:22 – Between the benches memories: Rangers moments that stood out to Pierre 59:14 – Wrap-up / Sign-off

We set the table on the Rangers' ongoing retool — what they've done, what they passed on, and why keeping Vincent Trocheck made more sense than moving him. A full breakdown of every deal New York has made and what it signals about where Drury thinks this roster is going.

Pierre McGuire joins the show and doesn't hold back. From whether the Rangers' recent strong play is real or just pressure-relief to Gabe Perreault's ceiling, Lafreniere's evolution, the Othmann trade, defensive development in Schneider and Morrow, and the offseason Adam Fox decision that could define the next era in New York.

The NHL trade deadline arrives Friday at 3 p.m. Eastern, and Jim Cerny breaks down exactly where the New York Rangers stand heading into one of the most pivotal 72 hours in franchise history. This isn't just about who gets moved on Friday — it's about the full shape of the retool: who stays, who goes at the deadline and beyond, what the Rangers must demand in return, and which young players are ready to step into the picture sooner than you might think. Plus, Gabe Perreault's emergence takes center stage, and Adam Fox's future gets a hard look after some notably ambiguous comments.Chapters:0:00 — Intro: Deadline Week Is Here Setting the table for Friday's 3 p.m. deadline and why it's not the only date that matters in the retool.6:00 — Rangers Post-Break Report Card Three overtime games, two collapses, one comeback — what the results actually say about this team.11:22 — Gabe Perreault Is Figuring It Out Career-high three points vs. Columbus, growing confidence, and what it would mean for this season if he emerges as a top-six fixture.17:34 — Adam Fox's Ambiguous Future Fox sidesteps two direct questions about staying. Jim breaks down what that non-answer actually signals.20:00 — Jim's Princeton Women's Hockey Call A personal aside: Jim called the ECAC quarterfinals for ESPN+, Princeton punches their ticket to Lake Placid.23:12 — Igor's Cheeky Deflection Shesterkin plays the "I don't speak English" card when asked about the retool letter.36:05 — Segment 3: The Deadline Breakdown Begins Why Friday isn't the be-all-end-all, and why nailing the Trocheck return is the most important move Chris Drury makes.39:24 — Trocheck: Trade Him Now Peak value, East Coast destination, Minnesota Wild offer on the table — why this deal needs to happen before the deadline.46:35 — What the Rangers Must Target in Return Speed, youth, finishers, and future leaders. Why Noah Laba is already a core piece.50:46 — Schneider and Lafreniere: Not Going at the Deadline Jim's take on why both stay for now, and what kind of return they'd need to justify an offseason move.54:38 — Carrick, Raddysh, Othman, Berard: Who Stays, Who Goes Sorting through the bottom-six — who has value, who Sullivan doesn't trust, and who needs to clear a spot.1:01:44 — Connor Sheary: Find Him a New Home A Sully favorite, but his roster spot needs to go to younger players. Trade him for whatever you can get.1:03:20 — Kartye and Iorio: Low-Risk, High-Upside Additions Why claiming both off waivers was the right move, and how Iorio fits in as Morrow competition.1:05:48 — Prospects Turning Pro: Greentree, Aspinall, Fortescue, Lamb Who's expected to make the jump to Hartford this spring — and a reality check on prospect hype.1:08:41 — Closing: The Retool Is a Process, Not a Deadline Final thoughts and a reminder that more moves are coming all summer long.

Gabe Perreault's post-break breakout and what it means for the Rangers' rebuild.

dam Fox's murky comments about his future put his place in the retool under the microscope.

The full roster breakdown — who stays, who goes, new additions and which prospects could turn pro by spring.

Join host Jim Cerny on Rink Rap from Forever Blueshirts as we dive into all things New York Rangers hockey! In this episode, we recap the thrilling Olympic hockey action, including Mika Zibanejad's heroics for Sweden, Quinn Hughes' overtime winner for Team USA, and performances from JT Miller and Vincent Trocheck. We discuss the Rangers' Olympic break, injury updates on Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin, and the team's retooling strategy ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.Special guest Peter Baugh from The Athletic breaks down the Rangers' disappointing season, potential trades for players like Vincent Trocheck, Alexei Lafreniere, and Braden Schneider, the team's core (including Fox and Shesterkin), and coach Mike Sullivan's performance. Plus, insights on the women's gold medal game and the future of the franchise.Subscribe for more Rangers podcasts, analysis, and interviews. Follow us on X: @ForeverBlueShirts & @JimSarnie. Drop a like if you're a Blueshirts fan!#NYRangers #NHLTrades #OlympicsHockey #RangersPodcast #TradeDeadlineChapters:0:00 - Intro: Welcome to Rink Rap & Studio Update3:00 - Mustang Harry's Recap & Upcoming Live Shows5:00 - Olympic Break: Rangers Players in Action8:00 - Team USA vs. Sweden Quarterfinal Breakdown10:00 - Mika Zibanejad's Tournament Performance & Rangers Season Review12:00 - JT Miller & Vincent Trocheck's Roles on Team USA15:00 - Trade Deadline Preview: Roster Freeze Lifts & Potential Moves18:00 - Panarin Trade Analysis & Prospects Like Liam Greentree20:00 - Key Players to Watch: Trocheck, Lafreniere, Schneider22:00 - Upcoming Guests: Peter Baugh & Tony Granato24:00 - Interview Starts: Peter Baugh on Women's Gold Medal Game26:00 - Men's Olympics Recap & Exciting Quarterfinals28:00 - Rangers Practice Updates: Fox & Shesterkin Injury Returns30:00 - Impact of Injuries on the Season32:00 - Lack of Organizational Depth Exposed34:00 - Core Players for the Rebuild: Fox, Shesterkin & Young Talent36:00 - Trade Considerations: Zibanejad, Miller & No-Move Clauses38:00 - Alexei Lafreniere's Future & Trade Value40:00 - Lafreniere's Regression & Draft Pick Misses42:00 - Coach Sullivan's Performance & Team Buy-In44:00 - Front Office Decisions: When the Rebuild Started45:00 - Wrapping Up with Peter Baugh & Teaser for Tony Granato

Jim kicks off the show with the latest in Rangers trade rumors and how to go about a rebuild.

Peter Baugh joins Jim to talk about the USA Women's Hockey's stunning win in Milan and more about the future of the Rangers.

Former New York Ranger, four-time 30-goal scorer, and U.S. Olympic player and coach Tony Granato joins Rink Rap for an in-depth conversation recorded during the Milan Olympics.Tony breaks down the dramatic overtime quarterfinals, why he believes Team USA has the edge over Canada heading into the gold medal game, and what it was like coaching the 2018 Olympic squad with no NHL players. He also revisits his electric rookie season with the Rangers, the Calder Trophy debate with Brian Leetch, and what it felt like being part of the blockbuster trade that sent him to L.A. — where he got to skate alongside Gretzky.Tony also opens up about his cancer battle, his work with The Ranch — a Minnesota-based mental health and recovery facility for the hockey community founded in honor of Mark Pavelich — and why he believes no one, not even a professional athlete, is immune from life's hardest moments.This one covers a lot of ground. Don't miss it.🏒 Topics covered:2026 Milan Olympics hockey quarterfinal breakdownUSA vs. Canada gold medal previewThree-on-three overtime in Olympic play: Tony's honest takeCoaching Team USA at the 2018 Olympics without NHL playersTony's Rangers rookie year and the Calder Trophy race with Brian LeetchThe Bernie Nichols trade — what it felt like from the insidePlaying with Gretzky in L.A. and nearly winning the Cup in '93His sister Cammi Granato and the growth of women's hockeyTony's cancer survivorship and the Masterton TrophyThe Ranch: mental health and recovery support for the hockey community🔔 Subscribe to Rink Rap at Forever Blue Shirts for more Rangers and hockey content.Chapters:0:00 – Welcome & intro: Tony Granato's resume 0:33 – Olympic quarterfinals reaction: USA & Canada advance 3:00 – Three-on-three OT in the Olympics: Tony's honest take 4:00 – Sweden, Finland, Slovakia — don't sleep on the field 6:40 – USA vs. Canada gold medal game prediction 8:05 – Tony's experience as a 1988 Olympian vs. coaching in 2018 11:05 – Coaching the no-NHL-players 2018 U.S. team 13:20 – USA-Canada women's rivalry: the greatest in sports? 15:30 – What separates Team USA women heading into the gold medal game16:20 – Mark Johnson and the growth of college women's hockey 19:00 – Rangers fan question: Should Tony have won the Calder Trophy over Leetch? 21:00 – Tony's Rangers rookie record and what college prepared him for 24:55 – The Bernie Nichols trade: how Tony found out and what he felt 26:40 – Playing with Gretzky in L.A. and nearly winning the Cup 28:38 – Cancer survivorship and the Masterton Trophy 29:30 – The Ranch: mental health & recovery for the hockey community 33:00 – Mark Pavelich's legacy and why The Ranch exists 35:00 – Final thoughts on the Rangers' season ahead#TonyGranato #RinkRap #NYRangers #MilanOlympics2026 #TeamUSAHockey #USAvsCanada #OlympicHockey #ForeverBlueShirts #NHLHockey #HockeyPodcast #WomensHockey #MarkPavelich #TheRanch #HockeyMentalHealth #NewYorkRangers #Granato #USAHockey #NHLNetwork #HockeyHistory #BrianLeetch

Rink Rap goes LIVE from Mustang Harry's in NYC — just steps from Madison Square Garden! Jim Cerny breaks down the Artemi Panarin trade to LA, why Chris Drury was painted into a corner, and what comes next for the Rangers retool. Ted Kalamaras of NYRFans.com joins to debate the rebuild vs. retool, the Trocheck trade market, and whether Sullivan gets the green light to reshape this roster. Then NY Sirens head coach Greg Fargo stops by to talk about the PWHL's explosive growth, building through youth, the Sirens' push for their first-ever playoff berth, and their historic upcoming game at MSG.#NYR #Rangers #NYRangers #Panarin #RinkRap #ForeverBlueShirts #PWHL #NYSirens #MustangHarrys #NHL #HockeyChapters:0:00 – Live from Mustang Harry's in NYC 2:12 – Rangers at the Olympics: Trocheck, Miller, Mika & Sullivan 5:44 – Mika's bounce-back season & Igor's MVP case 12:17 – The Panarin trade: Jim's unpopular take on why Drury was cornered16:38 – Trocheck trade market & restocking the prospect pipeline25:55 – Ted joins: The 22-29-6 record and another retool letter 31:33 – Rebuild or retool? Ted says 50/50 33:06 – The stunning two-year freefall from 115 points & ECF 37:02 – Fox & Igor injuries sealed the season 41:06 – Is Drury the right guy? Dolan's all in — but is Sullivan?45:58 – Greg Fargo joins: Sirens playing at MSG on April 4th 48:22 – PWHL's explosive growth: 17,500 in DC, 20,000 in Toronto 55:09 – From Colgate to the pros — coaching the players he recruited 1:05:53 – Kaylee Osbourne's breakout as the Sirens' #1 goalie 1:13:06 – What it'll take to make the playoffs for the first time

Jim opens live from Mustang Harry's with Olympics updates, Mika's bounce-back season, Igor's MVP case, and a deep dive into why the Panarin trade played out the way it did.