Rink Rap | A New York Rangers Podcast from Forever Blueshirts

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. 

Ted joins to hash out the Panarin return, the potential Trocheck trade, Sullivan's role going forward, and whether this is a true rebuild or something in between.

The Sirens' head coach talks building the youngest roster in the league, the PWHL's rapid growth, chasing their first playoff spot, and their historic upcoming game at Madison Square Garden.

Former 1980 US Olympic "Miracle on Ice" hero and NY Rangers forward Rob McClanahan joins Rink Rrap to discuss the new Netflix documentary, his memories from Lake Placid, and his time playing at Madison Square Garden. Don't miss the US Olympic Hockey insight and memories of a Ranger star!Chapters:0:00 - Introduction & Olympic memories3:00 - Netflix "Miracle: The Boys of '80" documentary reaction6:45 - Herb Brooks' coaching style & team preparation11:20 - Playing college hockey at Minnesota15:43 - Transition to NY Rangers & NHL career20:15 - Playing with Don Maloney & Rangers teammates27:50 - Locker room stories & team characters30:00 - Olympic brotherhood & life lessons

980 Olympic gold medalist Rob McClanahan joins Jim to discuss the new Netflix documentary "Miracle: The Boys of '80," shares memories from Lake Placid, talks about Herb Brooks' intense coaching style, and reflects on what made that team special 46 years later.

Rob McClanahan opens up about his transition from Olympic hero to NY Rangers forward, playing alongside Don Maloney and Doug Soetaert, locker room pranks with Tommy Laidlaw, and the lasting brotherhood of both his Olympic teammates and NHL career.

Less than 24 hours before their Olympic opener, Team USA Women's Hockey General Manager Katie Million joins us from Milan to discuss the journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics. Katie shares insights on building a championship roster that blends veterans like Hillary Knight with seven current NCAA players, the impact of the PWHL on international competition, and why this tight-knit group has her feeling more confident than ever.We discuss the evolution of women's hockey beyond the traditional USA-Canada rivalry, the challenges of competing against rising powers like Czechia and Finland, and what makes this Olympic team's chemistry so special. Katie also opens up about the four-year journey since Beijing, the advantage of having rivalry series for roster evaluation, and why she believes they have "a team full of MVPs."Perfect for hockey fans and anyone interested in Olympic team building and the growing landscape of professional women's hockey.#TeamUSA #WomensHockey #Olympics #Milan2026 #HockeyPodcast #PWHL #HillaryKnight #KatieMillionsChapters:0:00 - Intro & Welcome 0:18 - Less Than 24 Hours to Opening Game: Managing Emotions 1:46 - Building Confidence Through the Rivalry Series 2:52 - Target on Their Back: Facing Canada and Rising Teams 3:25 - Czechia's Young Talent and the Klautin Kova Factor 3:48 - Women's Hockey Beyond USA vs Canada 4:22 - How the PWHL Changed International Competition 5:05 - Roster Decisions: Who Gets Cut and Why 6:35 - Team Chemistry and What Makes This Group Special 7:50 - Role of Veterans: Hillary Knight's Legacy 8:40 - Coaching Staff and Their Olympic Experience 10:08 - Game Plan Strategy for Milan 11:15 - Physical vs Finesse: Team USA's Playing Style 13:05 - Mixing Veterans with College Players 14:57 - "We Have a Team Full of MVPs" 15:23 - Comparing Roster Building with Men's Team (Billy Guerin) 16:24 - Final Thoughts and Hillary Knight's Last Olympics

Former New York Rangers captain Derek Stepan joins Rink Rap for an incredible conversation about his hockey journey. From his legendary NHL debut hat trick to becoming a player development coach with the Minnesota Wild, Derek shares stories Rangers fans have been waiting to hear.In this episode, Derek discusses:How he landed his role with the Wild after retiringLife as a player development coach and what he looks for in prospectsThe 2014 Sochi Olympics experience and adopting a Russian stray dogHis time as Rangers captain during the 2014 seasonPlaying alongside Henrik Lundqvist and the leadership lessons learnedWhy he decided to retire and transition away from playingThe funny side of the Rangers locker room Derek also discusses knowing when it was time to hang up the skates, adapting to life after hockey, and his gratitude to Bill Guerin for the opportunity in Minnesota. Whether you're a die-hard Rangers fan or just love hockey stories, this conversation with one of New York's most beloved players is a must-watch.#DerekStepan #NYRangers #NewYorkRangers #MinnesotaWild #NHL #HockeyPodcast #ForeverBlueshirtChapters:0:00 - Welcome & Introduction 1:00 - How Derek landed with the Minnesota Wild 4:00 - Living in Minnesota & working with Bill Guerin 8:30 - Transition from playing to player development 12:45 - What Derek looks for in prospects 18:20 - Evaluating young players vs. his playing days 23:15 - The business side of hockey post-retirement 28:40 - Rangers memories & the 2014 season 35:50 - Days of being Rangers star 42:10 - Leadership lessons from Henrik Lundqvist 48:25 - The 2014 Sochi Olympics experience 54:30 - Meeting Russian fans & adopting a stray dog 1:02:15 - Favorite Olympic moments beyond hockey 1:08:45 - The Sochi dog story continues 1:12:00 - Funniest teammates: Staal, Boyle, Yandle & Zuccarello 1:16:00 - Wrap up & future episode plans

Derek discusses his transition to the Minnesota Wild's player development staff, how neighbor Bill Guerin gave him his shot, and what he looks for when evaluating prospects in his new role.

Step shares stories from the 2014 Cup run, what it meant to be a New York Ranger, his unforgettable Sochi Olympics experience, and the funniest guys in the Rangers locker room.

In this episode of Rink Rap, host Jim Cerny dives into the New York Rangers' decision to raise the white flag on a disappointing season with "Letter 2.0," signaling a roster retool just eight years after the first rebuild. Jim shares personal stories from both announcements and discusses key players like Artemi Panarin, Igor Shesterkin, and Mika Zibanejad. Joined by insider Dave Pagnotta from The Fourth Period, they break down trade rumors, potential deals, and the team's path forward, including strategies for the trade deadline and offseason. Essential listening for Rangers fans navigating this pivotal moment.Chapters:00:00 – Intro and welcome to Rink Rap podcast01:03 – Rangers announce roster retool with Letter 2.002:04 – Discussion on Panarin's no-move clause and potential trade04:51 – Need for younger, faster players and scoring depth07:58 – Jim's story from 2018 rebuild announcement at Prudential Center08:47 – Jim's story from recent announcement while driving to Princeton11:23 – Emphasis on trading beyond Panarin and Susie14:54 – Critique of no-move clauses in contracts16:57 – Key players to listen on trades like Trocheck, Schneider, Lafreniere43:11 – Guest Dave Pagnotta joins to discuss trade strategies43:27 – Offseason possibilities and not rushing everything pre-deadline44:55 – Summer retool outlook and laying groundwork for future deals49:53 – Lafreniere's trade value and challenges in matching returns52:36 – Priority on acquiring NHL-ready talent over just draft picks55:43 – Final questions: Panarin's likely return and destinations56:05 – Intel on Panarin trade timing, retention, and potential landing spots#NYRangers #NHLTrades #RangersRetool #ArtemiPanarin #TradeDeadline #HockeyPodcast #ForeverBlueShirts #NHLRumors #RinkRap