Rink Rap | A New York Rangers Podcast from Forever Blueshirts

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

Jim Cerny talks all things Blueshirts as the season approaches the Olympic Freeze. Who's on the trade block, who's untouchable and more deep Rangers discussion.

The Fourth Period's Dave Pagnotta stops by with the latest trade talk and approach Kyle Dubas may take in remaking the Rangers roster.

Join host Jim Cerny on the Rink Rap podcast as he dives deep into the New York Rangers' struggles with Newsday beat writer Colin Stephenson. From recent blowout losses to Boston and Ottawa, to the team's aging core, prospect pipeline issues, and big decisions on Artemi Panarin, GM Chris Drury, and coach Mike Sullivan—this episode covers it all. Is a full rebuild coming? Don't miss this raw analysis of the free-falling Rangers!Timestamps:00:03: Intro & Recent Games (Boston, Seattle, Ottawa meltdowns)04:09: Team Aging Suddenly & Core Players' Contracts05:02: Prospect Gabe Perrault's Breakout & Future Potential09:44: Rookie Noah Laba & Talent Drain in Organization12:43: Matthew Robertson's Surprise Rise on Defense22:10: JT Miller's Role & Why Big-Picture Plan Isn't Working29:30: Defensive Structure Crumbling Without Adam Fox38:00: Goaltending Woes & Jonathan Quick vs. Spencer Martin40:42: Why Rangers Should Trade Artemi Panarin 49:00: GM Chris Drury's Future & Need for a Clear Rebuild Plan51:19: Why Mike Sullivan is the Right Coach Despite the StrugglesSubscribe for more Rangers talk, NHL analysis, and exclusive interviews! Hit the like button if you're a Blueshirts fan, and drop your thoughts in the comments—what should the Rangers do next? #NYRangers #NHL #ArtemiPanarin #ChrisDrury #MikeSullivan #HockeyPodcastForever Blue Shirts: Your source for all things New York Rangers. Check out our stories at foreverblueshirts.com and follow Colin Stephenson on X for daily updates.

Die-hard Rangers fan Ted Kalamaras joins Jim Cerny on Rink Rap Extra to hype the epic January 13, 2026 meet & greet at Mustang Harry's with former Captain Ryan Callahan and "The Warrior" Dan Girardi!Hear the passion, brotherhood, blocked shots, big hits, the heartbreaking trade, and why these two are forever Ranger staples. Plus Q&A laughs, road trip stories, Montreal hot dogs, and Ted's incredible journey turning Rangers fandom into a career.Don't miss this feel-good Rangers nostalgia blast! 🏒❤️💙Tickets & info: mustangharrys.com or nyrfans.com#LGR #NYR #RyanCallahan #DanGirardi #RangersLegendsChapters:00:00 - Intro & Welcome Back to Rink Rap00:15 - Welcoming Ted Kalamaras & Hype for Callahan + Girardi Event00:46 - Ted's Die-Hard Rangers Fandom Since '7301:21 - The Brotherhood of Callahan & Girardi ("Captain & The Warrior")02:10 - Inseparable On & Off the Ice – True Brothers Forever03:07 - Why Callahan & Girardi Are Ranger Staples & Legends03:57 - The Heartbreaking Callahan Trade to Tampa04:46 - Fan Love for Callahan's Heart & Passion05:35 - Event Details: Tuesday, Jan 13, 2026 @ Mustang Harry's (7:30 PM)06:31 - Ticket Tiers Explained (Red vs VIP: Photos, Pucks, Sit-Down Pics, Q&A)07:56 - Q&A Preview – Funny Stories & Brotherhood Vibes08:41 - Classic Q&A Moments (e.g., Mike Keenan Stories)09:30 - Road Trips for Rangers Fans & Surviving the Boston Blowout10:28 - The Magic of Shared Hockey Experiences12:21 - Favorite Road Arenas: Montreal #1 (Crowd, History, Hot Dogs!)13:36 - Chicago & Other Great Buildings15:01 - Montreal Hot Dogs Obsession (Sam Rosen & Don LaGreca Stories)16:22 - Montreal Bucket List Trip Recommendation17:34 - The "Curse" of Ted's Trips & Signings (Trades After Events!)18:38 - Ted's Journey: Turning Rangers Passion into Full-Time Career20:00 - Starting with Retired Legends & Growing to Active Players21:21 - Joy of Seeing Kids Meet Their Idols22:20 - Upcoming Events Recap (Jan 13 Callahan/Girardi + Jan 25 Noah Laba)23:28 - Final Thanks & Ranger Brotherhood Bond

Dive into the New York Rangers' latest ups and downs on this episode. We celebrate the thrill of the Winter Classic and key players stepping up big, but quickly shift to the harsh reality of a frustrating loss to Utah, major injuries to Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox, and the team's resilience. We debate Jonathan Quick's ability to carry the load at 40, the backup goalie call-up choices, defensive lineup decisions, forward injury timelines for J.T. Miller and Noah Laba, and what makes this season's squad mentally tougher—starting from behind the bench with Coach Mike Sullivan.

We kick off by recapping the Rangers' standout performance in the Winter Classic, where the biggest names delivered in a memorable outdoor win. But the high didn't last—discuss the quick fall back to earth in the disappointing overtime loss to Utah, with key players unable to sustain momentum. Plus, the big injury concerns: Igor Shesterkin's lower-body issue (and the Rangers being cagey on his timeline), Adam Fox's situation, and why it looks like the team dodged the absolute worst-case scenario for Shesterkin so far.

With Igor Shesterkin on IR, all eyes turn to veteran Jonathan Quick—can the 39/40-year-old Cup winner hold the fort and keep New York in the playoff mix during this injury stretch? We break down his recent relief performance and track record. Then, the tough roster decisions: why the Rangers recalled Spencer Martin over promising prospect Dylan Garand as Quick's backup, and the puzzling defensive scratch of Matthew Robertson in favor of Urho Vaakanainen on Monday—analyzing what it means for the blueline depth and lineup strategy.

Get the latest on forward injuries, including J.T. Miller's progress toward return (cleared for contact and potentially close) and Noah Laba's week-to-week upper-body status. Then, the big-picture comparison: what separates this season's Rangers from last year's squad? We highlight the improved mindset, consistent effort, and buy-in that starts with head coach Mike Sullivan's leadership and adjustments behind the bench, fueling a more resilient team amid adversity.

Dissecting the New York Rangers' rollercoaster first 41 games under Mike Sullivan—inconsistencies, injuries, scoring droughts, and why their playoff spot could get uglier as teams catch up on games in hand. We grade the team and riff on that "mixed bag" reality.Then: Top prospect EJ Emery shining for Team USA at World Juniors—why patience is key for this shutdown defenseman. Plus, realistic shots for Adam Fox, JT Miller, and Vincent Trocheck to make the U.S. Olympic roster (announcements Dec 31!).Finally: Previewing the week ahead and the massive Winter Classic showdown vs. defending champ Florida Panthers on Jan 2 in Miami.Rangers fans: Are they contenders or pretenders? Drop your grades below! #NYR #NewYorkRangers #WinterClassic #NHLChapters:00:00 Opening & Holiday Wishes01:41 First-Half Recap05:20 Defensive Improvements09:20 Offensive Struggles13:40 Overall Team Grade18:40 Injuries & Depth24:00 Player Notes (Panarin etc.)29:00 Prospect Update: EJ Emery36:00 Olympic Roster Talk42:00 Week Ahead: Capitals & Winter Classic47:00 Closing & 2026 Tease

Jim jumps right in to discuss the Rangers struggles so far including inconsistent play and injuries.

Jim discusses top prospect EJ Emery and his role with Team USA at the World Junior Championship, preaching patience for his development as a defensive-minded defenseman. Additionally, consider the implications of Olympic rosters being announced on Dec. 31 and the chances of Adam Fox, JT Miller, and/or Vincent Trocheck securing spots on the U.S. roster. 

Jim takes you home in the New Year...looks at the week ahead for the Blueshirts.