The Rangers previously parted ways with Gerard Gallant after suffering a disappointing first-round exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Laviolette was an obvious choice for the Rangers. He is one of the most experienced head coaches in the league, a proven winner, and has ties with the franchise. Laviolette made 12 appearances with the Rangers in the 1988–89 season, which ended up being his only NHL action as a professional player.

Peter Laviolette won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and made two more Stanley Cup Finals with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Nashville Predators. Laviolette has 752 career wins in 21 years as a head coach in NHL, which is the most all-time by an American-born coach.

Laviolette spent the past three seasons coaching the Washington Capitals. The franchise opted not to extend his contract following a disappointing 2022–23 campaign that saw the Capitals miss the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

“Peter’s impressive résumé, which includes winning a Stanley Cup and advancing to the final with three different teams, has made him one of the most respected coaches in the league,” said Rangers’ owner James Dolan in a statement. “As we move forward in our goal to consistently contend for the Stanley Cup, I am confident that Peter is the right head coach to lead our team.”

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The Rangers described the decision as “mutual.” Gallant leaves after two seasons in New York, during which he compiled a 99-46-19 record. He had a contract that ran through the 2024-25 season.

Gallant was hired by the Rangers ahead of the 2021-22 NHL season and led the team to second place in the Metropolitan Division and Conference Finals appearance. The Rangers had a solid 2022-23 campaign as well, winning 47 games, but fell short of their goals in the postseason. 

“I want to first thank Gerard for his work and commitment to the Rangers during his time as head coach,” Rangers general manager Chris Drury said in a statement. “After my evaluation of the season and discussions with Gerard, we mutually came to the conclusion that a change would be beneficial for both parties. I wish him and his family all the best in the future. Our search for a new head coach will begin right away.”

Drury reportedly made a decision after receiving feedback from the players that the change would be welcomed. The Rangers are now considering several candidates as Gallant’s replacement, with the ex-Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville being considered the favorite for the job.

The post NY Rangers Part Ways With Head Coach Gerard Gallant appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“My first game as a Ranger was a pretty cool experience. Obviously, I would’ve liked to play a little bit better and come out with the win. But hopefully, it’ll come. I haven’t played in a little bit. Maybe a little bit rusty,” Kane stated.

Experiencing a warm welcome from the Rangers fans, Kane expressed his enthusiasm to acclimate to his new team. The 34-year-old winger emphasized that he remains eager to adjust to his new team and build strong partnerships with his teammates.

Kane noted the importance of the Rangers’ next game against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, after which the team is set to have four days off before their next game. The Rangers’ new star player stated that he intends to use the time off to settle in and improve his performance for his new team.

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The news comes after Kravtsov requested a trade from the Rangers in early February. The 23-year-old appeared in 28 games in NHL this season, contributing with three goals and three assists for a total of six points. However, he hasn’t played for the New York team in more than two weeks.

“We are excited to add Vitali’s combination of size and skill to our group,” said Canucks’ general manager Patrik Allvin in a statement. “He is a smart player and a former first-round pick with a good set of skills. We look forward to welcoming him to Vancouver to continue developing his game with our coaching staff.”

Kravtsov had a strained relationship with the Rangers organization for a while now. Despite being taken ninth overall in 2018, he had trouble getting on the ice and requested to be traded several times. He will leave New York with just 58 games with the organization under his belt.

Lockwood, on the other hand, has only 15 NHL games since being taken in the third round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He is yet to play a game this season and has zero NHL points in his career.

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The Rangers acquired Motte last season from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 27-year-old player scored two goals for the New York teams in the playoffs before leaving the franchise as an unrestricted free agent.

Tyler Motte signed a one-year deal with the Senators that pays him $1.35 million in the 2022-23 NHL season. He played 38 games so far in the campaign, contributing with three goals and six assists for a total of nine points.

With Motte, the Rangers will boost their fourth line with a player they are already familiar with. They liked what they saw from him last season and have now corrected the mistake of not keeping him in New York.

The Senators, on the other hand, saw a chance to get something in return for a player that could leave for nothing in the summer. They are not in the mix for a playoff appearance this season, and the deal gives them an opportunity to get an extended look at a younger player in Gauthier and see if the 25-year-old player can become a part of their long-term plans.

The post NY Rangers Acquire Veteran Forward Tyler Motte in a Trade With the Senators appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The deal between the two sides is worth $4.2 million and will see Kakko earning an annual salary of $2.1 million.

Kakko finished 2021-22 with seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 43 games. While this is far from what Rangers were expecting when they drafted him, the team obviously still sees some potential in the 21-year-old player. The next season will be a perfect chance to show it, as Kakko is expected to have a more prominent role due to the lack of competition resulting from the Rangers’ salary cap issues.

Prior to coming to NHL, Kaapo Kakko was considered a top European prospect following several encouraging seasons with TPS and a strong performance at the 2019 World Championship, where he won a gold medal with Finland. This prompted the Rangers to take him second in 2019 and sign him to an entry-level contract shortly after.

Kakko had a great start to his NHL journey, playing in 66 games in his rookie season and contributing with 23 points (10 goals and 13 assists). However, he failed to build upon this initial success the way everyone predicted and managed just 35 points in the following two seasons.

The post Rangers Give Forward Kaapo Kakko a 2-Year Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Rangers reportedly already accepted that Kravtsov isn’t part of the team’s future and wouldn’t mind moving him. However, Staple points out that a trade is not expected to take place anytime soon.

The reason why Vitali Kravtsov isn’t interested in playing for the Rangers is his poor relationship with general manager Chris Drury. Their conflict is well documented and includes Drury calling out and criticizing Kravtsov publicly on several occasions. It also didn’t help that the team didn’t include the 21-year-old in their 2021-22 opening night roster, wanting to send him to the AHL.

The Rangers’ head coach Gerard Gallant tried to be the peacemaker ahead of the 2021-22 NHL season and even personally talked with Kravtsov but failed to change his mind. The 2018’s ninth overall pick is looking for a fresh start in NHL, according to SportsNet, and is set on leaving New York.

Kravtsov played 20 games for the Rangers, all of which came last season. He contributed with two goals and two assists while on ice.

The post Vitali Kravtsov Isn’t Returning to NHL Unless Rangers Trade Him appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Zibanejad had one year left on the five-year, $26.75 million extension which he signed in 2017, but the Rangers didn’t want to take any chances with their best player in recent years. Although he had a down campaign by his standards in 2020-21, Zibanejad still managed to pack 50 points in 56 games. This followed 74-point and 75-point outings in the previous two seasons.

According to the Rangers’ official announcement, Zibanejad will earn $8.5 million annually starting the 2022-23 season. This puts a total value of $68 million on his new deal.

“In addition to being a great player on the ice, Mika is an exemplary person off of the ice. We are fortunate to have him as part of our Rangers organization and are excited that he will continue his career in New York,” said Rangers general manager Chris Drury.

Mika Zibanejad started his NHL journey in the 2011-12 season, joining the Ottawa Senators from Swedish Hockey League (SEL) team Djurgardens IF. After spending five seasons in Ottawa, Zibanejad was traded to the Rangers in a deal that saw Derick Brassard head in the opposite direction.

The Rangers definitely got the better of the deal as Brassard spent only one and a half-season with the Senators while Zibanejad developed in a franchise cornerstone. Since arriving in New York, Zibanejad played 323 games for the Rangers and has 136 goals and 147 assists for a total of 283 points.

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This update comes as good news to Boston Bruins fans, who initially expected Rask to be sidelined for five to six months after incurring his preseason injury.

Rask made the following statement during an interview with WEEI 93.7 FM on Wednesday, “I’ll be ready to go probably around Christmas time, January. So hopefully I can start skating here in a month and a half or so and then progress from there and be ready to go in January.”

He furthermore expressed his gratitude to the Bruins for the support that the team has provided him throughout his NHL career. The Finnish player first signed for the Bruins in 2013, closing an eight-year $56 million contract with the team.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy remains confident in Rask’s ability to rebound from his injury, explaining that Rask is both talented and outgoing, which puts him in a strong position going forward.

The post Bruins’ Rask Could Return to Action in December, Player Confirms appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Rangers made it a priority to sign DeAngelo so that they could avoid an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for next week. New York currently has a little less than $11 million left in cap space and two important players to sign, Brendan Lemieux and Ryan Strome.

Both Strome and Lemieux need to be signed before early November in order to avoid arbitration. The Rangers also signed goaltender Alexander Georgiev two a two-year deal this week.

Earlier reports claimed that the Rangers would be using DeAngelo as trade bait since they have several other young prospects in the system that fit the bill as right-handed defenders. However, DeAngelo’s versatility and ability to potentially play on the left side as well makes him a valuable asset to the team.

DeAngelo has also shown offensive prowess, scoring 15 goals and 53 points last season, which was the most scored by a Rangers defenseman since Brian Leetch scored 21 goals almost 20 years ago.

DeAngelo is also a charismatic player and a fan favorite with a personality that fits perfectly with the New York market, making him an asset in that sense as well.

The post New York Rangers Sign Defenseman Tony DeAngelo to Two-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Rangers previously parted ways with Gerard Gallant after suffering a disappointing first-round exit in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Laviolette was an obvious choice for the Rangers. He is one of the most experienced head coaches in the league, a proven winner, and has ties with the franchise. Laviolette made 12 appearances with the Rangers in the 1988–89 season, which ended up being his only NHL action as a professional player.

Peter Laviolette won the Stanley Cup with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and made two more Stanley Cup Finals with the Philadelphia Flyers and the Nashville Predators. Laviolette has 752 career wins in 21 years as a head coach in NHL, which is the most all-time by an American-born coach.

Laviolette spent the past three seasons coaching the Washington Capitals. The franchise opted not to extend his contract following a disappointing 2022–23 campaign that saw the Capitals miss the playoffs for the first time in nine years.

“Peter’s impressive résumé, which includes winning a Stanley Cup and advancing to the final with three different teams, has made him one of the most respected coaches in the league,” said Rangers’ owner James Dolan in a statement. “As we move forward in our goal to consistently contend for the Stanley Cup, I am confident that Peter is the right head coach to lead our team.”

The post NY Rangers Hire Peter Laviolette as Their New Head Coach appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Rangers described the decision as “mutual.” Gallant leaves after two seasons in New York, during which he compiled a 99-46-19 record. He had a contract that ran through the 2024-25 season.

Gallant was hired by the Rangers ahead of the 2021-22 NHL season and led the team to second place in the Metropolitan Division and Conference Finals appearance. The Rangers had a solid 2022-23 campaign as well, winning 47 games, but fell short of their goals in the postseason. 

“I want to first thank Gerard for his work and commitment to the Rangers during his time as head coach,” Rangers general manager Chris Drury said in a statement. “After my evaluation of the season and discussions with Gerard, we mutually came to the conclusion that a change would be beneficial for both parties. I wish him and his family all the best in the future. Our search for a new head coach will begin right away.”

Drury reportedly made a decision after receiving feedback from the players that the change would be welcomed. The Rangers are now considering several candidates as Gallant’s replacement, with the ex-Chicago Blackhawks head coach Joel Quenneville being considered the favorite for the job.

The post NY Rangers Part Ways With Head Coach Gerard Gallant appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“My first game as a Ranger was a pretty cool experience. Obviously, I would’ve liked to play a little bit better and come out with the win. But hopefully, it’ll come. I haven’t played in a little bit. Maybe a little bit rusty,” Kane stated.

Experiencing a warm welcome from the Rangers fans, Kane expressed his enthusiasm to acclimate to his new team. The 34-year-old winger emphasized that he remains eager to adjust to his new team and build strong partnerships with his teammates.

Kane noted the importance of the Rangers’ next game against the Boston Bruins on Saturday, after which the team is set to have four days off before their next game. The Rangers’ new star player stated that he intends to use the time off to settle in and improve his performance for his new team.

The post Kane Expressed Gratitude After Rangers Debut appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The news comes after Kravtsov requested a trade from the Rangers in early February. The 23-year-old appeared in 28 games in NHL this season, contributing with three goals and three assists for a total of six points. However, he hasn’t played for the New York team in more than two weeks.

“We are excited to add Vitali’s combination of size and skill to our group,” said Canucks’ general manager Patrik Allvin in a statement. “He is a smart player and a former first-round pick with a good set of skills. We look forward to welcoming him to Vancouver to continue developing his game with our coaching staff.”

Kravtsov had a strained relationship with the Rangers organization for a while now. Despite being taken ninth overall in 2018, he had trouble getting on the ice and requested to be traded several times. He will leave New York with just 58 games with the organization under his belt.

Lockwood, on the other hand, has only 15 NHL games since being taken in the third round of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. He is yet to play a game this season and has zero NHL points in his career.

The post Canucks Acquire Forward Vitali Kravtsov appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Rangers acquired Motte last season from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The 27-year-old player scored two goals for the New York teams in the playoffs before leaving the franchise as an unrestricted free agent.

Tyler Motte signed a one-year deal with the Senators that pays him $1.35 million in the 2022-23 NHL season. He played 38 games so far in the campaign, contributing with three goals and six assists for a total of nine points.

With Motte, the Rangers will boost their fourth line with a player they are already familiar with. They liked what they saw from him last season and have now corrected the mistake of not keeping him in New York.

The Senators, on the other hand, saw a chance to get something in return for a player that could leave for nothing in the summer. They are not in the mix for a playoff appearance this season, and the deal gives them an opportunity to get an extended look at a younger player in Gauthier and see if the 25-year-old player can become a part of their long-term plans.

The post NY Rangers Acquire Veteran Forward Tyler Motte in a Trade With the Senators appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The deal between the two sides is worth $4.2 million and will see Kakko earning an annual salary of $2.1 million.

Kakko finished 2021-22 with seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points in 43 games. While this is far from what Rangers were expecting when they drafted him, the team obviously still sees some potential in the 21-year-old player. The next season will be a perfect chance to show it, as Kakko is expected to have a more prominent role due to the lack of competition resulting from the Rangers’ salary cap issues.

Prior to coming to NHL, Kaapo Kakko was considered a top European prospect following several encouraging seasons with TPS and a strong performance at the 2019 World Championship, where he won a gold medal with Finland. This prompted the Rangers to take him second in 2019 and sign him to an entry-level contract shortly after.

Kakko had a great start to his NHL journey, playing in 66 games in his rookie season and contributing with 23 points (10 goals and 13 assists). However, he failed to build upon this initial success the way everyone predicted and managed just 35 points in the following two seasons.

The post Rangers Give Forward Kaapo Kakko a 2-Year Extension appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Rangers reportedly already accepted that Kravtsov isn’t part of the team’s future and wouldn’t mind moving him. However, Staple points out that a trade is not expected to take place anytime soon.

The reason why Vitali Kravtsov isn’t interested in playing for the Rangers is his poor relationship with general manager Chris Drury. Their conflict is well documented and includes Drury calling out and criticizing Kravtsov publicly on several occasions. It also didn’t help that the team didn’t include the 21-year-old in their 2021-22 opening night roster, wanting to send him to the AHL.

The Rangers’ head coach Gerard Gallant tried to be the peacemaker ahead of the 2021-22 NHL season and even personally talked with Kravtsov but failed to change his mind. The 2018’s ninth overall pick is looking for a fresh start in NHL, according to SportsNet, and is set on leaving New York.

Kravtsov played 20 games for the Rangers, all of which came last season. He contributed with two goals and two assists while on ice.

The post Vitali Kravtsov Isn’t Returning to NHL Unless Rangers Trade Him appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Zibanejad had one year left on the five-year, $26.75 million extension which he signed in 2017, but the Rangers didn’t want to take any chances with their best player in recent years. Although he had a down campaign by his standards in 2020-21, Zibanejad still managed to pack 50 points in 56 games. This followed 74-point and 75-point outings in the previous two seasons.

According to the Rangers’ official announcement, Zibanejad will earn $8.5 million annually starting the 2022-23 season. This puts a total value of $68 million on his new deal.

“In addition to being a great player on the ice, Mika is an exemplary person off of the ice. We are fortunate to have him as part of our Rangers organization and are excited that he will continue his career in New York,” said Rangers general manager Chris Drury.

Mika Zibanejad started his NHL journey in the 2011-12 season, joining the Ottawa Senators from Swedish Hockey League (SEL) team Djurgardens IF. After spending five seasons in Ottawa, Zibanejad was traded to the Rangers in a deal that saw Derick Brassard head in the opposite direction.

The Rangers definitely got the better of the deal as Brassard spent only one and a half-season with the Senators while Zibanejad developed in a franchise cornerstone. Since arriving in New York, Zibanejad played 323 games for the Rangers and has 136 goals and 147 assists for a total of 283 points.

The post Mika Zibanejad Inks 8-Year Deal With NY Rangers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

This update comes as good news to Boston Bruins fans, who initially expected Rask to be sidelined for five to six months after incurring his preseason injury.

Rask made the following statement during an interview with WEEI 93.7 FM on Wednesday, “I’ll be ready to go probably around Christmas time, January. So hopefully I can start skating here in a month and a half or so and then progress from there and be ready to go in January.”

He furthermore expressed his gratitude to the Bruins for the support that the team has provided him throughout his NHL career. The Finnish player first signed for the Bruins in 2013, closing an eight-year $56 million contract with the team.

Bruins coach Bruce Cassidy remains confident in Rask’s ability to rebound from his injury, explaining that Rask is both talented and outgoing, which puts him in a strong position going forward.

The post Bruins’ Rask Could Return to Action in December, Player Confirms appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The Rangers made it a priority to sign DeAngelo so that they could avoid an arbitration hearing that was scheduled for next week. New York currently has a little less than $11 million left in cap space and two important players to sign, Brendan Lemieux and Ryan Strome.

Both Strome and Lemieux need to be signed before early November in order to avoid arbitration. The Rangers also signed goaltender Alexander Georgiev two a two-year deal this week.

Earlier reports claimed that the Rangers would be using DeAngelo as trade bait since they have several other young prospects in the system that fit the bill as right-handed defenders. However, DeAngelo’s versatility and ability to potentially play on the left side as well makes him a valuable asset to the team.

DeAngelo has also shown offensive prowess, scoring 15 goals and 53 points last season, which was the most scored by a Rangers defenseman since Brian Leetch scored 21 goals almost 20 years ago.

DeAngelo is also a charismatic player and a fan favorite with a personality that fits perfectly with the New York market, making him an asset in that sense as well.

The post New York Rangers Sign Defenseman Tony DeAngelo to Two-Year Deal appeared first on yoursportspot.com.