NEW YORK, NY — The New York Rangers will open up their Centennial (100th) season Tuesday night vs. the Pittsburgh Penguins, with a new coach in Mike Sullivan, Sullivan coming over from Pittsburgh, where he coached for 753 games, won 409 and led the Penguins to two Stanley Cup Championships in 2016 and 2017.
With new captain, JT Miller, the Broadway Blues will pair him with Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox and a Rangers who are solid in goal with Igor Shesterkin and Jonathan Quick. Shesterkin played 61 games and had a record of 27-29-5 last season, with a 2.86 goals against average, while Quick, a future Hall of Famer, went 11-7-2 in 24 games and 3.17 goals against average.
Image Credit: NHL
Mika Zibanejad had a disappointing season in 2024-2025, scoring 20 goals, when in a year before he scored 26 and in the 2022-23 season, recorded 39. Zibanejad also has 108 career power play goals, a record owned by recently departed Chris Kreider and Camille Henry at 116. He slowed at thirty-two years age, suggesting a shift to the right wing to play along with Miller and Will Cuylle.
Alexis Lafrenière, who signed a seven-year extension last October, dropped down from the season before, compiling 28 goals in 2023-24 season and dropped to 17 goals last season. The Rangers expect him to find his offensive scoring touch this season under new coach Sullivan.
Matt Rempe’s physical style has made him a Madison Square Garden favorite as he looks to improve on his overall skill this season. Sullivan has changed the Rangers’ defensive man-to-man style under former head coach Peter Laviolette. Sullivan wants more zone defense, less skating in the defensive zone. Artemi Panarin, who is on the last year of his contract, could be looked look for in having a big year.
Image Credit: NHL
The Rangers signed Conor Sheary, who played for Sullivan in Pittsburgh. After earning 85 points but missing the playoffs, following a season where they won the President’s Trophy as the team with the most points in the league. The Rangers remain a team ending a 30-year plus drought of winning the Stanley Cup.
The Rangers will have milestones this season—Zibanejad is approaching the 1,000 games played milestone, while Panarin with 600 assists, Shesterkin with 200 wins and Sullivan with 500 wins.
The organization plans on wearing a memorial helmet decal for legendary goaltender Eddie Giacomin for the entire 2025-26 season to honor his memory after his passing in September of 2025. The team unveiled the decal, which features Giacomin’s retired No. 1, prior to their preseason game and displays it on the back of each helmet. Giacomin was a franchise icon, the second player to have their number retired by the Rangers, and held multiple team records at the time of his departure.
Follow us on Social Media for updates and exclusive content
Instagram: @latinosportsoficial
Facebook: Latino Sports
Twitter: @latinosports
