New York Rangers News

Shesterkin is likely to make his third consecutive start to open the season for the Rangers on Monday night. The All-Star goaltender is coming off a forgettable performance on Saturday that saw him allow five goals on 21 shots in a 5-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Last season, Shesterkin allowed five goals only once and followed it up with a victory performance where he allowed only two goals. Shesterkin and the Rangers will be looking to rebound as they are massive -232 home favourites against an Arizona Coyotes team that has only played one game this season, a 4-3 shootout victory over the New Jersey Devils.

Shesterkin was his typical dominant self in the Rangers' season opener, stopping 24 of 25 shots in the win in Buffalo. On Saturday he will face a Blue Jackets team that lost to the Flyers in their opener. Shesterkin was 2-0-0 while allowing just two goals on 50 shots (.960 SV%) in two games against Columbus last year.

Shesterkin’s performance in the 2022-23 season may not have lived up the otherworldly campaign he enjoyed the previous year, but don’t let that trick you into overlooking one of the best goaltenders in the world. The .916 SV% and 2.48 GAA he put up last season are still elite compared to his peers, and it earned him a 37-13-8 record across 58 appearances. He is expected to command a heavy workload for the Rangers again this season and should continue to be a rock in goal for your fantasy teams, though he doesn’t draw the easiest matchup in Thursday’s season-opening clash with the Sabres.

Soucy left the Canucks' final preseason game vs. Calgary due to a leg injury and is now expected to be out week-to-week. The 28-year-old was signed to a three-year, $9.75 million contract in the offseason and was expected to be a key part of the Canucks' defensive unit. He had three goals, 13 assists, 87 SOG, 68 PIMs and a +18 plus/minus through 78 games with Seattle in 2022-23.

Scanlin had four goals, 11 assists, 30 PIMs and a +21 plus/minus with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) in 2022-23 and has reached a pre-arbitration agreement with the Rangers for one-year, $775,000. The 24-year-old defenseman was signed undrafted after three successful seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Fitzgerald had three assists, 13 SOG, four PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 27 games with both Buffalo and Florida in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with the Panthers. The 26-year-old defenseman was acquired off waivers from Buffalo in 2022-23 and has nine assists and a -21 plus/minus through 63 career NHL games.

Borgan has three goals, 17 assists, 76 SOG, 47 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus through 82 games played with Seattle in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $5.4 million extension ($2,700,000 AAV) with Seattle. The 26-year-old defensemen broke out in 2022-23 after playing only 50 NHL games prior to the start of the season.

Dowling had 11 goals, 35 assists, 18 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 56 games with Abbotsford (AHL) and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.55 million ($775,000 AAV) with New Jersey. The 32-year-old forward last played in the NHL in 2021-22 and brings six goals, 12 assists and 93 SOG across 98 career NHL games to the Devils.

Mackey had three goals, four assists, 31 SOG, 48 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus with both Calgary and Arizona in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old defenseman has four goals and 11 points in 39 career NHL games after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State University (NCAA) in 2020-21.

Winona had 10 goals, nine assists, 91 SOG, 28 PIMs and a -5 plus/minus through 62 games in 2022-23 with both San Jose and Pittsburgh and has signed a one-year contract worth $800,000 with the New York Rangers. The 35-year-old centre is joining his seventh NHL team and has 158 goals and 353 points across 823 career games played.

Quick had a 16-15-6 record with a 3.41 GAA and .882 SV% with both Los Angeles and Vegas in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $825,000 with the New York Rangers. The 37-year-old veteran netminder was traded twice in 2022-23 and brings a career record of 375-277-84, 2.47 GAA and .911 SV% to the Rangers backup role.

Blidh failed to pick up a point in 14 games with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022-23 but found his game back with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) after being traded in march and has now earned a two-year, two-way contract extension with the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old left-winger had 13 goals, 10 assists, 58 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 53 games with both Hartford (AHL) and Colorado (AHL) last season.

Gavrikov had six goals, 13 assists, 89 SOG, 38 PIMS and a +4 plus/minus through 72 games with Los Angeles and Columbus in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $11,750,000 ($5.875 AAV) contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings. The 27-year-old has 276 career games played, picking up 18 goals, 82 points and 138 penalty minutes across his five year career.