New York Rangers News

With Elvis Merzlinkins currently battling a stomach bug, Martin seems likely to get his first start as a member of the Blue Jackets. Martin was claimed off of waivers from the Vancouver Canucks, where he recorded a 3.99 GAA and .871 SV% in 29 games last season (11-15-1). He has appeared in net for the Blue Jackets once in relief this season, where he allowed two goals on 17 shots in 20 minutes of action. Martin and the Blue Jackets at +198 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that has scored eight goals in their first two games (1-1-0).

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.

After having a productive postseason for the Kraken, in which he scored five points (3G / 2A) in 10 games, Kartye is expected to make his regular-season debut against the Predators. The undrafted winger will likely suit up on the fourth line alongside Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Kailer Yamamoto.

The newly signed Korpisalo will likely make his Senators debut tonight against the Hurricanes. Korpisalo is coming off the busiest season of his career, which saw him appear in 39 games (18-14-4) where he posted a 2.87 GAA and .914 SV% between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings. Despite being outperformed by Anton Forsberg in the preseason, Korpisalo still performed extremely well in two games (1-1-0), recording a 2.02 GAA and .934 SV% along with a shutout. The two Ottawa goaltenders will likely both see their fair share of action this season but at least to start, Korpisalo gets the priority in the season-opener. The Hurricanes will be without star winger Andrei Svechnikov to start the season. Despite ending the season with the second-best record (52-21-9), the Hurricanes were only mid-pack in terms of goal scoring, ranking 15th with an average of 3.20 goals scored per game. Even so, the Senators are still +160 underdogs against the Hurricanes in their season-opener.

The newly signed Korpisalo will likely make his Senators debut tonight against the Hurricanes. Korpisalo is coming off the busiest season of his career, which saw him appear in 39 games (18-14-4) where he posted a 2.87 GAA and .914 SV% between the Columbus Blue Jackets and Los Angeles Kings. Despite being outperformed by Anton Forsberg in the preseason, Korpisalo still performed extremely well in two games (1-1-0), recording a 2.02 GAA and .934 SV% along with a shutout. The two Ottawa goaltenders will likely both see their fair share of action this season but at least to start, Korpisalo gets the priority in the season-opener. The Hurricanes will be without star winger Andrei Svechnikov to start the season. Despite ending the season with the second-best record (52-21-9), the Hurricanes were only mid-pack in terms of goal scoring, ranking 15th with an average of 3.20 goals scored per game. Even so, the Senators are still +160 underdogs against the Hurricanes in their season-opener.

On Thursday, Martin was placed on conditional waivers by Vancouver and claimed on Friday by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old goaltender struggled in 2022-23 with the Canucks, posting an 11-15-1 record, 3.99 GAA and .871 SV%. He will be joining his third NHL team (COL, VAN) and should provide goaltending depth behind the Blue Jackets' starter Elvis Merzlikins.

Veleno had nine goals, 11 assists, 30 PIMs, 85 SOG, and a -12 plus/minus through 81 games with the Red Wings in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $825,000 extension Wednesday. The 23-year-old was Detroit's 2018 first-round pick (30th overall) and has picked up 18 goals, 36 points, and 166 SOG through 152 career NHL games across three seasons.

Dorofeyev had seven goals, two assists, 40 SOG, six PIMs and a +5 plus/minus through 18 games with Vegas in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, $825,000 contract extension. The 22-year-old left-winger made his NHL debut in 2021-22 but had a short two game showing where he failed to pick up any points. He is expected to make a full-time impact in 2023-24 as part of Vegas' bottom-six and is giving value to the Golden Knights after being drafted in the 3rd round of the 2019 NHL Draft (79th overall).

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.

Korpsialo was 18-14-4 with a 2.87 GAA and .915 SV% in 2022-23 with both Los Angeles and Columbus in 2022-23 and has signed a five-year deal worth $20.0 million ($4.0M AAV) with Ottawa. The 29-year-old goaltender had played his entire eight year career with Columbus before being dealt to Los Angeles at the Trade Deadline in 2022-23 and has a 94-81-25 career record with a 3.01 GAA and .904 SV%.

Durzi had nine goals, 38 points, 110 SOG, 50 PIMs and a -12 plus/minus through 72 games in 2022-23 with Los Angeles but has been traded to the Arizona Coyotes for a 2024 2nd Round Pick (via Montreal). The 24-year-old heads to the desert having collected 136 career NHL games with Los Angeles, picking up 65 points across that span (12G/53A).

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.