Rink Rap | A New York Rangers Podcast from Forever Blueshirts

Hockey is back, and Jim Cerny is rolling into rookie camp week on Rink Rap from Forever Blueshirts. The Rangers rookies play the Flyers on Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. at PPL Center in Allentown. Cerny previews the first look at No. 5 pick Alberts Smits, Tomas Chrenko’s next step, Liam Greentree’s first Rangers sweater, and whether Cole Beaudoin can pull a Noah Laba and crash opening night. Then it’s the roster questions that will follow this team into training camp: Eeli Tolvanen’s one-year fit next to Laba and Will Cuylle, why some fans want Cuylle in the top six with J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev, where Oliver Bjorkstrand lands, and why a Mika Zibanejad slump would be New York’s worst-case scenario after Vincent Trocheck’s departure. Read the latest at ForeverBlueshirts.com Jim on X: @JimCerny Forever Blueshirts on X: @ForeverBluShirt Chapters 0:00 Welcome to Rink Rap 0:47 More on Eeli Tolvanen 1:33 Rookie camp and Allentown schedule 2:29 First look at Alberts Smits 4:01 Ivy League polo and ESPN+ 6:04 Johnny Lazarus and the Ranger tie 6:56 Why the Rangers delayed the rookie roster 9:15 Tomas Chrenko watch 11:58 Liam Greentree and Cole Beaudoin 12:40 Can Beaudoin pull a Noah Laba? 16:18 Nathan Aspinall and the next wave 17:32 Tolvanen deep dive with Rob Simpson 23:20 Cuylle, Laba and Tolvanen on the third line 23:41 Should Will Cuylle play in the top six? 25:52 Cuylle with J.T. Miller and Pavel Dorofeyev 27:00 Keeping Zibanejad, Lafrenière and Perreault together 28:08 Oliver Bjorkstrand’s role 32:54 Mika Zibanejad worst-case scenario 38:37 Weekend games, training camp and the Boston opener

September hockey is finally here. On this edition of the Rink Rap Podcast, Jim Cerny digs into the Rangers' latest offseason move: the one-year, $1.5 million signing of winger Eeli Tolvanen. Jim explains why Chris Drury waiting out a market that never developed for Tolvanen worked in the Rangers' favor, and why a rough underlying-numbers season in Seattle shouldn't scare fans off a player who's scored 23 goals and 41 points in a single season before. Jim breaks down how Tolvanen slots into a projected third line with Will Cujo and Noah Laba, how the signing pushes Ty Cartier down to a much-improved fourth line, and why these short, affordable one-year deals (Tolvanen, Bjorkstrand, Veleno) are smart, low-risk business for a Rangers team still searching for top-end firepower. He also responds to fan criticism from both sides — those who think he's "drinking the Kool-Aid" and those who call him a "hater" — and lays out where he really stands on the Rangers' chances this season. Plus: a preview of rookie camp and the Rangers-Flyers rookie games kicking off next week, the first-year prospects to watch (Liam Greentree, Nathan Aspinall, Cole Beaudoin, Malcolm Spence), and why only four preseason games this year means fewer chances to evaluate the kids. Jim wraps with a Labor Day sign-off and a look ahead to training camp. Subscribe and follow along all season at ForeverBlueShirts.com, and follow Jim Cerny on X and Facebook @ForeverBlueShirts. Timecodes 0:00 – Intro: hockey is back in September 1:59 – Housekeeping: shorter show, thanks for the support 4:57 – Rangers sign Eeli Tolvanen (1 year, $1.5M) 7:07 – Why Tolvanen's market never developed 9:23 – Tarasenko comparison and why he's not the right fit 9:52 – Projected third line: Cooley, Laba, Tolvanen 11:31 – Tolvanen's rough 2025-26 analytics explained 15:36 – Why one-year "bounce-back" deals make sense 19:16 – Addressing fan pushback: "Kool-Aid" vs. "hater" criticism 25:11 – Where the Rangers stack up in the Metro/Atlantic 28:22 – Rookie camp and prospects to watch next week 34:11 – Preseason format change: only 4 games this year 39:04 – Labor Day sign-off and what's coming next week

Jim Cerny is back from a week off and welcomes Dan D'Uva, the radio voice of the Vegas Golden Knights, for an in-depth look at the Pavel Dorofeyev trade. D'Uva breaks down why Vegas moved on from their leading goal scorer, what he brings to a Rangers lineup starved for scoring, how he compares to guys like Nikita Kucherov in adjusting to a new language and market, and whether he can produce without setups from Jack Eichel and Mitch Marner. Along the way, Jim and Dan swap stories about broadcast booths and arenas around the league (catwalks, gondolas, and the infamous Johnstown press box), and Dan reflects on growing up a Devils fan in Jersey, chasing Doc Emrick and Mike Miller with a tape recorder, and how the 1994 Rangers-Devils series shaped his hockey fandom. Chapters: 00:00 – Cold open / intro 00:15 – Jim welcomes listeners back from vacation, brings on Dan Duva 00:48 – Dan Duva introduced, voice of the Vegas Golden Knights 01:02 – Jim's Canadian Rockies trip and the new Calgary arena 01:45 – Catwalk vs. no-catwalk broadcast booths 02:35 – Ranking arenas by broadcast position (Islanders, old vs. new buildings) 04:16 – Edmonton's gondola/press bridge that never got built 04:56 – T-Mobile Arena vs. Little Caesars Arena, hopes for new Calgary arena 04:57 (5:00ish) – Saddledome and the gondola view of warmups 05:31 – Johnstown, PA and the Slap Shot broadcast booth story 06:59 – Wrapping up the arena talk, back to hockey 07:12 – Dan's Jersey/Devils roots growing up in Nutley 08:22 – The 1994 Rangers-Devils series and Stefan Matteau/Seinfeld reference 09:11 – The '95 lockout and Devils' Stanley Cup win 09:39 – Broadcasting practice tapes as a teenager, Ridgewood high school hockey 10:22 – Pestering Devils broadcasters (Mike Miller, Randy Velischek, Chico Resch) 14:52 – Transition into the Pavel Dorofeyev trade discussion 15:36 – Did Duva see the trade coming / draft-day reaction 17:01 – Salary cap situation and why Vegas moved on from Dorofeyev 19:22 – Dorofeyev's power play production and Viktor Olofsson's arrival 21:16 – Playoff scoring surge and comparison to Brett Howden 23:33 – White House visit story and Dorofeyevs drive to be a champion 26:00 – Comparing Dorofeyev to Nikita Kucherov's English/language journey 30:00 – Ivan Barbashev's influence and personality contrast 33:00 – Igor Shesterkin comparison and "I don't speak English" bit 34:33 – What Dorofeyev brings on the power play and even strength 36:35 – Can Dorofeyev be trusted in all situations (Mike Sullivan's demands) 42:39 – John Tortorella's role in Dorofeev's late-season push 47:54 – Whether Dorofeyev needs elite setup men (Eichel/Marner) to produce 52:17 – Reily Smith's "buy stock in Dorofeyev" story 56:17 – Handling the pressure of a big Rangers contract and market 1:00:20 – Comparing Dorofeyev's stage experience to Jack Eichel's Vegas arrival 1:03:23 – Ryan Craig named new Golden Knights head coach, background 1:05:10 – John Tortorella's arrival in Vegas, building early rapport 1:07:00 – The Cape Cod/Maine connection that broke the ice with Tortorella 1:11:16 – What Tortorella hates: the "non-question question" 1:16:33 – How Tortorella made Duva a better interviewer, contrast with Bruce Cassidy 1:20:33 – Tortorella's return to MSG and the "family" story with Jim's son 1:23:24 – Carter Hart's relationship with Tortorella from Philadelphia 1:25:57 – Closing thanks and sign-off

It's the dog days of August, but Jim Cerny isn't taking a week off. Flying solo this week (with a Banff vacation on the horizon), Cerny opens with a personal story from his early broadcasting days with the Islanders before diving into the meat of the show: a full breakdown of the Rangers' training camp roster crunch. With only four preseason games this year, Cerny explains why fans shouldn't panic if top prospects don't make the opening night roster. Using Noah Laba's 2024 breakthrough as a blueprint, he walks through the cases of Liam Greentree, EJ Emery, Albert Schmidt, and Adam Sykora, and explains how waiver exemptions and one-year "placeholder" veteran signings like Oliver Bjorkstrand and Joey Velleno give the organization flexibility to develop young players on their own timeline rather than forcing them onto the NHL roster too early. He also digs into Matt Rempe's path back after a season disrupted by a hand injury, why Rempe (not being waiver-exempt) has an edge in the fourth-line battle, and how the bottom six could shake out among Rempe, Sykora, Tychonick, and Taylor Raddish. The show closes with a look at the growing fan chatter around "tanking" for a shot at Connor McDavid in 2028 free agency, why Cerny thinks that's a flawed long-term strategy, but also why the dream isn't entirely unrealistic given McDavid's age, cap trajectory, and history of taking less money to stay competitive. Chapters: 0:00 — Intro, solo show, Michael Del Zotto teaser for a future episode 3:00 — Banff trip teaser and a throwback Calgary story from Cerny's Islanders broadcasting days 13:45 — Training camp overview: four preseason games, September 29 opener 14:20 — Why it's OK if Greentree, Bodwin, or Schmidt don't make the opening roster 15:00 — The Noah Laba blueprint: how he earned his spot last year 19:00 — Fewer preseason games means tougher, faster decisions this year 22:00 — Oliver Bjorkstrand signing as a "placeholder" veteran option 27:30 — The Matt Rempe question: fourth-line spot, waiver status, and his under-the-radar offseason 38:30 — Battle for the final bottom-six/13th forward spot: Sykora, Tychonick, Rempe 41:00 — Albert Schmidt and the case for patience with 18-year-old prospects 46:15 — Fan chatter: should the Rangers "tread water" for Connor McDavid in 2028? 52:00 — Cap math on what a McDavid contract could look like in 2028

Hart Levine, founder of PuckPedia, joins Jim Cerny on the Rink Rap podcast to break down the rapidly rising NHL salary cap, the evolving free-agency market, the real impact of offer sheets, and the New York Rangers’ critical upcoming decisions on Gabe Perreault, Will Cuylle, and Braden Schneider. They also dig into the Pavel Dorofeyev contract, why teams are shifting toward shorter deals, how the end of the flat-cap era is changing player leverage, and the danger of the “mushy middle” for the Rangers as they try to retool. If you care about Rangers cap strategy, NHL contracts, offer sheets, or the future of free agency, this is essential listening. Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro 0:48 – Hart Levine joins 1:39 – Origin story of PuckPedia (2018) 3:16 – How the site exploded after the competition folded 5:38 – “Welcome to the league” moments & recognition from teams/agents 11:22 – Wild offseason & free-agency trends with the rising cap 16:41 – Offer sheets: Carlsson, Hayton, threats vs. actual deals 21:00 – Rangers’ big decisions: Perreault, Cuylle, Schneider 32:04 – Pavel Dorofeyev’s 7-year, $11M deal analyzed 36:00 – Avoiding the mushy middle & Rangers’ path forward Subscribe for more New York Rangers analysis, NHL cap talk, and interviews. Follow PuckPedia for the latest contract data and tools.

Jim Cerny sits down with Dan Kingerski (Pittsburgh Hockey Now) to talk through the Rangers' trade for Marcus Pettersson and why he could be the steadiest, most poised defenseman the team has had in years. They swap old Rangers-Penguins war stories, unpack Mike Sullivan's complicated reputation with young players, and talk about how new Penguins coach Dan Muse turned the room around last year — including getting the best out of Erik Karlsson. They close with a Metro Division preview and early playoff predictions ahead of training camp. Chapters: 0:57 – Meet Dan Kingerski 1:18 – Old Rangers-Penguins rivalry stories 6:16 – The Marcus Pettersson trade, explained 11:04 – Why the Rangers needed this defensive pairing 16:47 – Rangers' speed and identity issues 20:14 – Sullivan and young players 23:00 – Dan Muse's culture reset in Pittsburgh 27:08 – Metro Division predictions 33:16 – Florida's playoff pressure 35:30 – Wrap-up and a Toronto pronunciation bit

Russ Cohen of NHL Network Radio joins Rink Rap to break down the Rangers' prospect pipeline — his specialty — and doesn't hold back. Cohen explains why he thinks the Rangers "compromised down the middle" in the Vincent Trocheck trade, why he's not sold on Noah Laba as a third-line center replacement, and why center prospect Cole Beaudoin might be the best piece of the return package, even with Sean Durzi in the mix. He also digs into Alexis Lafreniere's evolution into a "different player," caps his ceiling at 60 points, makes the case for tempering expectations on Gabe Perreault despite his top-6 upside as a line driver and line builder, and previews top prospects Liam Greentree and Alberts Smits. Russ closes with his Metropolitan Division predictions for 2026-27. Chapters: 00:00 — Intro 00:15 — Welcome & guest intro: Russ Cohen (Sportsology/NHL Network Radio 1:22 — Mets talk (off-topic tangent) 2:39 — Into the NHL offseason 2:52 — Jason Robertson's one-year deal with Dallas 7:03 — Flyers' offer sheet for Carlson & rising agent power 8:42 — Vincent Trocheck trade: Rangers "compromised down the middle" 10:51 — Can Noah Laba replace Trocheck at 3rd-line center? 12:35 — Trocheck return package: Sean Durzi & Cole Beaudoin 16:09 — Alexis Lafreniere's evolution & point ceiling 18:03 — The Gabe Perreault debate (Pronman vs. Wheeler) 31:18 — Rangers' prospect philosophy: character over skill 32:11 — Liam Greentree breakdown 33:27 — Alberts Smits breakdown 34:59 — Should Smits start in Hartford or the NHL? 39:05 — Metro Division parity & playoff picture 48:05 — Final Metro Division predictions 52:49 — Wrap-up & where to find Russ Cohen

Rink Rap goes on location to Troy, NY, for the 2026 New York State Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where Rangers legends took center stage. Host Jim Cerny recaps a night honoring Don Maloney, Neil Smith, and Nick Fotiu — then Fotiu himself drops by the mic for stories about throwing pucks into the MSG crowd, being feared vs. loved, and his advice for Matt Rempe. Then Hall of Fame broadcaster Sam Rosen joins to break down the Rangers' offseason: the Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson additions, Joonas Korpisalo settling the backup goalie spot behind Igor Shesterkin, and why Pavel Dorofeyev could transform the power play. Allan Kreda of the Associated Press closes the show with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet fallout, JT Miller and the captaincy question, Braden Schneider trade rumors, and where the Rangers stack up in a loaded Metro Division. Follow all our Rangers coverage at ForeverBlueshirts.com. Like, subscribe, and drop a comment: are the Rangers a playoff team in 2026-27? #NewYorkRangers #NYRangers #NHL #NickFotiu #SamRosen #RinkRap Chapters: 00:00 Intro from Troy, NY – NYS Hockey Hall of Fame induction night 00:36 Inductees: Don Maloney, Neil Smith, Nick Fotiu 02:04 Nick Fotiu surprise interview 03:00 Throwing pucks into the MSG crowd (and almost hitting Jim) 08:38 Fotiu's advice for Matt Rempe: feared vs. loved 10:25 Neil Smith's induction speech & the Maloney brothers' moment 16:38 Sam Rosen interview begins 19:53 Rosen on the Rangers' offseason: "a team that can compete" 21:16 Sean Durzi & Marcus Pettersson: filling the Fox insurance gap 24:24 Korpisalo, Dylan Garand & the goalie depth chart 27:42 Pavel Dorofeyev and a more dangerous power play 32:08 Allan Kreda (AP) joins the show 33:04 Leo Carlsson's $18M offer sheet fallout 38:00 Is Dorofeyev a younger Panarin? 40:29 JT Miller, the captaincy & pressure in New York 43:45 Braden Schneider trade talk 47:54 Metro Division pecking order: where do the Rangers land? 51:31 Wrap-up: PR McGuire and more guests coming this summer

Former Rangers captain and MSG broadcaster Dave Maloney joins Jim Cerny to break down a busy start to the Rangers' offseason. They discuss the real impact of trading Vincent Trocheck, both on the ice and in the locker room, and what it means for a retooling roster. Dave and Jim dig into the remade second defense pairing with Pederson and Jersey, and why Braden Schneider's next contract might be the most important storyline of the summer. They also cover Pavel Dorofeyev's seven-year, $77 million commitment and what it says about the direction of the franchise, the surprising money behind the Yaroslav Korpisalo goaltending trade, and how the crease shakes out behind Igor Shesterkin. Plus, a look at how Toronto and Ottawa's own offseason drama, from Gavin McKenna to Brady Tkachuk, compares to the Rangers' path forward. A candid conversation about roster turnover, player loyalty, and what it takes to rebuild a contender. Chapters: 00:00 Cold open — Trocek trade risk teaser 00:56 Intro — Rink Rap podcast open, Jim Cerny welcomes Dave Maloney 02:16 Catching up — Dave's grandkids, life update, offseason mood 02:53 Toronto and Ottawa fan reactions — Gavin McKenna, Brady Tkachuk 05:08 Trade talk begins — Vincent Trocek's impact on and off the ice 09:36 Comparing Trocek's exit to the Jacob Trouba situation 11:52 Remade second defense pair — Pederson and Jersey 13:57 Braden Schneider's fit and future with the Rangers 19:00 Schneider's contract situation and arbitration outlook 26:50 Goaltending — Dylan Garand, Yaroslav Korpisalo trade 32:10 Draft picks and prospect pipeline — Greenway, Beaudoin, Petaglia 34:59 Draft-day trade-up for the fifth pick 37:42 Season review — what went wrong the year before 41:24 Losing Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin the same night 44:05 Upcoming events — New York State Hockey Hall of Fame weekend 44:56 Growing Shoulder Check campaign and July 30th charity event 52:00 Sign-off

Jim Cerny is back on Rink Rap to break down an absolutely wild 24-hour stretch for the New York Rangers. After missing the instant reaction show following a chaotic July 1st, Jim dives deep into everything Chris Drury did to reshape this roster: the blockbuster trade for Pavel Dorofeyev, the surprising fifth-overall pick of Alberts Šmits over fan-favorite Chase Reid, the Marcus Pettersson and Vincent Trocheck trades, and a goaltending shakeup that's got Rangers fans split on Dylan Garand vs. Joonas Korpisalo. Jim also gets into why the Rangers are deliberately buying time for their prospects, breaks down Cole Beaudoin's fit as a two-way center, and wraps with thoughts from Rangers development camp. Subscribe to Forever Blueshirts for daily Rangers coverage, and catch Rink Rap every week all summer long. #NYRangers #Rangers #NHL #NHLDraft #PavelDorofeyev #RinkRap #ForeverBlueshirts #NHLTrade #NYR #HockeyPodcast Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Cold Open 00:15 Jim's Insane 24 Hours: The Hot Mess Wednesday Story 04:29 Programming Notes: NY State Hockey Hall of Fame (July 12) 09:08 BREAKING: Rangers Acquire Pavel Dorofeyev From Vegas 09:19 Why Dorofeyev Is Such a Perfect Fit 10:12 The Age Factor: Why 25 Changes Everything 12:36 Replacing Panarin, Not Trocheck 13:05 Power Play Weapon: Elite Numbers 13:58 The Defensive Upside Nobody's Talking About 14:53 Rangers Draft Alberts Šmits No. 5 Overall 15:21 Mixed Reaction: Why Fans Wanted Chase Reid 20:00 Reid vs. Šmits: Breaking Down the Debate 22:54 The Gabrielov Succession Plan 25:04 Grading the Draft Class (C-Minus Reviews) 26:13 Backfilling the Prospect Pool 27:13 Drew Fortescue's Path Forward 29:07 Segment 2 Begins 29:40 The Real Strategy: Buying Time for Prospects 32:11 Case Study: Drew Fortescue's Opportunity 33:50 Breaking Down the Marcus Pettersson Trade 43:42 Grading the Trocheck Trade 43:58 Vincent Trocheck's Rangers Legacy 45:57 Sean Durzi Replaces Will Borgen 48:55 Braden Schneider's New Reality 50:41 Are the Rangers Actually Better Than Game 82? 55:57 Segment 3 Begins: The Goalie Controversy 57:53 Igor Shesterkin's Backup Problem 59:29 Dylan Garand's Case for the No. 2 Job 1:01:14 The Joonas Korpisalo Trade Breakdown 1:03:40 Is Garand Getting a Fair Shot? 1:04:39 Cole Beaudoin: The Trocheck Trade's Hidden Gem 1:08:17 Cole Beaudoin's Injury Concern 1:08:24 Development Camp Wrap-Up 1:09:21 Closing Thoughts & What's Next

Jim breaks down why Pavel Dorofeyev is the perfect fit up front, then unpacks the Rangers' surprise pick of Alberts Šmits over fan-favorite Chase Reid at No. 5.

The Marcus Pettersson trade, the Vincent Trocheck deal for Sean Durzi, and why the Rangers are deliberately buying time for their prospects instead of rushing them.

Dylan Garand vs. Joonas Korpisalo splits the fanbase, plus a closer look at what the Rangers are getting in Cole Beaudoin.

The New York Rangers head into the 2026 NHL Draft holding 11 picks — including No. 5 overall and two in the first round — and the stakes couldn't be higher. Jim Cerny sits down with FloHockey's Chris Peters, one of the most respected NHL draft analysts in the game, to break down exactly what the Rangers should expect at No. 5 and why this class is deeper than you might think at the top of the blue line. Peters explains why five is actually a favorable spot this year, discusses the prospects most likely to be available and digs into why player development decisions after the draft may matter even more than the pick itself. He also weighs in on EJ Emery's progress and the Rangers' thin prospect pool heading into a massive offseason. Then Jim goes solo for segment two — reacting to the Dylan Garand signing, breaking down the Brady Tkachuk trade and what it means for New York, making the case for a Patrick Laine flier in free agency, and previewing what the Rangers need to do before training camp. 🏒 Subscribe to Rink Rap for ongoing New York Rangers coverage from the Forever Blueshirts network. 📝 Full written coverage: ForeverBlueshirts.com Chapters: 0:00 - Intro: Rangers & Draft Week Context 0:57 - Chris Peters Joins: FloHockey Draft Expert 1:20 - Rangers' History of Blown Top Picks (Lafreniere, Kaco, Sanderson) 3:48 - Why Pick No. 5 Is Actually a Good Spot This Year 5:54 - Development Decisions Matter as Much as the Draft Pick 8:04 - Carson Carlson: Should He Turn Pro or Go to North Dakota? 10:00 - College Path vs. AHL: The New Development Landscape 11:33 - Who's Likely Gone Before No. 5? (Stenberg, Reed, McKenna) 13:08 - Malhotra, Carlson, Smiths & Who Falls to the Rangers 15:11 - Ronan Smiths: Most NHL-Ready Prospect in the Class? 16:34 - Smiths' Personality & Pro Maturity 17:53 - Carlson vs. Reed: Breaking Down the Two Top D-Men 20:44 - EJ Emery: Where Is His Development at Right Now? 24:28 - Does Emery's Status Factor Into the No. 5 Decision? 26:33 - Rangers' 11 Picks: Trade Up, Package Thirds, or Hold? 29:47 - What Chris Peters Will Be Doing During Draft Weekend 31:02 - Liam Greentree & Nathan Aspinall: Prospect Spotlight 33:58 - Goodbye to Chris Peters; Teaser for Segment 2 35:54 - Segment 2: Jim Solo — Dylan Granlund Re-Signed 38:34 - Should Rangers Sign a Veteran Backup Goalie in Free Agency? 42:00 - Brady Kachuk Trade: How It Affects New York 45:18 - The Case for Patrick Laine on a Prove-It Deal 51:13 - Why Anthony Mantha Is a Hard Pass for the Rangers 52:53 - Florida Panthers With Both Kachuks & Barkov: A Scary Team 1:01:44 - Kevin Stanlec: A Sleeper Free Agent Target for the Rangers 1:06:00 - Lava–Carter–Cooley Third Line Vision 1:07:00 - NHL Notes: Babcock Cleared, Darren Raddysh to Toronto 1:08:14 - Closing: Live Draft Reaction Show Coming This Weekend

FloHockey's top draft analyst breaks down who's realistically available at fifth overall, why this blue line class is elite, and what EJ Emery's development actually looks like right now.

Jim reacts to the Dylan Garand re-signing, the Brady Kachuk blockbuster, why the Rangers should take a flier on Patrick Laine, and which free agents could fit the rebuild.

Former Rangers GM Neil Smith joins Jim Cerny on the 32nd anniversary of the 1994 Stanley Cup championship to share what winning in New York truly feels like — and what the Knicks are about to experience. Neil weighs in on Carolina's Cup run, the goalie switch that may have flipped the series, and why he's skeptical of the Rangers' current direction, including the Trocheck trade talk. Then Jim goes solo on K'Andre Miller's championship moment, why the Rangers made that trade in the first place, and what to expect from New York at No. 5 in the upcoming NHL Draft. #RinkRap #NewYorkRangers #NYRangers #NHLDraft #KAndreMiller #NeilSmith #CarolinaHurricanes Chapters: 0:00 - Intro & 32nd Anniversary of the '94 Rangers Cup 1:27 - Neil Smith joins Jim Cerny 3:35 - Neil on the Raleigh atmosphere & Carolina winning the Cup 5:00 - What winning in New York means — and what the Knicks are about to feel 5:20 - Neil: "I was overwhelmed" at the '94 parade 10:57 - Rangers/Knicks parallels: No. 11, team effort, Jalen Brunson vs. Messier 19:06 - Jordan Staal's Conn Smythe run & Brandon Buscemi's clutch performance 21:28 - The goalie switch: why Buscemi may have been Carolina's secret weapon 27:44 - Rangers' offseason: restocking the shelves, 11 draft picks 28:33 - Trocheck trade talk: Neil questions the move 29:50 - "This can't be retooled" — Neil on the Rangers' rebuild semantics 33:45 - JT Miller, Mike Sullivan & "I don't understand what they're doing" 40:00 - The pressure of being Rangers GM in New York 42:50 - The weight of winning: post-Cup pressure and expectations 47:57 - Jim solo: K'Andre Miller wins the Cup, Rangers ties everywhere 50:30 - Why the Rangers traded Miller — and can we judge that trade yet? 55:30 - Gavrikov disillusionment reports: what Jim is hearing 59:18 - NHL Draft preview: No. 5 pick options for the Rangers 1:01:25 - Jim's pick: Carson Carls as the most complete option at No. 5 1:03:14 - Outro

The '94 Cup-winning GM praises the Knicks' run, shares what overwhelmed him at the '94 parade, breaks down Carolina's Cup-clinching goalie change, and questions whether the Rangers' retool is really a plan at all.

Jim breaks down why the Rangers made the Miller trade, what it means now that he's a champion, and who New York should be eyeing with the fifth overall pick in next week's draft.

Former Rangers defenseman Dan Girardi joins Jim Cerny to look back on the most beloved Blueshirts team of the modern era. Danny gets into the 2014 Stanley Cup run, what John Tortorella did for his career (plus a couple of classic Torts stories), the emotional Ryan Callahan–Martin St. Louis trade, and his run in Tampa with Jon Cooper. He also weighs in on the city going bonkers for the Knicks, Tortorella's job in Vegas, and what made that close-knit Rangers core so good. A fun, candid conversation with one of the genuinely good guys. #NYR #Rangers #NHL #DanGirardi #RinkRap #Tortorella #StanleyCup Chapters: 0:00 — Welcome in: free agency, the draft, Larkin rumors, and a city overrun by the Knicks 0:49 — Bringing in former Ranger Dan Girardi 1:15 — Watching from across the border as NYC goes bonkers for the Knicks 4:46 — Could Girardi see himself on a broadcast panel someday? 7:30 — Why that Tortorella-era group is remembered so fondly 9:52 — "Not one bad guy in that room" — chemistry as the reason for the winning 12:10 — The moments that come flooding back: Marty's OT, Stepan's winner, Henrik 15:01 — The 2012 Washington game: nine seconds, Stepan, and the Stoll OT winner 16:38 — What Torts did for his career, plus the puck-toss story 20:56 — The perfect storm for Tortorella in Vegas 22:50 — Game 1, 2014 Cup Final: the turnover, and owning it the next day 28:30 — Trades, leaving friends behind, and the Callahan–St. Louis swing 31:18 — The buyout, getting that call from Tampa, and playing for Coop 36:02 — The funniest guy in the room — and why it's impossible to pick one 39:11 — Wrapping up; a quick word and the vet appointment 39:26 — Segment 2: thanks to Danny G, looking ahead to the offseason 42:53 — Knicks drop Game 3 at the Garden; the stakes of Game 4 42:59 — Rangers in the building: Fox, Trocheck, Quick, and Henrik backing the Knicks 43:08 — The Rangers' offseason and the Trocheck trade debate 44:32 — Centers coming off the board and how Larkin's request shifts the market 56:51 — Laviolette to LA, reuniting with Panarin — does it open a lane for Trocheck? 49:23 — Draft outlook: pick five, Carson Carls, and eleven picks to restock 53:14 — Wrap and thanks to Dan Girardi