Hockey season is rolling back into view for the New York Rangers, and tonight marks the first step on their preseason path before the regular season opens September 29th in Boston against the Bruins.
What makes this camp different is the new NHL CBA setup, and it’s already shaping who fans will see over the next few days. The preseason has been trimmed to four games this year, with the regular season now stretching to 84 games. But the bigger wrinkle is the one that directly affects the Rangers’ lineup choices: players with 100 games of NHL experience are limited to two preseason appearances.
That rule is going to put the spotlight squarely on younger players and prospects, and the Rangers have several of them positioned to get plenty of run. Noah Laba, who was a rookie last season, is still under the 100-game mark. Gabe Perreault also fits that category after getting a cup of coffee following his turn to pro in 2024-25 and then appearing with the Rangers for half a season in 2025-26.
The same goes for Adam Sýkora, Jaroslav Chmelař, Drew Fortescue, Vincent Iorio, and Matt Rempe, all of whom have not reached the point where the new limit applies.
Goaltending is another piece of this puzzle worth watching closely. Igor Shesterkin is the Rangers’ starter, but it will be interesting to see whether he gets one appearance or two. The more intriguing question may be how much runway Dylan Garand gets, since the Rangers could use the preseason to give him a longer look before deciding whether he has done enough to avoid waivers and open the season in New York.
Mike Sullivan also has to sort out what he wants from Joonas Korpisalo. A look for the veteran would make sense, but there’s not much reason to burn a second start on him. Korpisalo arrived via trade with the Boston Bruins, and while his experience matters, goaltending was not an area where the Rangers needed to spend more cap space.
One possible path would be Shesterkin in two games, with Garand and Korpisalo splitting the other two starts. That would keep the picture muddy for anyone trying to read the tea leaves, and Sullivan has already said the team could open the season carrying three netminders. In a busy October, that may prove to be the practical play.
The Rangers will reveal later today which group is taking part in tonight’s action, and that will give the first real clue about how they plan to handle the preseason under the new rules.
In Other News...
Matt Rempe Suddenly Has Real Pressure In This Rangers Roster Fight
Matt Rempe got one of the more telling looks of Rangers preseason so far when he dressed against the Devils, even as most of the regulars stayed home. For a player trying to carve out an opening night role, those are the kinds of games that matter because every shift feeds into how the staff sorts out the bottom of the lineup. The roster battle around him is no longer just about energy or size, but about who can actually fit into the teams plans when the games start to count.
Rempe is in the mix for a fourth-line right wing spot, and the decision is complicated by the practical side of roster building. The Rangers have to weigh not just what each player brings on the ice, but how easy it is to move him if he does not make the club. That reality gives the competition a sharper edge, and it leaves Rempe facing a familiar but very real preseason test as the opening night roster takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Former Rangers First-Round Pick Just Had A Wild New Start
Brennan Othmanns first preseason appearance for Calgary barely lasted a couple of shifts, but it was enough to make an impression. The former Rangers first-round pick, traded to the Flames last March, got right into the action with a scoring chance and showed the kind of energy that can catch a coachs eye as he pushes for a spot on the opening-night roster.
The night also showed how quickly things can turn for a player trying to carve out a role. Othmanns aggressive play drew a major response and a game misconduct, leaving him with a stat line that was as eventful as it was brief, while Flames coach Ryan Huska still came away seeing a noticeable impact from the short stint on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Matt Rempe Has A Real Chance To Force The Rangers Hand
Matt Rempe is back in the picture for the Rangers at just the right time, cleared to dress for the preseason opener against the Devils after a thumb injury cost him the back half of last season. He has not played since February and is now fully healthy, giving him a chance to remind the coaching staff what he brings at a moment when roster spots are still up for grabs.
For Rempe, the assignment is straightforward: show he can help force the Rangers to make a harder decision. He is slated to work on the fourth line with Hartford center Carey Terrance and Jacob Battaglia, and every shift will matter as he tries to turn a healthy return into a serious push for a place in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]