Auston Matthews has wasted no time making life interesting under Jim Hiller.
Through six games with the new coach, Matthews already has two four-point outings. He had just one across two seasons under Craig Berube.
That alone doesn’t settle anything, but it’s enough to make you look twice - especially with those big nights coming against Nashville and Colorado, not exactly soft touches. The early read is pretty straightforward: Hiller appears to be giving skilled players a little more freedom to operate, and Matthews may be reaping the benefit by reading the ice and trusting his instincts more often.
That doesn’t mean Berube’s approach was wrong. His game plan leaned hard into structure, toughness and a north-south identity, which has value of its own.
But the way a coach wants the puck moving can absolutely change how often a star center gets to touch it in dangerous areas. The sample size here is tiny, and there are other moving parts too - linemates, ice time, power-play usage.
So this is less a verdict than an early snapshot of what a different system can do.
Elsewhere, Edmonton keeps chugging along. The Oilers are 4-0-1 after a 3-1 win in San Jose, and they had to work for it.
Tristan Jarry made 19 saves on 20 shots to pick up his first win of the season, while Mattias Ekholm, Alex Formenton and Vasily Podkolzin supplied the goals. Babcock said the Sharks didn’t leave much room, forcing his team to grind for everything it got.
He also dropped a few hints about what could be coming next. Zach Hyman is on pace to return Tuesday, which would be a welcome boost up front.
And rookie Owen Michaels may have done enough to stick around a bit longer after winning 10 of 12 faceoffs. Babcock told his group they’re going to get “a whole lot better,” and with Hyman nearing a return, this unbeaten-in-regulation start could still be the opening chapter.
As for the Connor Hellebuyck-to-the-Rangers chatter, that one got shut down in a hurry.
With Igor Shesterkin out for the season, the rumor mill immediately started connecting New York to Hellebuyck. Elliotte Friedman isn’t buying it.
The salary cap math is ugly, for starters - the Rangers would be locking up roughly $20 million in two goalies for years. Winnipeg’s ask is another obstacle, since the Jets reportedly want a goalie plus players who can help them right away.
That’s a tough fit for a Rangers team described as the league’s youngest, with prospects and futures to offer.
So for now, New York is looking inward. Dylan Garand will carry the load with Spencer Martin called up while Joonas Korpisalo remains out for another four weeks.
Friedman expects patience to win out, and a short-term veteran feels more realistic than a splashy trade. If the Rangers go that route, Jonathan Quick is a name to keep in mind - even if it would mean the 40-year-old Director of Goaltending Development coming out of retirement if asked.
In Other News...
Rangers Bring A Red-Hot Start Home With One Big Trend To Watch
The Rangers are coming home with plenty to like about the way this season has started, and the next test comes against Vancouver in a game that carries a little extra polish. New York has won all three of its home games so far, and the matchup will also mark the first time the club has worn its third jersey this season, another small sign that the building is getting its first real dose of the fall routine.
The early numbers have backed up the eye test, with Adam Fox, Alexis Lafrenire, Mika Zibanejad and J.T. Miller all helping drive a strong start at both ends of the ice. One trend has stood out more than the rest, though, and it has given the Rangers a reliable platform in the opening stretch even as the schedule starts to tighten at home. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Have A Tristan Jarry Decision To Make
The Rangers goaltending picture has been thrown into immediate disarray, and it is the kind of problem that tends to send a front office scanning the league for every plausible answer. With Igor Shesterkin and Joonas Korpisalo both unavailable, New York is left weighing internal options while also staying alert to the trade market, where even teams not planning to move a goalie can suddenly become relevant.
One of the names now floating into the conversation belongs to Edmonton, where a recent strong outing from Tristan Jarry has only sharpened the decision the Oilers have to make. His status depends in part on how Frederik Andersens recovery progresses and how Devon Levi performs, and that leaves the Rangers watching a situation that could shift quickly if Edmonton decides to keep its options open rather than hold tight. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Face An Early Goalie Test After Brutal Injury Shakeup
The Rangers are heading into their meeting with the Canucks with a very different look in net, and the timing of it only adds to the uncertainty. Igor Shesterkin is out for the season with a lower-body injury, forcing New York to turn to Dylan Garand, while Vancouver arrives without Thatcher Demko, setting up a matchup where both clubs are trying to manage around a major absence in goal.
Garands assignment comes after a recent stint in the minors, and it lands at a moment when the Rangers are also adjusting up front, with changes made to the top two lines before puck drop. It leaves New York trying to settle a lineup on the fly while leaning on a goaltender who has suddenly been pushed into a much bigger spotlight than anyone expected this soon. [Read more 🡒]