The Rangers didn’t exactly burst out of the gate in Boston, but they’ve already steadied the ship with three straight wins over Tampa, Detroit, and Utah. That quick rebound is enough to make the conversation around this team feel a little different after one week: less doom, more figuring out how good this group can be once the early wrinkles get ironed out.
That was part of the focus in this week’s Patreon post, where Dave talked about patience after the opening-night loss to the Bruins and how long Rangers fans ought to wait while the kinks are worked out. He also offered a free preview of Blue Seats After Dark’s season opener, with those podcasts included as part of the Patreon subscription. Live From the Blue Seats also weighed in on the “good enough” Rangers start through three games.
There was plenty of roster movement around the edges to sort through as the season began. Dylan Garand cleared waivers, then was recalled two days later after a mystery injury to Joonas Korpisalo. Vincent Iorio also cleared waivers and was sent to the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack.
Beyond the immediate lineup shuffling, the bigger picture around the Rangers still feels like it’s being shaped right now. The BSB writers put together a roundtable with their season predictions, and the sense from that discussion was clear enough: this year could help determine the next four or five seasons.
Special teams loom as another major storyline, especially with the roster turnover the Rangers went through. The early read is that there’s a little more balance on this team than there was before.
There was also word that the Rangers and Hurricanes came close to an Alexander Nikishin trade, but it broke down because of contract demands. And in a quirky bit of history, Igor Shesterkin became the first goalie in Rangers history to score a goal, doing it against Tampa in the home opener.
As always, the latest Fan Confidence Poll asks fans to weigh in on how they feel about the Rangers, their direction, coaching, management, prospects, and overall quality on the ice.
In Other News...
Alexis Lafrenire Just Became The Face Of This Rangers Surge
The Rangers kept rolling at home with a 5-2 win over the Islanders, their fourth straight victory, and the night had the kind of mix of milestones and momentum that can define a stretch run. Alexis Lafrenire was right in the middle of it, with New York continuing to look more confident game by game, while Cole Beaudoin made his NHL debut after being recalled with Joe Veleno sidelined by injury.
Varlamovs return was its own notable subplot, as the Islanders goalie made his first regular-season start in 676 days after knee surgeries, but the Rangers still found enough offense to stay in control. Lafrenires latest impact only added to the sense that he is becoming a central figure in this surge, even as the team keeps finding different ways to win and the lineup keeps shifting around him. [Read more 🡒]
Will Cuylle Is Creating An Early Rangers Contract Problem
Will Cuylle has become one of the early bright spots in the Rangers strong start to the 2026-27 season, and it has not taken long for his value to show up in all the ways that matter to this team. He has been a physical force, leading the club in hits, while also bringing useful offense from the third line, the kind of all-around contribution that tends to earn trust quickly in New York.
Cuylles play is also pushing the Rangers toward an uncomfortable but familiar kind of conversation for a contender with cap constraints. The team already has multiple key players in line for new deals, and Cuylle is expected to be part of that future on a contract that could run as long as seven years. With other young pieces due for major extensions too, the front office may soon have to decide just how much of its next core it can keep together. [Read more 🡒]
Eeli Tolvanen Is Becoming Too Important For Rangers To Ignore
Eeli Tolvanen has already become one of the early surprises in New York, and not just because of the offense. After signing with the Rangers on Sept. 1 on a one-year deal, he has settled in quickly on the third line and given the club the kind of all-around value that tends to stand out over the course of a season, especially for a player who arrived with something to prove.
Tolvanen is leading the team with three goals, but the bigger story may be how much trust he has earned from coach Mike Sullivan in the less glamorous parts of the job. Sullivan has praised his defensive play and hockey IQ, and Tolvanen is already being used in critical late-game moments, including 6-on-5 defensive situations, the kind of assignment that says plenty about how the Rangers view him right now. [Read more 🡒]