The Rangers closed out the preseason with a game that mostly confirmed what everyone already suspected: the real stuff starts Tuesday night.
Against an Islanders group that was largely made up of AHL players, New York skated to a solid showing in its final tune-up before the regular season opener against the Boston Bruins. It was the kind of matchup that makes it hard to draw sweeping conclusions, though the Rangers did look good enough on the night.
That’s also part of the problem with the shortened preseason, as the Islanders broadcast crew pointed out during the game. With the NHL regular season stretched to 84 games, there’s less room for these exhibition nights, and even less certainty about what they’re actually teaching. When the lineups don’t match up, it becomes tough to know how much weight to put on the results.
This one was a clear example. The Rangers were closer to a full NHL roster, while the Islanders were essentially running an AHL group. New York also had its own AHL roster go up against what was nearly the Devils’ final regular-season lineup earlier in the preseason, which only adds to the question of how much value these games really provide.
Still, not every takeaway disappears just because it’s September. Braden Schneider did not have a strong night, even with all the usual preseason disclaimers attached.
On the brighter side, Tye Kartye continued to look like a player worth watching. There’s a lot to like about what he brings in a bottom-six role, and he appears to be the kind of waiver-wire pickup that can pay off quickly.
There was also a notable roster move late in the night: Rempe was in, and Smits was moved into the main locker room, which sure looked like a sign that decisions had been made. That lines up with the feeling around Alberts Smits, who had already been discussed as a possible surprise to make the team.
In the end, it turned out to be a surprise, but not an unbelievable one. Smits never looked out of place, and for a top Rangers draft pick, those are encouraging early returns.
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A strong night against the Islanders gave the Rangers a little preseason momentum as they headed toward the Boston Bruins and the start of games that count. New York jumped early and kept pouring it on in a 6-1 win, with Oliver Bjorkstrand, J.T. Miller, Tye Kartye, Will Cuylle and Mika Zibanejad all getting on the scoresheet while Adam Fox set the tone with three assists.
For a team trying to build some early confidence, it was the kind of performance that checked a lot of boxes without asking the staff to read too much into the result. The Rangers have now strung together two straight preseason wins, and after the offensive showing on Long Island, they have at least given their fans a reason to feel better about where things stand before the opener in Boston. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Still Have One Roster Decision Hanging Before Opening Night
The preseason ended on a high note for the Rangers, who rolled past the Islanders 6-1 with a lineup that looked awfully close to what they expect to roll out on opening night. Even with the win serving as a tidy finishing touch, the final roster remains unfinished, with two spots still open as the club heads into the last stretch before the regular season begins.
What makes the wait interesting is the shape of the roster itself. New York has already trimmed its camp group and is still staring at a shortage of clear center options, which has fueled the idea that the answer could come from outside the organization. The waiver wire is part of the conversation now, and the next move may say as much about the teams depth concerns as the preseason finale did about its top-end readiness. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Face One Season-Defining Question Heading Into 2026-27
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Still, the real question is whether the rest of the roster can do enough to turn that stability into wins. New Yorks season could swing quickly depending on health and the growth of its younger forwards, with the gap between a playoff berth and a frustrating year likely resting on whether the offense finds enough consistency to support the pieces already in place. [Read more 🡒]