The Rangers are looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, aiming to bounce back from a tough last year as they return to playoff contention.
However, as they focus on improvement, Bruce Hart finds himself dealing with a former players’ tour.
After a promising start to the previous season, the team underwent a significant roster shift, marking the first major changes since the 2018 trade deadline.
An emotional tribute video is set to play on the Madison Square Garden Jumbotron, which is bound to stir some feelings.
The core of the Rangers is aware that their roster will be diverse, which highlights various gaps on their 82-game schedule announced recently.
On the opening night, former assistant coaches Dan Muse and the Penguin will face off against the Rangers at MSG.
This also means that new head coach Mike Sullivan, who parted ways with Pittsburgh this summer after a decade, will take on his former team right at the start of the season.
Sullivan is scheduled to return to his old stomping grounds just four days later after the Rangers kick off their road schedule in Buffalo.
If Zach Jones secures a place in the Sabres lineup during training camp, he’ll be the first former Ranger to emerge from last season’s upheaval.
He had a challenging stint with the Rangers, which resulted in him signing a one-year, two-way deal with the Sabres as a free agent after they didn’t qualify him.
The Rangers will also get their first look at Philip Chytil following his trade to the Canucks on October 28th during a 10-game Western swing.
Chytil, who dealt with a concussion after the trade, couldn’t play during the Canucks’ last visit, but he’s expected back at MSG on December 16th.
After facing Chytil, the Rangers will encounter Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren in Seattle on November 1st, wrapping up a Western Canada road trip.
Kakko has started well with the Kraken, while Lindgren, fresh off a four-year, $18 million contract as a Colorado free agent, will be joining the lineup.
K’Andre Miller is set for an exciting matchup against the Hurricanes on November 4th, especially since he was traded for the No. 22 pick in 2018.
This game holds significance for Miller, as he aims to prove himself against both his new and former team amidst a challenging season.
December 15th is another date to note, as former captain Jacob Trouba and long-time Ranger Chris Kreider will make their first return to MSG when the Ducks come to town.
The Rangers previously faced Trouba in Anaheim but he hasn’t suited up at MSG since his tumultuous exit last December.
Kreider, traded to Anaheim in June, should receive a warm welcome back in New York.
The early-season schedule features 41 games with 23 on the road, leading into the latter half that includes a seven-game homestand from late March to early April.
All four matchups with the Islanders will occur before the March 6th trade deadline while the three encounters with the Devils will be later.
The Rangers are determined to regain their Stanley Cup relevance, with many familiar faces serving as reminders along the way.
