KINGSTON, R.D. – Rangers’ Team Bonding in Rhode Island
As they prepared for Tuesday’s opening night at Madison Square Garden, the Rangers spent several days together in Rhode Island. Their journey began right after the preseason finale in Boston, and they had a team dinner to kick things off.
Over the weekend, players engaged in golf and shooting range activities, along with evening team-building sessions. This trip mirrored their previous bonding experience, wrapping up on Monday with a practice at the Boss Ice Arena at the University of Rhode Island.
New head coach Mike Sullivan mentioned that the initiative stemmed from conversations with Chris Drury about creating an opportunity for the team to bond. It was a chance for them to connect in a different environment as they finalized their roster before the season began.
This trip included rookie Noah Alaba and veteran winger Connor Sheary, who both entered training camp on professional tryouts, vying for spots in the opening night lineup. The Rangers signed Sheary to a one-year, two-way deal at the NHL minimum of $775,000 after Monday’s practice.
Following this move, Brett Berard returned to Hartford, leaving only Rava, 22, as the sole young player making the Rangers’ roster out of training camp.
Interestingly, Alaba appears set for his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden. Standing at 6 feet 3 inches and weighing 214 pounds, he mentioned that the training camp experience wasn’t unexpected for him since he believed in his capabilities all along. “The player we saw earlier and the one who played the other day in Boston showed a significant leap in confidence,” he noted, affirming his ability to compete at this level.
In a positive turn, both JT Miller and Artemi Panarin returned to full participation, ensuring the Rangers are healthy heading into the 2025-26 season.
With the roster now finalized, the team looks to bounce back from last season’s struggles, indicating a promising start in Rhode Island.
“I feel like we did a lot of work,” Braden Schneider shared. “We have a system in place, and we’re beginning to find our identity as a team. Everyone is really buying into it,” he added, reflecting on their preparation for the upcoming match.
