Get ready for an exciting start to the season as the Rangers gear up for their opener against the Penguins! The return of key players has the team buzzing with anticipation.
Head coach Mike Sullivan confirmed that forwards J.T. Miller and Artemi Panarin are fit and ready to take on the Penguins on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden. Both players participated fully in practice at Boss Ice Arena, with Panarin skating on the left wing alongside Vincent Trocheck and Alexis Lafrenière, and Miller taking center stage with Will Cuylle and Mika Zibanejad to form the Rangers' top six.
Panarin, 33, missed all preseason exhibition games due to lower-body and upper-body injuries, but he's now back in action. Miller, who suffered a non-contact lower-body injury during practice on September 30th, also made a strong comeback, shedding his red non-contact jersey for a regular one on Monday.
The anticipated top six lineup is now complete, with Conor Sheary joining Noah Laba and Taylor Raddysh on the third unit. The fourth line features Adam Edstrom, Sam Carrick, and Matt Rempe, while Juuso Parssinen and Brett Berard rotate in as extras. On defense, Vladislav Gavrikov and Adam Fox lead the way as the top pairing, followed by Carson Soucy with Will Borgen, and Urho Vaakanainen alongside Braden Schneider.
But here's where it gets controversial... The first power-play unit includes Panarin, Miller, Zibanejad, and Trocheck, while the second unit sees Schneider, Lafrenière, Sheary, Rempe, and Cuylle. Sullivan explained the reasoning behind these unit assignments, stating, "Our intention was to involve Lafrenière in the first unit, and we'll continue to do so. However, we need to provide some structure and repetition for the players. That's why Lafrenière will likely appear on both units moving forward, as we've been working him into the top group during training camp."
As for Sullivan's emotions going up against his former team, the Penguins, in the first two games of the 2025-26 season, he remains focused on the task at hand. "I haven't given it much thought yet. My priority is preparing the Rangers for the season opener. I'm grateful for the opportunity I had with the Penguins, and I'm sure there will be a mix of emotions when we face them."
And this is the part most people miss... Jonny Brodzinski, a key member of the team, has been absent for the past two days due to the birth of his third daughter. We wish him and his family all the best during this special time!
Are you ready for the season opener? What are your predictions for the Rangers' performance? Let us know in the comments below! Will the Rangers' top players make a strong impact? How will Sullivan's emotions play out against his former team? We want to hear your thoughts!
