Jim Cerny sits down with Dan Kingerski (Pittsburgh Hockey Now) to talk through the Rangers' trade for Marcus Pettersson and why he could be the steadiest, most poised defenseman the team has had in years. They swap old Rangers-Penguins war stories, unpack Mike Sullivan's complicated reputation with young players, and talk about how new Penguins coach Dan Muse turned the room around last year — including getting the best out of Erik Karlsson. They close with a Metro Division preview and early playoff predictions ahead of training camp.

Chapters:
0:57 – Meet Dan Kingerski
1:18 – Old Rangers-Penguins rivalry stories
6:16 – The Marcus Peterson trade, explained
11:04 – Why the Rangers needed this defensive pairing
16:47 – Rangers' speed and identity issues
20:14 – Sullivan and young players
23:00 – Dan Muse's culture reset in Pittsburgh
27:08 – Metro Division predictions
33:16 – Florida's playoff pressure
35:30 – Wrap-up and a Toronto pronunciation bit

Russ Cohen of NHL Network Radio joins Rink Rap to break down the Rangers' prospect pipeline — his specialty — and doesn't hold back. Cohen explains why he thinks the Rangers "compromised down the middle" in the Vincent Trocheck trade, why he's not sold on Noah Laba as a third-line center replacement, and why center prospect Cole Beaudoin might be the best piece of the return package, even with Sean Durzi in the mix. He also digs into Alexis Lafreniere's evolution into a "different player," caps his ceiling at 60 points, makes the case for tempering expectations on Gabe Perreault despite his top-6 upside as a line driver and line builder, and previews top prospects Liam Greentree and Alberts Smits. Russ closes with his Metropolitan Division predictions for 2026-27.

Chapters:

00:00 — Intro
00:15 — Welcome & guest intro: Russ Cohen (Sportsology/NHL Network Radio
1:22 — Mets talk (off-topic tangent)
2:39 — Into the NHL offseason
2:52 — Jason Robertson's one-year deal with Dallas
7:03 — Flyers' offer sheet for Carlson & rising agent power
8:42 — Vincent Trocheck trade: Rangers "compromised down the middle"
10:51 — Can Noah Laba replace Trocheck at 3rd-line center?
12:35 — Trocheck return package: Sean Durzi & Cole Beaudoin
16:09 — Alexis Lafreniere's evolution & point ceiling
18:03 — The Gabe Perreault debate (Pronman vs. Wheeler)
31:18 — Rangers' prospect philosophy: character over skill
32:11 — Liam Greentree breakdown
33:27 — Alberts Smits breakdown
34:59 — Should Smits start in Hartford or the NHL?
39:05 — Metro Division parity & playoff picture
48:05 — Final Metro Division predictions
52:49 — Wrap-up & where to find Russ Cohen

Rink Rap goes on location to Troy, NY, for the 2026 New York State Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where Rangers legends took center stage. Host Jim Cerny recaps a night honoring Don Maloney, Neil Smith, and Nick Fotiu — then Fotiu himself drops by the mic for stories about throwing pucks into the MSG crowd, being feared vs. loved, and his advice for Matt Rempe.

Then Hall of Fame broadcaster Sam Rosen joins to break down the Rangers' offseason: the Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson additions, Joonas Korpisalo settling the backup goalie spot behind Igor Shesterkin, and why Pavel Dorofeyev could transform the power play. Allan Kreda of the Associated Press closes the show with the Leo Carlsson offer sheet fallout, JT Miller and the captaincy question, Braden Schneider trade rumors, and where the Rangers stack up in a loaded Metro Division.

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Chapters:

00:00 Intro from Troy, NY – NYS Hockey Hall of Fame induction night

00:36 Inductees: Don Maloney, Neil Smith, Nick Fotiu

02:04 Nick Fotiu surprise interview

03:00 Throwing pucks into the MSG crowd (and almost hitting Jim)

08:38 Fotiu's advice for Matt Rempe: feared vs. loved

10:25 Neil Smith's induction speech & the Maloney brothers' moment

16:38 Sam Rosen interview begins

19:53 Rosen on the Rangers' offseason: "a team that can compete"

21:16 Sean Durzi & Marcus Pettersson: filling the Fox insurance gap

24:24 Korpisalo, Dylan Garand & the goalie depth chart

27:42 Pavel Dorofeyev and a more dangerous power play

32:08 Allan Kreda (AP) joins the show

33:04 Leo Carlsson's $18M offer sheet fallout

38:00 Is Dorofeyev a younger Panarin?

40:29 JT Miller, the captaincy & pressure in New York

43:45 Braden Schneider trade talk

47:54 Metro Division pecking order: where do the Rangers land?

51:31 Wrap-up: PR McGuire and more guests coming this summer

Former Rangers captain and MSG broadcaster Dave Maloney joins Jim Cerny to break down a busy start to the Rangers' offseason. They discuss the real impact of trading Vincent Trocheck, both on the ice and in the locker room, and what it means for a retooling roster. Dave and Jim dig into the remade second defense pairing with Pederson and Jersey, and why Braden Schneider's next contract might be the most important storyline of the summer.

They also cover Pavel Dorofeyev's seven-year, $77 million commitment and what it says about the direction of the franchise, the surprising money behind the Yaroslav Korpisalo goaltending trade, and how the crease shakes out behind Igor Shesterkin. Plus, a look at how Toronto and Ottawa's own offseason drama, from Gavin McKenna to Brady Tkachuk, compares to the Rangers' path forward.

A candid conversation about roster turnover, player loyalty, and what it takes to rebuild a contender.

Chapters:

00:00 Cold open — Trocek trade risk teaser
00:56 Intro — Rink Rap podcast open, Jim Cerny welcomes Dave Maloney
02:16 Catching up — Dave's grandkids, life update, offseason mood
02:53 Toronto and Ottawa fan reactions — Gavin McKenna, Brady Tkachuk
05:08 Trade talk begins — Vincent Trocek's impact on and off the ice
09:36 Comparing Trocek's exit to the Jacob Trouba situation
11:52 Remade second defense pair — Pederson and Jersey
13:57 Braden Schneider's fit and future with the Rangers
19:00 Schneider's contract situation and arbitration outlook
26:50 Goaltending — Dylan Garand, Yaroslav Korpisalo trade
32:10 Draft picks and prospect pipeline — Greenway, Beaudoin, Petaglia
34:59 Draft-day trade-up for the fifth pick
37:42 Season review — what went wrong the year before
41:24 Losing Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin the same night
44:05 Upcoming events — New York State Hockey Hall of Fame weekend
44:56 Growing Shoulder Check campaign and July 30th charity event
52:00 Sign-off

Jim Cerny is back on Rink Rap to break down an absolutely wild 24-hour stretch for the New York Rangers. After missing the instant reaction show following a chaotic July 1st, Jim dives deep into everything Chris Drury did to reshape this roster: the blockbuster trade for Pavel Dorofeyev, the surprising fifth-overall pick of Alberts Šmits over fan-favorite Chase Reid, the Marcus Pettersson and Vincent Trocheck trades, and a goaltending shakeup that's got Rangers fans split on Dylan Garand vs. Joonas Korpisalo.

Jim also gets into why the Rangers are deliberately buying time for their prospects, breaks down Cole Beaudoin's fit as a two-way center, and wraps with thoughts from Rangers development camp.

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#NYRangers #Rangers #NHL #NHLDraft #PavelDorofeyev #RinkRap #ForeverBlueshirts #NHLTrade #NYR #HockeyPodcast

Chapters:

00:00 Intro & Cold Open

00:15 Jim's Insane 24 Hours: The Hot Mess Wednesday Story

04:29 Programming Notes: NY State Hockey Hall of Fame (July 12)

09:08 BREAKING: Rangers Acquire Pavel Dorofeyev From Vegas

09:19 Why Dorofeyev Is Such a Perfect Fit

10:12 The Age Factor: Why 25 Changes Everything

12:36 Replacing Panarin, Not Trocheck

13:05 Power Play Weapon: Elite Numbers

13:58 The Defensive Upside Nobody's Talking About

14:53 Rangers Draft Alberts Šmits No. 5 Overall

15:21 Mixed Reaction: Why Fans Wanted Chase Reid

20:00 Reid vs. Šmits: Breaking Down the Debate

22:54 The Gabrielov Succession Plan

25:04 Grading the Draft Class (C-Minus Reviews)

26:13 Backfilling the Prospect Pool

27:13 Drew Fortescue's Path Forward

29:07 Segment 2 Begins

29:40 The Real Strategy: Buying Time for Prospects

32:11 Case Study: Drew Fortescue's Opportunity

33:50 Breaking Down the Marcus Pettersson Trade

43:42 Grading the Trocheck Trade

43:58 Vincent Trocheck's Rangers Legacy

45:57 Sean Durzi Replaces Will Borgen

48:55 Braden Schneider's New Reality

50:41 Are the Rangers Actually Better Than Game 82?

55:57 Segment 3 Begins: The Goalie Controversy

57:53 Igor Shesterkin's Backup Problem

59:29 Dylan Garand's Case for the No. 2 Job

1:01:14 The Joonas Korpisalo Trade Breakdown

1:03:40 Is Garand Getting a Fair Shot?

1:04:39 Cole Beaudoin: The Trocheck Trade's Hidden Gem

1:08:17 Cole Beaudoin's Injury Concern

1:08:24 Development Camp Wrap-Up

1:09:21 Closing Thoughts & What's Next

Jim breaks down why Pavel Dorofeyev is the perfect fit up front, then unpacks the Rangers' surprise pick of Alberts Šmits over fan-favorite Chase Reid at No. 5.

The Marcus Pettersson trade, the Vincent Trocheck deal for Sean Durzi, and why the Rangers are deliberately buying time for their prospects instead of rushing them.

Dylan Garand vs. Joonas Korpisalo splits the fanbase, plus a closer look at what the Rangers are getting in Cole Beaudoin.