June 1 · 6 min
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Sports
Rink Rap | A New York Rangers Podcast from Forever Blueshirts
Forever Blueshirts
Forever Blueshirts Radio and the Rink Rap podcast are where New York Rangers fans are ALL IN! Host Jim Cerny provides top-flight interviews, as well as seasoned insight from his 30 years covering the Rangers and NHL. Be sure to visit us online at www.foreverblueshirts.com or follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) @4EverBlueshirts
- 315 episodes
- Updated Wednesday
Episodes315
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May 27 · 1 hr 8 minRangers Offseason Roundtable: Lafrenière's Ceiling, Trocheck's Future & the #5 Pick — w/Broadway Block
Jim Cerny is joined by Steve and Joe of Broadway Block for a wide-open Rangers roundtable as the offseason takes shape. The crew debates whether Alexis Lafrenière can finally hit superstar territory on the Mika/Perreault line, why JT Miller has to bounce back, and whether Chris Drury is the right man to steer this retool. Plus: the top-six skill problem, the case for trading up (or staying put) at #5 for Anton Frondell or Porter Martone, Braydon Schneider's bridge-deal future, the Vincent Trocheck timing question, and why the Rangers still need to address the backup goalie spot behind Igor — even with Dylan Garand pushing for it. Live chat questions from the Blueshirts faithful sprinkled throughout.
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May 15 · 1 hr[FULL EPISODE] Rink Rap: Trocheck Trade Bait After Coyle Signs, Devils' Quinn Hughes Drama, Markstrom-Shesterkin Fight
Jim Cerny breaks down what Charlie Coyle's six-year deal in Columbus means for a potential Vincent Trocheck trade out of New York, why Chris Drury must absolutely nail the No. 5 pick and the retool, and whether Mike Sullivan's B-minus report card grade was fair. Then James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now joins the show for a "misery loves company" sitdown — Devils edition: the Jack Hughes Chicago dinner injury, the Quinn Hughes saga that helped cost Tom Fitzgerald his job, what new GM Sunny Mehta might do, and the Markstrom-Shesterkin goalie fight. Plus: if you're building a team from scratch with one local coach — Sullivan, Sheldon Keefe, or Peter DeBoer — who do you pick? Chapters: 0:00 — Welcome back, recapping last week at Mustang Harry's 2:08 — Rangers fall to No. 5, Toronto wins the lottery 6:30 — Charlie Coyle re-signs with Columbus 9:30 — Why Drury must nail the Trocheck trade 13:00 — Minnesota, Detroit, and LA as Trocheck fits 15:30 — Report card fallout: Drury's D, Sully's B-minus 22:00 — The Lafrenière burden isn't going away 25:30 — A Pavel Dorofeev offer sheet pipe dream 28:15 — James Nichols joins: misery loves company 31:00 — The cursed Chicago dinner that broke the Devils 35:00 — Markstrom vs. Shesterkin 39:30 — Quinn Hughes saga and the end of Tom Fitzgerald 44:30 — Sizing up new Devils GM Sunny Mehta 52:00 — The Metro is wide open behind Carolina 55:30 — Sullivan, Keefe, or DeBoer — who do you build with?
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May 15 · 29 minCharlie Coyle Signing Opens the Door for a Vincent Trocheck Trade Haul
Jim Cerny on why Coyle's six-year deal in Columbus is the best news Chris Drury could've gotten, what the Rangers need to extract for Trocheck, the Lafrenière burden, and report card pushback on Sullivan's B-minus.
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May 15 · 31 minJames Nichols on the Devils' Disaster Season, Quinn Hughes Saga, and What Sonny Mehta Does Next
James Nichols of New Jersey Hockey Now joins Jim for a "misery loves company" Rangers-Devils sitdown — the Jack Hughes Chicago dinner injury, the Markstrom-Shesterkin fight, the Quinn Hughes mess that ended Tom Fitzgerald, and whether Sunny Mehta packages the No. 12 pick for an aggressive move.
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May 6 · 1 hr 11 minRangers Fall to #5 in NHL Draft Lottery as Maple Leafs Steal #1 | Rink Rap LIVE from Mustang Harry's
Jim Cerny is live from Mustang Harry's in midtown Manhattan with Lou Orlando of Forever Blueshirts for instant reaction to the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery — and it didn't go the Rangers' way. Sitting on the third-best odds, the Blueshirts got leapfrogged twice as the Toronto Maple Leafs vaulted up to grab the No. 1 overall pick (saving Boston the Brandon Carlo trade pick in the process) and the San Jose Sharks landed No. 2. The Rangers slide all the way down to fifth. Jim and Lou break down what a top-five pick in a deep draft class actually means for a team that needs everything: Gavin McKenna goes to Toronto, Michael Misa or one of the top defensemen like Chase Reid and Jackson Smith become the realistic targets at five, and the conversation turns to whether Chris Drury should trade the pick for proven NHL talent — Brady Tkachuk, Jason Robertson, Pavel Dorofeyev, even a hypothetical Connor McDavid scenario after his frustrated end-of-season presser in Edmonton. Plus: where Will Cuylle really fits, the Braden Schneider trade fit in San Jose, and why "retool, not rebuild" isn't just semantics for James Dolan and the front office. #Rangers #NYR #NHLDraftLottery #RinkRap #ForeverBlueshirts #NHLDraft #LetsGoRangers Chapters: 00:00 — Live from Mustang Harry's, the lottery results are in 01:00 — How the balls fell: Rangers needed 9 or 14, got 12 03:00 — Toronto jumps to #1, saves Boston's Carlo pick 05:00 — The new top five: Rangers slide to fifth 07:30 — Lou Orlando joins the show 11:30 — Misa, Reid, and who could fall to five 17:00 — Did the final month soften the blow? 24:30 — Schneider to San Jose — does it still make sense? 27:30 — Retool vs. rebuild: why the word matters 38:00 — Drafting for need or best player available 45:00 — A pissed-off McDavid and what it could mean 49:00 — The Brady Tkachuk trade math 52:00 — Robertson and Dorofeyev as RFA targets 58:00 — Where Will Cuylle actually fits 1:01:30 — Lou's gut reaction to the lottery 1:06:00 — What to do with that second first-round pick 1:09:30 — Wrap-up from Mustang Harry's
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April 29 · 50 minBrady Tkachuk SHUTS DOWN Trade Rumors + Rangers Draft Lottery & Offseason Preview | Rink Rap
Brady Tkachuk spoke to the media in Ottawa — and he didn't hold back. Murray Pam of Hockey Hot Stove joins us live from the arena, straight out of the press conference, to break down exactly what Tkachuk said and what his body language told the room. Spoiler: he's frustrated, he's committed, and he's tired of being asked. Then we pivot to the New York Rangers offseason — the NHL Draft Lottery is just days away (Tuesday, May 5), and the Rangers hold an 11.5% chance at the #1 overall pick with a guaranteed top-5 selection. We break down what that means for the rebuild, how the roster looks right now, what Mike Sullivan said at breakup day, and who the key players are in the bottom-six development race. Plus: GM moves around the league — Toronto eyeing John Chayka and Mats Sundin, Sunny Mehta named New Jersey's new GM, and former Rangers GM Jeff Gorton talks about the 2018 rebuild, Jim Dolan's vision, and how he found out he was fired. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Episode Overview 01:00 – BREAKING: Brady Tkachuk Press Conference (w/ Murray Pam, Hockey Hot Stove) 18:05 – Segment 2 Intro: Rangers Offseason & Draft Lottery Preview 25:00 – NHL Draft Lottery: Rangers' Odds, Top Prospects & What's at Stake 32:00 – Rangers Roster Breakdown: Bottom-Six, Greentree, Aspinall, Cartier & More 42:00 – Free Agency Strategy & Pavel Dorofeyev as a Target 46:30 – GM Carousel: Toronto, New Jersey, Vancouver & Seattle 48:45 – Jeff Gorton on the 2018 Rangers Rebuild & Jim Dolan 51:00 – Closing & What's Coming Next Week (Hart Levine/Puckpedia)
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April 29 · 41 minTkachuk Speaks: Murray Pam of Hockey Hot Stove Has Latest From Ottawa
Murray Pam joins straight from the rink to break down Brady Tkachuk's surprise Ottawa press conference — why he's fed up with trade rumors, his commitment to the Senators, and what the next 12 months could mean for his future.
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April 29 · 8 minLet's Talk Rangers Reset for 2026-27
Jim breaks down the Rangers' offseason priorities — the high-stakes May 5 Draft Lottery, the roster as it stands today, free agency strategy (including a Dorofeyev offer-sheet idea), and the latest on GM moves around the league.
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April 21 · 1 hr 5 minColin Stephenson on the Rangers' Offseason: Top Six Holes, Panarin Trade Fallout & What Comes Next
Jim Cerny sits down with Newsday Rangers beat writer Colin Stephenson to break down a difficult season and look ahead to what could be a defining offseason for New York. The two dig into the gaping hole in the top six left by the Artemi Panarin trade, whether the Rangers have the pieces — or the assets — to fix it, and why the free agent market this summer won't bail them out. They also assess Mike Sullivan's first year behind the bench, the encouraging post-Olympic stretch from Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perreault, what to realistically expect from the prospect pipeline, the Mika Zibanejad bounce-back season, the injury toll on Igor Shesterkin and Adam Fox, and what a Chris Drury retool actually looks like. Plus — should Vincent Trocheck be moved, and is Alex Tuch a realistic free agent target? 🎙️ Rink Rap is the New York Rangers podcast from Forever Blueshirts. 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss an episode. Chapters: 0:00 — Intro & welcome to Colin Stephenson 3:56 — Rangers' top six problem: who replaces Panarin's production? 6:29 — Was trading Panarin always the plan — and why? 8:02 — JT Miller & the shift toward a grittier identity 26:14 — Lafreniere's breakout: sustainable or situational? 29:24 — Gabe Perreault: encouraging signs, but pump the brakes 30:00 — Sakura, Kamilash and keeping youth expectations in check 32:06 — Mike Sullivan's first season: the good, the bad, the verdict 43:57 — Vincent Trocheck: keep him or trade him? 48:17 — The Florida Panthers model and why skill still wins 50:51 — Chris Drury's roster-building philosophy: overcorrected on grit? 57:30 — Adam Fox injury concerns and the Igor Shesterkin health factor 01:01:46 — Cap space, free agency outlook and the Tuch/Radish UFA market 01:02:28 — Trade vs. free agency: the smarter path to upgrading the Rangers
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April 14 · 45 min[FULL EPISIODE] Jonathan Quick's Farewell, Rangers' Goaltending Future & the Trocheck Decision
im Cerny breaks down two of the biggest storylines heading into the Rangers offseason. First, he pays tribute to Jonathan Quick, who announced his retirement after 18 NHL seasons — reflecting on the iconic send-off the Florida Panthers gave him after his final game, his legacy as a three-time Stanley Cup champion and probable Hall of Famer, and what his three years in New York meant to the organization on and off the ice. Jim also digs into what comes next between the pipes: the Dylan Gran question, the free agent backup market and how the Rangers' approach will signal exactly how much they trust their prospect. Then after the break, Jim turns to Vincent Trocheck — the elephant in the room. With a failed trade deadline move behind them, Jim examines Trocheck's body language, his reduced media presence, and why moving him this offseason is the right call for both sides. The Trocheck decision, Jim argues, is the linchpin of the entire Rangers retool. #NewYorkRangers #RinkRap #ForeverBlueshirts #JonathanQuick #VincentTrocheck #DylanGran #NHLOffseason Chapters: 0:00 — Jim opens the show, previews a two-topic episode and teases full offseason coverage ahead 1:35 — Jonathan Quick retirement announced; Jim reacts to Quick's final game and the Panthers' ice tribute 4:40 — Bobrovsky orchestrates the on-ice farewell; Jim on what "great appreciates great" really means 6:00 — Quick's legacy: 410 wins, three Cups, and a case for the Hockey Hall of Fame 7:37 — The 2023-24 season revisited — Quick at his best as a Ranger, and the role he played in Igor's mid-year reset 12:00 — This season's collapse; what Quick's decline exposed about the Rangers' backup situation 17:00 — Dylan Gran's playoff track record and the big question: is he ready to be the No. 2? 18:43 — Jim argues the Rangers must sign a veteran backup this offseason — Spencer Martin is not the answer 20:55 — Break preview: goaltender free agent options and the Trocheck situation coming up 23:02 — Back from break; Jim runs through the veteran backup market and no-name-but-solid options 25:15 — Kevin Maxwell returns to the Rangers as Director of Pro Scouting — congratulations and context 26:16 — Cam Talbot, Daniel Tarasov and the two-category framework for evaluating backup candidates 28:00 — The AHL route: Brandon Halverson, Caden Primo, Phoenix Copley and the training camp battle idea 32:40 — What signing a Rittich or Comrie over Gran would actually signal about the organization's plans 35:08 — The Matt Murray wildcard: the Sully factor, the injury history, and whether it's worth a camp invite 39:11 — Pivoting to Trocheck: Jim on the body language, the media absence and the failed trade deadline deal 41:27 — Why trading Trocheck this offseason is the right move — for the Rangers and for Vinnie himself 43:31 — Closing thoughts; Rangers wrap up Wednesday in Tampa, draft lottery odds, and what's ahead on Rink Rap
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April 14 · 23 minQuick's Farewell: The Legacy of a Ranger
Jonathan Quick retires after 18 seasons; Jim reacts to the Panthers' on-ice tribute and reflects on what made Quick one of the most respected players in the league.
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April 14 · 21 minWho's Next in Goal + The Trocheck Decision
Dylan Gran's path to the NHL backup job is real, but Jim argues the Rangers can't hand it to him — they need competition, and the free agent market has options at every price point. Trocheck wasn't traded at the deadline, but all signs point to an offseason move. Jim breaks down the body language, the ice time, and why this is the most important decision of the Rangers' retool.
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April 10 · 42 min[FULL EPISODE] Rangers Season Autopsy: Fox & Shesterkin, JT Miller Debate, Trocheck Trade, & PWHL Makes History at MSG
Jim Cerny is back in the home office for a jam-packed solo episode of Rink Rap. He opens with a firsthand account of the historic first-ever PWHL game at Madison Square Garden — Sirens vs. Torrent, 18,000+ fans, Billie Jean King dropping the puck — before pivoting to a deep dive on the Rangers' closing stretch of the 2025–26 season. Jim breaks down what's working (a top-3 power play, Adam Fox healthy and dominant, Igor Shesterkin back in form) and what went wrong — pinpointing the January 5th Utah game as the season's turning point when both Fox and Shesterkin went down the same night. He makes the case that those two are the team's most irreplaceable players, and the numbers prove it. Then it's on to the offseason: Is Vincent Trocheck getting traded? What about Brayden Schneider? Jim weighs in on the JT Miller lightning rod debate — injuries, captaincy pressure, Mika Zibanejad's defense of him — and discusses free agency options including Alex Tuch and UFA defenseman Darren Raddysh. Plus, Rangers prospects EJ Emery and Malcolm Spence in the NCAA Frozen Four, and what 11 draft picks could mean for the rebuild. Chapters: 0:00 — Welcome back + live at Mustang Harry's recap with Johnny Lazarus & Sweet Lou Orlando 3:25 — PWHL history at MSG: Sirens vs. Torrent, 18K fans, Billie Jean King, and the electric atmosphere 7:40 — Rangers close out their home schedule: from 0-6-1 start to finishing strong 12:00 — Special teams breakdown: power play ranked 3rd in NHL, Adam Fox's impact 16:45 — Shesterkin and Fox return from injury — the January 5th turning point that defined the season 22:45 — Offseason outlook: Trocek and Schneider trade odds, under-the-radar roster moves 25:30 — Free agency: Should the Rangers pursue Alex Tuck? The case for and against 30:00 — Prospects: Liam Greentree, Gabe Perrault, and the rebuild path 31:00 — JT Miller debate: lightning rod, captain pressure, Mika's defense of him 38:30 — Darren Raddysh UFA watch: keeping him vs. paying up at 30 41:00 — Final road games, Frozen Four watch (EJ Emery, Malcolm Spence), and offseason preview #NYRangers #NewYorkRangers #NHL #NHLPodcast
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April 10 · 23 minFirst PWHL Game at Madison Square Garden Was Something Special
Jim Cerny was there for the historic first PWHL game ever played at MSG — 18,000+ fans, Billie Jean King dropping the puck, and a Sirens win in the shootout. He breaks down what made the night unforgettable.
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April 10 · 19 minRangers 2025–26 Season Autopsy: What Went Wrong and What's Next
Jim breaks down the Fox and Shesterkin injury turning point, the JT Miller debate, special teams performance, and what the offseason holds — trades, free agency, and a loaded draft cupboard.
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April 5 · 1 hr 7 min[FULL EPISODE]🎙️ Live at Mustang Harry's: Deep-Diving the Rangers with Daily Faceoff + The PWHL Makes MSG History
Rink Rap is live at Mustang Harry's, just steps from Madison Square Garden, for a packed episode of Rangers talk and hockey history. Jonny Lazarus of Daily Faceoff joins for a deep dive into all things New York Rangers — the big picture questions, the storylines that matter, and where this team is really headed. Then, NY Sirens beat reporter Lou Orlando breaks down the first-ever PWHL game played at Madison Square Garden — a landmark moment for women's hockey and for New York sports. Two great conversations, one iconic Midtown bar. This is Rink Rap. 🎙️ Hosted by the Forever Blueshirts crew 📍 Recorded live at Mustang Harry's — Midtown Manhattan Subscribe, leave a review, and follow us for more Rangers and NYC hockey coverage. Chapters: 0:00 — Welcome to Mustang Harry's: Jim sets the scene steps from MSG on a big double-header day for New York hockey 4:14 — Rangers' late-season surge — four wins in five, the kids finding their footing, and the mindset shift taking hold 10:46 — Gabe Perreault's historic natural hat trick — first by a Rangers rookie in 42 years, and what it reveals about his game 14:23 — Did the Panarin trade unlock a new identity? Jim poses the question he plans to put to his guests 17:17 — Jonny Lazarus of Daily Faceoff joins live at Mustang Harry's, fresh out of the Rangers locker room 19:29 — How much stock do you put in what you see down the stretch? Zero on the vets, everything on the kids 24:21 — Braden Schneider's future: is he a keeper, or does he get moved this summer? 27:26 — Scott Maro's rocky season and what it means for the Rangers' defensive retool 29:43 — Brady Tkachuk trade rumors and the growing trend of American players wanting out of Canada 34:11 — The Lafreniere question: real evolution or a small-sample mirage post-Panarin? 38:05 — Jonathan Quick, the backup situation, and what the Rangers need between the pipes next year 39:27 — Trocheck trade talk: Lazarus says it happens this summer, and explains why Vinny's probably already mentally moved on 42:06 — Lou Orlando joins — Rangers depth talk picks up with Jaroslav Hamelash and Adam Sýkora's surprising emergence 45:51 — What happens to Matt Rempe? The fourth line picture has shifted significantly 52:14 — Rangers prospect pipeline check 56:41 — Shifting to the Sirens: the historic first PWHL game at MSG is a sellout, and what it means for the league 1:00:27 — The Sirens' market challenge — winning in New York requires winning on the ice, and Saturday is a massive showcase moment 1:03:52 — Final three storylines for the MSG game: the Sirens needing a complete 60 minutes, Alex Carpenter and Krejčí-Shorter returning to New York, and the sheer magnitude of PWHL hockey inside the World's Most Famous Arena
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April 5 · 17 minNew York Rangers at the Crossroads
Jim Cerny breaks down what's working in New York's late-season run — young players stepping up, the team's identity shift, and what this stretch means heading into a pivotal offseason. #Rangers
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April 5 · 24 minRangers Big Picture with Jonny Lazarus
Daily Faceoff's Jonny Lazarus joins live from Mustang Harry's for a frank conversation about the Rangers' retool — Lafreniere's evolution, Schneider's uncertain future, and what the front office needs to do this summer.
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April 5 · 25 minHistoric Night: PWHL Comes to MSG
NY Sirens beat reporter Lou Orlando joins to preview the first-ever PWHL game at Madison Square Garden — what it means for women's hockey, the Sirens' season, and the electric atmosphere building just steps from where they're sitting.