TEAM NOTES
GAME TIME HAS ARRIVED
The Blueshirts went 2-2 in the preseason, matching up against both the New York Islanders and the New Jersey Devils twice within five days.
NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Alberts Smits, drafted fifth overall in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and the highest-drafted Latvian player in NHL history, is set to make his NHL debut with the Rangers this season. With an appearance on Tuesday evening, he would become the fifth Rangers rookie in 30 years to make his NHL debut on opening night of the same season he was drafted. He would also become the first Rangers defenseman in franchise history to debut at age 18 or younger on opening night.
Smits was awarded the 2026 Lars-Erik Sjoberg award, presented annually since 1988 to the top rookie in camp as selected by the media.
This summer, the Blueshirts acquired forwards Oliver Bjorkstrand, Pavel Dorofeyev, Eeli Tolvanen and Joseph Veleno, defensemen Sean Durzi and Marcus Pettersson, and goaltender Joonas Korpisalo.
Among all players on a new team to start the 2026-27 season:
- Bjorkstrand’s nine power play goals last season ranked third, behind teammate Pavel Dorofeyev and Darren Raddysh.
- Dorofeyev’s 37 goals last season ranked first and was one of 12 NHL players with 35+ goals in each of his last two seasons.
- Durzi’s 0.45 points per game ranked fourth among defensemen, behind Darren Raddysh, John Carlson and Bowen Byram.
- Pettersson’s 21:27 average time on ice ranked fifth, behind John Carlson, Jacob Trouba, Darren Raddysh and Bowen Byram.
MIKA MAGIC
Appearing in 81 games for New York, Mika Zibanejad wrapped up the 2025-26 season by registering 78 points (34G-44A). He led the Rangers in goals, assists, points, power play goals (16) and power play points (35), and shots (215). Among all NHL skaters, he tied for fifth in power play goals and ranked seventh in power play points.
On Mar. 23, he skated in his 1,000th career NHL game and became the 22nd Swedish player in NHL history to reach the milestone. He also tallied his 800th career NHL point on Mar. 10, becoming the 14th Swedish player in NHL history to notch the feat.
Last season, he set the franchise record for the most power play goals (124) and became the first active player to lead an Original Six franchise in power play goals. Zibanejad has collected 136 career power play goals and 286 career power play points. Since the 2017-18 season, his 120 power play goals are tied for the third-most in the league and his 237 points rank ninth.
With 44 assists in 2025-26, he recorded his fifth straight 40+ assist season and his sixth such season as a Ranger, tying for the fifth-most in franchise history. He also notched his sixth 70-point season with New York, surpassing Mark Messier and Artemi Panarin for the fifth-most 70-point seasons in franchise history.
MILLER TIME
Named the 29th captain in franchise history at the start of the 2025-26 season, J.T. Miller skated in 68 games and recorded 53 points (17G-36A) last season. He notched his fifth consecutive 50+ point season and appeared in his 900th career NHL game on Dec. 7. Among all Rangers skaters, he ranked third in faceoff wins (547), fourth in hits (123) and fifth in goals and assists.
Last season, he notched a career-high 61.5 faceoff win percentage. Among all skaters with at least 500 faceoffs taken, he ranked third in the league. Since the 2024-25 season, his 59.7 faceoff win percentage also ranks third among all skaters with at least 1,000 faceoffs taken.
Since the 2021-22 season, he is the only NHL player with 400+ points and 700+ hits. In that same time frame, his 267 assists rank 13th in the NHL.
FANTASTIC MR. FOX
Adam Fox registered 53 points (9G-44A) in 55 games with the Blueshirts last season. He recorded his 400th career NHL point on Mar. 10 and became the sixth-fastest American defenseman to do so. Fox led the Rangers in takeaways (36) and assists, and tied for fourth on the team in points.
Last season, his 17 multi-point games tied for ninth among all NHL defensemen and ranked second on New York. He also surpassed James Patrick for the third-most multi-point games among Rangers defensemen in franchise history (107). Since the 2019-20 season, his 107 multi-point games rank third among all NHL blueliners.
Fox notched his fifth straight 50-point season and became the second defenseman in Rangers history to do so. His five-straight 50-point seasons are tied for the longest such streak by a Rangers blueliner in franchise history (Reijo Ruotsalainen) and is one of six active defensemen in the NHL to record five consecutive 50-point seasons.
SHESTY’S SAVES
Appearing in 51 games, Igor Shesterkin posted a 25-19-6 record, a 2.50 goals against average and a .912 save percentage last season and became the sixth goaltender in franchise history to register at least five 20-win seasons with the team. On Dec. 13, he appeared in his 300th career NHL game, and on Dec. 27, he made his 300th career NHL start.
Allowing one or fewer goals in 13 games last season, he tied for the ninth-most games among all NHL goaltenders. He also allowed two or fewer goals in 27 games, tied for the eighth-most games in the league. Since the 2021-22 season, his 81 games allowing one or fewer goals rank second in the NHL.
Last season, he surpassed John Vanbiesbrouck for the ninth-most games in franchise history with one or fewer goals allowed (93). He also became the first NHL goaltender since Martin Jones in 2015-16 to allow two or fewer goals in his first six starts of the season, including one or fewer goals in each of his first four starts.
