The Rangers have announced that they will open the 2018-19 season at Madison Square Garden against the Nashville Predators on 10/4.

The NHL will release the full schedule tomorrow.

In his mock draft at TSN, Craig Button has the Rangers selecting Oliver Wahlstrom at 9 and:

• Jay O'Brien (center) at 26
• Vitali Kravtsov (winger) at 28

Corey Pronman, of The Athletic, has the Rangers selecting defenseman Noah Dobson at 9 and says that he is someone he thinks would "tick" boxes for them because of his mobility and hockey IQ.

At 26, Pronman has winger Serron Neal and winger Jonatan Berggen at 28.

6/19/18 | 4:47PM: The Rangers have announced their preseason schedule:

• 9/17 at NJ
• 9/19 vs Philly
• 9/22 at Islanders (Bridgeport)
• 9/24 vs NJ
• 9/26 vs NYI
• 9/27 at Philly

12:36PM: The Devils have announced that they will play the Rangers twice in the preseason, on 9/17 in New Jersey and 9/24 at MSG.

6/15/18 | The Flyers have announced that they will play two preseason games against the Rangers.

• The Rangers host the Flyers on 9/19 at 7PM
• The Rangers visit the Flyers on 9/27 at 7PM

The Rangers also play the Islanders in Bridgeport on 9/22 and at MSG on 9/26.

Kevin Hayes, Ryan Spooner and Vlad Namestnikov are all listed on TSN's trade bait board.

Hayes is listed at 8, Spooner at 18 and Namestnikov remains at 23. (TSN)

It was reported over the weekend that Hayes is drawing a lot of interest around the league and some have noted that Calgary is believed to be interested in him.

The Rangers have placed defensive prospect Sergey Zborovskiy on unconditional waivers with the intent to terminate his contract.

He was a third round pick of the Rangers in 2015 (79th overall) and spent last season playing in the ECHL and AHL.

He played 47 games for Greenville in the ECHL with 5 goals and 12 assists and 10 games with Hartford where he didn't record a point and had 10 PIM.

6/18/18 | Larry Brooks writes that Brendan Smith has remaining in New York this summer and is working with Ben Prentiss to improve his "fitness." (NY Post)

Brooks writes that the Rangers not only expect Smith to be in the mix for a job on deffense but to be the player they signed last summer. (NY Post)

5/14/18 | According to Larry Brooks, in the NY Post, Brendan Smith has been working out at the Rangers practice facility in the hopes of bouncing back after his struggles this past season.

Bob McKenzie, of TSN, released his final draft rankings for Friday's draft and had Brady Tkachuk listed at 3 behind consensus 1 and 2 Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov. (TSN)

McKenzie listed Filip Zadina at 4, Finnish center Jesper Kotkaniemi at 5 and then defensemen Noah Dobson, Evan Bouchard and Quinn Hughes at 6, 7,8 respectively. (TSN)

He listed Oliver Wahlstrom 9th and Adam Boqvist 10th. (TSN)

According to Larry Brooks, while the Rangers have spoken with the Carolina Hurricanes about potentially acquiring the second overall a pick, a deal seems "extremely unlikely." (NY Post)

Brooks says that the cost of moving up appears to be "prohibitive" and the Rangers may be able to get the player that they want at #9.

• The Rangers have 9, 26 and 28 in the first round.

He adds that the Rangers don't seem interested in potentially moving Kevin Hayes in a deal to move up but that teams have shown interest in Ryan Spooner and that JImmy Vesey and/or Vlad Namestnikov could be used with one of the later first round picks for some "draft floor maneuvering."

Brooks also write that the Rangers "are expected" to make a "move or two" this week.

6/17/18 | Larry Brooks writes that Kevin Hayes is generating "significant interest" around the league. (NY Post)

Brooks notes that the Rangers could have a glut at center and that if Hayes were to be moved it would likely be as the "centerpiece" of a deal to acquire a defenseman. (NY Post)

He wrote that it's unlikely the Rangers would move Hayes in an effort to move up in the draft. (NY Post)

6/17/18 | According to Larry Brooks, in the NY Post, Ilya Kovalchuk has not ruled out signing with the Rangers but that he "probably" won't. (NY Post)

Brooks adds though that Kovalchuk "would only come" to the Rangers if they acquired a "player or two" that would help "vault" them into contending status. (NY Post)

Kovalchuk has said that his top priority is trying to win a Stanley Cup and has drawn interest from teams like LA, San Jose, St. Louis and Boston.

6/16/18 | According to Larry Brooks, in the NY Post, Mats Zuccarello is not expected to be moved. (NY Post)

Brooks writes that unless there is a "dramatic shift," Zuccarello is "expected" to be at training camp in the fall. (NY Post)

Zuccarello is in the final-year of a four-year deal with a cap hit off $4.5 million. (NY Post)

For a lot more on Zuccarello, click HERE.

Jeff Gorton told the Boston Globe that Jimmy Vesey needed a bit of a "fresh start" and one of the players that Gorton thinks David Quinn will help.

Gorton said that Vesey needs an "opportunity to play a little more and show what he has . . . so I will be curious to see how David will help Jimmy." (Boston Globe)

Gorton said that it was an "obvious choice" for the team to hire David Quinn because of his past coaching at different levels and developing players.

This past season in the KHL, Rangers prospect Igor Shesterkin was 20-4-4 with a 1.70 GAA and 93.3% save percentage.

In all of his time, including playoffs, in the KHL, Shesterkin is 60-16-15 with a 1.87 GAA and 93% save percentage.

Shesterkin has split time the past two seasons in SKA with Mikko Koskinen but Koskinen has left the KHL and signed with the Oilers.

The NHL has confirmed the draft order for next Friday's draft and the Rangers have the following picks:

• First Round: 9, 26, 28
• Second Round: 39, 48
• Third Round: 70, 88
• Fourth Round: 101
• Fifth Round: 132
• Sixth Round: 163

The Rangers acquired 26 from the Boston Bruins for Rick Nash, 28 from Tampa Bay in the Ryan McDonagh trade, 48 from New Jersey for Michael Grabner and 88 from Boston for Nick Holden.

The Rangers made seven picks in total at last year's draft, six in 2016, seven in 2015, seven in 2014, five in 2013 and four in 2012.

The first buyout window for NHL contracts began this morning at 12:01AM and Rick Carpiniello, of The Athletic, tweeted not to expect the Rangers to do anything "in that regard."

The Rangers bought out Dan Girardi's contract last year during the buyout period and will carry a cap charge of $3.6 million for this season and next season and then a cap hit of $1.1 million from the 2020-21 season through 22-23. (Cap Friendly)

The Rangers are expected to have more than $20 million in cap space this summer.

Rangers coach David Quinn was on NHL Tonight on the NHL Network and said:

• Have you ever coached someone as handsome as Henrik Lundqvist, (big laugh) "Probably not. It's a very high bar. I'm very secure in my masculinity and I have not coached anyone more handsome than Hank.
• On having Henrik Lundqvist, "it makes our whole situation a little easier when you have a goalie off that caliber in your net. Obviously we are in a bit of a different situation than we have been in the last 3-4 years and the trades we made at the deadline and the youth movement and having Hank in net makes it a little bit easier."

Larry Brooks wrote over the weekend that when Pavel Buchnevich was preparing to leave Russia and join the Rangers, the player he was most "likened" to was Washington's Evgeny Kuznetsov. (NY Post)

• Brooks wrote, in 2016, that Buchnevich is both a playmaker and a sniper who has a skill set that has been likened to that of the Capitals Evgeny Kuznetsov. He noted that it took Kuznetsov a full-year to get acclimated before he hit his stride. (NY Post)

Kuznetsov told Elliotte Friedman a couple of years ago that the issues he had to overcome were in his head and said recently that he never looks at his shifts and that he knows when he is playing well and not playing well. (Sportsnet.ca)

He added, "I'm better at forgetting now when I'm not good." (Sportsnet.ca)

Lias Andersson said that he and Filip Chytil discuss the future of the Rangers a lot and noted that they are "both excited." (NHL.com)

Andersson said that he has spent a lot of time with Chytil and that they were roommates on the road. (NHL.com)

Chytil said that he enjoys spending time with Andersson and added, "we want to be the best team in the NHL. We want to prepare the best for next season, and we will see." (NHL.com)

Mika Zibanejad said that both players have shown their potential but that they need to put in the work and be developed the right way. (NHL.com)

6/16/18 | Quinn is expected to travel to Sweeden in early July to meet with Lundqvist. (NY Post)

6/12/18 | Quinn said on Hockey Central at noon that he has been talking with Chris Drury and Jeff Gorton about when he will go to Sweden to meet with Henrik Lundqvist.

He added that he has already met with 4-5 guys who are local in NY for a meal to introduce himself and start getting to know the players.

Rangers coach David Quinn was on Hockey Central at Noon earlier today and said the following:

• On being contacted by the Rangers, "I probably got a phone call 2-3 days after the coaching change and I've had a long relationship with Chris Drury and Jeff Gorton, two guys that I have known for a long time. We've talked a lot of hockey over the years and I've been very fortunate in my career to coach at a lot of different stops and the more we talked the more it felt like a good fit for both sides and I feel very fortunate to be in this position."
• What is your philosophy on hockey, "you want to play a fast game, I don't think a coach has ever said they want to play a slow game. We want to play a fast, puck pursuit, puck possession game built around good structural defense. That is something that, when you look around the league and see how things have gone in the playoffs, it's a track meet but also teams that are responsible defensively. For any team to have success those three things need to be part of the philosophy. Sitting here and saying what we are going to do is one thing but coaching is getting people to do it. Our job as coaches is to get players to do it, not to tell them to do it. That will be the challenge."

6/14/18 | Bruins GM Don Sweeney said today that he is planning to talk with Kovalchuk (Sportsnet) and Darren Dreger noted that he could be a "great replacement" for Rick Nash with the Bruins. (TSN)

Pierre LeBrun also noted that Kovalchuk is holding up the trade market, specifically around Jeff Skinner and that teams with interest in both players are waiting to see what Kovalchuk decides to do. (TSN)

6/12/18 | 4:05PM: Craig Custance writes at The Athletic that the Rangers have "long interested" Kovalchuk and that if he can be convinced the Rangers have a "legitimate shot at winning" within the next three-years or so they could become a "real option." (The Athletic)

The Rangers have announced that they have re-signed pending RFA Marek Mazanec to a one-year contract.

It is a two-way contract that would pay him $650,000 in the NHL and $200,000 in Hartford. (CapFriendly)

From the Rangers release:

6/8/18 | David Quinn was asked in an interview recently about how quickly he thinks things can turn around for the Rangers.

Quinn noted that from year to year a team that was struggling can make some changes and get better and that player development can play a big role.

He said:

Elliotte Friedman wrote over the weekend that he is "curious" to see what the Rangers will do with Vlad Namestnikov. (Sportsnet)

Namestnikov is an RFA that is arbitration eligible. (Sportsnet)

The Hockey News Free Agent preview suggests that Namestnikov will get between $3 million and $4 million as an RFA.

Mika Zibanejad posted a picture on Instagram today of him working out in Sweden with Edmonton's Pontus Aberg.

6/10/18 | 3:05PM: Elliotte Friedman writes at Sportsnet that it's "expected" that Ruff will remain with the Rangers as part of Quinn's staff. (Sportsnet)

6/9/18 | According to Larry Brooks, David Quinn and the Rangers are working towards hiring a coaching staff, in addition to goalie coach Benoit Allaire, but nothing is believed to be "imminent." (NY Post)

Brooks notes that Lindy Ruff, who joined the Rangers as an assistant last year, is still "in the mix" to possibly remain with the team. (NY Post)

Joe McDonald wrote that Quinn is "building his coaching staff and hopes to have the pieces in place soon." (The Athletic)

Swedish forward Michael Lindqvist said that his focus is to come over to North America, have a good training camp and try to make the Rangers to start the season. (Hockeysverige)

He said that his hope is to play in the NHL right away but noted that players like Mats Zuccarello have had to spend time in the minors before becoming NHL regulars. (Hockeysverige)

Lindqvist noted that there will be an adjustment to the smaller rink but that he has faith in his ability to adjust and handle the transition. (Hockeysverige)

He noted that he spoke with Mika Zibanejad and that Mika only had "good things" to say about the Rangers. (Hockeysverige)

The Washington Capitals defeated Vegas last night to win the first Stanley Cup in their franchise history.

It is the third straight season where a team from the Metro Division has won the Stanley Cup.

On their way to the Stanley Cup, the Capitals defeated multiple former Rangers that had previously eliminated them in the playoffs:

• In the first round, the Capitals defeated John Tortorella, Brandon Dubinsky and Columbus
• In the second round, the Capitals defeated Carl Hagelin, Derrick Brassard and a Penguins team that had also knocked the Capitals out on multiple occasions.
• In the third round, the Capitals defeated Anton Stralman, Ryan Callahan, Ryan McDonagh, Dan Girardi, JT Miller and Tampa Bay

The Capitals went 3-0-1 against the Rangers this past season.

Brady Tkachuk is ranked second by the NHLs Central Scouting Bureau, for North American skaters, and is expected to go high in this month's draft.

Tkachuk spent this past season playing under David Quinn at BU and scored 8 goals and 23 assists in 40 games. He had 3 goals and 6 assists for Team USA at the World Juniors.

Tkachuk says that Quinn was "really important" to him, was "one of the big reasons" why he went to BU and that he will "miss" playing for him. (The Athletic)

Craig Custance wrote earlier this week that "everyone" around the NHL is talking about the Hurricanes and the moves they could make this offseason. (The Athletic)

Custance listed Jeff Skinner, Noah Hanifin and Justin Faulk as 5-7 on his trade list and noted that while no one is quite sure which players will be moved, "the only conensus out there is that Carolina is doming SOMETHING" and that their new owner wouldn't have it "any other way." (The Athletic)

Pierre LeBrun noted on Wednesday that about a dozen teams reached out to Carolina this week and that Jeff Skinner is drawing a lot of interest. (TSN)

David Quinn first said that the opportunity to coach the rebuilding Rangers was "incredible" before adding later on that the rebuild actually made the job "more attractive."

Quinn said, "I know that to be able to step into this situation and get us to the level we want to get to, the rebuilding process is going to be a lot of fun. We think the pieces are in place to build a Stanley Cup contender. How quickly will that happen? Who knows, that will happen at the pace that it evolves and it actually made it more attractive in a funny way."

When asked how much influence Quinn will have with the roster, Jeff Gorton said, "one thing about David is that he has a pretty good network of people in the business, has a lot of people play for him that are available and he will be a good source for us to reach off of. He will be very active, we are trying to build a team and we will build it together, that is how the league works now and having his input and the players he wants will only help us moving forward."