Last season: 39-36-7 (85 points), missed the playoffs.
COACH: Mike Sullivan (first season with New York; 479-311-127 career).
SEASON OPENER: Oct. 7 vs. Pittsburgh.
DEPARTURES: LW Chris Kreider, D K'Andre Miller, RW Reilly Smith, D Zac Jones, coach Peter Laviolette.
ADDITIONS: Sullivan, D Vladislav Gavrikov, rookie F Gabriel Perreault, RW Taylor Raddysh.
GOALIES: Igor Shesterkin (27-29-5, 2.86 goals-against average, .905 save percentage), Jonathan Quick (11-7-2, 3.17, .893).
BETMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 25-1
It's a new era with Sullivan bringing his two-time Stanley Cup-winning experience to the Original Six franchise not far removed from a trip to the 2024 Eastern Conference final. Last season was a massive disappointment, from the drama surrounding captain Jacob Trouba until he was traded to Anaheim in December to top players Mika Zibanejad and Adam Fox underachieving. In hiring Sullivan, general manager Chris Drury is counting on one of the best coaches in the sport getting more out of the entire roster. The Rangers have the talent to make the playoffs, and that's the expectation.
The good: Goaltender Igor Shesterkin, starting a new long-term contract, gives his team a chance to win every time he starts. He can also steal games and could again be in the mix for the Vezina Trophy, which he won in 2022. Fellow Russian Artemi Panarin is going into the final year of his deal and was one of the stars whose play did not dip last season, producing at over a point-a-game pace.
The not-so-good: Blue line depth is a question after the top pairing of Fox and newly signed Vladislav Gavrikov. A lot is being expected of young defenseman Braden Schneider, who's coming off shoulder surgery. Trading Kreider to the Ducks opens a void for someone who can stand in front of the net and tip pucks in for goals. Recently named captain, top center J.T. Miller is also in charge of establishing a strong locker room culture after the tumult that was last season.
Zibanejad, opening the season on Miller's right wing, is firmly in the spotlight to bounce back from being minus-22. Opportunities are also there in the top six for Alexis Lafrenière and Will Cuylle to take on big roles. Gavrikov, signed to a seven-year, $49 million contract in free agency, was brought in to be a stabilizing force on defense and free up Fox to play more like the guy who won the Norris Trophy in 2021.
AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL
New York Rangers new head coach Mike Sullivan listens during an NHL hockey news conference, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tarrytown, N.Y. (AP Photo/Stephen Whyno)
New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury, left, and new head coach Mike Sullivan speak with reporters during an NHL hockey news conference, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Tarrytown, N.Y. (AP Photo/Stephen Whyno)
FILE - New York Rangers' Artemi Panarin (10) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the first period of an NHL hockey game against the Calgary Flames, March 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Some of New York's biggest basketball heroes were second-round draft picks.
Like Jalen Brunson, the guy marching through Manhattan with the Larry O'Brien Trophy in his arms last week during a joyous parade celebration. And Willis Reed, the guy who limped into Game 7 of the NBA Finals to lift the Knicks to their first championship.
So when the NBA draft resumed Wednesday night with the Knicks on the clock with the No. 31 pick, every team had hope of finding someone who can be a key piece of a title team.
They drafted Ohio State guard Bruce Thornton, but had already agreed to trade the rights to the pick to Houston by the time NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum announced the selection.
Thornton was given a Knicks hat when his name was announced. He was wearing a Rockets one by the time he arrived for his interviews.
He was just happy to get to the NBA, even if it was in Texas and not with the new champions.
“No state tax, so that's even better,” said Thornton, Ohio State's career scoring leader.
The first round, which began with Washington selecting AJ Dybantsa, finished late Tuesday night.
In a much different NBA with a different draft format, Reed was the No. 8 pick in the 1964 draft, which made him the first pick of the second round. The Hall of Famer went on to lead the Knicks to championships in 1970 and 1973 and was the NBA Finals MVP both times.
Brunson was the No. 33 pick in the 2018 draft, taken early in the second round by the Dallas Mavericks. The Knicks signed him as a free agent in 2022 and the franchise hs been on the rise ever since, culminating with their five-game victory over the San Antonio Spurs earlier this month when Brunson was MVP of the series.
Among the other well-known names taken early in the second round were Richie Saunders, Dybantsa's BYU teammate who was taken at No. 32 by Memphis; Duke's Isaiah Evans, who went undrafted in the first round and was selected at No. 33 with a pick belonging to Minnesota; and Purdue's Braden Smith, the NCAA's career assists leader, who was taken at No. 38 by Chicago.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba
Meleek Thomas, right, poses for a photo with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the NBA basketball draft Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Jack Kayil, right, poses for a photo with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected by the Houston Rockets in the second round of the NBA basketball draft Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Bruce Thornton waves after being selected by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA basketball draft Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
Bruce Thornton poses for a photo with NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum after being selected by the New York Knicks in the second round of the NBA basketball draft Wednesday, June 24, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks during the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
in the first round of the NBA basketball draft, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
