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Ken Campbell
Ken_Campbell27@THNews
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Ken Campbell was a senior writer for The Hockey News and is now a freelance feature writer for the magazine. He returned to the brand after an eight-year stint as a beat reporter for the Maple Leafs for the Toronto Star.
Joined at Feb 15, 2025Activity
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Untold Story: How Legendary Broadcaster Sam Rosen's Parents Survived The Holocaust
In a few weeks, legendary New York Rangers play-by-play announcer Sam Rosen is retiring after 40 incredible seasons.
Rosen’s legendary career is well documented, from his iconic calls to his impact in broadcasting. Everyone knows Rosen, the play-by-play announcer.
However, most people are unaware of how Rosen got to where he is today. That journey started long before he was born and tragically almost never happened.
Louis Rosenblum and Gitel Rosenblum, Rosen’s parents, grew up in Poland and lived there up until the start of World War II.
In the late 1930s, there was a rising threat of the Nazis taking over Poland, which left millions of Jews forced to make life-altering decisions.
The Nazi Regime left all Polish citizens in danger – specifically Jews, given Adolf Hitler’s threat for the annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe.
With that in mind, Rosen’s parents fled from Poland to Russia, uprooting their lives in order to survive.
“I think the fear of what was going to happen was overwhelming,” Rosen said of why his parents left Poland. “I think as a family, my mother’s family and my father’s family, discussed what they were going to do. I think the grandparents that I never knew just decided to stay where they were and try to live through whatever would happen. I don’t think anyone could imagine at the time what was ahead of them with the Nazis and what they wound up doing to the Jewish people.
“I think that they just felt that was their home and they were going to stay there. The siblings that left, disbursed to wherever they felt would be the safest… With my parents and that group of friends from Poland, Russia was the closest ally, so they went into Russia and stayed there through difficult times. At least they were able to find ways to survive. They had the foresight of going to the Western sector at the end of the war where it was a lot safer.”
Louis and Gitel stayed in Russia until the war ended in 1945. Their lives would change dramatically when Rosen’s older brother Stephen was born in 1942.
To make money for his family, Rosenblum worked as a tailor, sewing uniforms for the Russian army.
The Rosenblum family persevered together.
“I think it was more of a group staying together with common feelings, common backgrounds and supporting one another. Basically, what it came down to was living day-to-day,” Rosen said. “There wasn’t a tremendous amount of food. The efforts were going to the war. I think on my father's part, he was looking for any way to make a living to provide food for himself and my mother, and my brother. Almost living day-to-day. How can you get enough, do enough, work enough to get some money to get food for your family.”
While Rosen’s family remained safe from the Nazis during their time in Russia, there was still a fear of what the future would look like after World War II.
Their lives depended on the Allied Powers defeating the Nazis, which brought upon a different kind of fear.
“The danger they felt was who would win the war?” said Rosen. “Were the Russians capable of withstanding the Nazis? They felt that that was the safest place for them to be because Russia was the strongest country that tried to combat Germany and the invasions of the Nazis,”.
“They didn’t have the nightmares of worrying about the Nazis banging on the door… It was a matter of how they could best survive on a day-to-day basis and that was the way they really lived their lives in Russia was day-to-day.”
Once World War II did eventually end in 1945, Louis, Gitel, and Stephen moved to Ulm, Germany, where they were situated in a displaced persons camp.
These DP camps were established in the Allied-occupied zones of Germany, Austria, and Italy. They housed Holocaust survivors and other war-displaced individuals, providing temporary shelter and basic necessities while they awaited emigration or resettlement.
On August 12, 1947, Rosen was born in the DP camp and lived in Germany for the first two years of his life.
It wasn’t until 1949 when the Rosen’s family emigrated to Brooklyn, New York, that they started a new chapter for themselves.
Rosen was never told in detail about the trauma and hardships his parents had to go through during the Holocaust.
While he never truly knew why his parents were closed off about their final days in Poland and time in Russia, Rosen had an inclination as to why they were so eager to move on from the past.
“They were not open about it,” Rosen said of his parents. “It wasn’t something they felt comfortable talking about. We would be at the dinner table or something would come up in discussion and we would try to draw information. I think they limited the amount of things that they wanted to reflect on because it was such a painful experience and they had lost so much of their families during the war.”
The 77-year-old broadcaster has accomplished extraordinary achievements throughout his career. He'll be forever linked to the game of hockey and the New York Rangers.
That doesn't mean Rosen will ever forget where he came from or what his family endured in order for him to accomplish all of his dreams.
At the request of his oldest grandson Brendan, Rosen did eventually visit Poland and Germany with his wife Jill. As part of the trip, they went to Krakow, Auschwitz and Berlin.
Rosen walked through the Auschwitz concentration camp, where around 1.1 million Jews were murdered.
It was a heavy experience for Rosen and one that brought him a new-found appreciation for his parents.
“I’m amazed they were able to survive,” Rosen said. “We visited Poland, we visited Auschwitz, and we went to Berlin. While being on that trip and looking around and seeing modern cities, I thought back to the time my parents were there and wondered how they were able to survive.
“I think the word is I’m amazed at how they had the strength, the inner strength, the physical strength and the ability to survive probably the most horrible times we can conceive of and live through it and be able to come here and make a better life for their families. I think it’s a feeling of amazement.”
On top of the immense pride he felt toward his parents, Rosen couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of sadness during his trip to Poland.
Rosen’s grandparents were tragically killed during the Holocaust as they decided not to leave Poland before the Nazi’s invasion in 1939.
That pain of not growing up with grandparents inspires Rosen to be the best grandfather he can possibly be and he makes sure to play a big role in his grandchildren’s lives.
“There are times of loss that I never got to know my grandparents,” Rosen said. “There’s a feeling of loss and I think I take that and I try to turn that around by being involved with my grandchildren and to let them know I’m there. I want them to know I’m there for them. I think that sense of loss of not having grandparents influenced me to be an involved grandparent.”
Coming to America with very little, the Rosenblums worked tirelessly to create a good life for their children.
The lessons Louis and Gitel learned through the Holocaust shaped the way Rosen was raised.
Now, Rosen’s goal is for those same lessons and values to be passed down from generation to generation.
“The idea of his family, his children doing better than he did. To go to school, that was always a key thing. Going to school, getting an education. That was something that was always instilled in us. The work ethic that both of my parents had was always instilled in us, so it was always you work hard to get ahead. Fortunately I can say and can speak for my older brother Steve, we've done well and tried to pass that along to our children and to our children’s children. I think that is the way we grew up. That is what was taught by our parents and that’s the influence they had from their background.”
Rosen is ready to let go of his broadcasting career, something he’s dedicated his life to. It shows that all things ultimately come to an end.
Your family roots and heritage are the aspects of life that never go away. Rosen may no longer be the Rangers’ play-by-play announcer once the 2024-25 season comes to a close, but he’ll always be Jewish, something he’s genuinely proud of.
“I have always taken pride in being Jewish… I’ve never hidden the fact that I was Jewish, I’ve always respected the high holy days,” said Rosen. “I wouldn’t say I’m a deeply religious person, but I do respect the holidays. We go to temple on both days of Rosh Hashanah, we go on Yom Kippur, we light the candles on Hanukkah and observe Passover and those are things that are important.
“I don’t qualify as being a deeply religious Jew, but I do care about the Jewish community and feel that I’m showing my respect for my community and to the religion that I grew up with.”
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NHL Insider Would Be ‘Very Suprised’ If Peter Laviolette Does Not Get Fired
If the New York Rangers don’t make the playoffs, Chris Drury will have to make some difficult decisions including what to do with Peter Laviolette.
Laviolette is entering the final year of his contract next season, but there are rumblings about whether he’ll even make it to that point.
One year removed from winning the Presidents’ Trophy, the Rangers are on the brink of not even cracking the postseason.
NHL insider Frank Seravalli is under the impression that this lackluster season from the Blueshirts will cost Laviolette his job.
“I'll be very surprised if Peter Laviolette is the coach of the Rangers on May 1st,” Seravalli said.
It’s hard to place all of the blame on Laviolette's shoulders given how much change the Rangers went through this season, but oftentimes it’s the coaches who get the short end of the stick.
The Rangers were a team with not only high expectations, but Stanley Cup aspirations, so New York missing the playoffs could very well lead to some major changes.
Whether that is the coach getting fired, who knows. However, you should expect a lot of turnover though.
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Matt Rempe Week-To-Week With Mysterious Upper-Body Injury
Matt Rempe is out with an upper-body injury and is being listed as week-to-week.
There are 10 games remaining this season for the New York Rangers and it’s unclear if he’ll miss the rest of the regular season.
Rempe played on Tuesday night against the Los Angeles Kings which is when he got hurt. However, The Rangers did not specify exactly how or when he sustained this apparent upper-body injury.
In 36 games, the 22-year-old forward has recorded two goals, three assists and five points while averaging 7:59 minutes.
With Rempe out, it seems as if Nicolas Aube-Kubel will remain with the Rangers after being recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack earlier this week.
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The Big Problem With The Rangers
The critics are carping – fans, reporters, everyone it seems has a beef but the Penguins at the Coney Island Aquarium.
These are serious fans who live and die for the Blueshirts yet they find it hard to do any kind of rah-rahing these days, even though Peter Laviolette's skaters are within striking distance of a playoff berth.
Listen up; see if you agree.
"This Rangers team is uninspired and disinterested," writes Bernie Rohde of Queens. "It doesn't deserve to make the playoffs. I know it's impossible but I would trade or buy out everyone except Will Cuylle, Igor and J.T.Miller.
"Bring up the boys from the minors. I blame Peter Laviolette for not having this team ready to start on time."
Patrick Hoffman, who has been writing hockey for decades and writing it well, is as flabbergasted – not to mention disappointed – as anyone.
"It appears that Igor Shesterkin is the only one who wants his team to make the playoffs," writes Hoffman. "They are not playing with any kind of urgency.
"They are careless with the puck and leave Shesterkin out to dry and not doing little things that help win hockey games."
The Post's headline over a Larry Brooks' column says it all: THIS RANGER TEAM DOESN'T HAVE IT IN THEM.
There's more dead wood on the roster than you'd find in a fire-ravaged lumber yard. And speaking of rotten timber, check the following:
Mika Zibanejad is a minus-20 so far this season. Big Al Lafrenière is minus-13. These guys are getting humongous bucks while playing like penny-pinchers.
It's hard to figure K'Andre Miller, who once had the promise to be an All-Star. Hutch Cohen in New Jersey calls K a liability.
"K'Andre is NOT a good defenseman," adds Hoffman. "He gives up the puck too much, gets lost in his own zone, does not do a good job covering in front of the net and does not play with confidence."
My very expert consultant Jess Rubenstein offered these observations after the loss in Los Angeles: "Trocheck was AWOL as was Fox. And if they keep K'Andre Miller, that alone should cost Drury his job!"
Others have commented to me that even broadcasters Sam Rosen and Joltin' Joe M. have been critical.
Ditto for the tweets:
"Chuck" writes: "Put a fork in them." Ryan: "I watch the Rangers as a hobby and to relax. I am an idiot."
"Rarely has Sam Rosen criticized the team this year," concluded Jess Rubenstein after the last loss, "but he called them out for their effort – especially in the first period. He was really disappointed."
Join the club. However The Maven still believes that they'll gain a playoff berth and then, look out!
We shall see soon enough who's right. But as long as the team has not been eliminated, The Maven is right.
Right? Or wrong?
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Gabe Perreault Reportedly Could Sign Entry-Level Contract With Rangers Today
After the Boston College Eagles were eliminated in the Manchester Regional Final on Sunday night as all eyes are now on Gabe Perreault and the New York Rangers.
Perreault is now eligible to sign his entry-level contract with the Rangers and start his NHL career or play in with the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League.
According to Emily Kaplan of ESPN, a Perreault entry-level contract with the Rangers could be done as soon as today.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period also reports he’s hearing that Perreault will sign with the Rangers today with his NHL debut possibly coming on Wednesday against the Minnesota Wild.
This comes shortly after it came out that Perreault’s college teammate, Ryan Leonard is expected to sign his entry-level contract with the Washington Capitals and likely play on Tuesday night against the Boston Bruins.
“It's not if, it's when,” one scout told Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today on when Perreault will join the Rangers.
The Rangers drafted Perreault with the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft and he continues to rise up the ranks of the NHL’s best prospects.
The 19-year-old forward has recorded 16 goals, 32 assists, and 48 points in 37 games for Boston College this season.
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Rangers Offcially Sign Gabe Perreault To Entry-Level Contract
The New York Rangers and Gabe Perreault have agreed to a three-year, entry-level contract.
Perreault will immediately report to New York and is expected to attend the Rangers’ practice on Tuesday.
This all comes after the Boston College Eagles were eliminated in the Manchester Regional Final, ending Perreault’s collegiate career.
The 19-year-old forward will be an option to play for the Rangers on Wednesday night against the Minnesota Wild as all signs point to him making his highly anticipated NHL debut.
The 19-year-old’s entry-level contract comes out to $2.825 million with an annual salary cap hit of $941,667 and another potential $875,000 in achievable performance bonuses according to PuckPedia.
The Blueshirts selected Perreault with the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.
Perreault recorded 16 goals, 32 assists, and 48 points in 37 games for Boston College this season.
Some of the accolades the young forward accumulated over his two years at Boston College include a Hockey East First-Team All-Star and a nomination for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award.
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The Great Debate Rangers On John Tortorella Or Not For Rangers Coach?
The Maven's urging the Rangers to immediately hire John Tortorella did not win immediate approval from my studious audience.
Nor will I hide the dissent from you.
"Torts is the Rex Ryan of the NHL," says avid fan and critic Steve Viuker of Brooklyn. "He may be great for an NHL Network TV gig but – as a coach – he wears thin on a team in a short period of time."
Viuker singles out a couple of reasons why Torts got canned in the NHL's homestretch.
"In his last eleven games, the Flyers won one and lost ten. Plus, they didn't have a power play goal for all of March. Torts is the baseball version of Billy Martin of the George Steinbrenner years."
By contrast, Harvey Cohen of New Jersey fires this broadside at Viuker.
"The Rangers need Torts because they need a jolt right now. They are a direct reflection of their coach," Cohen explains. "They make no in-game adjustments. Laviolette is too passive, stagnant, predictable and statuesque."
Others point to GM Chris Drury as the prime culprit for allowing a soft offensive core to remain intact while paying no attention to team defense. "Kris Knoblauch would have suffered the same result as Lavy because he would be coaching the same soft core."
A sizeable number of fans would love to see John Davidson return – this time as general manager – "because he knows the qualities that a good coach would have to have to coach in New York."
Hey! Let's not kid ourselves; the bottom line is simply that any decision will be made – or not made at all – by MSG majordomo Jim Dolan.
Until we hear differently from him, Peter Laviolette still has a job. Whether The Maven likes it or not!
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The Rangers Should Bring John Tortorella Back NOW!
John Tortorella should be the Rangers coach right now. Make that, right this minute!
If anyone can awaken this sleepwalking bunch of underachievers it is the ex-firebrand, formerly of Philadelphia.
For the Madison Square Garden moguls, the Philly firing is exactly what the Rangers need – as quickly as possible.
"Call it right time, right place, right guy," says The Old Scout, "for the right reason – the homestretch push.
Even Peter Laviolette's staunchest supporters – assuming there are any left – would have to concede that half the time, Lavvy's skaters play as if they're dead from the neck up.
The Rangers have had enough of Laviolette' Sunday Kind of Love. That's why the Fat Cats have been spoiled rotten.
"There's no question but the talent is there," adds The Old Scout. "It's just that the talent is egregiously unde-rproducing and nobody is better at jolting a hockey club back to its senses than Torts."
He also would instantly fix the dormant power play because the Rangers' PP is like a kiddy popgun from Toys R Us.
And if you're wondering who will benefit, try these names on for size:
* ALEXIS LAFRENIERE: This overpaid do-little needs a swift kick in the toosh since it can't be to his wallet. John T would unspoil Big Al in two-shakes-of-a-lamb's tail.
* MIKA ZIBANEJAD: The media's favorite Alibi Ike has been coddled beyond belief by Lavvy. Torts' patented "Unspoil Machine" would teach The Z Man the difference between being a minus and a plus player – which he should be. Plus, that is.
* VINCENT TROCHECK: Last year's hero has been this year's Exhibit A of a build-up to a letdown. We know the talent is there but what's happened to Vinny's old-time American hustle? (He might have left it in Pittsburgh.)
* J.T. MILLER: Torts would give The Man the Captain's "C" and get it over with already. Naturally a Rangers Torts hire would have to be made by owner Jim Dolan. What I do know about Gentleman Jim is that he's a man of action.
His Rangers have been playing like they'll make some positive action,they'd rather read Action Comics.
What Torts would teach them is ACTION. Period!
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There's Hope For The Rangers After All
Somewhere over the rainbow, 'way up high, the Rangers are somehow going to squeeze into a playoff berth.
I can dream, can't I?
The first step – 6-1 over San Jose last night – is over and done with and now the "New, Improved Blueshirts" return home to show they're not kidding around.
Look! The Maven isn't fooling either; the Sharks are no more than a good American Hockey League team, if that. But at least the Rangers gave them a good spanking with Breadman leading the whack job.
Give Artemi Panarin credit; he's been the eternal Lamplighter through this whole, ugly mess of a Rangers season.
But here's the trick; the season's not over and the Rangers are back in the catbird seat on Wild Card Boulevard. What's to complain?
"They can build on this," says The Old Scout, "and since the Rangers don't play Minnesota at The Garden until Wednesday, "there's plenty of time for Peter Laviolette's lads to count their blessings."
Four Causes For Optimism:
1. A NEW HERO: Once regarded as a loaner from Hartford, Jonny (Don't Call Me John) Brodzinski is now a full-fledged starting center, pumping goals, hustling and doing all the other right things.
2. A SUPERIORITY COMPLEX: In plain English – or early Aleutian – the Rangers are – man for man – talent-wise, better than the rest of the Wild Card competition.
3. THE TWO GOALIE ASSET: Now that Jonathan Quick has re-found his game – along with Igor Shesterkin – the two Comrades provide another asset over the competition.
4. AT LONG LAST ADAM: We've waited almost a whole season for Adam to emerge from his Fox-hole and play Norris Trophy-type hockey. The two goals at the Shark Tank last night showed the club's best defenseman at his best – against the league's worst.
Fair enough. If you want to tell The Maven that I'm making much ado about beating the NHL's ultimate Humpty-Dumpty sextet, I'll pause for a moment and now deliver my perfect squelch: YOU GOTTA START SOMEWHERE!
And so they did. So pardon me, if you please, while I go outside, sniff some fresh air and sing a chorus of "The Bluebird Of Happiness" rather than "The Birth Of The Blues."
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The Maven Argues With Rangers Fans Who Have Quit On Their Team
It's one thing for Islanders fans, Devils fans – any NHL fans for that matter -- to put down the Rangers. In a sense, that's what rootring is all about. Root for your team but not the Blueshirts. It's the norm.
But something rare has happened this season. It began during the horrendous autumn slump suffered by the Blueshirts and grew from there.
Egad! What a cad! We have Rangers fans putting the rap on the team in unprecedented numbers and with the utmost intensity.
Insults such as "Fat Cats," "Quitters," ":Lazy" and – well, you get the point – have gone over the internet and under the table.
One of the most interesting examples of despair came by way of an email to The Maven from a lifetime Blueshirt supporter, author and – while he's at it – Ranger fan.
Having known Patrick Hoffman for years, I can vouch for his integrity and insights, not to mention his passion for the men skating in Blue.
That's why The Maven was taken aback when Hoffman wrote that his favorite team "does not deserve to make the postseason."
That utterance alone caused me to do a double-take but Pal Patrick was not kidding around. He supported his blasphemous remark this way.
"For starters, the effort has not been there on a nightly basis. Secondly, not enough players have stepped up for the team this season. Alexis Lafrenière's play this year has been particularly worrisome."
Then, he gave Mika Zibanejad a third-degree burn: "No one is quite sure what to make of him."
Nor did mistake-prone K'Andre Miller escape Hoffman's scythe. "He often looks lost in his own zone and no longer looks like an NHL-calibre defenseman."
Hoffman details the negatives as easy as he inhales and – no surprise – the blame for "poor defensive play" has to stop at coach Peter Laviolette's desk.
"Lastly," Hoffman concludes, "the team does not seem to want to make the playoffs."
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please be aware that The Maven is not disputing Patrick's point. What I do challenge is his statement that the Rangers DO NOT DESERVE TO MAKE THE POSTSEASON.
How dare he utter a seditious statement such as that?
Checking through the NHL's Constitution, I find no clause devoted to whether or not a team "deserves" to get into the postseason
The Rangers either will get in or not get in based on their won-lost record from here to April 17th. "Deserving" is not the issue here. No way!
Here's my clincher. As a passionate Maple Leafs fan during the 1948-49 season, I was sad that the defending Champs barely squeezed into the playoffs with an UNDER.500 RECORD.
But they made it to the postseason and nobody – certainly not I was running around saying, "The Leafs don't deserve getting into the playoffs. The point is that Toronto got in and the city was glad.
Like others, I hoped for the best when the playoffs – the brand, new season – began.
Well, guess what? My Leafs knocked off the Bruins in a five-game semi-final and then humiliated the first-place Red Wings with a four-game sweep.
Just like today's Rangers, those Leafs were assailed by doubters. After sipping champagne following the clincher, Leafs right wing explained:
"Anybody who knew us knew the Leafs were much better than we showed in the regular season. We weren't a below .500 club really. Anybody who considered us that way was way out of their minds"
Yeah, Patrick, Meeker and his fellow Leafs deserved to make the postseason and win their third straight Stanley Cup as well.
Give it a little thought, Pal, and after your Beloved Blueshirts beat Minnesota on Wednesday night, lemme know if you change your mind.
That is, about this "deserving" business!
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Jonathan Quick Continues To Show That Age Is Just A Number
Whenever the New York Rangers need Jonathan Quick he always comes through.
With the Rangers heading into the second game of a back-to-back on Saturday night, Peter Laviolette called upon Quick to start who hadn’t played in three weeks.
The 39-year-old delivered in a big way, recording 21 saves on 22 shots while propelling the Rangers to a 6-1 victory over the San Jose Sharks.
The Blueshirts are in the midst of an intense playoff push where every point matters, which is why Igor Shesterkin started a career-high nine games before Saturday night.
However, that doesn't mean the Rangers don’t have faith in Quick. Peter Laviolette had only positive things to say about the veteran goalie following his impressive performance.
“To watch him jump in like that, that’s him, he’s a pro,” Rangers coach Peter Laviolette said. “He’s been doing it his whole career, but to jump in and give us an effort like he did tonight, I thought was really good.
“I thought we played well in front of him, but there’s a lot of talent on the other team, and there’s always opportunities that need to be stopped.”
Earlier this month, Quick signed a one-year, $1.55 million extension with the Rangers, etching his spot as the backup goalie for next season.
Quick likely won’t start many more games this season, but if he is needed, he’ll be ready.
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Flyers Fire Former Rangers Coach John Tortorella
The Philadelphia Flyers fired former New York Rangers coach John Tortorella on Thursday after nearly completing three seasons with the team.
This comes after The Flyers went 0-5-1 in their past six games and 1-10-1 in their past 12 games.
“Today I made the very difficult decision to move on from John as our head coach,” Flyers general manager Daniel Briere said. “John played a vital role in our rebuild. He set a standard of play and re-established what it means to be a Philadelphia Flyer. John’s passion on the bench was only equaled by his charitable work in our community. As we move into the next chapter of this rebuild, I felt this was the best for our team to move forward. I’d like to thank John for his tireless work and commitment to the Flyers.”
Tortorella recorded a 97-107-33 with the Flyers while failing to make the playoffs through his tenure in Philadelphia.
Brad Shaw will take over as the Flyers’ interim coach with nine games remaining of the 2023-24 campaign.
His stint with the Rangers lasted from 2009-13. Tortorella’s fiery energy and blunt personality made him one of the most infamous Blueshirts coaches in recent memory.
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The Odds Are Against Filip Chytil Coming Back This Season After Suffering Concussion
It appears as if Filip Chytil will miss the remainder of the season with yet another concussion.
Chytil got concussed when he was hit from behind by Jason Dickinson on March 15 in a game between the Vancouver Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks.
The 25-year-old hasn’t played since the incident and while not fully ruling him out, Canucks coach Rick Tocchet essentially confirmed that he’ll be sidelined for the rest of the year.
"He would go out and skate and felt good, the next day not as good," Tocchet said. "To be honest with you guys, does he play this year? Maybe the odds are against it. Plus you don't want to put a guy in that type of position. But when a guy has good days and bad days, obviously you're not going to play the guy."
Chytil’s issues with concussions are well documented. He suffered a few concussions during his time with the Rangers, an issue that severely hindered his full potential and sidelined him for a long period of time.
Compared to the concussion that kept him out for practically the entirety of the 2023-24 campaign, Chytil feels this recent concussion hasn’t been as taxing on him.
"I talked to him today and he said it was different than his last concussion," Tocchet said. "The bad days aren't as bad, so that's a positive, so I think we've got to take the positive approach. Plus he's got four, five months to rebuild himself, or who knows? We've just got to take it day-by-day with this guy right now."
The Rangers traded Chytil to the Canucks on January 31 as part of a blockbuster trade involving J.T. Miller.
In 56 games this season, Chytil has recorded 13 goals, 13 assists, and 26 points while averaging 16:14 minutes.
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Ten Vital Points About The Rangers And The Homestretch
1. If you are an Official Ranger Scoreboard-watcher, your prime focus should be the Canadiens who are young, fast and well-coached by Marty St. Louis.
2. The Habs have beaten tough teams such as Florida last night and now face less tough foes.
3. The amazingly resilient Blue Jackets have defied the odds to keep pace but face more of the better teams enroute to The Finish Line.
4. Chris Kreider will be an interesting "watch" from tonight through the final game. He can exit as a Rangers hero or – don't be surprised – as dead wood.
5. Remember when Chris Drury read us his GM's Gospel that young prospects such as Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard should first cut their puck teeth in Hartford before hitting the NHL.
6. The above – re Othmann and Berard – made sense. So, how come Gabe Perreault gets a free pass to the NHL, skipping a stint with the Wolf Pack? (Answer below)
7. Perreault Answers: A. Gabe has more talent than Brett and Brennan put together: B. The Rangers are hard-up for a winning streak and Perreault is the best, new catalyst available.
8. As for John Tortorella as the next Rangers coach? Answer: Nix. When Torts took the Philly gig he whispered that it would be his last.
9. Then again – since coaching is in his blood and if he changes his mind – Torts' best bet for next season would be Buffalo where there's plenty of talent on the Sabres' roster.
10. Book Department: Recommended for ALL hockey fans. Must Read. Nobody writes hockey history better than Kevin Shea. Period! But the man outdid himself with his latest work. It's called
"Jack And The Box – My Search For Stanley Cup Champion Jack McLean." Don't just take The Maven's word for it. "Jack And The Box" just won The Paul Kitchen Award for best hockey research project. And if that ain't enough, take The Maven's word – I loved it!
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Gabe Perreault Getting Thrown Right Into Fire Playing On Line With J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière
Gabe Perreault is expected to jump into a prominent role with the New York Rangers. After just one NHL practice, it's clear that Perreault will be thrown right into the fire.
The 19-year-old practiced on a line alongside J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière, a decision that was made by Peter Laviolette to help him thrive immediately.
“It’s a starting point. Just watching him play, and we saw him play a couple times live – I’ve watched on TV – you get an opportunity to see somebody play,” Laviolette said. “You see their hockey sense and their skill and their ability. It's a chance for him to come in and show what he can do. … I think Laf thinks a lot like he does, and JT’s a guy that's been around a long time and could really help mentor.”
Not to mention, Perreault also took some reps on the second power-play unit, a position we could see him in through the final stretch of the season.
If Perreault hasn’t even played in an NHL game yet, why does Laviolette already have so much faith in him?
“He’s played at some high-level hockey if you think about his career,” Peter Laviolette said of Perreault. “And he’s succeeded in all of it. I think a lot of that, he’s learned along the way. This is the next step, the biggest step… Now it is another step and another challenge for him, but he’s answered those challenges along the way. Like I said, his ability to see the ice, his hands to create and think the game through are at a real high level.”
With eight games remaining, the Rangers are fighting to make the playoffs and Perreault finds himself right in right in the thick of this intense push where every game and every point are critical.
There seems to be no fear that Perreault won’t be ready for this big moment though. He’s played at both the World Junior Championship and NCAA Tournament, which has helped prepare him for the trials and tribulations of the NHL.
“Some of the moments he’s played in throughout his career or even recently have been big moments,” said Laviolette. “He’s one of the people who excel in those situations and has been a leader on those teams, so to get an opportunity to look at him in practice today, I think it was a good starting point.”
Perreault is not the only young prospect looking to make an impact in the Rangers’ lineup. Brennan Othmann and Brett Berard have come in and played some fantastic hockey. Don’t forget about Will Cuylle too who’s really progressed as a player throughout the year.
There’s a new sense of youth around the Rangers that is just refreshing and the arrival of Perreault feels like the official start of a new era.
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Rangers And Gabe Perreault Reportedly in Talks With Expectation He'll Be In New York On Tuesday
Things are beginning to progress between the New York Rangers and Gabe Perreault regarding an entry-level contract.
According to Larry Brooks of The New York Post, the Rangers are in talks with Perreault’s camp this afternoon with the expectation he’ll be in New York on Tuesday.
It was highly speculated that Perreault would join the Rangers once his season at Boston College was over and it’s now becoming a reality.
Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today reported that signing his entry-level contract this season was a priority of Perreault and the Rangers will acquiesce.
The 19-year-old’s entry-level contract is expected to last until the summer of 2027 with a cap hit of $942,000 and $1.23 million AAV according to PuckPedia.
After getting drafted by the Rangers with the 23rd overall pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, Perreault went to Boston College where he played two seasons.
During that time, Perreault became one of the most explosive college hockey players and is currently considered to be New York’s top prospect.
This past season at Boston College, Perreault recorded 16 goals, 32 assists and 48 points in 37 games.
There’s been no official word from the Rangers about a contract being finalized with Perreault, but given all of these recent reports that have surfaced over the past few hours, that announcement should come sooner rather than later.
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Oh, Brother: Does This Rangers Team Need John Tortorella, Or What?
The good news is that the Rangers will beat the worst team in the league tonight in San Jose and there will be joy in Wild Card Ville on Seventh Avenue.
The Maven assures you that it will be totally impossible for the New (Ugh!) Yorkers to lose two straight to a pair of the worst teams in California hockey history.
Having blown a two-goal lead with five minutes to go last night in Anaheim, the once-Beloved Blueshirts wrote a new chapter in the club's Book of Infamy by never touching the puck in overtime.
Then again, neither did Igor Shesterkin. Think that's bad, even MSG Networks Joe Micheletti put the rap on coach Peter Laviolette.
Meanwhile, MSG Networks' John Giannone opined: "There's just no making sense of what we just saw."
And if you Igor Shesterkin fans are waiting for Iggy to steal a game for a W, keep waiting, Ducks backup Lukas Dostal topped the soon-to-be-richest goalie in the world. Dostal of all people.
In case you're counting, Shesty The Great allowed five goals on 33 shots. Can't even steal one from a very-under .500 club.
"Shesty's defense isn't helping matters," says The Old Scout, "but in a game like this Igor giving up five goals to a team rated seventh in its division is unacceptable."
Jonathan Quick will be in goal tonight and The Maven sniffs a shutout against the toothless Sharks.
But after last night's miserable melodrama, talking about a Ranger win tonight is roughly equivalent to putting a gown on a chimpanzee.
Meanwhile, the fans who wear "Blueshirts" on their hearts have employed the following descriptions of their idols – or should I say former heroes – on the internet:
"Despicable." "Spineless." "Pathetic." "Detested."
My buddy Arthur Staple of The Athletic offers this: "In a season of embarrassing losses, they may have set the bar even lower tonight."
Yet despite blowing a two-goal lead late in the game, a win still was possible in OT. And to secure the two points, coach Peter Laviolette dispatched Vincent Trocheck, Breadman Panarin and Adam Fox.
"The Ducks sent out their young guys," asserts my favorite analyst Jess Rubenstein, "who outworked, outhustled and outplayed the Rangers best because they wanted it more."
It goes without saying that K'Andre Miller is playing defense as if he's on a slow boat to China and Will Borgen – he looked so good when he came East – may be a Borgen but he's no bargain.
Easily the most sensible comment that was tooth-pulled from the loser's dressing came by way of Adam Fox, the studious gentleman farmer from Harvard.
"We're still in this!"
If it wasn't for facing the shoddy Sharks tonight, Foxy might have added, "Yeah, we're still in deep Shinola" and left it at that!
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Jacob Trouba Has Turned The Page On Rangers Tenure
Jacob Trouba is not worried about playing against his former team.
The New York Rangers are set to take on the Anaheim Ducks on Friday night, but the main storyline lies with Trouba.
It’s always a strange feeling to go up against former teammates that you used to go to battle with each and every night.
Trouba is approaching this upcoming game with a different mindset, especially since he’s happy in his current situation with the Ducks.
“I feel like the page has already been turned,” Trouba said, via Jonny Lazarus of Daily Faceoff. “I honestly do view it as just another game, it will be a little different, obviously, but yeah, I think I’ve moved past it.
“It takes some time, things happen in life, and it’s not like it turns the next day, but I think enough time has gone by that I’ve moved on, and everybody has moved on. I’m happy to be here and happy to be a part of the Ducks organization.”
According to Larry Brooks of The New York Post, Trouba went out with a number of former teammates tonight for dinner on Thursday night ahead of the game.
In 46 games with the Ducks, Trouba has recorded one goal, seven assists and eight points while averaging 20:55 minutes.
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Will Cuylle Wins Steven McDonald Award, Gabe Perreault Shines, And Rangers Make Ground In Playoff Race
It was a rollercoaster affair, but the New York Rangers defeated the Minnesota Wild 5-4 in overtime on Wednesday night.
To start the night, Will Cuylle received the 2024-25 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award, given annually to the Ranger who, as chosen by the fans, "goes above and beyond the call of duty."
The award ceremony provided a spark of energy at Madison Square Garden and was a special moment for Cuylle.
“It’s a huge honor,” Cuylle said. “Such a long-standing tradition and to see the other names that have won the award, it’s pretty cool to be listed with some of those names… I’m proud of myself. I’m happy that the fans appreciate it. Happy they appreciate my hard work and something I can be proud of and share with my family.”
The Rangers started off the game well, possessing the puck and dominating in terms of shots.
However, despite a strong 20 minutes and a goal from Braden Schneider, the Rangers still trailed 2-1 after the first period due to a couple of costly mistakes.
New York continued pushing the pace in the second period, which translated with goals from K’Andre Miller, Chris Kreider, and Artemi Panarin.
With the score tied 4-4 in the third period, the Rangers had some golden opportunities to run away with a victory as they had multiple power plays.
The power play has been the Rangers’ Achilles Heel recently and that trend continued against the Wild. The Blueshirts went 0-4 on the man advantage and gave up a shorthanded goal even with all of the changes Peter Laviolette attempted to make with his first unit.
“It’s moved around quite a bit,” Laviolette said of the power play. “It’s not like we are sitting stuck on one thing, we are moving things around. Trying different options that we work on in practice. We can look at it and look at the personnel that we have.
“What we can do to make it effective inside the game like tonight, so there is no question that special teams can factor into a game. It’s been a real positive for us for a long time, but we are in a little bit of a funk right now with it and we’ll have to get out of it.”
The game ultimately went into overtime where Vincent Trocheck scored 24 seconds into the extra period to secure the Rangers a much-needed two points.
Maybe the Rangers committed one too many turnovers and their play wasn’t always the prettiest, but aside from that, they were quick, explosive, and displayed a hard-fought effort that earned them a victory.
“I liked the way we played,” Laviolette said. “I’d like to clean up a couple of things, but overall, we came out on the attack. We needed a win and guys found a way to do that. It was good to get a W in a game that went up and down, kind of went back and forth. Through the course of the 60 minutes, 61 minutes, I thought we pressured most of the night and pushed most of the night.”
The Rangers are now tied with the Montreal Canadiens for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference with 79 points, but they’ve played one more game than their Canadian rival.
Tuesday night also marked Gabe Perreault’s NHL debut. The Rangers signed the 19-year-old forward to a three-year, entry-level contract on Monday and he’s already making an impact.
Perreault recorded 13:38 minutes playing on a line with J.T. Miller and Alexis Lafrenière while also serving a role on the second power-play unit.
“It was super surreal,” Perreault said about his NHL debut. “Thankful for everyone who helped me get to this point. Obviously having some friends and family in the building was also unreal.”
Laviolette seemed to have a lot of trust in Perreault from the start of the game and he was impressed with the young forward.
“I thought he was really good,” Laviolette said of Perreault. “You can see his game and the way he thinks the game out there. I thought he jumped in and looked good. I thought all four lines were really good. It was balanced, and we were able to roll them out there.
“They all contributed. I thought he played a solid game, jumping into a big situation like that. I'm sure the next one and the one after that, they'll be a little bit more natural for him, as opposed to the first one. But I thought he played really well.”
The Rangers will be back in action on Saturday afternoon against the New Jersey Devils.
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The Gabe Perreault Era Is Upon Us
Chris Drury has figured out how his Rangers can make the playoffs.
GO WITH THE KIDS!
The advent of "The Gabe Perreault Era" begins tomorrow night at The Garden when the Minnesota Wild come to town.
Finished with his basic training at Boston College, right wing Perreault joins a "Kiddie Korps" that will energize the Rangers right into the playoffs.
Left Wing Brennan Othmann finally has discovered his niche and – when properly employed by coach Peter Laviolette – left wing Brett Berard has more moves than a robin on an electrified fence.
"Lavvy should dump whatever dead wood he has," says The Old Scout, "and insert the kids. There's no better time than now."
We've been hearing about Perreault since October when The Hockey News Yearbook's "Future Watch" rated Gabe the Number One Ranger prospect. The scouting report went like this:
"Oodles of hockey sense and a knack for getting pucks to sticks. He's a brilliant playmaker."
We already know that Othmann is a sharpshooting winger and a solid forechecker.
"What still has to be proven," adds The Old Scout, "is how well – or not well – Othmann plays in the clutch. The game with the Wild will give us a litmus test."
The test for the team at large will be its ability to produce 100 percent focus and total hustle in every inch of the rink.
Will Cuylle, Braden Schneider and Zac Jones are among the other Kiddie Korps contributors who can make the formula work.
Actually the template for young-old success was established by Toronto kingmaker Conn Smythe eight decades ago at the Maple Leafs training camp.
"Youth is the answer in this game," said Smythe. "Only the kids have the drive, the fire, and the ambition. Put the kids with a few old guys who still like to win and the combination is unbeatable."
Smythe wasn't kidding. He started four rookie defensemen – Garth Boesch, Jim Thomson, Gus Mortson, Bill Barilko – out of five backliners and added freshmen up front.
If you haven't figured it out yet, those Leafs comprised the NHL's first dynasty. They won their first Stanley Cup that season and repeated in 1948 and 1949 while adding a fourth in 1951.
"For a 22-year-old rookie," said Calder Trophy-winner Howie Meeker, "it was a hell of a thrill."
Alas, the current model Rangers lack one vital element that the dynastic Leafs had – a capable captain, future Hall of Famer Syl Apps.
"We had a good blend," said Apps, "new young fellows, old players, good goal scorers and good, strong body checkers. We had wonderful balance."
What puzzles The Maven – not to mention innumerable Rangers fans – is why the general staff has failed to name a captain.
"They traded for J.T. Miller to provide leadership," adds The Old Scout, "so you would have thought that – by now – they'd have given him the captaincy."
The kids are here – and the vets who know how to score goals – but the absence of someone wearing the "C" could prove to be the Rangers' downfall.
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