New York Rangers News

With Elvis Merzlinkins currently battling a stomach bug, Martin seems likely to get his first start as a member of the Blue Jackets. Martin was claimed off of waivers from the Vancouver Canucks, where he recorded a 3.99 GAA and .871 SV% in 29 games last season (11-15-1). He has appeared in net for the Blue Jackets once in relief this season, where he allowed two goals on 17 shots in 20 minutes of action. Martin and the Blue Jackets at +198 home underdogs tonight against a New York Rangers team that has scored eight goals in their first two games (1-1-0).

Shesterkin was his typical dominant self in the Rangers' season opener, stopping 24 of 25 shots in the win in Buffalo. On Saturday he will face a Blue Jackets team that lost to the Flyers in their opener. Shesterkin was 2-0-0 while allowing just two goals on 50 shots (.960 SV%) in two games against Columbus last year.

Shesterkin’s performance in the 2022-23 season may not have lived up the otherworldly campaign he enjoyed the previous year, but don’t let that trick you into overlooking one of the best goaltenders in the world. The .916 SV% and 2.48 GAA he put up last season are still elite compared to his peers, and it earned him a 37-13-8 record across 58 appearances. He is expected to command a heavy workload for the Rangers again this season and should continue to be a rock in goal for your fantasy teams, though he doesn’t draw the easiest matchup in Thursday’s season-opening clash with the Sabres.

After having a productive postseason for the Kraken, in which he scored five points (3G / 2A) in 10 games, Kartye is expected to make his regular-season debut against the Predators. The undrafted winger will likely suit up on the fourth line alongside Pierre-Edouard Bellemare and Kailer Yamamoto.

On Thursday, Martin was placed on conditional waivers by Vancouver and claimed on Friday by the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 28-year-old goaltender struggled in 2022-23 with the Canucks, posting an 11-15-1 record, 3.99 GAA and .871 SV%. He will be joining his third NHL team (COL, VAN) and should provide goaltending depth behind the Blue Jackets' starter Elvis Merzlikins.

Scanlin had four goals, 11 assists, 30 PIMs and a +21 plus/minus with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) in 2022-23 and has reached a pre-arbitration agreement with the Rangers for one-year, $775,000. The 24-year-old defenseman was signed undrafted after three successful seasons at the University of Nebraska-Omaha (NCAA) and has yet to make his NHL debut.

Fitzgerald had three assists, 13 SOG, four PIMs and a -2 plus/minus through 27 games with both Buffalo and Florida in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 with the Panthers. The 26-year-old defenseman was acquired off waivers from Buffalo in 2022-23 and has nine assists and a -21 plus/minus through 63 career NHL games.

Borgan has three goals, 17 assists, 76 SOG, 47 PIMs and a +11 plus/minus through 82 games played with Seattle in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $5.4 million extension ($2,700,000 AAV) with Seattle. The 26-year-old defensemen broke out in 2022-23 after playing only 50 NHL games prior to the start of the season.

Dowling had 11 goals, 35 assists, 18 PIMs and a +3 plus/minus through 56 games with Abbotsford (AHL) and has signed a two-year, two-way contract worth $1.55 million ($775,000 AAV) with New Jersey. The 32-year-old forward last played in the NHL in 2021-22 and brings six goals, 12 assists and 93 SOG across 98 career NHL games to the Devils.

Mackey had three goals, four assists, 31 SOG, 48 PIMs and a -4 plus/minus with both Calgary and Arizona in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year, two-way contract worth $775,000 AAV with the New York Rangers. The 26-year-old defenseman has four goals and 11 points in 39 career NHL games after being signed as an undrafted free agent out of Minnesota State University (NCAA) in 2020-21.

Sheary had 15 goals, 22 assists, 154 SOG, 22 PIMs and a +9 plus/minus through 82 games with Washington in 2022-23 and has signed a three-year deal worth $6.0 million ($2.0M AAV) with Tampa Bay. The 31-year-old left-winger is entering his ninth NHL season with his fourth different team, having scooped 252 points (120G/132A) through 531 career games played.

Quick had a 16-15-6 record with a 3.41 GAA and .882 SV% with both Los Angeles and Vegas in 2022-23 and has signed a one-year deal worth $825,000 with the New York Rangers. The 37-year-old veteran netminder was traded twice in 2022-23 and brings a career record of 375-277-84, 2.47 GAA and .911 SV% to the Rangers backup role.

Blidh failed to pick up a point in 14 games with the Colorado Avalanche in 2022-23 but found his game back with the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL) after being traded in march and has now earned a two-year, two-way contract extension with the New York Rangers. The 28-year-old left-winger had 13 goals, 10 assists, 58 PIMs and a +1 plus/minus through 53 games with both Hartford (AHL) and Colorado (AHL) last season.

Gavrikov had six goals, 13 assists, 89 SOG, 38 PIMS and a +4 plus/minus through 72 games with Los Angeles and Columbus in 2022-23 and has signed a two-year, $11,750,000 ($5.875 AAV) contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings. The 27-year-old has 276 career games played, picking up 18 goals, 82 points and 138 penalty minutes across his five year career.

Kartye had 28 goals, 29 assists, 74 PIMs and a +17 plus/minus through 72 games with Coachella Valley (AHL) this season and will make his NHL debut in Game 5 as he replaced the injured Jarrod McCann on Seattle's top-line. The 21-year-old was signed as an undrafted free agent from the Soo Greyhounds (OHL) a year ago.