Latest news with #GabePerreault
New York Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bruins' James Hagens vows to remember ‘every team' that passed on him, and why Sean Kuraly came home
BRIGHTON, Mass. — In the Boston Bruins' best-case scenario, James Hagens will arrive for good in approximately nine months. By then, if he has checked every box, he will have helped Boston College win an NCAA title, improved from his point-per-game freshman pace and added another layer of muscle to his 190-pound frame. Advertisement It's not out of the question. Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, Hagens' most recent BC linemates, said goodbye to the Eagles after their sophomore seasons. Both first-round picks (Leonard was No. 8 in 2023, Perreault No. 23 the same year) reported directly to the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers, respectively. Leonard played in nine regular-season games and eight more in the playoffs. Perreault made five appearances. Hagens would like to make this a trend. He has a point to make to himself, the Bruins and the six clubs that said no thanks to calling his name at the 2025 NHL Draft. 'I'm really glad I ended up being a Boston Bruin,' the No. 7 pick said. 'I'm really excited to prove every team that passed on me wrong. I'll remember every kid, every team that passed on you. It's something that'll drive you, that'll push you. I'm excited to be able to show that on the ice.' Leonard parachuted into a first-place team. He was ready for it. The sturdy right wing was physically and mentally primed for the opportunity. If Hagens is similarly ready at the end of his sophomore season, chances are he will not be entering an environment like Leonard did this past April. By the time Hagens wants to collect his first NHL paycheck, the short-on-skill Bruins could be playing out the string for the second straight season. It will likely be the case, then, that the Bruins will not be counting on Hagens to prime them for the 2025-26 playoffs. It is clear that Hagens will arrive on his schedule. A potential No. 1 NHL center is too critical of a commodity, especially considering the Bruins' shortcomings, to accelerate. So for the Bruins to bring Hagens on, he will have to prove beyond a doubt that staying in school for his junior year would stall his development. 'He'll know he can take command, take control and really help be a leader, even as a sophomore,' BC coach Greg Brown said of being BC's go-to player without Leonard, Perreault and goalie Jacob Fowler. 'Help be a leader of driving our team and driving our offense. I'm sure that excites him.' Advertisement Part of the reason Hagens was available for the Bruins was his 11-goal, 37-point freshman line. The year before, Will Smith exploded for a 71-point freshman season while centering Perreault and Leonard, his U.S. National Team Development Program linemates. As Smith's replacement, Hagens was projected by NHL clubs to approach his predecessor's total. Hagens had his standalone pedigree too: 102 points with the Under-18 team in 2023-24. In hindsight, it might have been unrealistic. 'Whether it was the public or the media, they just built up such a high expectation that I don't know if anyone could achieve that level of play,' Brown said. 'He played great. For any young freshman who really should have been a senior in high school, he had a great year for us.' Brown and the Bruins are expecting Hagens to take a big step in two areas that are required of professionals: consistency and competitiveness. Hockey East rivals will train their sights on Hagens because of how much more he'll be asked to do offensively. Hagens should be counting on nightly dogfights. He can't wait. 'I want to be a Boston Bruin,' Hagens said. 'I want to be a Boston Bruin really bad.' In 2021, Sean Kuraly said goodbye to the Bruins when he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He left behind, among others, Patrice Bergeron, Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, Jake DeBrusk, Taylor Hall, Brad Marchand and Tuukka Rask. Four years later, Kuraly knows he is returning to something completely different. 'I think it's pretty clear how this group is going to have to win games,' said the two-time Bruin during a Wednesday Zoom call. 'How awesome is that to have a fairly clear objective of how we're going to have to do it? We're going to have to be hard on the forecheck, skate, play hard, be detailed and do things the right way.' Advertisement The team Kuraly is rejoining, in other words, cannot compare to the talented clubs — he was part of the 2019 roster that was one win short of the Stanley Cup — he used to know. One reason Kuraly received Columbus' four-year, $10 million offer was his Bruins experience. The rebuilding Blue Jackets wanted Kuraly's on- and off-ice presence, touched by playing with Bergeron and Zdeno Chara, to lead a turnaround. It didn't happen. Kuraly never played a single postseason game with his hometown Blue Jackets. It left a mark. 'We went through some tough years in Columbus,' the 32-year-old said. 'I think you can learn a lot in those tough years, just trying to stay within yourself when the team is struggling and can't win games. You learn a lot about not trying to do too much or not trying to do more than you're capable of.' It's possible Kuraly's streak of non-playoff qualification will continue. He joins a crowd of fourth-liners on a team that is desperate for second- and third-line punch. While Kuraly might like being the No. 3 center, that would not necessarily be a good indication for his employer. Kuraly, however, is eager to reintroduce himself to David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman, his only remaining teammates from 2021. Kuraly knows his role as a straight-line support player who understands the peak to which the Bruins aim to return. 'It seems like a fun challenge to do all we can to start a new chapter of this,' said Kuraly. 'Kind of cool to be coming back with that opportunity and with a group that seems to have a lot of potential and a lot of good players that have been around.' The Milan Lucic signing did not work out. The Bruins traded Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers. Jeffrey Viel, the organization's most willing fighter, has 54 career NHL appearances. Advertisement Supply and demand, then, led to the Bruins signing Tanner Jeannot to a five-year, $17 million contract. Jeannot knows his job. 'I try to make other guys know I'm on the ice and make them feel uncomfortable,' said the enforcer. 'Maybe that makes them get rid of pucks a little bit quicker and put their teammates in a tougher spot. That tends to create more turnovers and gets pucks into my team's hands a bit more often.' Jeannot fought eight times in 2024-25, according to HockeyFights. He was credited with 211 hits. If he plays with Mark Kastelic (218 hits), it will not be a fun night for depth defensemen tasked with puck retrieval. 'We're going to be a team that teams aren't going to want to go against,' Jeannot said. 'When they are going to see the Boston Bruins coming into town, they know it's going to be a fight.' Andre Gasseau considered leaving BC after his junior year and signing with the Bruins. Gasseau, the team's seventh-round pick in 2021, was coming off a career-best 30-point season. The opportunity to return as one of BC's captains pulled Gasseau back toward campus for his senior season. He will be in charge of, among others, five Bruins picks: Hagens, Dean Letourneau, Oskar Jellvik and Will Moore. 'He's continued to develop physically to now where he's going to be very ready when he does turn pro for the size and strength of professional hockey players,' Brown said of Gasseau, who projects to be a bottom-six NHL wing. 'He's increased his speed and his playmaking ability each season and really honed in to what his identity needs to be.' Letourneau took a good step during the Bruins' development camp. The 2024 first-rounder, playing right wing, was physical when necessary and stronger on the puck than he was at last year's camp. The 6-foot-7 forward could be leaning toward more of a rugged wing than playmaking center. Advertisement 'I was really happy with Dean this week,' said director of player development Adam McQuaid. 'He really showed how much stronger he's gotten and more physical. He's using his frame, wanting to get to the net, doing things quicker.' Letourneau has been training at BC and at Warrior Ice Arena this offseason. (Top photo of James Hagens: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
New York Post
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Post
Gabe Perreault ready to take the next big step in his Rangers development
Access the Rangers beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mollie Walker about the inside buzz on the Rangers. tRY IT NOW In March, Gabe Perreault made the ultimate jump into his dream reality. After the Rangers selected the right wing in the first round (23rd overall) in 2023, he signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team. Advertisement Perreault was thrown into the fire April 2 for his NHL debut and went on to play in five games for the Blueshirts last season. Months later, he is using the offseason to get back to that same place. In the Rangers developmental camp for prospects, Perreault stands out above the rest with his recent pro experience and impressive résumé as a sophomore at Boston College. Advertisement This summer, the 20-year-old has been working on gaining weight and muscle in the gym while training in Chicago with a group of NHL players that includes Patrick Kane, who he referred to as 'the best stickhandler in the world.' 'I'm going in with the mentality that I'm going to make the team,' Perreault said Wednesday after the second day of camp at the MSG Training Center. 'I think coming into camp, that's what everyone's mentality should be. Like I said, this summer, I'm going to do everything this summer. Train hard, work on the little things I need to.' Some of those 'little things' to show his readiness to the new Rangers coaching staff include puck battles, coverage on defense, and skating. Perreault had a phone call with new head coach Mike Sullivan a few days after he landed the job but has yet to have a conversation, outside of an introductory fashion, about the Rangers' expectations of him. Advertisement Gabe Perreault was thrown into the fire on April 2 for his NHL debut and went on to play in five games for the Blueshirts last season. Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images 'Whatever they need me to do, I'm willing to do,' Perreault said. 'So, I'm just coming into camp, trying to find a role and, you know, whatever they want me to do, I'm more than willing to do.' As a freshman at Boston College, the Sherbrooke, Quebec native impressed with 60 points on 19 goals and 41 assists in 36 games, ranking second in the nation in assists and tied for fourth in points. This past season, Perreault finished with 48 points on 16 goals and 32 assists across 37 games and was selected as a Hockey East First-Team All-Star. Advertisement Gabe Perrault (94, right) battles Noah Laba during Rangers rookie training camp on July 2, 2025. Robert Sabo for New York Post Perreault also won back-to-back gold medals with the U.S. at the 2024 and 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships. The NHL experience came as a bit of a shock to Perreault, despite being around the lifestyle of a pro for much of his life as the son of Yanic Perreault, who had a 14-year NHL career. 'A little bit,' Perreault admitted about it being a humbling experience. 'I think overall I did a lot of little things well. I think defensively and all that, I was pretty good. But, I think going into this camp, like I said, just trying to make more of an impact, make some plays and all that.' In Perreault's first taste of the league, he played against only playoff teams — Devils, Wild, Lightning and the Stanley Cup champion Panthers. Across the five contests, he had five shots on goal out of 10 attempted shots and had six giveaways. He averaged nearly 15 minutes on the ice per game while wearing No. 94, just like his father. 'It's tough. You don't really know until you're in it, how tough it is,' he said. 'But, just overall super glad I did it and it's definitely going to help me going into camp. Advertisement 'Those guys [opposing NHL players] are special and [seeing] how talented they are and just how fast and how smart the guys are.'
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
James Hagens leads powerful trio to golden season with smart plays
James Hagens leads powerful trio to golden season with smart plays (Image Source: Getty Images) James Hagens has exhibited tremendous passing ability and teamwork this year. He skated as the center for two skilled players, Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard . This high-powered line skated together at Boston College and on the World Junior Championship team. Their quick chemistry and intelligent play resulted in their winning a gold medal at the World Juniors. James Hagens's intelligent passing and quick moves were integral to their success. Coaches and fans are now looking forward to his future in hockey. James Hagens shines with strong teamwork at Boston College and World Juniors At Boston College, James Hagens formed a great trio with Gabe Perreault and Ryan Leonard. The three of them had great chemistry on the ice and played well together. James Hagens was the center and played a very intelligent role. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Best website creation site | Build your store in minutes Shopify Shop Now Undo He controlled the puck perfectly and always passed it at the right moment. Perreault and Leonard were excellent at finishing plays and scoring goals after receiving the puck from Hagens. Due to their excellent teamwork, this line was one of the most hazardous and thrilling lines in all of college hockey. They were quick, clever, and always had an idea of where one another was on the ice. Other teams struggled to prevent them. This dominant line enabled Boston College to win several key games throughout the season. Their quickness, good decisions, and tough passing allowed the team to score frequently. Coaches, supporters, and other players noticed how well they were playing together and complemented their chemistry. James Hagens and linemates dominate on global stage Later on, the same line played for Team USA during the World Junior Championship. Again, James Hagens was in the middle of the line and maintained possession of the play. He created excellent passes and assisted in generating scoring opportunities. With Perreault and Leonard on either side of him, they played strongly and quickly. This excellent synergy enabled the United States to take home the gold medal. James Hagens looked confident and mature even in pressure situations, and many experts now believe he will be a future NHL star. Also Read: 2025 NHL Draft: Top Prospects And Key Movers Ahead Of The Lottery
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Postgame takeaways: NY Rangers capture OT win in Gabe Perreault's debut
NEW YORK – Gabe Perreault got the full New York Rangers experience on Wednesday. Just 72 hours after playing his final NCAA game for Boston College, the freshly signed 19-year-old made his NHL debut at Madison Square Garden. Advertisement It was an eventful occasion, for a variety of reasons. Perreault had moments that reminded everyone why he's considered one of the best playmaking prospects in the game, including a nifty no-look pass on his second shift that even caught linemate Alexis Lafrenière off guard. And then there were hiccups, most notably an accidental tip for an own goal toward the end of the first period. It seemed like a perfect fit for the up-and-down Rangers, who continued this season's roller-coaster ride with a winding 5-4 overtime win over the Minnesota Wild. "It was super fun," said Perreault, who had several BC teams make the trip and find their way right up against the glass for his rookie lap during warmups. "Playing in this building is something I've never done before, and to finally get to be able to do it was unreal." Vincent Trocheck scored the winner 24 seconds into the extra period, giving the Rangers (36-32-7) only their third OT win in 10 tries this season. Advertisement Artemi Panarin set it up with a slick pass for his team-leading third point of the night, despite the Garden crowd pleading for No. 10 to take it himself. "The whole rink said, 'Shoot!'" he said with a smirk. "They know better." It wasn't always pretty, complete with the usual self-inflicted wounds that always seem to crop up for these Rangers. But after losing nine out of 12 during an ugly stretch last month, they've swung the possession pendulum back in their favor the last two games − both wins − and found a way to dig deep after folding in similar situations earlier this season. "I can't say we didn't compete in games before," Panarin said. "It's just a little harder everything for us this season. Everyone is trying hard, it's just sometimes when you hit the wall every time and can't win it, you lose confidence, too, and then maybe it looks like no one's trying. But I promise you, everyone tried 100% every game." NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 02: Gabe Perreault #94 of the New York Rangers skates in his first NHL game against the Minnesota Wild at Madison Square Garden on April 02, 2025 in New York City. Ultimately, the results are what matter at this time of year. Advertisement The victory moved New York into a tie with Montreal for the Eastern Conference's second and final wild card. The Canadiens have a game in hand, though, and could retake sole possession Thursday when they host the bumbling Bruins. "I'd like to clean up a couple things, but overall, we came out on the attack," head coach Peter Laviolette said. "I thought we defended okay. It was just some puck decisions at times. But we needed a win and guys found a way to do that." Ups and downs for Perreault Perreault has areas to clean up, as well, particularly on the defensive end. But he mostly looked like he belonged. Advertisement "I thought he played a solid game, jumping into a big situation like that," Laviolette said. "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 pass to Lafrenière encapsulated everything we've been hearing about the 2023 first-round pick − patience, vision and skill. Gabe Perreault: Rangers top prospect debuts in prominent lineup spot Perreault came flying on for his second shift and attacked the middle of the ice. He deked Mats Zuccarello and cut to the left, leaving the former Ranger twisting as he fell to the ice. A desperate stick wave from Zuccarello just barely deflected the pass, and while it still made it through, the slight change in direction caused Lafrenière to slip and fall as he was attempting to get the wide-open shot off. Advertisement "Last second, I think the guy got a stick on it," Perreault said. "But it was a good try. (Lafrenière) almost got it. It would have been pretty cool to get that one." While the play didn't result in points, Perreault noted, "It definitely made me feel comfortable and helped me feel the puck a little bit." There were a few other passes that showed his savvy with the puck, with his placement on a line with Lafrenière and J.T. Miller putting him in the familiar offensive situations he's been asked to play his entire life. The 5-foot-11, 178-pounder didn't look overwhelmed by the physicality of the NHL game, either, which was a concern some scouts had expressed. Of course, it will take time to find the balance between taking risks and avoiding costly mistakes. Advertisement "I think as the game went on, I got better," he said. "It's definitely a lot faster, and not as much time and space. But that was, for sure, expected." Perreault recorded three shots on four attempts while finishing with a pair of giveaways in 13:38 time on ice. He also had an own goal, which occurred when he tipped a Brock Faber shot past goalie Igor Shesterkin to put the Wild ahead, 2-1, with five minutes remaining in the first period. It was a starting point, with seven regular-season games left for Perreault to build on it. "His hands and his head are at a level that he can play and contribute," Laviolette said. "Those are things we'll talk about leaving the game. He's got his first game under his belt, and we get a chance to see it and what he's able to do out there. We'll get it set up for next game." A role reversal The game itself was a bit of role reversal for the Rangers. Advertisement They've been outshot by wide margins on many occasions this season, yet somehow found ways to keep the score close. (They can mostly thank Shesterkin for that.) That's resulted in at least a few wins they frankly didn't deserve, but on Wednesday, it was the Blueshirts who controlled multiple stretches of play but couldn't pull away. They outshot Minnesota, 39-24, including an 18-7 advantage in the first period. They also held a 13-9 edge in high-danger scoring chances, according to Natural Stat Trick. "That was nice to feel," Panarin said. "I think the San Jose game (on Saturday) affected us. We feel the confidence again with the puck, and then everyone tries to make it plays – not forcing the plays. That's when the results come." That volume didn't always lead to enough quality, and the defensive breakdowns that have plagued them all season popped up at critical moments. Advertisement The first instance came on a Wild power play nine minutes into the game, kicking off a night of highs and lows for K'Andre Miller. The defenseman's stick broke, and when he went to retrieve a new one from the bench, it left one side of the ice completely unattended. Marcus Johansson took advantage by finding a wide open Gustav Nyquist at the far post, staking Minnesota with a 1-0 lead. The two teams would trade goals from there, with Braden Schneider scoring on a rebound to get the Rangers on the board before Perreault tipped Faber's shot in later in the period. "We've been talking about it – just more of a direct approach; a north approach," Laviolette said. "I think the guys came out with that mindset. I like the way we played the first period. Yet, it may not be where you want it to be." Artemi Panarin leads K'Andre Miller tied the score early in the second by roofing a tremendous wrist shot from a tough angle, then Chris Kreider − who was dropped to the fourth line to begin the game − gave New York a 3-2 lead with a backhander at the 7:21 mark. Advertisement Johansson tied it for the third time with a shorthanded goal following a brutal neutral-zone turnover from Trocheck, but Panarin responded swiftly. He was buzzing all over the ice again on Wednesday and put the Rangers back on top, 4-3, with a breakaway to end the second period. The 33-year-old has been New York's most reliable source of offense in a year when that's been fleeting − and he's been heating up as the playoff drama rises, with 23 points (11 goals and 12 assists) in his last 16 games. "It feels like he scores every game," said Will Cuylle, who was named the 2024-25 Steven McDonald Extra Effort Award winner prior to the game. "If he's playing well, we're all following." Advertisement Panarin will fall well short of last season's career-high 120 points, but Wednesday's standout performance secured his fifth 80-point season with the Rangers, tying Mark Messier for the most in team history. K'Andre Miller's eventful night The dizzying pace continued in the third, where Marco Rossi intercepted a D-zone pass from K'Andre Miller and turned it into the fourth tie of the evening 22 seconds in. Miller, who looks like an all-star at times but continues battle inconsistency in a contract year, would atone by drawing two penalties in the final period and assisting on Trocheck's game winner. He finished with two points (one goal and one assist) while tying Panarin with a team-high 11 shot attempts. The 25-year-old also dished out three hits and blocked two shots in 22:04 TOI. Advertisement "There's always a thing or two that you'd like to take back in the game," Laviolette said of Miller. "If we could take back five things tonight, we would. It wasn't like we overloaded with things that we could have done better or should have done better, but we made mistakes, and they cost us. Conversely, he's figuring into that last goal, as well. And so he does a lot of really good things for us out there." Power play funk continues Miller drew two of three Minnesota penalties in the third period, but the Rangers failed to cash in on any of the ensuing power plays. They finished 0-for-4 and are now just two for their last 43 attempts. Advertisement It's become one of the most troubling trends in recent weeks, with Laviolette making yet another tweak on Wednesday by swapping out Kreider for J.T. Miller on the top unit. None of the moves seem to be helping, though. "It's moved around quite a bit," Laviolette said. "It's not like we're sitting here stuck on one thing. We're moving it around. We're trying different options, and we work on it in practice. It's an opportunity to make a difference in a game like tonight. We'll continue to look at it and look at the personnel that we have and what we can do to make that effective inside of a game like tonight. There's no question that special teams can always factor into a game. They've been a real positive for us for a long time, but we're in a little bit of the funk right now with it." Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Postgame takeaways: NY Rangers capture OT win in Gabe Perreault's debut
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NY Rangers playoff odds: Where they stand in NHL Eastern Conference wild card race
Monday offered a rare reprieve from scoreboard watching for the New York Rangers and their fans. (Instead, they were able to focus on the excitement surrounding the signing of top prospect Gabe Perreault.) They've watched their playoff odds fluctuate for weeks, with the race for the Eastern Conference's second and final wild-card spot devolving into a jumble of flawed contenders. Advertisement With just over two weeks remaining in the regular season, five teams remain firmly in the hunt: Rangers, Blue Jackets, Canadiens, Islanders and Red Wings. None of them played Monday − and none are playing particularly well, with all five registering sub-.500 winning percentages across their last 10 games. Gabe Perreault: Rangers sign top prospect, who will join team immediately The floundering Rangers are among the primary culprits, having lost five of their previous six before Saturday's 6-1 win over the NHL-worst San Jose Sharks. One creative reader deemed it the "Hot Potato Race" − an appropriate moniker given the inability of any team to tighten its grip on the East's No. 8 position. Jan 19, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; New York Rangers defenseman Adam Fox (23) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens right wing Joel Armia (40) during the first period at Bell Centre. The ever-changing odds for each of the jockeying clubs can be found on various sites, but here I've laid out my own analysis. The inexact calculations are based on a variety of factors, including remaining strength of schedule as determined by And they're listed in order of how I view their chances of getting in. Total points: 77 Advertisement Points percentage: .527 Remaining games: 9 Regulation wins: 25 Last 10 games: 4-3-3 Strength of remaining schedule: .520 (28th hardest) Analysis: The Habs had been sinking fast with five straight losses (0-3-2), but their surprising 4-2 win over the defending champion Panthers on Sunday was a major swing in their favor. That pushed them back into the lead based on points percentage, and with the easiest remaining schedule among the five competing teams, they're in the most advantageous position. Only four of their final nine games will come against teams currently in playoff position. Montreal is leaning on its 25-and-under core of Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky and captain Nick Suzuki up front and Calder Trophy candidate Lane Hutson on the back end. That comes with expected growing pains and mistakes, but allowing them to blossom in prominent roles has paid off in the second half. And with the hockey-crazed town rallying around them, it feels like the Canadiens have more forward momentum than most of teams on this list. Advertisement Odds: 31% New York Rangers (35-32-7) Total points: 77 PTS%: .520 Remaining games: 8 Regulation wins: 32 Last 10: 4-5-1 SOS: .579 (2nd) Thoughts: The Rangers have had a roller coaster of a season, with a brutal 4-15 slump from late-November through December putting last year's Presidents' Trophy winner in this precarious spot. They steadied for about two months to start the new year, but their problems reemerged in a big way in March. New York has lost nine of its last 13 (4-6-3), with some especially discouraging results along the way. The reality is they're a bad defensive team, with an average of 13.47 scoring chances allowed per game that ranks 30th in the league and last among the five wild-card hopefuls, according to Clear Sight Analytics. Those results are even worse when defending the rush, with the top transition teams giving them fits. And their possession numbers have taken a nosedive of late, leading to some alarmingly low shot totals. Advertisement It's put an inordinate amount of pressure on Igor Shesterkin, who's the best goalie among these contenders and primary reason to believe in the Rangers. The rest of the team's effort has come into question on several occasions this season, but they don't need to be world-beaters to outrun this mediocre field. The schedule is working against the Blueshirts because they have the fewest remaining games to collect points and the second-hardest path, with five of their final eight games coming against teams in playoff position. But they do hold the important first tiebreaker with six more regulation wins than the competition. Armed with Shesterkin, Adam Fox, Artemi Panarin and other players who have experienced long playoff runs in recent years, there's at least a decent chance the Rangers sneak in before facing harsher realities this summer. Odds: 29% Total points: 75 Advertisement PTS%: .521 Remaining games: 10 Regulation wins: 23 Last 10: 3-6-1 SOS: .568 (tied for 7th) Thoughts: For a while it looked like the Blue Jackets had all the momentum, then they hit a wall. Following a rousing Stadium Series win over the Red Wings in the Mar. 1, Columbus fell into a 1-7-1 funk. It's been an emotional season for the upstart Jackets, and it all seemed to be catching up to them. Then they got a couple key forwards back from injury in Sean Monahan and Cole Sillinger, and they've begun to rally again. They snapped the losing streak with comeback wins over the Islanders and Canucks last week, which was enough to renew their hopes. Advertisement Columbus' defensive metrics are shaky at best and its goaltending has left much to be desired, but there's an exciting crop of young talent here, led by dynamic defenseman Zach Werenski, and a speedy, attacking style that can be a handful for opponents to deal with. The Jackets have two games in hand on the Rangers and a feel-good story that everyone can get behind following the tragic death of beloved star Johnny Gaudreau. At times it's felt like he's working his magic from hockey heaven. Odds: 25% Total points: 74 PTS%: .507 Remaining games: 9 Regulation wins: 25 Last 10: 3-4-3 Advertisement SOS: .568 (tied for 7th) Thoughts: I'm not sure many people expected the Islanders to still be in at this late juncture, yet here we are. Apologies to our friends on Long Island, but I remain highly skeptical. The Isles had a mini surge with three straight wins from Mar. 16-20, but they've gone back into the tank with four consecutive losses since. Their next three games are against current playoff teams, as well, so it won't get easier any time soon. It's hard to have much faith in a team with such little scoring punch. New York's average of 2.74 goals per game ranks 25th in the league and worst among the wild-card contenders. Bo Horvat leads the team with an underwhelming total of 51 points. Advertisement It's long felt like time for the Isles to tear down and start the rebuild process in earnest. Maybe missing the playoffs will push them to do just that. Odds: 10% Total points: 74 PTS%: .507 Remaining games: 9 Regulation wins: 26 Last 10: 4-6-0 SOS: .612 (1st) Thoughts: The Wings feel like the longest shot because they're already a few points back in the race and have the toughest remaining schedule in the NHL. Seven of their final nine games will come against playoff-bound clubs, with Detroit struggling against those types of quality teams all season. Odds: 5% Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano. This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: NY Rangers playoff odds: Where they stand in NHL wild card race
